A refrigeration or climate-control system may include a housing, an evaporator, a drain pan, and a fan. The evaporator may be disposed within the housing and may include a coil positioned in a horizontal orientation. The drain pan may be disposed within the housing and may include an inclined lower wall disposed vertically beneath the coil. The lower wall may define an airflow path underneath the coil. The fan may force the air through the housing and airflow path.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
Conventional climate-control or refrigeration systems include evaporators with coils that are mounted vertically or near vertically (i.e., with the long lengths of the coil extending vertically or near vertically) to allow condensate to drip down the coil and into a drain pan. The present disclosure provides a climate-control or refrigeration system with a horizontal evaporator coil with a drain pan positioned underneath the coil. The horizontal configuration of the coil may allow for a larger coil to be used. That is, a system having a horizontal coil can be packaged into a smaller space. The drain pan of the present disclosure is configured to allow air to flow into the drain pan and up into the evaporator.


An electromagnetic valve assembly for controlling the flow of a fluid in a sprinkler system. The electromagnetic valve includes a valve core including a plurality of orifices for a passage of fluid therethrough; a directional housing enclosing the valve core and enabling a controllable, lateral movement of the valve core from a closed position to an open position; a plurality of seals positioned within the directional housing to prevent leakage of the fluid; and a plurality of magnet cores attached adjacent to the directional housing, each magnet core including a wire winding for generating an electromagnetic field when actuated by means of an electrical current. When the generated electromagnetic field is applied to a first magnet core, the valve core slides laterally into the first magnet core to an open position enabling the flow of water through the orifices and an opening of the directional housing. When the generated electromagnetic field is applied to a second magnet core, the valve core slides laterally into the second magnet core to a closed position stopping the flow of water through the orifices and the opening of the directional housing.

This present invention relates generally to electromagnetic valves and, more particularly, to electromagnetic valves for a residential or commercial fire suppression sprinkler system. Electromagnetic valves and actuator systems are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,823 to Dahlgren, et al. teaches a solenoid actuated valve that includes a valve body and a sleeve armature slidably mounted on the valve body for movement between a flow preventing position and positions away from the flow preventing position. The movement of the sleeve armature between closed and open positions is controlled by first and second solenoid coils. The sleeve armature is maintained in the position to which it has been driven by residual magnetism. The solenoid actuated valve can include a bias structure for urging the sleeve armature toward the closed position. The solenoid actuated fluid flow control valve is described with reference to an application for inflating inflatable restraints for the occupants of a vehicle.
An example of an electromagnetic actuator and control is U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,032 to Froeschle, et al. that teaches an electromagnetic actuator including a stator assembly mounted to a center pole formed of material having high magnetic permeability. When current is applied to one or more coils within the stator assembly, a magnetic field is generated that interacts with a magnetic field generated by one or more magnets disposed within the armature assembly and causes the armature to move relative to the center pole to open or close an intake or exhaust valve in an internal combustion engine.
Recent examples of electromagnetic valves include U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,449 to Nickel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,472 to Kondo, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,149 to Ott. None of these references teaches an electromagnetic flow-through valve that can be used as part of a sprinkler system to suppress fires, particularly in residential homes, condominiums or apartments.
Although the use of smoke and fire detector alarms have become quite common in residences today, and are easily installed by the homeowner, the same cannot be said of sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with the smoke and fire alarm to deliver pressurized water in the room or rooms that are affected. High end homes, apartments and condominiums are most likely to have a sprinkler system installed because of the high associated property values.
There is a need for a low cost, effective automatic sprinkler system that can be installed easily and that can operate in conjunction with the smoke and fire alarm in a residence.


A variable frequency oscillator providing a constant amplitude with variations in frequency. The variable frequency oscillator includes: an oscillator having an input connected for receiving a current I.sub.1, and outputs for providing complementary signals having a frequency varying in proportion to the current I.sub.1 ; first and second transistors, each having a base connected to a respective one of the oscillator outputs; current supply circuitry having a first output connected to the input of the oscillator for providing the current I.sub.1, and a second output connected to the emitters of the first and second transistors for providing a current I.sub.3, the current I.sub.3 varying in proportion to the current I.sub.1, without varying significantly due to changes in the oscillator frequency; and first and second output amplifiers, each having an input connected to the collector of a respective one of the first and second transistors, and an output for providing a signal which varies in proportion to the current I.sub.3 and varies inversely proportion to the oscillator frequency. With such circuitry, variations in amplitude of signals driving the output amplifiers due to changes in oscillator frequency will cancel inverse variations in amplitude of signals at the outputs of the output amplifiers due to the changes in the oscillator frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to variable frequency oscillators. More particularly, the present invention relates to controlling amplitude of a signal from an amplifier providing the output of the variable frequency oscillator as oscillator frequency increases when the amplifier is operating near its process limits where amplifier gain decreases significantly with increasing oscillator frequency.
2. Description of the Related Art
With variable frequency oscillators, and particularly variable frequency oscillators using integrated circuit components, output amplitude will typically vary significantly with frequency over at least a portion of the frequency operation range. Output signal amplitude will vary due to factors such as slew rate, transconductance (gm), temperature, and power supply voltage. Typically a goal is to maintain constant amplitude with all these factors.
For digital applications, a variable frequency oscillator typically serves as a clock signal source so that the output of its oscillator will be amplified, but then limited to obtain a square wave signal. The amplification in such digital applications is regarded as nonlinear amplification, because the limiting enables variations in frequency to occur without changes in amplitude.
For analog applications, oscillators are also utilized, but precise linear amplification is needed, unlike with digital applications. Such linear amplification, however, is difficult to control against the significant number of factors mentioned above when frequency is varied, particularly when the oscillator frequency approaches its limits due to limitations in integrated circuit process technology.
When the oscillator in a variable frequency oscillator is approaching its frequency limits due to limitations in integrated circuit technology, it is almost certain that the amplifier used to output a signal from the variable frequency oscillator is also near its operation limits. In other words, the operating frequency of the amplifier will be beyond its dominant pole as shown by the "region of operation" in FIG. 1, which plots typical amplifier gain vs. frequency. With amplifier operation beyond a dominant pole, as shown in FIG. 1, the amplifier gain will typically change in proportion to 1/f due to factors mentioned above, where f denotes frequency of a signal input to the amplifier. Thus, with a variable frequency oscillator using an amplifier operating beyond its dominant pole, output signal amplitude can vary significantly with frequency, contrary to operating conditions typically desired for analog applications.

Constant amplitude vs. frequency oscillator


A mechanical time delay apparatus for creating a time delay between a pneumatic inlet for connection to a source of pressurized gas and a pneumatic outlet includes a primary pneumatic flow path from the inlet to the outlet. A movable gate is associated with the primary pneumatic flow path and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The gate is urged by a biasing force to the closed position. In the closed position, the gate is disposed to block a flow of gas through the primary pneumatic flow path. In the open position, the gate permits such flow. The time delay apparatus further includes an accumulation chamber in communication with the gate for a gas pressure within the accumulation chamber to urge the gate against the biasing force to the open position when the gas pressure exceeds a threshold pressure. A secondary pneumatic flow path extends the inlet to the accumulation chamber. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting an internal volume of the accumulation chamber to thereby adjust an amount of time required for a gas admitted to the accumulation chamber to exceed the threshold pressure. The apparatus may be used in a fire suppression system to impart a time delay between detection of a fire hazard and release of a fire suppressant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to apparatus for delaying transmission of a pneumatic fluid. More particularly, this invention pertains to an apparatus for delaying a pneumatic actuation of a fire suppression system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fire suppression systems are used in a wide variety of applications. A common fire suppression system will include a fire suppressant and an actuator for activating delivery of the fire suppressant to a hazard site. For example, the fire suppressant may be contained within a pressurized container. The activation mechanism may include an activation head, which drives a valve coupled to the container for release of the fire suppressant upon actuation of the valve. The fire suppressant is delivered through tubing or the like to a nozzle, which is directed at a potential fire location. Fire suppression systems may be provided in buildings, transportation equipment such as vehicles, vessels or other installations where fire is a threat.
Not uncommonly, fire suppression systems may include automatic activation systems in the event of a detected fire. For example, buildings are commonly provided with automatic activation systems having a mechanical thermal sensor which degrades in response to heat. Such sensors may be a eutectic metal or thermal bulb technology, which degrades (such as melting or breaking) upon being exposed to a set temperature. In the event of such degradation of the element, the fire suppressant may be released through a nozzle.
Remote mechanical thermal detectors are known in the prior art. An example of a mechanical thermal detector utilizes a mechanical thermal sensor coupled to a control unit. The control unit may contain a source of a pressurized gas, which, upon detection of a fire by the mechanical thermal detector, releases the pressurized gas to an actuation head. The pressurized gas may be a small volume of pressurized nitrogen. The gas is released along a tubing to a pressure-activated actuation head coupled to the valve of a suppressant container. As an alternative to using a finite volume of a pressurized gas, the control unit may be connected to an unlimited source of a pressurized gas.
An example of a prior art system involving heat detectors, control units and pneumatic circuits for driving a pneumatically controlled actuator are described in "Kidde WHDR™ Wet Chemical Fire Suppression System, Addendum No. 6 to Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, Part No. 87-12200-001, UL EX 3559, Design and Installation Instructions for XV Control Systems", dated September 2002 and published by the assignee of the present invention.
In fire suppression systems, it is known to be desirable to provide a time delay between release of a pressurized gas by a control unit and actuation of the actuation head for releasing suppressant from the suppressant container.
There are several reasons that a time delay may be desired in a fire suppression system application. For reasons of safety, it may be important to delay to the release of a fire suppressant to allow a service technician or other occupant time to exit or perform some pertinent shutdown function. For example, once a fire is detected, it is common to a have a control system send a signal to operate a siren, horn or strobe light indicating a discharge of a fire suppressant is imminent. A time delay permits occupant egress or other preparations. Also, in the case of certain applications such as fire suppressant for spray booths or the like, a delay in the release of a fire suppressant permits an exhaust fan wind-down. In this example, it is important to delay the discharge of a dry chemical fire suppressant until the exhaust fans are stopped to maximize the effective discharge of the dry chemical.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art apparatus 10′ which includes a fire suppressant container 12′ and a pneumatically activated actuation head 14′. A remote thermal detector 20′ is coupled to a control unit 30′ by a cable 22′. A source 40′ of pressurized gas (such as nitrogen) is connected to the controller 30′ by a pneumatic conduit 42′. A pneumatic conduit 44′ connects the control unit 30′ to a time delay apparatus TDA. An outlet of the time delay apparatus TDA is connected by a pneumatic conduit 51′ to the actuation head 14′. The actuation head 14′ drives a valve (not shown) for release of suppressant from the container 12′. The suppressant flows through a tubing 15′ to an outlet nozzle 16′ located in the vicinity of a fire threat.
A prior art time delay apparatus TDA is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is designated by numeral 50′. The prior art apparatus 50′ includes a housing 52′ formed of stock metal or the like which is machined or cast to form the various cavities and pathways that will be described herein. The housing 50′ includes an upper end 52a′ and a lower end 52b′.
At the upper end 52a′, a threaded bore 63′ is machined into the housing 52′ with an axis Y′-Y′ (FIG. 2) centrally positioned and extending between the ends 52a′, 52b′. A hollow end cap 70′ having external threads (schematically shown at 71′) is threadedly received within the bore 63′. The interior of the end cap 70′ defines an accumulation chamber 68′. An O-ring 65′ seals the accumulation chamber 68′ against the housing 52′.
An elongated chamber 54′ is formed in the housing 50′ with its axis X′-X′ parallel to and offset from axis Y′-Y′. In the sectional view of FIG. 3, axis Y′-Y′ is behind axis X′-X′ and, therefore, not visible. An upper end 54a′ of the chamber 54′ communicates with the accumulation chamber 68′. A reduced diameter lower end 54b′ extends through the housing lower end 52b′.
A spool 57′ is positioned within the chamber 54′ for movement along axis X′-X′. The spool 57′ is machined in close tolerance to the chamber 54′ except for a reduced diameter portion 76′. Opposing surfaces of the reduced diameter portion 76′ and the chamber 54′ define an annular chamber 76a′ sealed by upper and lower O-rings 74′, 62′. A reduced diameter pin 55′ extends from the lower end of the spool 57′ through the lower opening 54b′. The spool 57′ moves along axis X′-X′ from a blocking position (shown in FIG. 3) to an open position by movement of the spool 57′ toward lower end 52b′ and against the bias of a spring 60′ surrounding pin 55′.
With reference to FIG. 3, the housing 52′ has an inlet port 56′ adapted to be connected to the pneumatic conduit 44′ of FIG. 1. The housing 52′ further includes an outlet port 58′ for connection to the outlet pneumatic conduit 51′ of FIG. 1.
The ports 56′ and 58′ are connected by a primary pneumatic path including a portion 56a′ extending from inlet port 56′ and a portion 58a′ extending from outlet port 58′. Both the portions 56a′ and 58a′ communicate with the chamber 54′ but are axially offset from one another as illustrated in FIG. 3.
When in the closed position of FIG. 3, the spool 57′ is opposing the first pneumatic path portion 56a′ with path portion 56a′ is positioned between O-rings 62′ and 64′. As a result, pressurized fluid within the first pneumatic path portion 56a′ cannot urge the spool 57′ to move against the bias of the spring 60′. In the open position, the spool 57′ is moved against the bias of spring 60′ (as will be described) to a position with both of the pneumatic path portions 56a′, 58a′ in communication with the annular chamber 76a′.
A secondary flow path 66′ extends from the first pneumatic portion 56a′ to the accumulation chamber 68′. A filter 72′ (FIG. 3) associated with the secondary flow path 66′ to impede the flow of gas into the accumulation chamber 68′.
The filter 72′ is formed of sintered metal or sintered ceramic material. The porous nature of the filter 72′ delays the flow of pressurized gas filling the accumulation chamber 68′ thereby delaying the build-up of pressure against the upper O-ring 74′. After the occurrence of such delay, the pressure within the accumulation chamber 68′ is sufficient to act against the O-ring 74′ to urge the spool 57′ against the bias of the spring 60′ to the open position. In the open position, the annular chamber 76a′ connects the first and second portions 56a′, 58a′ to open the primary pneumatic path between ports 56′, 58′. This permits the flow of pressurized gas to the actuation head 14′.
As is known in the prior art, the amount of delay imparted by the delay apparatus 50′ varies with the selection of the filter 72′. In a fire suppression system, a desired amount of delay may vary between ten to twenty seconds or more depending upon the particular application for use of the system 10′.
The design of the prior art mechanical delay 50′ may also be varied to add additional delay by reason of adding an enlarged accumulation chamber cavity to add an additional time delay. Such a cavity 68a′ is shown in FIG. 2 in fluid flow communication with the chamber 68′ thereby increasing the volume of the accumulation chamber.
The volume of the chamber 68′ may be determined at the time of the design of a particular delay apparatus to add or reduce the amount of delay by a desired amount. Further, the amount of delay can be varied by selecting the porosity of the filter. However, once the design of the filter has been selected and once the volume of chambers 68′, 68a′ has been selected, there is little opportunity to vary the time delay of a particular prior art apparatus 10′.
While prior art delay apparatus 10′ is useful for adding a delay to a pneumatic system, certain features of such designs result in a lack of precise control of the amount of delay to be provided by a prior art apparatus 10′. For example, manufacturing tolerances of the sintered filter 72′, the spring 60′ as well as the dimensions for all internal chambers and pathways, O-rings and other components can result in variability of the individual actual delay times of manufactured prior art apparatus even though they are designed to have identical delay times. Also, an adjustable time delay results in a single design being suitable for a wider range of desired time delay applications.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a design permitting a more consistent and reliable delay time and which permits adjustment of a time delay.

Adjustable time delay for fire suppression system


A coil assembly has a coil form on which the coil winding is arranged as well as a method of contacting the coil assembly on a support member. The coil assembly is easy to produce and also permits electrical contacting, namely, the provision of electrical contacts between terminals of the coil and an external circuit in a simple and reliable manner. The coil assembly has a coil form on which two contact feet are arranged, the ends of the coil winding being fastened to the respective contact feet.

The present invention relates to a coil assembly having a coil form on which the coil winding is arranged on a support body, and a method of contacting, or affixing electrical leads from the coil winding to electrical contacts for connection to an external circuit.
Coils are used in a large number of measuring mechanisms in order to produce a magnetic field. For this, it is necessary that continuous current signals or current pulses be fed to the coil winding. For this purpose, the ends of the winding of the coil are connected to current conducting electric feed lines. In most cases, an end of the winding is soldered or bonded to the electric feed line.
In modern measuring instruments, the coil winding is wound on a coil form. The ends of the wire are soldered to separate contact pins. These contact pins, in their turn, are soldered to the electric feed lines. Several operations are thus necessary for each coil arrangement.

Coil assembly and method for contacting the coil on a support body


The aim of the present invention is to provide a ceramic whetstone (3) which can accelerate sharpening cutlery smoothly. The ceramic whetstone (3) includes a ceramic stick (30) with high straightness accuracy having a plastic nut (31) at a first end, a plastic handle (32) at a second end. A bump (311) disposed on the inner area of the bottom of the plastic nut (31), a fixed bump (321) disposed inside the hollow plastic handle (32) to seal a second end, a stop plate (322) disposed on a top end of the handle (32) for shielding the area between thumb and index finger of a user, the stick (30) has an axial hole (301) accommodates the plastic nut (31) and the handle (32) fit over to both ends respectively, the bump (311) and the fixed bump (321) fit in the axial hole (301) to resist against the stick (30).

A conventional ceramic whetstone, as shown in FIG. 1 is usually made of hardened ceramic powder. The ceramic whetstone (1) includes a handle (10) and a ceramic stick (11) fixed to a first end of the handle (10). It is lighter, stronger for sharpening cutlery than conventional metal whetstone. It costs higher, and is damaged easily. Meanwhile, whetstone made of compact ceramic grits may cause creep deformation to relieve stress.
Accordingly persons skilled in the art have provided some improvement, such as TWM310766 entitled "Hollowed out ceramic whetstone" (As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) to Cheng-Hsien Shen on May 1, 2007, Shen taught the ceramic whetstone (2) comprising: a handle (20) and a ceramic stick (21), characterized in that a pedestal (22) incorporated to a first end of the handle (20), and flexible covers (23) disposed to both first and second ends of the pedestal (22), the stick (21) is hollowed out for fitting over the pedestal, and the flexible covers (23) resist against an inner wall of an axial hole (211) at both first and second ends respectively, the axial hole (211) is formed through the ceramic stick (21), and a cap (25) fit over a first end of the pedestal (22) to resist against the stick (21); thereby, the stick (21) and the pedestal (22) are integrally coupled together.
The ceramic whetstone has some drawbacks as following:
1. Since the handle (20) and the ceramic stick (21) can't be fixed securely, a metal pedestal (22) is inserted into the ceramic stick (21) and secures the ceramic stick (21) by two flexible covers (23). This implement adds extra weight to the ceramic stick (21), and the cost is high due to complex manufacture.
2. The ceramic stick (21) is manufactured by extrusion moulding in which a high quality of craftsmanship is required to reach a high straightness accuracy. Since a high quality of craftsmanship is not easy to apply, the metal pedestal (22) and flexible covers (23) are necessitated to improve the stability of the ceramic stick (21). However, insufficient straightness accuracy causes vibration of the ceramic stick (21) while sharpening the cutlery; this may lower the quality of sharpening and endanger the safety of the user.
3. The cap (25) fit over the first end of the pedestal (22), a nut (24) and a spacer (26) are added for screwing the cap (25) to the pedestal (22); once the cap (25) is loosely out of contact between the pedestal and the stick (21). It may cause the pedestal separated from the stick to induce damage or breaking down to the stick.
4. A handle (20) is shaped with an overall cylindrical surface, when put it on a table with inclined work surface, it is easy to rolling down to cause accidental damages.
5. A pedestal (22) is made of metal, rusted easily, if electric plated and coating required, may increase manufacturing cost.


A bracelet made of links has two rows of side links forming the edges of the bracelet and at least one row of central links. The side links have each one two blind bores opening on the inner side directed towards the central links and the central links are traversed each one by two bores extending therethrough. Free pins are placed freely but without any looseness in the bores of the lateral links and of the central links and they have, at each one of their ends, a groove. The side links have, opening on their lower face, at least one recess giving access to the grooves of two adjoining pins. Blocking members are designed for being inserted into the recesses of the side links and they include retaining members co-operating with the grooves of the pins.

The present invention is concerned with bracelets made of links and, in particular, with watch bracelets made of steel, of a precious metal or of some other material. In such bracelets, the links are hingedly assembled and held together by means of pins, which can be either press-fitted, screwed or freely engaged. The present invention is concerned with bracelets made of links hingedly assembled and held together by means of free pins.
Such a bracelet is known from document FR 2 688 984 which discloses a bracelet made of links assembled by means of free pins of which the ends carry grooves co-operating with housings of connecting means designed for being fastened, in the service position, into a recess provided on the outer links, which recess opens on the inner side face of these links. The fastening of these connecting means in the outer links is carried out by means of screws.
Bracelets made of links of this type have serious drawbacks associated with the fastening of the connecting means by screws into the external links.
Actually, such an assembly requires the use of a tool, such as a screwdriver for assembling and disassembling the bracelet or when adjusting the length of the bracelet. Furthermore, these bracelets exhibit some weakness when subjected to laterally applied traction forces, since all the stress is received solely by the pin, which by necessity has only a very small diameter.
Finally, the assembling and the adjusting of the length of these bracelets must be carried out by trained personnel, since the placing of the connecting means on the pins and then into the housings of the external links and their fastening by means of screws require dexterity and most often the use of special tools, for instance for forming bores.
The present invention is aimed at providing a bracelet made of links hingedly assembled and held together by means of free pins which, on the one hand, is capable of resisting particularly well to laterally applied traction forces and which, on the other hand, can be assembled, disassembled or adjusted in length by unskilled personnel, in particular by the user himself, without the need to form bores or use tools. Another aim of the invention is to make such a bracelet with a minimal number of different components, in order to reduce its cost and facilitate its manufacturing and assembling.
The object of the present invention is a bracelet which is made of links hingedly assembled and held together by means of free pins, which obviates the above-mentioned drawbacks and which achieves the aims cited above. This bracelet is characterised by the features set forth in claim 1 and includes, optionally, those set forth in the dependent claims.
The appended drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example, two embodiments of the bracelet and alternate versions thereof, which bracelet is made of links in according the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view from above of a section of a bracelet comprised of links which are simple in their shapes.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view form above of a section of a bracelet including H-shaped links.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are views at an enlarged scale respectively from beneath and from above, of a detail of the section of a bracelet shown in FIG. 2 and they illustrate in detail the blocking of the pins in the outer links.
FIG. 5 illustrates a first alternate version of the blocking members.
FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternate version of the blocking members.


A method of measuring the pulse width of a light pulse comprises the steps of causing a first light and a second light, which are both light pulse, to enter a medium having a two-photon absorption effect, detecting the first light of the first light and second light which have passed such medium, and measuring the pulse width of the first light or the second light on the basis of the result of the detection, and an apparatus for measuring the pulse width of a light pulse from a light source using this measuring method, whereby to obtain the self correlation function of light pulse of a light to be measured passing through the two-photon absorption medium for the provision of a highly precise measurement of light pulse width without any high precision phase adjustment of the light beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light pulse measuring apparatus capable of measuring optically with a high precision an extremely short light pulse width of picosecond order of the light which is emitted from a light source means such as a laser, and a light pulse width measuring method using the apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Traditionally, there have been proposed various optical apparatuses utilizing nonlinear optical crystal for attempting the measurement of an extremely short light pulse width of approximately picosecond of the light beam which is emitted from a light source.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the principal part of a conventional light pulse width measuring apparatus using an SHG crystal (KDP) as a nonlinear optical crystal capable of producing a second harmonic generation (SHG).
In FIG. 1, a light beam having a frequency .omega. as light to be measured, which is emitted from a light source means 101 is divided by a beam splitter 102 into two light beams, reflection light LR and transmitting light LT. Of these light beams, the transmitting light LT is reflected by a fixed mirror 104 to return to the original light path. Also, the reflection light LR is reflected by a movable mirror 103 in the direction of the optical axis with a varied length of optical path as compared with the transmitting light LT (with a relative time difference .tau. provided) to return to the original light path. Then, the reflected light and transmitting light are mixed by the beam splitter 102. At this juncture, the mirror 103 is shifted for a predetermined amount to give a known relative time difference to the transmitting light and the reflection light.
In this way, the two light beams enter the nonlinear optical crystal (SHG crystal) 105 which can produce a second harmonic generation (SHG) such as KDP.
A relative positional relation between the polarization orientation of the two light beams and the crystal axis of the SHG crystal is arranged to satisfy the phase matching condition required to product the SHG, thereby to enable the highly efficient second harmonic generation (SHG) of frequency 2.omega.. Then, the light beam of frequency .omega. is cut by an .omega. cut filter 106 to allow only the light beam of the 2.omega. frequency to be transmitted for the detection by a photodetector 107. The generation efficiency of the SHG of the 2.omega. frequency (second harmonic generation) from the SHG crystal 105 becomes dependent on a correlation function concerning the time of the two light beams LT and LR.
Then, one of the mirrors 103 is sequentially shifted in the direction of the optical axis to vary the length of its optical path from zero to a value corresponding to one pulse or more, and the luminous intensity of the SHG is then measured by the photodetector 107 to obtain the autocorrelation function of light pulse of the light to be measured. Thus, by using arithmetic means, the pulse shape of the light to be measured is obtained thereby to secure the light pulse width of the light to be measured.
In the light pulse width measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 1 utilizing an SHG crystal, it is necessary to establish each element so that the light beam can satisfy the phase matching condition when the light beam emitted from a light source means enters the SHG crystal. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to assemble and adjust each of the elements with desired accuracy.
There is also a problem that the SHG crystal must be cut out with a high precision in a desired crystal orientation in order to obtain an SHG crystal having a desirable accuracy. Hence an extremely difficult manufacturing is required.

Apparatus for measuring pulse width using two-photon absorption medium


A speech recognition apparatus includes: a recognition device that recognizes a speech of a user and generates a speech character string; a display device that displays the speech character string; a reception device that receives an input of a correction character string, which is used for correction of the speech character string, through an operation portion; and a correction device that corrects the speech character string with using the correction character string.

Conventionally, a speech recognition technique for recognizing a content of a voice of a user is known. This speech recognition technique is applied to an in-vehicle apparatus, so that the apparatus executes various processes in accordance with a result of speech recognition. Thus, a driver, who drives a vehicle, can execute an operation of the in-vehicle apparatus with directing a view point forward and handling a steering wheel. However, it is difficult to always recognize the speech content accurately. Specifically, when the vehicle is in a noisy environment such as in a running state, it is difficult to obtain a speech recognition result appropriately.
Here, the patent document No. 1 teaches a speech recognition apparatus that displays the speech recognition result and correction instructions indicative of multiple patterns with respect to the speech recognition result, and, when the user makes a voice corresponding to one of the correction instructions, recognizes the one of the correction instructions, and further, corrects the original speech recognition result based on the one of the correction instructions, which is recognized in the voice. In this speech recognition apparatus, even when the speech content is misrecognized, the apparatus easily corrects the speech content.
However, when the making voices of the correction instructions resemble each other, the apparatus may misrecognize the voice again. Further, in general, when the speech content is misrecognized, the user can not understand which part of and how the pronunciation of the user is not appropriate. Thus, similar misrecognition may often occur repeatedly. Thus, in the speech recognition apparatus as described in the cited document No. 1, when the correction instruction of the speech recognition result is performed by the voice, the correction instruction made by the voice may be similarly misrecognized. The user may receive strong stress.
[Patent document No. 1] JP-A-2005-283797

Speech recognition apparatus, method of recognizing speech, and computer readable medium for the same


In an electron beam apparatus having an energy analyzer for analyzing the electron beam energy, matching may be performed accurately and easily of the position to be irradiated by an electron beam and the position for which an energy analysis is performed. The electron beam apparatus includes: an electron-optical lens column 401 provided as capable of scanning an electron beam ED in an XY direction and capable of deflecting it in the XY direction; an energy analyzer 408; and image display means 416 for displaying an SEM image of a predetermined range on a sample 407 by an electron beam scanning. An energy analysis area 504 for which electrons are efficiently taken into the energy analyzer is displayed as an image upon the SEM image by analyzing an output information obtained at the energy analyzer 408 at the time of an electron beam scanning. An analyzing electron-beam irradiation position 502 to be irradiated by an electron beam on the trajectory emitted from the electron-optical lens column 401 at the time corresponding to the non-scanning state of the electron beam is displayed as an image upon the SEM image. The trajectory of the electron beam to be irradiated onto the sample is deflected so that the energy analysis area 504 and the analyzing electron-beam irradiation position 502 are matched on the SEM image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates electron beam apparatus having an energy analyzer or energy analyzers for analyzing electron beam energy such as an electron beam energy loss spectrum measuring apparatus or an Auger electron spectrum measuring apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the importance of analyzing composition, state of electrons, structure, etc., of a fine region on a sample surface has been increased in developments and researches of the electronic materials such as semiconductors or newly developed materials such as fine ceramics. For this reason, apparatus are used for analyzing a fine region of the order of microns by irradiating a narrow focused electron beam onto the sample.
An example of this type of electron beam apparatus is shown in FIG. 5. In this figure, numeral 1 denotes an electron gun and numeral 2 denotes an electron lens, both being accommodated in an electron-optical lens column 3. The other components includes: an electron beam (EB) 4; a sample 5; an energy analyzer 6; a focusing lens 7; sector electrodes 8; an electron beam detector 9; a signal amplifier 10; a computer 11; an input device 12; a display unit 13; and a storage unit 14.
In such an apparatus, the electron beam 4 emitted from the electron gun 1 is irradiated onto the sample 5 as it is focused by the electron lens 2. As a result, reflected electrons or electrons generated due to the electron beam irradiation are emitted from the sample 5, the emitted electrons being guided to the energy analyzer 6. At the energy analyzer 6, the energy axis is moved in accordance with a command from the computer 11 to perform energy analysis of the guided electrons. The result of energy analysis detected at the electron beam detector or detectors 9 is/are for example displayed on the electron display unit 13 through a predetermined signal processing. It should be noted that, in such an apparatus, the focusing lens 7 is provided at the energy analyzer 6 so that electrons from a region of several hundred .mu.m to 1 mm of the sample may be efficiently guided into the energy analyzer 6 in order to analyze a fine region of the sample.
Here, a problem which must be considered in performing analysis of a fine region of the sample by an irradiation of such electron beam is that matching of three regions assumed on the sample surface is desirable to perform a suitable analysis, the three regions being an analytical target area, an electron beam irradiation position at the time of analysis and an energy analysis area. In other words, it is necessary for a suitable analyzing operation to accurately irradiate the electron beam onto an intended position of the analysis and to efficiently take in by the energy analyzer the electrons emitted from the sample due to the electron beam irradiation. Here, the analytical target area refers to a region on the sample surface which is considered as the object of analysis by the analyst; the analyzing electron beam irradiation position refers to the position on the sample surface onto which the electron beam emitting from the electron-optical lens column is irradiated when the electron beam apparatus is in its state for executing analysis; and the energy analysis area refers to the region where the electrons emitted from the sample are efficiently guided to the energy analyzer.
For this reason, in the conventional electron beam apparatus, the electron-optical lens column, energy analyzer, and vacuum vessel for forming an analytical chamber, etc., are manufactured highly accurately in their dimension to make smaller the errors in mechanically attaching for example the electron-optical lens column and the energy analyzer to the vacuum vessel. In addition, it is usually constructed so as to allow an adjustment of relative position or posture of the respective portions of the apparatus such as the electron gun, a stage for placing a sample and the energy analyzer. For example, means capable of a fine adjustment of the relative position is generally provided to enhance the degree of matching of the above described regions. Known fine adjustment means of this type include: adjustment means for, while observing an electron beam detection signal from the energy analyzer in a state where the electron beam apparatus is operated, adjusting the positions, for example, of the electron-optical lens column, energy analyzer and sample or adjusting the analyzing electron beam irradiation position by an electron beam alignment device provided on the electron-optical lens column such that the detection signal is brought to its maximum in order to match the analyzing electron beam irradiation position and the energy analysis area.
In the conventional apparatus as described above, however, the two regions, i.e., the analyzing electron beam irradiation position and the energy analysis area cannot be detected with a clear distinction from each other. In actual operation, a manual adjustment by the operator is required, resulting in an intricate and time consuming adjustment.
Further, in the case where an extremely limited region is to be measured, matching is desired not only between the analyzing electron-beam irradiation position and the energy analysis area but also of the three regions also including the analytical target area. A suitable method for this has not been provided.
As described above, fine adjustment means for matching an analyzing electron beam irradiation position and an energy analysis area which is conventionally employed in an electron beam apparatus having an energy analyzer or energy analyzers requires an intricate and time consuming adjustment as it is incapable of providing a view with a clear distinction between the two regions. Further, a suitable method or means has not been provided to match the three regions, i.e., analytical target area, analyzing electron beam irradiation position and energy analysis area. In view of these current state of facts, the present inventor undertook an intensive research and has achieved the present invention.

Method and apparatus for adjusting electron beam apparatus

Research Development Corporation of Japan


Steel sheet having a composition of ingredients containing substantially, by mass %, C: 0.005 to 0.200%, Si: 2.50% or less, Mn: 0.10 to 3.00%, N: 0.0100% or less, Nb: 0.005 to 0.100%, and Ti: 0.002 to 0.150% and satisfying the relationship of Ti−48/14×N≧0.0005, having a sum of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {100}<001> orientation and the {110}<001> orientation of a ⅙ sheet thickness part of 5 or less, having a sum of the maximum value of the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {110}<111> to {110}<112> orientation group and the X-ray random intensity ratios of the {211}<111> orientation of 5 or more, and having a high rolling direction Young's modulus measured by the static tension method and a method of production of the same are provided.

The correlation of the Young's modulus and crystal orientation of iron is extremely strong. For example, the <111> orientation Young's modulus ideally is over 280 GPa, while the <110> orientation Young's modulus is about 220 GPa. On the other hand, the <100> orientation Young's modulus is about 130 GPa. The Young's modulus changes according to the crystal orientation. Further, when the crystal orientation of the steel material does not have orientation in any specific direction, that is, the texture is random, the Young's modulus of the steel sheet is about 205 GPa.
Up to now, a large number of technologies have been proposed regarding steel sheets controlling the texture to raise the Young's modulus in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction (referred to as the "transverse direction"). Further, for technology for simultaneously raising the rolling direction and transverse direction Young's modulus of steel sheet, for example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 4-147917 proposes a method of production of steel plate not only rolling in a certain direction, but also rolling in a direction perpendicular to this. This method of changing the direction of rolling in the middle can be performed relatively simply in the process of rolling steel plate.
However, even in the case of producing steel plate, depending on the width and length of the steel plate, it is sometimes necessary to make the rolling direction fixed. Further, in particular in the case of thin-gauge steel sheet, the sheet is often produced by the continuous hot rolling process of continuously rolling a steel slab to obtain a steel strip, so technology changing the rolling direction in the middle is not practical. Furthermore, the width of the thin-gauge steel sheet produced by the continuous hot rolling process is at most about 2 m. For this reason, for example, to apply a high Young's modulus steel sheet to a building material or other long member of over 2 m, it was necessary to raise the rolling direction Young's modulus.
To meet such demands, some of the inventors proposed the method of giving shear strain to the surface layer of a steel sheet part to raise the rolling direction Young's modulus of the surface layer part (for example, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2005-273001, International Patent Publication No. 06-011503, Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2007-46146, and Japanese Patent Publication (A) No. 2007-146275).
The steel sheets obtained by the methods proposed in these patent documents have textures increasing the rolling direction Young's modulus at the surface layer part. For this reason, these steel sheets have high Young's moduli of the surface layer parts and have Young's moduli measured by the vibration method of over 230 GPa.
One method of measurement of the Young's modulus, that is, the vibration method, gives bending deformation to the steel sheet while changing the frequency, finds the frequency at which resonance occurs, and converts this to the Young's modulus. The Young's modulus measured by this method is also called the "dynamic Young's modulus". This is the Young's modulus obtained at the time of bending deformation. The contribution of the surface layer part with the large bending moment is great.
However, for example, when a load is applied to long beams or columns or other building materials or structural members of automobiles such as pillars or support members or other such long frame members, the stress acting on these is tensile stress and compressive stress and not bending stress. Further, automobile support members require a high impact absorption energy ability when receiving compressive deformation from the viewpoint of impact safety. For this reason, to improve the impact absorption energy of the member, it is necessary to secure the rigidity with respect to the tensile stress and compressive stress. In the face of such demands, it is effective to raise the Young's modulus in the longitudinal direction of the member with respect to the tensile stress and compressive stress.
Therefore, for the Young's modulus of the member on which this tensile stress and compressive stress act, it is extremely important to raise the Young's modulus measured by not the vibration method, but the static tension method, that is, the static Young's modulus. The static Young's modulus is the Young's modulus found from the inclination at the elastic deformation region of the stress-strain curve obtained at the time of the tensile test. It is the Young's modulus of the material as a whole determined by only the ratio of the thickness of the high Young's modulus layer and low layer.
To raise the rolling direction static Young's modulus, it is necessary to control the texture from the surface layer to a location deep in the plate thickness direction. Note that control of the texture of the entire sheet thickness from the surface layer to the sheet thickness center location is more preferable.
However, in the method proposed in these patent documents, it was difficult to introduce shear strain up to the center part of the plate thickness at the time of rolling. Further, depending on the ingredients and production conditions, in the texture of the sheet thickness center part, there is a possibility of a formation of orientation lowering the rolling direction Young's modulus.
For this reason, while the Young's modulus measured by the vibration method can be raised to 230 GPa or more, the Young's modulus measured by the static tension method is not necessarily high. That is, there has never been steel sheet with a rolling direction Young's modulus measured by the static tension method of 220 GPa or more.

High young's modulus steel plate and method of production of same


A bicycle sound generator manufactured using a thin, deformable, plastic material. The sound generator is wrapped around an attachment location, such as a bicycle fork, and secured using a fastener. In an exemplary embodiment, the fastener is a cable tie with a one-way tightening mechanism to prevent the sound generator from coming loose once it has been attached at the attachment location. The sound generator may be rotated about the attachment location to come into an engagement position where a free-end portion of the sound generator makes contact with the spokes of a rotating wheel. When no sound is desired, the sound generator may be rotated such that the free-end portion is disengaged from the spokes and produces no sound. Graphical images, such as decorations, team logos, political messages and the like may be added to the sound generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to an apparatus and method for sound generation on a bicycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many readers will recall childhood memories of attaching a baseball card to a bicycle frame using a clothespin to create a flapping "motorcycle" sound as the baseball card is struck by the spokes of the rotating bicycle wheel. While such an approach was inexpensive, the baseball card would soon wear out or become bent so as to fail to produce the desired sound. In addition, if the baseball card became wet, it was no longer able to produce the desired sound.
Since that time, others have attempted various forms of bicycle sound generators. Some are directed to attachment mechanisms that are expensive to manufacture, difficult to install, and may damage the paint finish on the bicycle. For example, one known approach comprises a bicycle sound generator made of stiff plastic. This type of generator includes a flap portion to extend into and engage the spokes of the bicycle and a preformed attachment mechanism with a partially cylindrical interior portion to clip over a rounded bicycle fork. A gap along the length of the cylindrical plastic attachment mechanism allows the sound generator to be snapped onto a round bicycle fork. The drawback of this approach is that the cylindrical-shaped attachment mechanism is only useable with a round bicycle fork. Bicycle forks commonly have an oval cross section fork, which is incompatible with the cylindrical attachment mechanism of the known bicycle sound generator. In addition, the stiff plastic may damage the paint of the bicycle fork when it is snapped into place. Removal of the bicycle sound generator may cause further damage to the paint at the point of attachment.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there is a significant need for a bicycle sound generator having a simple attachment mechanism, readily adaptable to different cross sectional shapes at the bicycle attachment location and attachment in a manner that will not damage the finish of the bicycle. The present invention provides this, and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures.


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip and a wiring formed on the chip. An interlayer film is located on the wiring. A pad is located on the interlayer film and is connected to the wiring with contacts that extend from the wiring, through the interlayer film, to the pad. The contacts include a first group of contacts located near the perimeter of the pad and a second group of pads located near the center of the pad. By limiting the number and placement of the contacts, the pad allows for a secure connection between the pad and the wiring and between the pad and a bonding wire.

The invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a connection structure for input/output pads of the semiconductor device.
Generally in a packaged LSI, a chip and a package are interconnected by bonding wires. The chip is centrally formed and includes an internal logic circuit. The upper surface of the chip is formed with a plurality of I/O pads around its outer periphery. These pads are used to feed power to and for input/output of signals to and from the internal logic circuit. The pads are interconnected with lead electrodes which are exposed outside the package by means of bonding wires.
A first example of a conventional connection structure for an I/O pad 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). FIG. 1(a) is a top plan view of the pad 11, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1b--1b of FIG. 1(a).
An interlayer film 12, such as an oxide film, is disposed below the pad 11 which is substantially square in configuration. A wiring 13 is disposed below the pad 11. The pad 11 and the wiring 13 are interconnected via a plurality of contacts 14 that are aligned along each side of the pad 11. An automatic wire bonder, not shown, bonds a bonding wire 15 to a central region of the pad 11.
The pad 11 has a plurality of depressions 16 of a very small depth in its upper surface at locations which correspond to the contacts 14. The depressions 16 are formed when the pad 11 is formed. Because the depressions 16 are located around the outer edges of the pad 11, the upper surface of the pad 11 exhibits a high level of flatness which insures that there is an extensive area for bonding between the pad 11 and the wire 15, thus allowing a reliable connection between the pad 11 and the wire 15.
The pad 11 is interconnected with the wiring 13 via the contacts 14 which are disposed along the outer edges of the pad 11. This means that the number of interconnections between the pad 11 and the wiring 13 is small, leading to a low connection strength of the pad 11. In order to provide a higher level of integration, integrated circuits use multiple wiring layers and the contacts 14 are made much thinner than before. This further contributes to reducing the connection strength of the pad 11.
Reduced connection strength of the pad 11 presents a problem in the bonding process. When the bonder affixes the wire 15 to the pad 11, an upward force is applied to the pad 11 by the wire 15 which may separate the pad 11 from the interlayer film 12 or the interlayer film 12 from the wiring 13. Because no connection via the contacts 14 is made to the wiring 13 from the central region of the pad 11, the central region of the pad 11 is particularly susceptible to separation.
A second example of a conventional pad connection structure which is designed to exhibit an increased strength against the upward force caused by the wire 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b). A pad 11a is interconnected with a wiring 13 via contacts 14 which are located at equal intervals over the entire surface of the pad 11a. The number of interconnections between the pad 11a and the wiring 13 or the contacts 14 is increased, and hence the pad 11a is firmly secured to the wiring 13 (and also to the interlayer film 12). Separation of the pad 11a from either the interlayer film 12 or the wiring 13 is prevented, although an upward force is still applied to the pad 11 during the bonding operation.
However, because a number of depressions 16, which corresponds to the number of contacts 14, are formed in the upper surface of the pad 11, the surface flatness of the pad 11a is reduced, which reduces an area on the upper surface of the pad 11a for bonding with wire 15. Accordingly, the wire 15 is susceptible to separation from the pad 11a, resulting in a degradation in the reliability of the integrated circuit.
It is an object of the invention to provide a semiconductor device with an increased pad connection strength.

Semiconductor device with improved pad connection


A method, a system and a computer program product for regression test selection in a multi-threaded distributed target program execution tested by multi-threaded test suites. The method includes monitoring changes to source code of the target program in real-time to determine changed code-modules and extracting the regression test cases which simulate the changed code-modules. A calibration engine according to an embodiment isolates test case execution flow at individual test case level and builds relationship between the test case of the multi-threaded test suite and the distributed target program code-modules simulated by the test case. The method enhances the run-time behavior of the target program execution engines and builds relationships between the threads executing in the engine through throttling mechanism without affecting the actual functional execution. It enables calibration to happen in a multi-threaded test environment.

Modern day testing frameworks make extensive use of multi-threaded (multi-user or parallel) test execution and there are no known solutions currently to track the execution path of multi-threaded, distributed target program execution at an individual test-case level. Each time the software is released to production with new features, it has to be regression-tested to ensure that the new software code has not introduced any defect into the existing program features. The regression testing is a costly exercise in terms of time and effort. Due to inter-dependencies in modern day software code, a single line of code-change may cause potential defects in any other part of the code and hence the entire software product needs to be regression tested. Moreover modern day software deployment pipelines require an instant feedback on whether the new code introduced causes any existing feature to break. Running entire regression suites in such scenarios is impractical. Selecting and executing only a subset of regression test cases based on impact becomes a key need.
Existing Techniques etc. discloses, tracking the target program execution through dynamic analysis and creating a mapping using code coverage tools but this solution works for single-threaded regression test suites only. This is an impractical pre-requisite considering most modern day test suites are multi-threaded in nature. Changing the execution mode of the regression test suite to single-threaded execution causes a huge spike in the execution time. As the test-coverage increases, the number of regression test cases increase correspondingly and the difference would only exacerbate over time rendering any such solution ineffective. Moreover, as far as target programs having a user interface (UI) is concerned, the parallel execution of regression test cases is essentially required even at lower test coverage, owing to the slow nature of UI execution where each parallel thread represents a different user performing a series of actions while interacting with the software program using the UI. Moreover the inter-play of parallel threads or multi-users present a more realistic replica of production execution and may be preferred over the single-thread or single-user test execution model. Most importantly, the dynamic tracking of program execution to map the test cases to program code-modules (called calibration process henceforth) is not a one-time affair but is an ongoing process wherein the mapping needs to be constantly refined and re-calibrated for each source code change.
Running the test suite in single threaded mode places severe constraints on the net execution time saved (ETS) as the time saved due to regression test selection could be more than offset by the additional calibration time which could be exponentially higher in single threaded mode and may render ETS into potentially negative territory. This is particularly true for target programs having an UI where each user session is treated as a separate thread. Testing such type of programs in a single threaded test execution mode causes a sequential action for each test case and leads to an exponential increase in execution time. This is compounded by the fact that even a very small configuration or code change could trigger a large change in the execution flow for a number of test cases and render the mapping data meaningless and hence calibration is not a one-time activity but needs to be done on a far more frequent basis.
In a conventional Rothermel and Harrold approach, the regression test selection process is implemented by mapping each test case to the code modules of the target program that gets simulated during execution. However, in order to meet the Rothermel and Harrold's definition in principle, the entire calibration has to be run at frequent intervals potentially pushing ETS into negative territory. In ideal case scenarios, the calibration must be done for every single code change check-in into the source code control system. A more practical approach may be to run the calibration at least once every few hours or at end-of-day, whereas the condensed regressions are run for every single code check-in. In either case there is a need to bring-in calibration time into the equation. The entire test selection edifice and all possible approaches collapse if ETS were negative.
Hence there is a need to optimize the calibration time. During calibration in the multi-threaded test execution scenario, the interplay of threads gets quite complicated as thread execution sequence is not guaranteed either on the regression test execution machine (RTEM) or on the target program execution machine (TPEM). Another complication is that for many modern day programming languages, all threads executing are considered siblings of each other and relationships are not maintained. For e.g. in case the target program is being executed on a Java™ Virtual machine (JVM), the JVM by its very specification does not retain parent-child relation between threads. The link between the originating thread/parent and the worker thread/child is not available, though it is possible to group similar threads together with explicit coding. All of the above complicates the problem domain severely because at any point of time there could be 'n' test cases executing and 'm' user threads where there is no mapping from 'n' to 'm'. The situation becomes even more complicated for target programs having a UI like a web interface where the user (HTTP) requests are stateless and each request runs in a separate thread. Thus theoretically a single test case can produce N different threads and each of these threads could potentially produce many more. Without knowing which test case is associated with which threads, it is not possible to track the execution flow of a test case at an individual level which is the very premise for an optimized calibration.
Another complication arises in case of a distributed target program environment. Prior-art disclosures for test selection using dynamic analysis uses code coverage tools which are largely used in conjunction with only a single target program execution machine (TPEM). Moreover the code coverage tools work in presence of the associated source code. In many practical situations the source code may not be available. Third party libraries may have been used or there could be a lack of access to certain common code and instead executable libraries are distributed for usage without associated source code rending current solutions ineffective for such scenarios.
On one hand, the software industry is moving towards a phase where it expects regression tests to be run for every single change (commit) of the source code of the target program. On the other hand, the regression test case coverage typically increases steadily over time as more and more test cases are added to make the target program more defect-proof. This dual effect of increased frequency of test execution coupled with increase in the number of regression test cases itself slows down the entire pipeline. Significant efforts are now being spent by the industry in devising solutions to condense test suites instead of executing the entire test suite during regression. However all currently known approaches suffer from the limitations of having to run 1-test case at a time (single-thread) while the calibration is being done. Thus the calibration process itself is the bottleneck here and for reasons explained in detail in the preceding sections, it not a 1-time process either. Running one test case at a time as opposed to the industry standard practice of running test cases in parallel or multi-thread increases the execution time during calibration. Another limitation of using current approaches is that modern code is now typically service-based with data coming from multiple distributed servers. Hence existing prior-art approaches cannot be used in real-time scenarios. Accordingly, there is a need of a method, system and computer program product which can overcome the above mentioned problems.

Method and system for regression test selection in a multi-threaded distributed target program execution tested by multi-threaded test suites


A method for enhancing effectiveness of a rotor blade of a wind energy device (a wind-wheel of electric generating unit), according to which a rotor blade is implemented in the form of a thick-airfoil wing, and a vortex system for controlling the boundary layer is arranged on the rear portion of the blade, upon the leeward, which system consists of longitudinal cavities having central bodies that define annular channels; the air being sucked from the cavities and central bodies through air-intakes into receivers. The air from the receivers, under the action of centrifugal forces generated by the rotating blade, is sucked towards the blade end. Within the cavities and on the blade's outer surface are positioned the plates that restrict streaming-down of the air flow along the blade.

A device for controlling the boundary layer is known, in which a method of enhancing the effectiveness of controlling the boundary layer on an aerodynamic surface (for example, on the surface of a rotor blade of a wind energy device) is realized by suction withdrawal of air from the rear wall of the cavity in combination with tangential blowing into an annular channel (see patent RU 2032595, IPC B 64 C 21/08, 10 Apr. 1995).
A drawback of the method for enhancing the effectiveness of a rotor blade is that such a vortex control of the boundary layer cannot be used for the rotor blades of a WED with a horizontal axis of rotation, since the vortex cells (cavities with central bodies), positioned along the geometrical axes of the blades, will not be transverse to the flow of air because of the powerful tangential flow of air formed during rotation of the rotor blades of the WED.

Method for increasing operating efficiency of the rotor blade of an aerogenerator (variants)


A remote wound assessment method and apparatus includes forming an oblique image of a wound and a target plate containing a rectangle and placed near the wound. Using a novel method of determining vanishing points where photographic images of parallel lines on the target object intersect, coordinate transformations are calculated which map the oblique image of the rectangle into a normal image thereof. Using the same coordinate transformations, an oblique image of a wound adjacent to the target plate is mapped into a normal view thereof, allowing precise measurement of wound features. By forming two separate images of a wound and target plate at two different oblique inclinations, three dimensional features of a wound may be measured.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for visually assessing the vitality of biological tissue. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for remote photogrammetric assessment of the extent of wound damage to external tissues of a human or animal.
B. Description of Background Art
Treatment of external wounds to the bodies of humans and animals usually includes visual evaluations of the healing process by a medical doctor, veterinarian, nurse or clinical specialist. Such evaluations are necessary to determine whether the wound treatment regimen is successful in reducing the volume or damage to necrotic tissue, indicating a satisfactory rate of healing of the wound.
The expertise of experienced doctors or clinicians in visually assessing changes in color, texture or area size of damaged biological tissue is an important asset in determining the effectiveness of medical procedures used to treat wounds. However, a problem exists in measuring the size of wounds, to determine whether the area of damaged biological tissue is increasing or decreasing. Such quantitative assessments are particularly important in monitoring the growth rate of wounds infected by gangrene or "flesh-eating" bacteria, since the rapid unchecked growth of these infections can necessitate amputation, or result in death.
A number of devices have been disclosed that relate generally to the field of assisting in visual evaluation of human body parts, some of which utilize optical means. These include the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
Kawahara, 3,817,635, Jun. 18, 1974, Device For Measuring The Actual Dimension Of An Object At The Forward End Portion Of An Endoscope:
Discloses a device for measuring the actual dimension of an object in the field of view of an endoscope, the forward end portion of which is adapted to be inserted into a hollow portion of a living body or the like for the inspection thereof. The endoscope is provided with a fixed focal length objective lens system, a differential mechanism, and a sizing means along with adjusting means for the objective lens system, and a distance measuring means. One sizing means disclosed comprises a caliper having measured spaced pointers. A second sizing means disclosed comprises a pair of blades pivotally mounted in symmetrical relation to each other, the blades provided with cut out portions adapted for size measurement. A third sizing means disclosed comprises an iris diaphragm. The actual size of an object appearing in the field of view is measured directly by differentially coupling the differential mechanism with the sizing means and either the adjusting means for the objective lens system, or the distance measuring means for measuring the size of the object appearing in the field of view. An indicating means coupled with the differential mechanism indicates directly the actual dimension of the object regardless of the variation in the distance between the object and the forward end portion of the endoscope.
Mizumoto, 4,278,077, Jul. 14, 1981, Medical Camera System:
Discloses a capsule-shaped miniature camera comprising at least one permanent magnet, an induction coil, a lamp serially connected to the induction coil and a shutter device. The induction coil induces an electromotive force when a magnetic field generated by electromagnets outside the camera acts on it. The electromotive force turns on the lamp and drives the shutter device.
Landwehr, 4,370,039, Jan. 25, 1983, Method and Apparatus For Photographically Measuring An Object:
Discloses a method in which a composite photographic picture is generated through double-exposure, whereby the object, as for instance a person, is photographed on one half of the picture whereas a grid pattern is photographed on the other half; for the second exposure, person and grid pattern change position. In each instance of exposure, a line pattern is projected onto the object under utilization of one movable or two fixed, overhung projectors. Equipment is enclosed, permitting easy change of scenery.
Zoltan, 4,535,782, Aug. 20, 1985, Method For Determining Wound Volume:
Discloses a non-contacting volume determination method for use on wounds, in which a known pattern of lines optically projected onto the volume to be determined. The image of the projection viewed from an angle other than the projection, axis, along with the image of a reference volume located near the volume to be determined, are used to accurately determine the unknown volume.
Hallous, 4,564,295, Jan. 14, 1986, Apparatus And Method For Projection Moire Topography:
Discloses an apparatus and method for obtaining an improved moire fringe pattern image of an object. A beam of incoherent light is projected at the object. A grating is disposed in the path of the beam projected at the object, this grating being referred to as a projection grating. Means are provided for focusing the beam reflected from the object to obtain an image at an image plane. This movable grating is referred to as a reference grating. Means are provided for recording the image at the image plane, the recording means being, for example, a photographic or video camera. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, means are provided for moving the projection grating and the reference grating in synchronism. In a preferred embodiment, the projection and reference gratings are mounted in spaced relation in a movable member, and the synchronized motion of the gratings is implemented by moving the member. In a form of the disclosure, a double-projection set-up is used wherein two projection beams are directed at the object through first and second movable projection gratings, respectively. In this embodiment, the first and second projection gratings are moved in synchronism with the reference grating. This is preferably achieved by mounting the three gratings in appropriate spaced relationship in a common member, and moving the member.
Gormley, 4,569,358, Feb. 11, 1986, Optical Micrometry Of Skin Surfaces:
Discloses an apparatus and method for measuring changes in the topology of a skin surface in which a series of casts are taken of the skin surface, using an elastomeric material such as silicone rubber in a liquid state which is later polymerized, the casts being taken of a skin surface over a period of time and then measured by means of an automatically focusing microscope to produce a quantitative model of the changes in the topology of the surface.
Landwehr, 4,786,925, Nov. 22, 1988, Photographic Contour Measurement:
Discloses a method for measuring contours of a human body in which horizontal lines are projected onto a person from a plurality of overhead projectors, each projecting at a 45 degrees angle, all of the projectors have parallel optical axes, the person being photographed with the projected raster superimposed.
Steinhauer et al., 4,996,994, Mar. 5, 1991, Apparatus For Photogrammetrically Measuring The Human Head:
Discloses a process device for the photogrammetrical measurement of the human head, especially of the middle region of the face with the eye sockets, the nose, the cheek bones and the brows, which is comprised of a projector for projecting a pattern image onto the face and two cameras which can simultaneously take two pictures from two different directions of the face and head with the pattern image projected on it. The two cameras and the projector are supported by an apparatus carrier, which can be moved in a vertical direction relative to a base permanently connected in the device and in at least one horizontal direction. This minimum of one direction coincides with the optical axes of the cameras. The device will facilitate bringing both the projector and the cameras on the one hand and the human head on the other into the required relative position to one another as necessary to take the pictures.
Of the prior art references cited above, those most applicable to the problem of optically assessing external body parts include Landwehr, 4,370,039, which discloses a method and apparatus for measuring body contours that uses a projected grid pattern on the body, and a double photographic exposure, with the body in different positions for the two exposures, Zoltan, 4,535,782, which discloses a non-contacting volume determination method for use on wounds, in which a grid pattern is projected onto the wound, and the wound and pattern photographed, Hallous, 4,564,295, which discloses a method and apparatus for remotely measuring surface contours of an object that uses one or more grid patterns produced by projecting light through a grating onto the object surface, and a reference grating that produces a Moire pattern with light reflected off of the object, the patterns to be photographed, and Landwehr, 4,786,925, which discloses a method for remotely measuring body contours by projecting a grid pattern onto the body, and photographing the reflected pattern. Steinhauer et al. 4,996,994, discloses an apparatus for making photogrammetric measurements of the human head using two cameras photographing a grid pattern projected on the head.
None of the prior art references known to the present inventors is particularly well-suited to either qualitative or quantitative assessment of wound characteristics, because the projected grid patterns or Moire patterns used in prior art methods obscure certain wound features. Moreover, none of the prior art provides means for quantitatively establishing the color boundary of a wound. The present invention was conceived of to provide a method and apparatus for photogrammetric assessment of biological tissue that overcomes limitations of the prior art.

Method and apparatus for photogrammetric assessment of biological tissue


A solid separator that uses a rotating screen, having spiral guides at its outer portion, over which a plurality of spiral-shaped scrapers are suspended. An inlet distributor including a plurality of apertures distributes a contaminated liquid flow over the screen, when rotated, permits the scrapers and guides to drive the deposited debris towards an outer edge of the screen and up a slight conical ramp and into a debris discharge sump. A level sensor may be included above the screen to activate the screen rotation based on the level of the contaminated liquid flow above the screen. An alternative embodiment uses individual scraper supports having respective jack mechanisms that permit the operator to independently lift and even rotate each scraper for additional cleaning or service. The alternative embodiment uses an assembly of two screens having an outer portion that also includes a slight conical ramp having spiral guides thereon.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to filter devices and, more particularly, to filters for separating solid material from liquid flows.
2. Description of Related Art
In some industries, e.g., the food processing industry, it is necessary to remove relatively large solid materials attached to food products using a liquid flow (e.g., water) while minimizing the loss of the liquid during the filtering process and while maintaining liquid conditions (e.g., maintaining the temperature of the liquid flow). In many situations, the filtering processes are established in remote locations where the need to recycle the liquid flow is critical. Thus, the loss of such liquid flow must be minimized during filtering.
Thus, there remains a need for filtering such solid materials from a liquid flow while minimizing the loss of such liquid during the filtering process and while maintaining liquid conditions.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.


A throttle valve for adjusting an amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine includes throttle shafts disposed in an intake air passage perpendicularly across the longitudinal axis of the air passage, and first and second valve members mounted on the throttle shafts for opening/closing about the throttle shafts independently of each other. By these first and second valve members, there are formed main air passages for causing air to flow in the intake air passage along the longitudinal axis of the intake air passage toward the internal combustion engine and auxiliary intake air passages for causing air to flow in the intake air passage substantially perpendicularly across the longitudinal axis of the air passage.

Among the conventionally-known throttle valves is one in the form of a disk-shaped butterfly valve mounted on a throttle shaft. FIG. 12 is a view explanatory of behavior of a typical example of the conventional throttle valve. Throttle shaft 202 is disposed in an intake air passage 201 perpendicularly across the longitudinal axis of the intake air passage 201, and a throttle valve 203 is mounted on the throttle shaft 202. As shown, an amount of air intake is adjustable by opening the throttle valve 203. So-called "wake", comprising numerous vortex flows, occurs in airflows near the downstream side of the throttle valve 203, as indicated by arrows. However, the wake, occurring near the downstream side of the throttle valve 203, results in a great pressure drop and hence a great fluid resistance at the downstream side of the throttle valve 203. When the throttle valve 203 is opened, the great fluid resistance prevents a sufficient amount of air from being supplied to the combustion chamber, so that the number of rotations of the engine can not increase promptly. Thus, if the above-mentioned fluid resistance can be reduced in some way or other, the number of rotations of the engine may be allowed to increase more promptly, which may enhance throttle response.
Further, there have been known various examples of techniques for producing a swirl in the combustion chamber through arrangements of the air intake system having the throttle valve disposed therein, such as (1) the one employing a swirl control valve (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-11-247661), (2) the one employing a swirl control valve and a swirl port (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-235546), (3) the one employing a throttle valve disposed upstream of a pair of air intake ports and an inclined throttle shaft supporting the throttle valve (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-201968), and (4) the one employing a helical port (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. HEI-7-158459).
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a general setup of an intake-air swirling current producing apparatus disclosed in the No. HEI-11-247661 publication mentioned in item (1) above, which is particularly explanatory of the conventional swirl producing technique employed therein. In an air intake tube 210, there are provided a throttle valve 211 and swirl control valve 212 disposed downstream of the throttle valve 211. Step motor 214, which is connected to a rotation shaft 213 of the swirl control valve 212, is controlled by a control unit 218 on the basis of output signals from a throttle opening (i.e., opening degree or opening position) sensor 215, intake air meter 216 and engine rotation speed meter 217, to open/close the swirl control valve 212 to thereby produce a swirl. However, because the technique shown in FIG. 13 requires the swirl control valve 212, shaft 213 and step motor 214 in order to produce the swirl and particular software in order for the control unit 218 to process the output signals from the throttle opening degree sensor 215, intake air meter 216 and engine rotation speed meter 217, the number of components of the air intake system would increase, which results in a complicated structure and increased overall size and cost of the air intake system.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing an intake-air swirling current producing apparatus disclosed in the No. 2002-235546 publication mentioned in item (2) above, which is particularly explanatory of the conventional swirl producing technique employed therein. In an air intake tube 220, there are provided a throttle valve 221, main and swirl ports 223 and 224 separated from each other via a partition wall 222 downstream of the throttle valve 221, swirl control valve 225 disposed within the main port 223, and a guide fin 226 for directing intake air flows within the main port 223 toward the swirl port 224. Reference numeral 227 represents a motor for driving the swirl control valve 225, 228 a controller for controlling the driving motor 227, and 229 a cylinder. However, in this case too, because the technique shown in FIG. 14 requires the partition wall 222 within the air intake tube 220, the swirl control valve 225 and guide fin 226 within the main port 223 in order to produce the swirl and the motor 227 and controller 228 in order to drive the swirl control valve 225, the number of components of the air intake system would increase, which results in a complicated structure and increased overall size and cost of the air intake system.
FIG. 15 is a view showing an air intake apparatus disclosed in the No. 2002-201968 publication mentioned in item (3) above, which is particularly explanatory of the conventional swirl producing technique employed therein. In the air intake apparatus, as seen in section (a) of FIG. 15, a throttle valve 233 is fixed via a throttle shaft 232 to a throttle body 231, a pair of air intake ports 237 and 238 communicate at one end with a downstream end of a throttle bore 236 defined by the throttle body 231 and communicate at the other end with a combustion chamber 241 through air intake valves 242. The throttle valve 233 comprises lower and upper valve members 244 and 245.
Further, in section (b) of FIG. 15, the throttle bore 236 has a concavely-curved surface 246 over its region that corresponds to a setting of an opening degree θ1 from a fully-closed position to an opened position of the valve member 245 for medium load operation. The concavely-curved surface 246 is formed into a shape corresponding to a trajectory of the outer periphery of the upper valve member 245. Thus, as the throttle shaft 232 is rotated slightly, the lower valve member 244 opens with the upper valve member 245 remaining closed, so that intake air is introduced only through the lower valve member 244 and then flows into the combustion chamber 241 through one of the air intake ports 237 (section (a) of FIG. 15) to produce a swirl in the combustion chamber 241.
As seen in section (c) of FIG. 15, the throttle shaft 232 is inclined at an angle θ2 relative to an axis line 247 interconnecting the respective centers of the air intake valves 242, and the axis line 247 is offset from the center of the throttle bore 236.
With the technique of FIG. 15, only one of the air intake ports 237 and 238 may be provided in order to simplify the structure of the air intake system. However, in such a case, the outlet of the air intake port 237 or 238 has to be disposed at a predetermined position offset from the center of the combustion chamber 241, and thus, the design freedom of the air intake system would be significantly limited.
Furthermore, FIG. 16 is a view showing an air intake apparatus disclosed in the No. HEI-7-158459 publication mentioned in item (4) above, which is particularly explanatory of the conventional swirl producing technique employed therein. In the air intake apparatus, first and second helical ports 251 and 252 communicate with each other in a cylinder to produce a swirl A. Reference numeral 253 represents a first air intake valve for opening/closing the first helical port 251, and 254 represents a second air intake valve for opening/closing the second helical port 252. However, with the technique of FIG. 16, the first and second helical ports 251 and 252, each having to have a complicated shape, can not be formed easily. Besides, the first and second helical ports 251 and 252 each have to have a sufficiently-long port length, which tends to be disadvantageous in terms of productivity, cost, weight and air pressure.


A cooling circuit for a motor which includes a rotor having a rotor shaft, and a core fitted on the rotor shaft and carrying a plurality of permanent magnets arranged on its outer circumference. A stator is arranged radially outward of the rotor. The motor cooling circuit includes axially extending oil passages formed in the rotor core radially inward of the permanent magnets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric motor and, more particularly, to prevention of irreversible demagnetization which might otherwise result from overheating of the permanent magnets of the rotor.
2. Related Art
One system for cooling a DC brushless motor having permanent magnets arranged around the outer circumference of its rotor directs lubrication oil circulated through the motor onto the coil ends of a stator from an oil passage chamber in the upper portion of a motor case, through oil holes, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 122903/1993. In this cooling system, mainly the coil of the stator is cooled to prevent an increase in the electric resistance of the coil, which would change the motor characteristics, as might otherwise result from overheating with feed of a high current.
Permanent magnets arranged around the outer circumference of the rotor are susceptible to becoming irreversibly demagnetized should their temperature rise. In this respect, the oil feed stream from the upper portion of the motor case in the aforementioned prior art can be expected to splash onto the non-rotational parts including the stator. However, in this motor it is difficult to feed the oil to the rotor because the centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the rotor tends to throw off the oil.


An incomplete fitting prevention connector includes a first connector, a second connector that is fitted to the first connector, and a connector position assurance lock that is slidably mounted to an outer side of the second connector. The first connector includes a male beak, a short spring and a terminal. The second connector includes a female lock passing over the male beak and a short-circuit removal plate part inserted between the short spring and the terminal. A draw-in slanted surface is formed at a leading end of the male beak, a restoring force for returning the female lock to its original position serves as a driving force for fitting the connector when the female lock reaches the draw-in slanted surface, and the insertion force of the short-circuit removal plate part applied between the short spring and the terminal is reduced.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an incomplete fitting prevention connector and, more particularly, to a connector which includes a short spring or a packing and has an incomplete fitting prevention function.
2. Background Art
A connector is known which includes an incomplete fitting prevention function to detect an incomplete fitting state between a male connector housing and a female connector housing (for example, see JP-A-2004-241275).


A set of unstructured data is analyzed to infer structural elements from the unstructured data, and quantized data quality levels, indicative of data quality in the structural elements, are assigned to the structural elements. A set of structured data is generated to include the structural elements inferred from the unstructured data and associations between respective ones of the structural elements in the set of structured data and the corresponding quantized quality levels assigned to the structural elements. The set of structured data, including the associations between respective ones of the structural elements and the corresponding quantized quality levels assigned to the structural elements, is provided to a user interface application to enable the user interface application to visually display varying data qualities in the set of structured data.

Data analysis systems, such as, for example, business intelligence (BI) systems, may analyze unstructured data such as, for example, data obtained from social media, on-line news sources and the like, to determine or infer navigable structures in the data. For example, such systems may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) engines, such as machine learning engines or other suitable data analysis engines, to group data items according to topics, to determine relevance or usefulness of data items in a group, to obtain language translations of data items, etc. The systems may then present (e.g., display) the inferred structures to a user. In some cases, the systems may determine a quality of the data structures or a likelihood of interest of the data to the user so that only higher quality data structures or data of higher interest is displayed to the user. For example, the system may only display data for which the quality or likelihood of interest exceeds a certain threshold. However, while displaying only higher quality data structures or data of higher likelihood of interest to the user reduces the amount of data presented to the user and results in a more clear presentation of data, in such typical systems, data that is determined by the system to be of lower quality or lower likelihood of interest and consequently is not shown to the user may nonetheless be of interest or importance to the user. Moreover, such typical systems do not allow the user to view the variability in the quality or relevance of data that is displayed or otherwise provided to the user.