The present invention is a lightweight endoscopic instrument which has a flushing port with a check valve assembly therein. The check valve retains carbon dioxide which is used during endoscopic procedures. Upon removal of the instrument, a pressurized fluid can be connected to the flush port, with internal seals directing the pressurized fluid through an annular space between the stem of the instrument and a central actuating rod or element so that any tissue or blood which may have entered into such annular space is flushed out the distal end of the instrument. The instrument features a knob allowing it to rotate on its longitudinal axis while having a handle that can be held in a fixed position by the surgeon. An index mechanism is provided to audibly and/or visually give an indication at preset increments of rotation. The instrument is lightweight to decrease fatigue and is simply and economically constructed.

Endoscopic procedures have become more and more common. A host of specialty instruments designed for endoscopic procedures have been developed. These instruments typically are elongated and controlled at their proximal end by the surgeon. Remotely, at the distal end, can be mounted a variety of different instrument assemblies to facilitate such activities as cutting, gripping, or cauterizing, to name a few. Common in many such instruments is an elongated housing or stem, with some operating mechanism, such as a rod or a wire, extending therethrough to the distal end of the instrument. Frequently at the distal end, the annular space between the housing or stem and the operating mechanism leaves portions exposed where blood or tissue can migrate into the annular space. This is undesirable since endoscopic tools are reused, perhaps several times in the same day on different patients. It is desirable to be able to completely sterilize these instruments between procedures. This includes getting into the annular space between the housing or stem and the rod or other device that extends therethrough. At the same time it is desirable to have the instrument be as compact and lightweight as possible to facilitate placement of the distal end within the body and to minimize fatigue for the surgeon handling the instrument at the proximal end. Many times during a procedure, the instrument must be rotated about its own axis for better placement. Accordingly, it is not only desirable to have a lightweight structure, but also a mechanism for rapidly changing the orientation of the assembly at the distal end to facilitate the endoscopic procedure. At the same time, the instrument must be constructed in a manner that does not allow the gasses typically used in endoscopic procedures, such as carbon dioxide, to escape from the area being worked on, thus obstructing the surgeon's view. In the past, bulky arthroscopic cannulas with fluid passages have been designed such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,386. Instruments have been designed with means to add an irrigating fluid such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,077. Other diagnostic devices have been fairly bulky and provide for injection of a fluid or a gas during operating. Such a device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,698. Flexible biopsy forceps, with a cleaning port for introducing cleansing fluid, are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,751. U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,370 illustrates an instrument for heart surgery involving a telescope therein with means for flushing the front lens of the telescope during heart surgery.


A plurality of computer systems is operable to execute an application. A power consumption is determined for a first computer system if the first computer system were to execute the application, and a power consumption is determined for at least one other computer system if the second computer system were to execute the application. One of the computer systems is selected to execute the application based on the determined power consumptions.

Computer systems are becoming increasingly complicated everyday. As chip designers strive to increase performance of the chips used in typical computer systems, power consumption by these chips has correspondingly increased. Furthermore, when these computer systems are grouped together, such as servers in a rack, the total power consumption of the group can exceed 20 MW. In addition, cooling systems needed to remove the large amount of heat dissipated by the computer systems in the rack also tend to consume a significant amount of power. When considering a data center, which may house a large number of racks, power is a significant factor in the cost of ownership of the multi-computer systems and installations.
One conventional approach for conserving power includes voltage and frequency scaling. Voltage and frequency scaling is used to reduce the power consumption of a processor when it is determined that the processor is not being fully utilized. Voltage and frequency scaling typically comprises reducing the clock speed of the processor, which results in a power savings. However, the power savings are minimal, and in a multi-computer system the impact on power consumption is limited.

Application management based on power consumption

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An adapter attachment for an auger which includes an connecting shaft sized and shaped to be attached to the pilot bit hole present in the end of an auger, after the removal of pilot bit. The adapter also includes a bolt flange for connection to a foundation anchor installation plate/tool such as a locking dog assembly. The adapter obviates the need to remove the auger from the Kelly bar during anchor installation. A modification includes eliminating the bolt flange and placing the connecting shaft directly to the locking dog assembly to form a pilot hole locking dog.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an adapter for attachment to the pilot bit hole of an auger to install anchors into the earth.
(2) Background of the Invention
Utility poles and other tall narrow structures are generally secured by both being placed deep into the earth that supports them and then anchoring them through the use of extending guide wires. The guide wires provide for support to prevent the structure from levering itself from its hole in the earth. The guide wires will generally extend from an upper portion of the pole or structure and will be connected to a device which will hold their opposing end to the earth at a distance from the base of the pole or structure. The device is generally referred to as an "anchor" and the anchor and guide wire arrangement prevents movement of the upper portion of the structure which could act to lever the structure through the ground tipping it over.
A myriad of anchor assemblies are available for use in different types of soils and substances and for different types of applications. One particularly common type of anchor used in the support of utility poles and other pole-like or tower structures is the screw type anchor (10) such as that shown in FIG. 1 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,510 the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The screw type anchor (10) incorporates at least one screw flange (11) generally arranged toward the lower end (13) of the anchor (10) and a guy rod (15) which extends upwards from the screw flange (11) and is screwed or otherwise attached thereto. The guy rod (15) will generally terminate at its upper end (14) in a connector (17). The connector (17) will often be an externally threaded shaft (19) with a shoulder (21). While anchors (10) are particularly useful for the installation of guide wires, they are also used for the direct installation of tall structures (particularly those which are narrow and lack other foundations) such as street lights, transformers, bumper posts, and signs.
Anchors of this type are regularly installed in conjunction with the erection of a utility pole. An auger truck carries and controls the auger for drilling the pole's hole and includes a derrick structure for transferring rotary motion from a motor on board the auger truck to whatever object is attached to the derrick. The attachment will generally be at the terminal end of the derrick and will generally be a Kelly bar. The Kelly bar may be comprised of multiple segments connected together. When an auger is in use on the derrick, generally one of the segments of Kelly bar will extend through the central shaft of the auger and the auger will be attached toward the derrick and toward the top of the Kelly bar. If additional length is needed for the auger from the derrick (for instance in deep installations or when the truck is positioned on a hill or other inclined area), the auger may be positioned so that it is attached at the terminal end of the Kelly bar, instead of having the Kelly bar extend through the shaft of the auger, to provide for additional length to the auger from the derrick.
To install an anchor in conjunction with a pole placement, the auger needs to be removed from the Kelly bar to allow access to the Kelly bar. To remove the auger, the auger may be either directly manhandled by a worker (or more than one worker in most cases) or, if the installation is in an area where disturbing nearby earth is not a problem, the auger may be partially drilled into the ground to support it after it is disconnected. This later method is preferred because the auger is heavy and separating it from the auger truck can be a dangerous and cumbersome procedure for workers. In particular, as the Kelly bar generally extends through most of the central shaft of the auger, the Kelly bar must be slid from within the auger to separate the auger from the derrick. Further, even if the auger is attached to the distal end of the Kelly bar, the attachment for the auger is at the top end of the auger, so a worker must reach up over the auger to reach the connector, or rotate the auger relative to the derrick (which is not a natural position for the auger to hang and requires supporting its entire weight) to reach the connector holding the auger in place. Further, even if the auger can be supported by the workers when disconnected, the derrick will often lack fine motor control and will only be able to pull the Kelly bar upward requiring the workers to adjust the auger to a new position after disconnecting it to allow the Kelly bar to be freed which is both difficult and dangerous.
Once the auger has been removed, a combination of devices for attaching the Kelly bar to the anchor (10) would be used. One such set of devices of the prior art is shown in FIG. 2. The design and operation of such devices is discussed at length in U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,077, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, but a general overview will be given here. The device comprises a connector (50) for connecting the Kelly bar to the locking dog (200) which in turn connects to a torque tube (60). The locking dog (200) includes a sleeve (207) attached to a bolt flange (205). The sleeve (207) includes a non-circular, generally polygonal bore (209) thereinto. The non-circular cross-section of the bore (209) is utilized to prevent the torque tube (60), when placed into the bore (209) in a socketing type of arrangement, from rotating relative to the bore (209). By convention, the bore (209) is usually square in cross-section.
The torque tube (60) is generally fixed in position through a combination of cross-sectional shape and the inclusion of a pin locking mechanism in the locking dog (200). The torque tube (60) includes two holes (61) through its outer surface and located towards its upper end (63). The locking dog (100) includes a pair of laterally extending sleeves (211) and (213), each of which includes a spring biased pin (221) and (223) located within each lateral sleeve (211) and (213), and normally biased inwardly so that one end of each pin extends into the bore (209). Rings (231) and (233) or other grasping aids may be provided upon pins (221) and (223) to facilitate a worker in pulling them outwardly, against the biasing. There may also be locking mechanisms provided to hold the pins (221) and (223) in an outward position.
Each of the two pins (221) and (223) extends into the bore (209) of the locking dog (200) a predetermined distance at a first position to which it is naturally biased. Further, each of the pins (221) and (223) may be retracted and held in two different positions by pulling on the ring (231) or (233) and rotating the pin (221) or (223) to engage the lock. In a second position, the pin (221) or (223) is partially retracted from the bore (209), and in a third position the pin (221) or (223) is fully retracted from the bore (209). Each pin (221) and (223) will generally also include a slanted face (225) which extends from the innermost end of the pin (221) or (223) to a point along the pin's (221) or (223) length prior to the other end. When in the first position this point along the pin's (221) or (223) length is within the bore (209) providing for a small ring (291) of the pin to interact with the torque tube (60).
To mount the anchor (10) to the derrick in preparation for installation, the torque tube (60) is first placed into the bore (209) of the locking dog (200) with the pins (221) and (223) at their third (released or outermost) position. While holding the torque tube (60) in place in the bore (209), a worker will reach to the upper end (63) of the torque tube (60) and release the pins (221) and (223) to their first position which allows them to pass into the bore (209) and through the holes (61) in the torque tube (60). With the torque tube (60) so secured to the locking dog (200), the guy rod (15) is then threaded into the lower end (65) of the torque tube (60). As the guy rod (15) is threaded through the torque tube (60), the upper end (14) of the guy rod (15) will contact the slanted faces (225) of the pins (221) and (223) forcing them to move from the first position toward their second (or even third) position. The shoulder (21) will do the same when it contacts the slanted faces (225). It should be apparent that so long as the guy rod (15) fits inside the torque tube (60), this movement will not allow the locking dog (200) to release the torque tube (60) as the pins (221) and (223) will always be at least partially within the holes (61) in the torque tube (60). Once the shoulder (21) passes over the pins (221) and (223), the pins (221) and (223) will be biased back under the shoulder (21) allowing the anchor (10) to be supported by the pins (221) and (223) and therefore attached to the locking dog (200).
At the time this attachment occurs, torque tube (60) will have preferably mated with a device of similar shape to the torque tube (60) above the screw flange (11) on the anchor (10). This mating will generally result in one of the two pieces socketing into the other. As the torque tube (60) and this device preferably also have non-circular cross-sections, this socketing connection prevents the anchor (10) from rotating relative to the torque tube (60) allowing the rotational motion imparted on the torque tube (60) by the rotation of the locking dog (200) to be transferred to the anchor (10).
The anchor is then installed by activating the rotary movement of the auger truck's motor and boring the anchor into the ground using a screwing or drilling type action. Once the screw flange (11) is at the desired depth, the rotary motion provided by the auger truck will be stopped. The pins (221) and (223) will then be retracted to their second position which will free the guy rod (15) but not the torque tube (60) and the auger truck will lift the derrick pulling the torque tube (60) free of the guy rod (15). Once free, the guy rod (15) will generally be capped with an eyelet to cover the externally threaded shaft (19), and the anchor (10) is ready to be used. To lay another anchor (10), the pins (221) and (223) are returned to their first position and the next anchor's (10) guy rod (15) is threaded through the torque tube (60) as discussed above and the process is repeated.
While this process for laying anchors (10) has been used for many years, there are significant steps which are both cumbersome and dangerous in its performance. For one, the necessary removal of the auger to install the anchors is a difficult and potentially dangerous task, particularly if the auger cannot be stored by drilling into an open patch of earth as it requires the workers to support the full weight of the auger while the auger is disconnected from the derrick and the Kelly bar is removed. Further, the removal of the Kelly bar from the auger is performed by the truck. As the derrick is motor driven and lacks fine motor control in most cases, an unexpected movement of the derrick can cause unintended movement of the auger which can be a potentially dangerous situation to those who are supporting it.
Further, seating the torque tube (60) in the locking dog (200) bore (209) is unnecessarily cumbersome as the worker has to reach up and manually release the pins (221) and (223) from their third position to their first while holding the torque tube (60) in place. As the torque tube (60) is generally about 4 feet or more in length, this can be very difficult.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods for the installation of earth anchors


A new cultivar of Nemesia named ‘KLENH08459’ particularly characterized by vibrant yellow flowers, and large, fully-opened flowers, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia, botanically known as Nemesia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'KLENH08459'. 'KLENH08459' originated from a controlled cross made in June 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Nemesia plant 'SB 1' (unpatented) and the proprietary male Nemesia plant 'W 076' (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.
The new cultivar was first propagated in September 2005 by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and in-vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany for about a three and one-half year period (about eight generations). 'KLENH08459' has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeders Rights have not been applied for this cultivar. 'KLENH08459' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of the instant application.


An apparatus (10) and method for allowing a moving user to automatically determine and store locations (11) over an extended period of time, to display the series of such locations (11), and to actively assist in returning to an earlier location. The apparatus (10) includes an antenna (16) for facilitating satellite lock, a fastening mechanism (18) for positioning the antenna (10) for best reception, and a satellite lock indicator (20) for communicating loss of satellite lock. The apparatus (10) also includes a timer (26) for measuring an interval during which the apparatus (10) is in a power-conserving sleep mode, and after which the user's current location is automatically determined. Active assistance in returning to an earlier location, either by traveling back along the path earlier traveled or by traveling along a more direct route, is accomplished by warning the user whenever the user's course deviates from the path or route.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates broadly to apparatuses and methods for allowing a moving user to track his or her own movement over time and for actively assisting the user in returning to an earlier location. More particularly, the present invention concerns an apparatus and method for allowing the moving user to automatically periodically determine and store his or her own current geographic locations over an extended period of time, and to display the series of such locations as an indication of the user's path of travel. Additionally, the present invention is adapted and operable to actively assist the user in returning to an earlier location, either by traveling back along the path earlier traveled or by traveling along a more direct route.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is often desirable for a user to be able to determine his or her own current geographic location, such as, for example, when hiking, climbing, running, or otherwise traveling through unknown or unfamiliar areas. This is accomplished in prior art devices using global positioning system (GPS) technology, wherein signals are received from a plurality of orbiting satellites and, based thereon, location is determined with respect to the satellites. Such GPS-based location-determining functionality is available in hand-held prior art devices that can be carried by the user on his or her person.
It is also desirable, however, for the user to be able to view his or her previous locations so as to better understand his or her path of travel over time. It will be appreciated that such information is particularly useful when the user desires or needs to backtrack or otherwise return along this path of travel. It will also be appreciated that under some circumstances, such as, for example, when traveling through rapidly changing terrain, locations must be determined and stored relatively frequently in order to provide the most complete and useful record. Furthermore, in order to accommodate extended travel, the process must allow for determining and storing locations in this manner for as long a period as possible. Prior art devices exist for determining and storing locations but, unfortunately, suffer from a number of drawbacks and disadvantages.
Hand-held prior art devices exist, for example, that allow the user to determine his or her current location and, if desired, designate the location as a "waypoint". The waypoint is then stored in memory and is available for later recall. Unfortunately, the designation of waypoints requires active participation by the user. Furthermore, the maximum number of waypoints that can be designated is likely to be extremely limited because the waypoint concept generally refers to a very limited number of special locations designated for very particular purposes, not an unlimited number of non-special locations designated merely for general record-keeping purposes. It will be appreciated that a user, relying on waypoints to provide a record of his or her previous locations may allow undesirably long periods of time to pass between designations. When the user does remember to make a designation, he or she may remove the electronic device from its protective or carrying environment only to find it impossible to quickly achieve the satellite lock necessary to determine the current location, and so the user must travel still further until the required lock can be established. Also, in order to designate waypoints, the device must either be left on continuously, thereby draining power and severely limiting both the amount of time in which new waypoints may be designated and the amount of time in which stored waypoints may be recalled, or the device must be turned on and off each time a designation is made. Turning the device on and off in this manner can itself result in a substantial power drain, and so the frequency with which waypoints are designated must be reduced. Thus, these particular prior art devices do not provide a practical and reliable mechanism for creating a record of the user's previous locations in such a manner as to allow for better understanding his or her path of travel.
More capable hand-held prior art devices exist that allow for creating a more complete and reliable record of previous locations automatically and without the drawbacks associated with using waypoint technology for this purpose. Unfortunately, these prior art devices quickly deplete their battery power, and once the power fails, no further locations are determined and the user can no longer display the record of previous locations. If the user travels for longer than a few hours with no ability to charge the battery, he or she will not be able to display the path of travel if the need arises to backtrack, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
Large-scale prior art systems also exist that allow for remotely tracking the locations of multiple vehicles over time. Such systems typically comprise a plurality of location-determining mechanisms, each being affixed to or otherwise associated with one of the remote and moving vehicles, and a central receiving and processing station for receiving location data from the location-determining mechanisms and for plotting such location data over time. Unfortunately, because the location-determining mechanisms are carried on vehicles, there are none of the weight, size, or power consumption restrictions that a hand-held device would require. Thus, internal processors have ample power and antennas are both large and fixed. Furthermore, while providing the location data to the central station for plotting does provide a record of travel over time to those at the central station, returning this information to the vehicle would require an additional receiver, memory, and display at the location-determining mechanism, and an additional transmitter at the central station. It will therefore be appreciated that these prior art systems are neither useful nor feasibly adaptable for solving the present problem of allowing hikers and other traveling individuals to save and recall their previous locations so as to better understand their path of travel.
Due to the above-identified and other problems and disadvantages in the art, a need exists for an improved apparatus or method for allowing a moving user to track his or her own movement over time and to assist the user in returning to an earlier location.

Apparatus and method for allowing user to track path of travel over extended period of time


An electrical connector receptacle includes a shield cover, a terminal unit and a fastener structure. The shield cover defines a cavity and an opening into the cavity and has a base panel with a base panel hole formed therethrough. The terminal unit has a first terminal unit mounting block having a first terminal unit mounting block hole, a second terminal unit mounting block having a second terminal unit mounting block hole, a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly. The first and second terminal unit mounting blocks are connected together in a stacked manner and are disposed in the cavity. With the first terminal unit mounting block hole, the second terminal unit mounting block hole and the base panel hole being in registration with one another, the fastener structure extends therethrough from the base panel and projects outwardly from the opening.

Electrical connector receptacles are known in the art. One such electrical connector receptacle is a cartridge fuse box as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,209 to Lin et al. This cartridge fuse box includes a bottom shell, a cover shell, a holder frame, a plurality of terminal blocks, a fuse connector, a plurality of cartridge fuses and a plurality of clamps. The bottom shell is covered with the cover shell and includes the holder frame. The plurality of terminal blocks are mounted in respective horizontal holes on the holder frame to hold a respective conductor by a respective fastener and a respective metal socket by a respective screw for permitting the conductors to be connected to the metal sockets. The fuse connector is fixedly secured to the bottom shell remote from the holder frame in order to hold a plurality of metal sockets by a respective screw. The plurality of cartridge fuses is connected between the metal sockets of the fuse connector and the metal sockets of the terminal blocks. The plurality of clamps is respectively mounted in the holder frame to hold down the conductors of the terminal blocks.
There are several drawbacks regarding the prior art electrical connector receptacles such as the one described above. The prior art electrical connector receptacles are generally used for a low-voltage applications. Also, prior art electrical connector receptacles are often large and sometimes contain many components parts. Many prior art electrical connector receptacles are not shielded and therefore do not reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference. And, sometimes, there is no ground between an outer shield of the prior art electrical connector receptacle and a wire shield of the wiring connected to the prior art electrical connector receptacle.
It would be beneficial to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be used for a low-voltage applications as well as high-voltage applications. It would also be advantageous to provide an electrical connector receptacle that is relatively small and contains relatively few components parts. It would also be beneficial to provide an electrical connector receptacle that is shielded in order to reduce the effects of electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide an electrical connector receptacle that can be grounded between its outer shield and the wire shield of the wiring connected to the electrical connector receptacle. The present invention provides these advantages and benefits.


A new variety of Azalea plant found as a seedling in a planned cross between the female Azalea ‘Cherie’ (syn. V12-4) and the male Azalea ‘Indian Summer’ is disclosed. The new variety has a unique blooming period and is extremely cold hardy. It is a compact, dense, and upright growing plant with attractive, light pink, semi-double, hose-in-hose flowers.

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of evergreen Azalea of the genus Rhododendron. The new Azalea , hereinafter referred to as 'MNIKRI', was discovered in August 1981 in Lawrenceville, Ga. 'MNIKRI' originated from a planned hybridization between the female Azalea 'Cherie' (syn. V12-4) (unpatented) and the male Azalea 'Indian Summer' (unpatented) in Lawrenceville, Ga. The value of this new cultivar lies in its unique blooming period, bloom form, growth habit, and cold hardiness.
Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings was performed in Dearing, Ga. The new plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations by vegetative propagation.


A laser source based on a quantum cascade laser array (QCL), wherein the outputs of at least two elements in the array are collimated and overlapped in the far field using an external diffraction grating and a transform lens.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor lasers and, more particularly, to wavelength beam combining applied to arrays of quantum cascade lasers.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are electrically driven semiconductor lasers. They are compact and can be efficient and reliable. QCLs emit or lase at room temperature in the infrared region at wavelengths spanning about 3 micrometers (μm) to 24 μm. This wavelength range overlaps many molecular absorption lines of interest. Individual QCLs can achieve watt-level output power in continuous-wave operation at room temperature and can be designed to have broadband gain such that the lasing wavelength can be tuned over a broad spectral range of approximately 300 cm−1.
Conventional diode lasers generate photons through an electronic transition across the bandgap of a semiconductor in which the diode laser is fabricated, as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the emission wavelength is determined by the bandgap of the semiconductor material. In contrast, QCLs operate based on resonant tunneling and optical transitions between electronic levels within the conduction band of the semiconductor. The energy levels, and hence the lasing wavelength, can be controlled by modulating the electronic potential applied to the semiconductor. FIG. 2 illustrates an energy-band diagram of a generic QCL under bias. The applied electric field drives the electrons from the right toward the left, as indicated by arrows 210. The gain region includes a series of cascades 220 formed by alternating layers of two different semiconductor materials, each cascade including an injector region 230 and an active region 240. Electrons transit an injector region 230 and are injected into the upper lasing level within the active region 240. The electron undergoes a radiative transition to the lower lasing level, emitting a photon, and is then scattered into the ground state where it is coupled into the next injector region 230. Ideally, an electron can generate as many photons as there are cascades 220 in the gain region of the QCL.
Continuously-tunable, single-mode emission is required for many spectroscopic applications. To achieve single-mode emission, QCL material is generally processed into distributed feedback (DFB) lasers or integrated with a frequency-selective external cavity. External cavity QCLs are widely tunable (e.g., 10-20% of the laser emission frequency), but are cumbersome and complex to build as they require high quality anti-reflection coatings and well-aligned external optical components including a grating for tuning. Furthermore, wavelength tuning is relatively slow because it depends upon mechanical movement of the optical components. DFB QCLs include a grating defined in the waveguide for wavelength control. An example of a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser element is illustrated in FIG. 3. The width of the emitting aperture of the DFB QCL element is defined by etching into the semiconductor material. Current is generated through the active regions of the DFB QCL via a metal contact 310 on top of the ridge 320 and a substrate contact (not shown), which in turn generates optical gain in the DFB QCL. The optical power output 330 is emitted normal to the cleaved facet. In the illustrated example, the grating 340 is etched into the top layer of the semiconductor. The lasing wavelength is determined by the period of the grating, and wavelength tuning is achieved by changing the temperature of the laser. DFB QCLs are compact; however, a single DFB QCL has limited tunability, typically only about 5-10 cm−1, which is much smaller than the available gain bandwidth which is generally greater than 100 cm−1.
Examples of a broadly tunable single-mode laser source based on an array of DFB QCLs driven by a microelectronic controller are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/611,819 entitled "CONTINUOUSLY TUNABLE SINGLE-MODE QUANTUM CASCADE LASER SOURCES AND SENSORS" patented on Nov. 2, 2010 under U.S. Pat. No. 7,826,509, and in "Widely tunable single-mode quantum cascade laser source for mid-infrared spectroscopy," Lee et. al, Applied Physics Letters 91, 231101 (2007), both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The laser source includes an array of DFB QCLs with closely spaced emission wavelengths spanning the gain bandwidth of the QCL material, fabricated monolithically on the same chip and driven individually by a microelectronic controller. Each DFB QCL in the array has a DFB grating designed to target a slightly different emission wavelength, and the difference in the target emission wavelengths between adjacent (in frequency space) DFB QCLs in the array is smaller than the tuning range available with temperature tuning of the DFB QCLs. Therefore, by switching between the DFB lasers in the array and using temperature tuning of the individual lasers in the array, continuous spectral coverage can be obtained within the gain bandwidth of the QCL material.

Wavelength beam combining of quantum cascade laser arrays

President and Fellows of Harvard College


There is disclosed a method of coating textile fibers, the method comprising applying, on the external surface of textile fibers, a pre-treated oil-in-water emulsion comprising: (i) an aqueous phase containing water; and (ii) a pre-treated oil phase containing at least one reactive condensation-curable film-forming amino-silicone pre-polymer that, subsequent to condensation curing optionally in presence of additional reactants, forms an amino-silicone coat. The pre-treated reactive oil phase includes at least one pre-treated reactant or pre-treated pre-polymer. An aqueous dispersion containing particles of a hydrophilic polymeric material is then applied to the amino-silicone coat, so as to form a polymeric layer thereon. At least one of the oil-in-water emulsion forming a first coat and of the aqueous dispersion forming a second coat may further contain a plurality of sub-micronic pigment particles dispersed therein. Suitable compositions and kits including the same are also disclosed, as well as fibers coated thereby.

In textile manufacturing, the coloration is one of the most important steps for providing the fabric its final appearance, including color and luster. There are numerous coloration methods which have various efficacies, depending on the types of textile fibers that make up the yarns and fabric, as well as when they are applied during the manufacturing process.
Textile fibers may be of natural origin, or artificially made from synthetic polymers. Natural fibers usually exhibit large variations in length, shape and quality of its individual constituting filaments, and may also contain impurities, derived from the animal or plant from which they originate. Artificial or synthetic fibers, being prepared under controlled conditions, are typically of more uniform characteristics and may generally contain less impurities which may impede coloring.
Natural fibers include keratinous protein fibers of animal-origin, such as wool, silk, mohair or cashmere; and cellulose fibers of plant-origin, such as cotton, linen, ramie or hemp. Artificial fibers include synthetic fibers, such as nylons, polyesters, acrylics, rayon or polyolefins; and regenerated fibers, such as viscose or cellulose acetate. Synthetic fibers could be manufactured according to desired specification, for instance, with predetermined dimensions (e.g., diameter), mechanical properties, and even shade (e.g., the coloring agent being mixed with the polymer ahead of forming a strand). Natural fibers, however, are typically prepared as follows.
Monofilament fibers are spun or otherwise grouped together to form a thread, which in turn can be assembled to form a yarn, which may be arranged to form a fabric by a number of techniques (e.g., by weaving, knitting, crocheting, felting, sewing, etc.). The fabric can then be cut, and/or various pieces assembled to form any intended article made of textile (e.g., a garment).
Coloration of textile fibers can be performed at the thread or yarn stage, the fabric stage or the garment stage, each stage having its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, fabric or garment coloring can be more economical, the coloration being performed only where needed, but it may be less efficient when high coloring density is desired, and the fabric arrangement reduces exposure of its constituting fibers to the colorant. In such a case, coloration of the textile fibers at the earlier stage of thread and yarn manufacturing may prove more advantageous.
Coloring compositions for textile may comprise chemical, organic, herbal or natural coloring agents. Regardless of their origin, the coloring agents generally fall into two categories, a) soluble dyes that may penetrate the fibers, and b) water-insoluble pigments, which in view of their dimensions are typically restricted to external coloring of fibers.
When coloring textile, a permanent effect is generally desired, namely that the colors retain their original shades over time (e.g., upon exposure to light) and that they do not wash off (e.g., upon exposure to chemical and/or mechanical stress, such as applied, for instance, during cleaning). Dyes being relatively small molecules, they may more easily permeate textile fibers and be retained therein, optionally following the application of an additional treatment step (e.g., using a fixative). Therefore, dyes are the leading coloring agents, when considering chemical- and/or mechanical-resistance, their relatively internal position within the textile fibers physically protecting the resulting color from undesired fading. However, dyes are generally less resistant than pigments to sun exposure.
While pigments should be preferred over dyes with respect to resistance to sun light, their relatively external position on the outer surface of the textile fibers increase the risk of discoloration as a result of undesired chemical- and/or mechanical exposure (e.g., exposure to detergents and abrasion by contact during washing).
Thus, there remains a need for textile coloring methods, which provide efficient and, when desired, long-lasting coloration of textile fibers.


A high strength thin steel sheet that is mainly used for structural members and inner and outer panels for a vehicle, a galvanized steel sheet, and methods of manufacturing the same. The high strength thin steel sheet for superior press formability includes, by weight percent, 0.06 to 0.4% C, 1.0 to 5.0% Mn, 0.05 to 2.5% Si, 0.01 to 2.0% Ni, 0.02 to 2% Cu, 0.01 to 0.04% Ti, 0.05 to 2.5% Al, 0.005 to 0.1% Sb, 0.0005 to 0.004% B, 0.007% or less N, and balance Fe and inevitable impurities, and meeting relation of Ni+0.5×Mn+0.3×Cu>0.9, which is defined as Ni*, and Al/Ni*<1.3 at a same time, and relation of Ti≧0.028×Al. This thin steel sheet is galvanized or galvannealed.

It is already well-known that recent steel sheets for vehicles are gradually increased in strength due to a demand for reduction in fuel cost as well as higher safety of a passenger in the event of collision, are required to have a higher level of formability due to a tendency toward complication and integration of vehicle parts, and are required to have excellent secondary working brittleness resistance, superior fatigue characteristics of a weld zone, and beautiful plated surface in the terms of the environments in which the vehicles are used. As well-known up to now, in order to increase formability and strength, the steel sheets are generally manufactured by adding structure reinforcement elements such as C, Si, Mn, Ti, Al and so on. These elements function to form a metastable transformation structure during quenching, martensite or bainite or austenite retained to room temperature (hereinafter, referred to as "retained austenite") without transforming austenite formed at high temperature into ferrite and cementite, or pearlite at room temperature, thereby obtaining appropriate strength and ductility.
According to the disclosures of Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2005-187837 and 2004-346362, C, Si and Mn are main components, and either a solution strengthening element, P, causing press formability for strength to be less reduced or Al having characteristics similar to Si is added. Contents of Si and Al are limited, and B or various components such as rare earth metals are added in order to improve working brittleness. However, the components other than the main components have an obscure effect, and description of some of the elements is far apart from typical metallurgical knowledge. For example, in the case of B, since C contained in high strength steel at a great amount can sufficiently prevent grain boundary embrittlement, a quench hardening effect is further increased due to B. As a result, B shows a tendency to deteriorate the working brittleness.
Further, according to the disclosure of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-368317, restrictions are intentionally imposed on composition and production conditions in order to improve press formability with a composition nearly similar to the aforementioned known technologies. This also has a little effect. In fact, in the continuous casting-hot rolling process, these elements degrade high-temperature ductility to weaken steel at high temperature, and cause surface enrichment during cold-rolled annealing because they have higher oxygen affinity in comparison with Fe. Thus, these elements generate bare spots, and thus readily deteriorate plating quality. Furthermore, when the surface enrichment is coarsened, it is adsorbed to the hearth roll of a continuous annealing line, and thus is apt to cause micro-dents in the surface of a plated steel sheet.
In order to cope with the plating defects as described above, technology for manufacturing a high strength thin steel sheet for high press formability is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2002-146477, 2001-64750, 2002-294397, 2002-155317 and 2001-288550. Describing the disclosures in brief, specific elements such as Cr, Sb, Sn, etc. are added to improve platability, or a hot-rolled coil is previously oxidized prior to cold rolling, thereby inhibiting the surface enrichment formed during cold rolling annealing. However, these disclosures fail to give a positive effect of adding the specific elements or a definite study on metallurgical behaviors of the added elements, and thus do not give a complete manufacturing method required to obtain the effect. Furthermore, some of the disclosures are directed to the manufacturing method that cannot be implemented using current typical hot rolling-cold rolling-continuous annealing equipment, so that they do not apply to actual commercial production.

High strength thin steel sheet for the superior press formability and surface quality and galvanized steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same


A rotary spinning ring structure for use on a spinning frame or the like comprises, as principal components, a stationary tube fixedly supported on a ring rail, a slide ring, a rotating tube assembly supported for rotation by the slide ring on the stationary tube, and a balancing mechanism incorporated into the rotating tube assembly. The rotating tube assembly comprises a rotating tubular body made of an antistatic synthetic resin material, a circular brake ring made of an antistatic synthetic resin material and joined to the rotating tubular body, and a dust cover made of an antistatic synthetic resin material and put on a middle portion of the rotating tubular body. Each of the antistatic synthetic resin materials forming the rotating tubular body, the brake ring and the dust cover is a mixture of a synthetic resin, and fibers, powder or flakes of a conductive material, such as carbon and has a low volume resistivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary spinning ring structure provided with a rotating ring, to be used on a textile machine, particularly, a spinning machine which uses a traveler for winding a yarn on a bobbin, such as a ring spinning frame or a ring twisting frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various rotary spinning ring structures of the kind have been proposed to solve problems in fixed spinning rings. However, those previously proposed rotary spinning ring structures have not yet been put to practical use because of their complicated construction, high cost and possibility of deteriorating yarn quality due to unstable rotation of the ring. Recently, rotary spinning ring structures of simple construction that makes the practical use of the rotary spinning ring structures possible were proposed in, for example, JP-A Nos. 2-26927 (reference 1), 3-51329 (reference 2) and 8-209470 (reference 3). Each of a the rotary spinning frame structures proposed in the references 1 and 2 comprises, as principal components, a ring support member of a synthetic resin, and a rotating ring of a carbon steel or an alloy steel rotatably supported on the ring support member.
The rotary spinning ring structure proposed in the reference 3 is a negative rotary spinning ring structure comprising, as principal components, a stationary tube mounted on a ring rail coaxially with a spindle, a sliding ring fitted in the stationary tube, a steel rotating tube supported coaxially with the spindle on the sliding ring in the stationary tube, a traveler put on an upper portion of the rotating tube to guide a yarn so as to be able to revolve on the rotating tube, and a braking means including a braking ring and associated with a lower portion of the rotating tube. In this prior art negative rotary ring structure, the traveler is caused to slide for revolution along a flange formed on the rotating tube by a yarn being wound on a bobbin when the bobbin rotates together with the spindle. Consequently, the rotating tube is dragged frictionally for rotation by the traveler. The revolving speed of the traveler is always lower than the rotating speed of the bobbin, so that the yarn is wound on the bobbin at a rate corresponding to the difference between the rotating speed of the bobbin and the revolving speed of the traveler. The rotating tube rotates at a rotational speed lower than the revolving speed of the traveler due to its inertia in an initial stage of a spinning operation in which the bobbin is accelerated and the rotational speed of the bobbin increases continuously, and hence the traveler slides along the flange of the rotating tube for revolution in a mode in which a traveler slides along the flange of a fixed spinning ring. After the rotational speed of the bobbin has reached a predetermined operating rotational speed, the rotary tube rotates at a rotational speed substantially equal to the revolving speed of the traveler and hence the traveler does not move relative to the rotary tube. During the deceleration of the bobbin to stop the spinning operation, it is possible that the rotating tube and the traveler decelerate more slowly than the bobbin due to the inertia of the rotating tube. Therefore, the rotating tube is braked by the braking means so that the rotating tube and the traveler may decelerate according to the deceleration of the bobbin.
The inventors studied the prior art rotary spinning ring structure proposed in the reference 3 and conducted spinning experiments using the same rotary spinning ring structure to put the rotary spinning ring structure to practical use. It was found through the spinning experiments that, although the rotating tube rotates smoothly with the revolution of the traveler and the yarn can be wound on the bobbin, a yarn of some type is liable to be broken when the spindle starts rotating after the broken yarn has been pieced and such a yarn requires skilled yarn piecing technique, that a balloon produced by the yarn is liable to collapse when the traveler and the rotating tube start deceleration while the traveler and the rotating tube repeat acceleration and deceleration alternately according to the vertical movement of the ring rail for a cop building operation, and that the yarn stiffens and the elongation of the yarn reduces to deteriorate the quality of the yarn when the yarn is wound on the bobbin by using the rotary spinning ring structure. Such a tendency is particularly conspicuous when the spindle is rotated at a high rotational speed not lower than 15,000 rpm, such as 20,000 rpm.
It was found through the examination of those problems found through the spinning experiments that the principal cause of those problems is the excessively large weight of the rotating tube and the resultant incapability of the rotating tube to rotate properly according to the revolution of the traveler. Steel rotating tubes (rotating rings) of 45 to 70 mm in inside diameter of the rotary spinning ring structure disclosed in the references 1 and 2 have a considerably large weight in the range of 43 to 200 g. The reduction of the weight of the rotating tube is one of measures to improve the capability of the rotating tube to rotate according to the revolution of the traveler. A lightweight rotating tube may be formed by molding a synthetic resin. The same idea as that is found in JP-U No. 52-51422. This idea proposes a combination of a relatively large traveler and a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic conical ring.
The inventors found through spinning experiments using a rotary spinning ring structure provided with a synthetic resin rotating tube that the reduction in weight of the rotating tube is effective in improving the rotation of the rotating tube according to the revolution of the traveler, and that the deterioration of the yarn quality can be avoided when the weight of the rotating tube is less than a certain weight. Thus, no practical problem occurred if the rotating speed of the spindle was below 15,000 rpm. However, when the rotary spinning ring structure is used on an advanced spinning frame which operates at a high spindle speed not lower than 15,000 rpm, the rotating tube may possibly be melted by heat generated in the traveler or a bearing member if the rotation of the rotating tube is obstructed by some cause or if something is wrong with the bearing member. If heated excessively, the rotating tube gives out smoke or emits an evil smell and, if things come to the worst, the rotating tube burns, which is a problem in safety. The cost reduction of the rotary spinning ring structure also is a very important problem in view of realizing the practical use of the same.
Generally, synthetic resins are electrical insulators and are easy to be charged with static electricity. Static electricity accumulated on a portion of the rotating tube along which the traveler slides exerts particularly harmful influence. It was found that static electricity accumulated on the rotating tube attracts flies and dust to the rotating tube, flies and such fall off the rotating tube and are twisted into the yarn, the discharges of static electricity accumulated on the rotating tube at a high voltage give the operator an electric shock, and sparks and arcs generated by the discharges of static electricity cause waste fibers to burn, which may possibly cause fire.
If the weight of the rotating tube is not distributed uniformly and the rotating tube has a mass eccentricity with respect to its geometrical center axis, the rotating tube whirls and generates vibrations even if the mass of the rotating tube is small. Consequently, the resistance exerted by the bearing on the rotating tube assembly varies in a wide range, the magnitude of the resistance increases to deteriorate the rotating performance of the rotating tube and the revolving performance of the traveler, so that the tension of the yarn varies to deteriorate yarn quality or to cause yarn breakage. Vibrations generated by the rotating tube and the high frictional resistance exerted by the bearing to the rotating tube damages the bearing and shortens the life of the rotating tube.


An electronic cigarette liquid supply device includes the piezoelectric substrate, the insulating film, the first interdigital transducer, the second interdigital transducer, the liquid storage chamber, the flow channel and the liquid outlet. A liquid inlet is provided on the liquid storage chamber. One end of the flow channel is hermetically connected to the liquid storage chamber, and the other end of the flow channel is the liquid outlet. The first interdigital transducer and the second interdigital transducer are attached to a surface of the piezoelectric substrate and located between the piezoelectric substrate and the insulating film. The liquid storage chamber, the flow channel and the liquid outlet are provided outside and above the insulating film.

Electronic cigarettes are an emerging product that can replace traditional cigarettes, and thus have a promising market prospect. However, a number of problems particularly including the atomization of electronic cigarettes and the supply of e-liquids need to be solved in order to meet the requirements of compartmentalization, portability, increased amount of smoke, and desired flavor. Though the atomization technology of electronic cigarettes has made remarkable progress in recent years, there is still a challenge in terms of providing a suitable amount of e-liquids for the atomization of electronic cigarettes within a restricted space, which can be essentially regarded as the design issue of micropumps.
Most of existing liquid supply devices such as piezoelectric and electromagnetic micropumps are large-scale external devices having large sizes and complicated control systems and thus have limited application. Generally, in order to achieve the purpose of being easy to carry, electronic cigarettes are small and, in most cases, too small to house existing micropumps. Moreover, traditional electronic cigarettes rely on the capillary action of wicks to supply the e-liquid during atomization. As a result, liquid supply is nonuniform or insufficient, which causes carbonization of the wicks and produces undesirable harmful substances such as carbon monoxide (CO). The passive liquid conduction accomplished by the capillary action of the wicks leads to an uncontrollable and unstable liquid conduction rate. When the liquid conduction rate is lower than the atomization rate, this can easily lead to insufficient atomization, which affects the smoking experience and even produces harmful components such as aldehydes, thus posing a potential health hazard. When the liquid conduction rate is greater than the atomization rate, the e-liquid not being atomized is likely to contaminate the device, which causes discomfort to the smoker and shortens the service life of the electronic cigarette.
The present disclosure is directed to this need.

Electronic cigarette liquid supply device and method

CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD


A pantograph assembly for a moveable head sewing machine suitable for use quilting fabric which includes a rigid extension arm having a first end and a second end and means for rigidly attaching the first end of the extension arm to a side of the head assembly of a moveable head sewing machine in a location where movement of the rigid extension arm results, either to to the left or the right in corresponding movement to the moveable head of the sewing machine, and a tracing bracket having an upper end and at least one downwardly extending lower leg configured to slide upon and over an image bearing surface medium having a design imprinted thereon to be traced, said upper bracket end rigidly attached to the second end of the extension arm, and means for indicating a point on the design to be traced, rigidly attached to rigid extension arm in close proximity to the tracing bracket.

The vast majority of sewing machines sold for residential use and indeed, for commercial use are of the fixed head and needle plate type. This is the traditional design and it is intended that the fabric work piece be moved by one means or another underneath the fixed head as opposed to moving the head relative to a fixed fabric work piece. In a typical sewing machine the needle head is aligned with the needle plate fixed to the base plate. The upper needle head is positioned at the distal end of an upper arm, which is interconnected to the lower arm which holds the base plate. This is often called the "throat" of the sewing machine and it is fixed in length; the longer the arms, the longer the throat of the sewing machine. A bobbin is located beneath the needle plate for the second portion of the thread to be fed through and there are usually a pair of feed dogs which are used to advance the fabric to be sewn underneath the needle. This conventional design is eminently practical and useful for the fabrication of items: clothing, as the fixed head and base plate assemblies are relatively small so that they can be inserted into a sleeve for a garment for example.
These fixed sewing machines can also be used to fabricate patch work quilts as they work well stitching in a straight line to sew together to pieces of quilt material. However, they do not work well when attempting to create a decorative quilt that has quilting stitching sewn in a decorative pattern, for example: displaying decorative outlines of horses running or rearing up on their hind legs.
A pantograph is generally defined as an instrument for copying and drawing a design on a different scale by a system of hinged or jointed rods. They have been known and used since the early 1600s. Generally there is one arm of the pantograph containing the small pointer while the other holds a drawing implement and by moving the pointer over a diagram, a copy of the diagram can be drawn on another piece of paper. By changing the positions in the arms in the linkage between the pointer and the drawing arm, the scale image produced can be changed from a direct 1:1 scale to a larger or smaller duplicate image. However, it is not a requirement that the pantograph be capable of adjusting the scale of the drawn image. In the sewing and quilting industry the term pantograph is commonly used simply replicating a design on a one to one scale.
These two technologies have been combined, for at least the past one hundred years to create an ability to replicate an embroidery design on a piece of fabric using a fixed head sewing machine. To achieve this goal, the drawing arm of the pantogram is not affixed to a right drawing instrument but rather is affixed to the fabric hoops in which the fabric work piece is secured. The fabric hoops move the work piece underneath the needle arm in direct relation to the movement of the pointer on the drawing and the pantogram arm is moved about by the operator. However, this only works for relatively small work pieces and is not readily adaptable for use with quilts which may be quite large, for example: ten feet long and six feet wide, and especially in cases where the embroidered design is to cover a major portion of the quilt with a decorative stitching of the desired design.
It is also possible to fix the quilt work piece to a fabric frame and stretch it underneath the fixed head work piece as long as the frame is connected to a movable carriage which moves in both the x and y direction, and may be computer-controlled. There are many prior art designs for quilting machines that incorporate this design. However, such a machine would require a lot of floor space and is not suitable for use in a residential home environment.
As a result, movable head sewing machines have been developed where the basic design can be described as having a stationary fabric frame, which is sometimes as long as fourteen feet from one end to the other, a sewing machine carriage which carries a fixed head and arm sewing machine that is movable in both the x and y direction, and typically employs handles, either at the rear or the front of the moveable head to control movement. It may also controlled by use of foot pedals to move the head relative to the stationary work piece which is stretched on the stationary frame. This design minimizes the floor space requirements for the machine, and quilting enthusiasts use these machines to create decorative quilts that are often times ten or twelve feet in length from one end to the other and several feet wide.
What is needed is some mechanism by which the moving head can be controlled with something like a pantograph so that a design can be traced from an image-bearing surface, such as a photograph, painting, or a line drawing, or even another embroidered product and the moving sewing machine head can be used to replicate whatever image is being replicated on the quilting fabric which is held in fixed relationship to the pantograph device.

Pantograph assembly for moveable head sewing machine


A system for recording and reproducing a charge latent image in a recording medium has a transparent electrode (3), a photoconductive layer (4) on the electrode (3), a dielectric layer (8), a photoconductor layer (4) and a charge transfer suppressive layer (16). The system also includes a biasing element including a pair of electrodes (3, 19), a power source (10) for applying an electric field between the pair of electrodes, and an optical system (1) for directing an electro-magnetic radiation beam from an object (0) thereby forming an image thereof in the photoconductive layer (4). The reproducing system has a generating element (45, 48) for projecting the radiation beam toward the recording medium (41a, 41b), an element (20) for modulating the radiation beam, a first conversion element (55, 56) for converting the electro-magnetic radiation beam directed out of the path, an element (49a, 49b) for projecting the intensity modulated beam to an object, a second conversion element (57, 58) for converting the intensity modulated beam into an electrical signal, and an element (54) for directing the intensity modulated beam to the projecting element and the second conversion element.

The present invention relates to a system for recording/reproducing a charge latent image including a recording medium used therein.
In compliance with an increased demand in recent years for a reproduced image with high picture quality and high resolution various systems such as a so-called EDTV (Extended Definition TV) system, or an HDTV (High Definition TV) system have been proposed for a television system. In order to obtain a reproduced image with high picture quality and high resolution, it is required to provide an image pickup device capable of producing a video signal from which a high picture quality and high resolution image can be recreated. However, for conventional image pickup devices using an image pickup tube, it is difficult to generate such a video signal. The reasons for this are as follows: Since there is a limit to the reduction of the diameter of an electron beam in the pickup tube, high resolution image reproduction by reduction of the diameter of the electron beam cannot be expected. Alternatively, if the target area of the pickup tube is increased, the level of the output signal will be reduced because of the increased output capacity which is proportional to the area of the target. Therefore, high resolution image reproduction by the increase of the target area cannot be realized. Furthermore, in the case of an image pickup device for a moving picture, since the frequency range of such a video signal reaches several tens and several hundreds MHz for implementation of the high resolution image, the increase of output capacity, i.e. the increase of target area, is not preferable.
On the other hand, an increase of picels or a downsizing of a pixel of solid state image sensors has produced difficulties known to the industry.
As stated above, conventional image pickup devices of either a pickup tube or a solid state sensor could not satisfactorily generate such a video signal to provide a reproduced image of high picture quality and high resolution because of the inevitable use of an image sensor in the construction thereof. In order to solve the problem, the assignee of this application has already proposed an imaging system and a recording system to obtain a high resolution optical image by an image pickup device using a photo-to-photo transducer, and to record such an optical image as a charge image of high resolution onto a charge accumulation layer (or a charge hold layer) by using a photo-to-charge transducer.
Naturally, in the implementation of such an imaging system and recording system, a comparably capable read out system is required which reproduces such a charge image recorded on a recording medium as an electric signal. However, no satisfactory reproducing apparatus for this has been available to data.
In the use of the charge latent image, conventional technology has been disclosed in European Patent Application (EPA) No. 89306243.0 (Publication No. 0 348 162 A2) or EPA. No. 87311531.5 (Publication No. 0 273 773 A2).
FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a recording unit of a prior art system. The recording unit comprises an imaging lens 1 as an imaging means for forming an optical image of an object 0; a recording head 2 consisting of a transparent electrode 3 and a photo-conductive layer (hereinafter abbreviated in a PCL) member 4; a recording medium 5 including a carrier transport layer (CTL) 6 of a hole transport type (HTL) or an electron transport type (ETL), a fine-grained layer 7 formed from a photo-conductive grain (PCG), a dielectric layer (IL) 8, and an electrode 9; a power source 10 for supplying electric power having a specified polarity to the electrodes 3 and 9; and high source 11 for generating an electron-hole pair in the PCG of the fine grained layer 7 by irradiating a light to the medium 5.
The PCG layer 7 is disposed between the CTL 6 and the IL 8. The carrier transport layer 6 is a layer of a compound known to the industry. A layer of such a compound having a high hole mobility is called a hole transport type layer (HTL), and one having a high electron mobility is called an electron transport type layer (ETL).
Depending on the desired charge polarity of the charge latent image eventually recorded in the recording medium 5, either the HTL or the ETL is used for the carrier transport layer 6, i.e., when the HTL is used, the polarity of the charge latent image will be negative, and in the case of the ETL, a positive polarity charge latent image will eventually be left recorded in the recording member 5.
However, since the above technology records the charge of a latent image, which corresponds to charge distribution according to a form of the optical image, on the surface of the recording medium, there is a problem that a preserved condition of charge latent information is deteriorated on the basis of the decrease and change of the recorded charge quantity because of changes in the physical condition during storage and reproducing frequency.
Furthermore, even if there is no problem of resolution for the first time of reproducing the recorded charge latent image, when new charge information is recorded again once after erasing recorded charge information from the medium recording the charge latent image, is a problem that the resolution for reproducing the new latent image is sharply deteriorated in comparison with the former resolution.

System and medium for recording/reproducing charge latent image


Systems and methods for improved acquisition of ophthalmic optical coherence tomography data are presented, allowing for enhanced ease of use and higher quality data and analysis functionality. Embodiments include automated triggering for detecting and initiating collection of OCT ophthalmic data, an automated technique for determining the optimal number of B-scans to be collected to create the highest quality image and optimize speckle reduction, automated review of fundus images collected with an adjunct imaging modality to guide the OCT data collection, a single scan protocol in which a large field of view is collected with HD B-scans embedded at different locations depending on automated analysis of either a fundus image or sparse OCT scan, and various scan configurations for imaging eyes with large axial depth range.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a technique for performing high-resolution cross-sectional imaging that can provide images of tissue structure on the micron scale in situ and in real time (Huang et al. "Optical Coherence Tomography" Science 254(5035):1178 1991). OCT is a method of interferometry that determines the scattering profile of a sample along the OCT beam. Each scattering profile is called an axial scan, or A-scan. Cross-sectional images (B-scans), and by extension 3D volumes, are built up from many A-scans, with the OCT beam moved to a set of transverse locations on the sample. OCT provides a mechanism for micrometer resolution measurements.
In frequency domain OCT (FD-OCT), the interferometric signal between light from a reference and the back-scattered light from a sample point is recorded in the frequency domain rather than the time domain. After a wavelength calibration, a one-dimensional Fourier transform is taken to obtain an A-line spatial distribution of the object scattering potential. The spectral information discrimination in FD-OCT is typically accomplished by using a dispersive spectrometer in the detection arm in the case of spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) or rapidly scanning a swept laser source in the case of swept-source OCT (SS-OCT).
Evaluation of biological materials using OCT was first disclosed in the early 1990's (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,501). Frequency domain OCT techniques have been applied to living samples (see for example Nassif et al. "In vivo human retinal imaging by ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography" Optics Letters 29(5):480 2004). The frequency domain techniques have significant advantages in speed and signal-to-noise ratio as compared to time domain OCT (see for example Choma, M. A., et al. "Sensitivity advantage of swept source and Fourier domain optical coherence tomography" Optics Express 11(18): 2183 2003). The greater speed of modern OCT systems allows the acquisition of larger data sets, including 3D volume images of human tissue. OCT has found widespread use in the field of ophthalmology as evidenced by numerous commercially available ophthalmic OCT devices including the Stratus, Cirrus HD-OCT, and Visante (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. Dublin, Calif.). Technology development in the field continues with efforts towards increasing the ease of use of the instruments, improving analytic functionality and increasing reliability of data when imaging patients with various abnormalities.


Improved flame retardant latex coatings are disclosed which comprise copolymers of ring-halogenated aromatic monomer units and alkyl acrylate/methacrylate monomer units, and which may additionally include at least one other monomer. In a first embodiment, the coatings include ring-brominated aromatic monomer units and alkyl acrylate and/or alkyl methacrylate monomer units. In a second embodiment, the coatings include these first two types of monomer units and further include third monomer units from unsaturated esters of saturated carboxylic acids, halogen-free aromatic monomers or unsaturated carboxylic or dicarboxylic acid monomers. In a third embodiment, the coatings include four monomer units, namely ring-brominated aromatic monomer units, alkyl acrylate/methacrylate monomer units, halogen-free aromatic monomer units and unsaturated carboxylic or dicarboxylic acid monomer units. In one aspect, the halogenated aromatic monomers are present in an amount to provide from 7 to 20 weight percent bromine in the final latex coating. In another aspect, the halogenated aromatic monomers include polybrominated monomers, particularly to provide monomers having an average of at least about 1.5 bromines per monomer unit. The coating polymers have glass transition temperatures in the -30.degree. C. to 30.degree. C. range and are useful, for example, for coating, paint, adhesive, sealant and non-woven binder applications.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use of latex compositions as coatings, including backcoatings, sealants, adhesives and the like, and particularly to coatings including ring-halogenated, ethylenically unsaturated aromatic monomers and at least one other monomer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Acrylic, styrene-butadiene, styrene-acrylic, vinyl-acrylic, and vinyl acetate latices are commercially used in a variety of coatings. In many coatings applications, the latices used are desired to have flame-retarding properties. This applies in particular where latices are used in textiles, carpeting, paints, clear coatings, adhesives, sealants, caulking, non-woven binders and so on.
The usual method by which flame-retardant properties are imparted to latices is the blending-in of flame retardant additives. Many of these flame retardant additives contain bromine, such as brominated diphenyl or diphenyloxide compounds, together with antimony trioxide. However, such flame retardant additives have a major disadvantage in that their use gives rise to problems, such as the generation of strong white pigmenting and settling out effect, and toxicity resulting from the presence of antimony trioxide.
A common approach has been the addition of solid organic and inorganic compounds to latices to confer flame retardancy. U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,974 describes the admixture of an aqueous dispersion of a halogenated organic compound and metallic oxide with a polymeric adhesive binder. Although this approach has been shown to provide the desired flame retardancy, many undesirable features are again introduced. Solids ultimately separate from the latex emulsion despite any dispersion techniques employed. The dispersions tend to be high in viscosity and impede application of the latex. Latex coatings become stiffer due to the presence of solids, interfering with the flexibility or "hand" of the latex. In addition, solids tend to have a pigmenting effect which masks or changes the color of the substrate.
Liquid compounds have been added to latices as well. U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,189 teaches the use of liquid chlorinated paraffin in a latex to achieve fire retardancy. Drawbacks to the use of liquids include migration from the polymer with time, separation from the liquid latex emulsion, adverse effect upon adhesion, plasticizing, swelling of the latex, and poor water resistance. Salts and other water soluble solids eliminate the problems of settling of solids, but contribute other problems cited as well as generally having an adverse effect upon the stability of the latex emulsion.
Chemical integration of monomers into latex polymers to impact flame retardancy has had limited success. Predominantly PVC based latices generally have only a marginal advantage in flammability over non-flame retarded analogs. Addition of more chlorine in the form of vinylidene chloride has been quite limited due to high cost.
Curable resin compositions containing a basic catalyst and a water solution of polymerized halogen-containing vinyl monomer and other vinyl monomers are disclosed in Japanese Pat. No. 56120754-A2, issued to Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals on Sep. 22, 1981. The Mitsui patent reports that water based suspensions or emulsions of vinyl polymers have weak resistance to water, cracking and soiling (staining), and that the proposed compositions overcome such shortcomings. The patent mentions various halogenated vinyl monomers, including brominated monomers, but does not disclose the use of polybrominated monomers.
Moreover, the Mitsui patent is limited to treatment of water, cracking and soiling properties. No recognition is contained in the Mitsui patent of the preparation of flame retardant latices utilizing brominated vinyl monomers, and the patent fails to disclose percentages of use for such monomers to achieve flame retardancy. The patent proposes that the halogen-containing monomer comprise at most 15% by weight of the copolymer, which corresponds to a bromine content in the resin of at most about 6%. The Mitsui patent further indicates that it is preferred to have a lower percentage of halogen-containing monomer of at most 10% by weight, corresponding to a bromine content of at most 4%. These percentages are insufficient to provide desirable flame retardancy. In preferring the lower bromine content, the Mitsui patent teaches away from the present invention.
Bromine-containing plastics are described in European Patent Application No. 79200768.4, filed by Stamicarbon B.V. on Dec. 15, 1979 (published Sep. 7, 1980 as No. 13,052-A1). The Stamicarbon application is directed to the preparation of plastic materials, including polyolefins, polystyrene, and copolymers of styrene and butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile and ABS. The plastics of the Stamicarbon application require high levels of bromine, and are described as containing 20-44 weight percent of bromine.
Moreover, the polymer compositions in the Stamicarbon patent are not suitable as coating materials because they have inappropriately high glass transition temperature (Tg) values. Their materials would have "excessive stiffness and inability to form film properly at room temperature." In fact, they teach away from the present invention.
Charles R. Martens wrote ("Waterborne Coatings, Emulsion and Water-Soluble Paints", Reinhold, N.Y., 1981, p. 169): "Choice of monomers in emulsion polymerization reactions is largely determined by the end-use requirements of the polymer. The first factor to be taken into account in the choice of a monomer or monomer mixture is the record order or glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer desired. This is the characteristic temperature at which the system undergoes a change from a hard, brittle material to a softer, more flexible one. Since polymers are generally unable to form films from latexes at temperatures below the Tg, an obvious requirement is that the polymer be above the Tg at the application and use temperature. A further restriction is placed on the Tg of the polymer by the fact that polymers become very soft at temperatures too far above the Tg, resulting in poor hardness, blocking, abrasion resistance, dirt collection, and so on. A balance must be obtained, therefore, between the good flexibility, adhesion, coalescence, and so forth, obtained at temperatures farther above the Tg and the good mechanical resistance properties found closer to the Tg. This is generally accomplished in coatings intended for ambient use by using polymers having Tg's in the 0.degree.-30.degree. C. range."
According to the above principle, Tg must be lower than the temperature at which film formation is attempted. If we choose the polymer with the lowest Tg of any described in the Stamicarbon patent, the composition is 60 parts by wt. bromostyrene (118.degree. C. Tg), 15 parts acrylonitrile (110.degree. C.), and 25 parts octyl acrylate (lowest Tg at -70.degree. C. of esters of acrylic acid). The Tg of this composition is 43.7.degree. C., according to the following equation: ##EQU1## Where Tg=multipolymer Tg in .degree. K., Wn=weight fraction of the monomer present and Tgn=the homopolymer Tg in .degree. K.
The Tg of the above composition, 43.7.degree. C., in the Stamicarbon's patent is recognized as too high to be of commercial value as a coating or a paint due to excessive stiffness and inability to form film properly at room temperature.
The Stamicarbon's compositions containing 60 to 95% bromostyrene, i.e., 26.2% Br to 41.5% Br, are outside those of the current invention (7-20% Br). Criteria for monomer selection include the glass transition temperature (Tg), physical properties, and chemical resistance. It is clear that the Stamicarbon's polymer composition cannot be such as recited by the present invention. Further, one skilled in the art would not utilize the latex of Stamicarbon as a coating or a paint to render articles nonflammable.
There has remained a need for polymer latex coatings which possess desired flame retardant and film properties. The coatings of the present invention satisfy these needs, and provide useful fire-retardant fabric backcoatings, paints, adhesives, sealants, caulking, non-woven binders and a variety of other applications.

Flame retardant brominated styrene-based coatings


A traction chair system for efficiently relieving an individual of lower back pain. The traction chair system includes a chair frame, a seat, a plurality of actuators attached between the chair frame and the seat for elevating/lowering the seat, a backrest, a harness attached to the backrest for securing an individual to the backrest, a motor mechanically elevating/lowering the backrest, and a control unit in communication with the actuators and the motor. A scale is positioned within the seat and in communication with the control unit for providing feedback to the individual regarding the actual amount of traction occurring. The amount of traction being applied to an individual is shown upon a display of the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to traction devices and more specifically it relates to a traction chair system for efficiently relieving an individual of lower back pain.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traction devices have been in use for years. A commonly utilized traction device is a harness structure that attaches about an individual's head and applies an upward force to the head thereby causing the pressure to be partially relieved from the individual's back.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently relieving an individual of lower back pain. Conventional traction devices do not directly relieve the pressure applied to the lower back of an individual because they focus upon relieving the pressure from the neck and upper back.
In these respects, the traction chair system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of efficiently relieving an individual of lower back pain.


A method is provided. The method includes receiving a request to conduct a transaction with a merchant, requesting approval of the request, receiving approval of the request, verifying the transaction, receiving a first data, receiving a second data, determining a first distance between the first computing device and the second computing device based on the first and second data, determining that the first distance between the first computing device and second computing device satisfies a first predetermined distance threshold, receiving a third data, the third computing device being associated with the second user, determining a second distance between the third computing device and the second computing device based on the third and second data, determining that the second distance between the third computing device and the second computing device satisfies a second predetermined distance threshold, and approving the transaction.

Online fraud is a serious threat to modern companies. For example, fraudsters may employ online fraud schemes to attempt to obtain confidential information (e.g., passwords, personal ID numbers, token codes, etc.), and use such information to access financial accounts, transfer money, make unauthorized purchases, etc. Online fraud may be initiated both internally (e.g., by a rogue employee) or externally (e.g., by a hacker).

Mobile device-based dual custody verification using micro-location


The object of the invention is offering an external output video signal processor, which does not need coupling capacitor or clamping circuit. A system controller outputs a video signal by which the sync. tip level and the pedestal level were fixed to a predetermined value. It was considered as an external output video signal processor which carries out direct input of the video signal output to the video signal processing circuit from the system controller, and is characterized by providing a level shift circuit which adjusts the level and is sent to said latter part processing circuit.

This invention relates to an external output video signal processor for carrying out external output of the video signal with a predetermined p-p value. The fundamental configuration of an external output video signal processor currently used conventionally is shown in FIG. 3. The DC component of a video signal output from system controller 10 is cut with coupling capacitor 30. The video signal is taken into clamping circuit 23 (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 46443/1995) of video signal processing circuit 20a which consists of a microchip and it's continuous current is regenerated. It is sent to latter part processing circuit 22, and is amplified (p-p value) in the part. After being adjusted, it is output outside. Since the video signal which is output from latter part processing circuit 22 is determined to set to 1.0 Vpp when it is terminated by 75-ohm resistance, the output swing (p-p value) usually serves as 2.0 Vpp.
FIG. 4 is a figure showing the configuration of an external output video signal processor in which system controller 10a of FIG. 3 is shown in more detail. The video signal output by DSP 11 of system controller 10a in current is converted into voltage by resistance 12, matched with impedance by impedance conversion circuit 13, and input into coupling capacitor 30.
If video signal is made to input into latter part processing circuit 22 of video signal processing circuit 20a as it is when the reference level of video signal output from system controller 10a is not being fixed, or when sync. tip is not the optimal level, crushing occurs in the top or the bottom of the signal wave form, which are output from the latter part processing circuit 22, and when the video signal is reproduced, deterioration of image quality will be caused.
Then, in order to prevent distortion of the signal wave form output from this latter part processing circuit 22, coupling capacitor 30 and clamping circuit 23 are formed as mentioned above. With coupling capacitor 30, DC component of output is cut and only the Alternating Current component is extracted. Continuous current regeneration of this is input and carried out to clamping circuit 23. By doing in this way, sync. tip level and pedestal level are fixed to predetermined level, and the indispensable dynamic range is retained.


The disclosure includes a method for traffic flow prediction based on data mining on spatio-temporal correlations. The method includes establishing a prediction model, data mining on spatio-temporal correlations, and traffic flow prediction based on spatio-temporal correlated data. The prediction model can be a linear regression model with multiple variables. The data mining on spatio-temporal correlations is based on a multi-factor linear regression model and by means of the optimization method in terms of sparse representation. The data from the spatio-temporal correlated sensors that are relevant to the prediction task are determined automatically. The traffic flow prediction based on spatio-temporal correlated data refers to that the prediction is performed with the input to the prediction model to be the data from the spatio-temporal correlated sensors.

In recent years, traffic flow prediction has been playing an important role in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which provides decision support for intelligent personal route planning as well as for transportation administration.
Early studies are mainly focused on traffic flow prediction based on single time series. The prediction models can be sorted into two categories: parametric and nonparametric methodologies. For parametric models, seasonal ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrate Moving Average) is the most widely used method (see reference [1]), which aims to approach minimum squared error (MSE) for traffic flow prediction over single time series. As for nonparametric models, Nearest Neighbor Method is regarded as an alternative solution to ARIMA (see reference [2]). However, its performance is subject to the quality of the historical data. Overall, traffic flow prediction based on single time series simply takes into account the characteristics of the time series itself but neglects the interactions and relations among different time series.
Since the evolution of traffic flows is the outcome of the interactions among the traffic flows at all the nodes in the road network of interest, the relations across the nodes should be taken into account for traffic flow prediction. Correspondingly, the recent trend has been shifted to study the multi-variable prediction models based on spatio-temporal correlations among traffic data. The prevailing methods can be sorted into 3 categories: (1) State space model or Kalman filter (see reference [3]); (2) Machine learning such as Neural Networks (see reference [4]); (3) Time series methods such as Vector Autoregressive Moving Average (VARMA) module (see reference [5]). Nevertheless, determining spatio-temporal correlation is essential for multi-variable traffic flow prediction. In previous studies, the spatio-temporal correlated sensors are determined empirically and manually, and confined within the neighborhood around the target node to some extent. Such a scheme to select input variables is too subjective to approach the best performance in terms of prediction due to the less consideration of the reality, say, the spatio-temporal correlations among traffic data. Moreover, the variable selection based on human experience cannot be generalized to be applicable to large-scale road networks.
As a mathematical tool, sparse representation has been applied to signal processing very early such as signal compression, image deblurring, and feature extraction. Certain embodiments of the present invention aim to apply it to spatio-temporal correlation mining for traffic flow prediction. The basic idea of sparse representation is as follows. A signal y can be represented as a linear combination of K primitives {d1,d2, . . . ,dj, . . . ,d K} in a dictionary D, that is, y=Dx, where y∈Rn, dj∈Rn, and D∈Rn×K. Approximately, it can be represented as y≈Dx, where ∥y−Dx∥22≦ε0 and x∈RK are the coefficients to reconstruct y. Sparse representation aims to reconstruct y with as few as possible primitives, that is, x should contain as less as possible nonzero coefficients to render the linear combination. Hence, the objective to be optimized in the sense of sparse representation can be formulated as
            x      ^        =                            arg                                                                          min            x                          ||        x                          ||          0                                                                    subject                                                              to                                                              y                    =      Dx        or            x      ^        =                  arg                                                            min          x                    ||      x                    ||        0                                                    subject                                                  to                                      ||              y        -        Dx                          ||        2        2                          ≤                  ɛ          0                    where ∥x∥0 means the l0 norm of x, namely, the number of nonzero elements contained in vector x. Since a couple of optimization methods have been developed in the context of sparse representation [6], which are able to select the corresponding primitives from the dictionary in correspondence to the nonzero coefficients in a fully automatic manner, certain embodiments of the present invention employ such methods to discover the spatio-temporal correlations among traffic data so as to determine the correlated sensors in the whole road network that are highly contributive to the prediction task to be performed at the target sensor, and apply the data collected from such correlated sensors as the input to the predictor for the sake of traffic flow prediction.

Method for traffic flow prediction based on spatio-temporal correlation mining


A device receives information identifying malicious behavior by a compromised endpoint device associated with a network and traffic associated with the compromised endpoint device after the malicious behavior is identified. The device receives endpoint device information identifying other endpoint devices associated with the network, wherein the compromised endpoint device is not one of the other endpoint devices. The device receives network device information identifying network devices associated with the network, and processes the traffic, the endpoint device information, and the network device information, with a machine learning model, to generate a security policy to isolate the malicious behavior. The device performs one or more actions based on the security policy to isolate the malicious behavior.

Identifying malicious behavior (e.g., a cyberattack, malware, and/or the like) is typically a time-consuming process for a network security team. Many products exist that attempt to lure or trap a bad actor (e.g., a network intruder) into revealing themselves, and that trigger a wide variety of actions from a network (e.g., blocking the network intruder, stopping malware and/or cyberattack, and/or the like).

Generating a network security policy based on behavior detected after identification of malicious behavior