A thermal imaging camera is provided that facilitates crawling by a user has a handle that supports the user's hand off of a floor and protects the camera. The handle includes a grip with a front bumper guard and a base having a widened portion at its butt end that has bumpers. Side bumpers at the opposite end of the handle extend outwardly from the sides of the handle which are coplanar with the bumpers at the butt end, to keep the handle generally parallel to the ground. The bumpers at the butt end and adjacent to the camera extend farther out than any other part of the handle or camera. The handle is removable and re-attachable to the camera. A removable handle alone for a portable, camera is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to thermal imaging cameras and, more particularly, thermal imaging cameras suitable for use by a user who is crawling.
2. Background of the Invention
Thermal imaging cameras (TICs) are specialized cameras for use, for example, by firefighters, search and rescue workers, emergency workers, and the like, to view areas where there is heavy smoke, darkness or other areas where visibility is limited. A TIC is used, for example, to locate a seat of a fire, locate hot spots and size of an actual fire, find doorways and windows, locate trapped victims, etc.
The appearance and operation of TICs for firefighters and the like may be similar to a camcorder. Instead of CCD sensors which are commonly used in camcorders, most thermal imaging cameras use microbolometer arrays. The resolution of a TIC may be considerably lower than that of optical cameras. For example, the resolution of a TIC may be 160×120 or 320×240 pixels. Older bolometers required cryogenic cooling, usually requiring a miniature Stirling cycle refrigerator or liquid nitrogen.
Bolometers of the type for use with TICs for firefighters and the like typically use a grid of vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon heat sensors on a corresponding grid of silicon. Infrared radiation picked up by the TIC's lens hits the vanadium oxide grid and changes its electrical resistance. The TIC takes this resistance change and processes it into temperatures which are shown on the TIC's viewfinder. Bolometer grids are typically found in two array sizes: 320 by 240 or 160 by 120. Both sizes offer the same resolution. The 320 by 240 is capable of showing a larger field of view.
Bolometer technology of this type was originally developed in the 1980's in a classified contract for the U.S. Department of Defense. The US government de-classified the technology in 1992. After 1992, the technology spread to various manufacturers.
Numerous patents in the prior art teach the many different elements of TICs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,912 (Salapow, et al.) is directed to a TIC having a seamless housing encompassing a TIC core. The TIC itself has bumpers at its edges but they do not extend out from the base of its handle to the same distance as that of those on the body of the TIC. The handle is not separable from the TIC itself. At column 7, the specification states that resilient bumpers cover all of the extremities or projecting portions of the camera such that if the camera is dropped at a flat surface, one of the resilient bumpers will always first contact the surface regardless of the orientation of the camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,775 (Bielefeld, et al.) is directed to a portable thermal imager with a shock-absorbing lens mount. The mount minimizes the transfer of impact forces to the lens. Although apparently not specifically discussed, the housing of this TIC does appear to have bumpers (as seen in FIG. 2). However, unpadded handles extend from the sides of this TIC further out than the bumpers.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 424,081 (Gordon) is directed to a hand held thermal imaging apparatus. Here, handles appear to extend from the housing of this TIC that are unpadded.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 472,911 (Bielefeld) is a design patent that is directed to a handle for the design of the '775 patent. While it is not clear, this handle appears to be a removable addition. Again, here, the butt end of the handle extends outwardly to form a base but this base does not extend as far out as the sides of the upper end of the handle adjacent to the TIC. Additionally, the side handles on the TIC here extend farther out than the upper end of the removable handle such that crawling with this camera is not suggested.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 479,548 (Bielefeld) is a design patent that is directed to what appears to be the same invention as that of the '775 patent, discussed above. Here, it can be seen that the handles extend out from the body of the TIC farther out than the bumpers as shown, for example, in FIG. 2.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 481,053 (Colburn, et al.) is a design patent directed to a TIC having a handle that is integral to the TIC. The base of the handle is of the same width as the top of the handle.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Crawling handle for thermal imaging camera


The present invention discloses an automatic recognition method for spatial position and pose of parallel external fixator, including the following steps of: installing three markers on each of the two fixation rings of the parallel external fixator; obtaining 3D images of six marker balls after scanning and reconstruction by a common 3D clinical imaging system; recognizing the sphere center coordinates of the six marker balls by sphere fitting algorithm; according to the mounting configuration of the markers on the two fixation rings, establishing coordinate systems of two fixation rings and determining the spatial position and pose of the external fixator; in addition, by obtaining the 3D images of the fracture bone segments with the 3D clinical imaging system and simulating the movement of the fracture deformity correction, the adjustment schedule of the external fixator struts can be achieved.

The existing parallel external fixator usually comprises a pair of fixation rings fixedly connected to the fractured bone and six struts connected to the fixation rings. The parallel external fixator can not only stably fix the fracture segment, but also adjust the fracture segment and achieve more accurate fracture reduction by adjusting the relative position and pose of the fixation rings. In addition, the parallel external fixator can also be used for bone deformity correction after osteotomy treatment. Due to the individuality of the fracture condition and the clinical fixator installation of the patient, it is necessary to determine the position and pose of the parallel external fixator before applying it for fracture reduction or deformity correction, and then plan the adjustment schedule according to the measured position and pose. The position and pose information of the parallel external fixator includes spatial position and pose of the external fixator structure and the fractured bone segment relative to the external fixator. How to determine the spatial position and pose information of the external fixator through the clinical information is a major difficulty in the application of parallel external fixator.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,204,937 and EP2767252 provide two similar methods for determining the position and pose of the parallel external fixator, mainly including: taking X-ray anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the fractured bone containing the complete parallel external fixator; manually measuring the position and pose parameters between the fracture segments, and the installation parameters between the fractured bone and the external fixator on the X-ray image; reading the length of the fixator struts and measuring the axial rotation angle of the limb relative to the fixator in clinic; solving the position and pose of the parallel external fixator and the fractured bone by using the above parameters. The method provided by the above patents has the following problems: requiring extensive manual measurement operations, existing subjective and objective errors, the adopted X-ray image does not contain the axial rotation between the bone segment and the external fixator; thus resulting in low efficiency of the clinical application of the parallel external fixator, and inconsistence between the bone adjustment accuracy and the mechanical accuracy of the fixator structure.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Automatic recognition method for spatial position and pose of parallel external fixator for fracture reduction

BEIJING NATON MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS CO., LTD.


An apparatus and method to minimize teasing and contact welding at contact points includes a switch having a first contact movable toward a second contact from a switch-deactuated position to a switch-actuated position and movable away from the second contact from the switch-actuated position back to the switch-deactuated position. A transfer carriage is operatively engaged with the first contact and includes a flip-flop mechanism for bringing the first contact into contact with the second contact and releasing the first contact from the second contact. The flip-flop mechanism utilizes a transfer barrier to switch between the switch-actuated and switch-deactuated positions. An actuator imparts movement on the transfer carriage to overcome the transfer barrier when moving between the switch-deactuated and switch-actuated positions.

Electrical circuits of various kinds are susceptible to a number of unfavorable conditions. For example, in an on/off switch, arcing or sparking may occur between electrical contacts when such paired contacts bounce or partially separate upon toggling the switch to the off position. This condition is referred to as a teasable condition in an electrical system. Furthermore, the contacts of such an electrical system may weld together causing the circuit to remain closed even after the switch has been in the off position for a number of cycles.
Such an on/off switch is commonly used in the triggers of hand operated devices such as main line powered construction tools and latterly powered gardening tools. In these types of devices, the contact pressure directly relates to the trigger travel (i.e., the distance over which the trigger is moved or depressed). The user directly controls the trigger travel by pulling and relaxing his finger over the trigger. However, the contact pressure between electrical contacts in the switch may approach zero when a user only partially toggles the trigger to the on position. In extreme cases, if a tool operator holds the trigger in the on position while current is running through the contacts at near zero contact pressure, the contacts may weld together. In such circumstances, even after the operator has released the trigger, the circuit will remain closed. The powered tool cannot be turned off easily, causing a safety hazard. This condition poses potential hazards to nearby materials, equipment and to humans, including the operator.
There is a need for an invention that can quickly provide full contact pressure between the electrical contacts and that can cause the electrical contacts to disconnect quickly. Thus, there is a need for an invention in which the contact pressure does not depend upon the trigger travel so as to avoid teasing after the switch is turned on.

Circuit interrupter that produces snap-action connection and disconnection between electrical contacts


A compressor includes a first muffler chamber communicating with a first cylinder chamber, and a second muffler chamber communicating with a second cylinder chamber. The first muffler chamber and the second muffler chamber are communicated with each other by a gas passage. The gas passage is communicated with a Helmholtz type resonance chamber by a connecting passage. The connecting passage is connected to a lowermost end of the resonance chamber. Therefore, oil contained in the refrigerant gas, even if having entered into the resonance chamber, is discharged through the connecting passage located at the lowermost end of the resonance chamber to outside of the resonance chamber. Thus, since oil is not accumulated in the resonance chamber, the resonance chamber keeps generally constant in capacity at all times.

Conventionally, a compressor includes a first muffler chamber communicating with a first cylinder chamber, a second muffler chamber communicating with a second cylinder chamber, a gas passage for making the first muffler chamber and the second muffler chamber communicated with each other, and a Helmholtz type resonance chamber. A vertically intermediate portion of the resonance chamber and the gas passage are connected to each other by a connecting passage (see, e.g., JP 7-247974 A).
However, in the conventional compressor, since the connecting passage is connected to the vertically intermediate portion of the resonance chamber, oil contained in refrigerant gas may enter into the resonance chamber to accumulate in the resonance chamber, disadvantageously. This accumulation of oil in the resonance chamber would cause the resonance chamber to change in capacity, causing the frequency of damping noise (pulsation noise) to change, which leads to a degraded muffling effect as a problem.

Compressor having a helmholtz type resonance chamber with a lowermost end connected to a gas passage


A light-emitting system (1000) removably attachable to headgear is provided, which comprises: a form factor (1010) configured to surround a portion of the headgear when the light-emitting system (1000) is removably attached to the headgear for use; a plurality of halo lighting elements (1100) configured to selectively generate at least a partial halo of light that radiates outwardly away from the light-emitting system; and at least one task lighting element (1120) aligned in a direction along a task light axis (1130) that is fixed and oriented downwardly at an oblique angle (α) relative to a transverse plane (TP) of the light-emitting system (1000), the at least one task lighting element (1120) being configured to selectively generate flood task lighting in an area in front of a user.

Various light-emitting systems and devices are used in construction, mining, and emergency response fields, among others, to illuminate a work area or otherwise provide a source of light to complete tasks under low or poor lighting conditions. For example, industrial floodlight towers are often used in the construction industry to illuminate a work environment. In addition, headlamps of various configurations are often worn by construction workers to provide a source of light to facilitate certain tasks. Such devices, however, suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, light emitted from floodlight towers is often blocked by various objects causing regions of darkness where enhanced lighting may be desired. As another example, conventional headlamps often provide a focused beam of light that provides inadequate lighting in areas beyond a user's immediate field of view.
In addition, various personal protective gear exists for enhancing user safety, such as, for example, reflective vests that are intended to increase visibility of the wearer. Such reflective gear, however, also suffers from a variety of drawbacks. For example, it provides a passive system relying on external sources of light to illuminate reflective portions thereof and provides only limited personal illumination in terms of intensity and scope.
Moreover, worksites in various industries (e.g., construction, transportation, transit, medical, etc.) involve workers or other users utilizing equipment, vehicles, and materials in circumstances that may prove difficult, dangerous, unpredictable, and in close proximity to vulnerable worksite personnel. Improved visibility for and of such workers may be advantageous, but complicated by circumstances innate to the worksite (such as workers with disparate roles and experience levels wearing similar or identical uniforms and/or safety equipment) and by environmental factors (e.g., weather, time of day, lowlight conditions, etc.). Moreover, managers of such worksites may find it difficult to accurately track the location and role of particular workers, both historically and in real-time. Existing techniques for tracking and improving the visibility of such workers (e.g., reflective gear or other passive solutions) have various problems.


A converter and a driving method thereof are provided. The converter includes first and second switches, and generates a square wave signal according to operations of the first and second switches. The converter includes a first capacitor and a primary coil, and resonates a driving voltage by using a driving voltage with the first capacitor and the primary coil so as to generate a driving current. The converter includes a secondary coil that forms the primary coil and the transformer, and generates output power by rectifying a current and a voltage generated in the secondary coil. In addition, the converter detects the phase of the driving current, and increases switching frequencies of the first and second switches if a phase difference of the phase of the driving current and that of the driving voltage is smaller than a predetermined value.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resonant converter, and more particularly, it relates to a converter that performs a zero voltage switching operation and a driving method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A driving voltage and a driving current are input to a resonance network of a resonant converter. The driving voltage and the driving current are defined as a voltage and a current that are input to the resonance network of the resonant converter. The driving current is preferred to have a waveform with a phase that is slow compared to that of the driving voltage. As a switch that controls operation of the converter, a transistor element is typically used. When the transistor is being turned on, the overlap area of transistor current and voltage makes switching loss. Thus, when the transistor is being turned on, it is preferred that a voltage difference between drain and source electrodes is small in order to minimize a switching loss. When the driving current has a lagging phase compared to the driving voltage, a current flowing through a body diode of the transistor while the transistor is being turned on is generated. Then, a voltage difference between the drain and source electrodes of the transistor during turn-on transition is reduced, thereby reducing the switching loss.
An inductive region and a capacitive region can be divided in accordance with an impedance characteristic of the resonant network of resonant converter. If a switching frequency is faster than a resonant frequency of the resonant network, the resonant converter operates in the inductive region. If the resonant frequency is faster than the switching frequency, the resonant converter operates in the capacitive region. This is according to frequency dependent characteristics of the impedance of resonant network. When the network has inductive impedance, the impedance increases in proportion to frequency while the impedance changes inversely proportional to the frequency when the network has capacitive impedance. While the resonant converter operates in the inductive region, the driving current has a lagging phase compared to the driving voltage. Because the operation in the inductive region minimizes switching loss, the resonant converter is always designed to operate in inductive region. When the resonant converter operates in inductive region, the input power increases as switching frequency decreases since the input impedance decreases as the frequency decreases.
A switching frequency of the converter may vary according to a load connected to an output end of the resonant converter. When the output load increases, the controller decreases the switching frequency so as to decrease the input impedance and therefore to increase input power. In further detail, when the converter is overloaded, the switching frequency is decreased in order to obtain the maximum gain. When the switching frequency is decreased to be smaller than the resonance frequency, the converter operates in the capacitive region. When the resonant converter operates in the capacitive region, a reverse recovery current is generated due to a body diode of the transistor that is a switching element in the switching operation. When a backward voltage is applied while a current is flowing forward to the diode, the current gradually becomes zero after the current flows backward rather than immediately becoming zero. This current is referred to a reverse recovery current. Due to this current, serious switching noise and switching loss are generated. In addition, the resonant converter may operate in the capacitive region in the case in which an output end is short circuited.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Resonant converter with variable frequency controlled by phase comparison


In a turbocharged internal combustion engine (ICE) system, a catalytic treatment device receives exhaust gases from the ICE after they have passed through the turbocharger turbine. The system includes a secondary air pump (SAP) for injecting pressurized air into the exhaust gases ahead of the catalytic treatment device. The SAP is a single-stage centrifugal compressor that includes an air recirculation passage for causing a first portion of the air pressurized by the SAP to be continuously recirculated back to the inlet of the SAP, which is effective for heating the air in the volute of the SAP. A second portion of the pressurized air, having thereby been heated, is injected into the exhaust gases proceeding toward the catalytic treatment device.

This application relates generally to turbocharged internal combustion engine systems. The application relates more particularly to such engine systems that employ a catalytic treatment device in the exhaust system.
Turbochargers are employed with some internal combustion engines in order to boost the performance of the engine. Exhaust gases discharged from the cylinders of the engine are collected in an exhaust manifold and are supplied to the turbine of the turbocharger to drive the turbine wheel, which in turn drives the compressor wheel of the turbocharger. The compressor pressurizes air and supplies it to the intake manifold of the engine. The overall pressure ratio across the internal combustion engine is thereby increased, allowing the engine to develop increased torque and power output, as well as operate at greater efficiency.
As a result of governmental regulations aimed at reducing harmful exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines, internal combustion engine systems nearly always include a catalytic treatment device (commonly referred to as a catalytic converter) in the exhaust system. Within the catalytic treatment device, the exhaust gases flow through a dense honeycomb structure made from a substrate that is coated with catalysts such as platinum and palladium. Typically, there are two or more different catalysts, such as one that catalyzes a reduction process to convert nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen, and another that catalyzes an oxidation process to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.
There is a minimum temperature (called the "light-off temperature") that the catalysts must be heated to before they become effective to convert the NOx and CO in the exhaust gases into harmless substances. Consequently, during a "cold start" of the engine (for example, after the vehicle has been parked overnight and is started in the morning), there is a period of time before the catalysts have reached their light-off temperature, during which the catalytic treatment device is not effective. This is a significant problem because it has been estimated that as much as 80 percent of total vehicle engine emissions are caused by engine operation during the cold-start period when the catalytic device is ineffective. It is desired to minimize this time period as much as possible.
The present application describes embodiments of methods and turbocharged internal combustion engine systems that employ advantageous means for achieving rapid light-off of a catalytic treatment device.

Methods and systems for catalytically treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine using secondary air injection, and secondary air pump for use therein


Apparatus and method for producing reduction in maximum width in plastics lining pipes includes at least one pair of reducing rolls through which the lining pipe is forced from upstream thereof. The rolls are disposed and configured to present a roll throat of effective ovality, defined by the percentage difference between the maximum dimension normal to the axes of rotation and the maximum dimension parallel to the axes of rotation, in the range of 5% and 30%.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for reducing the width of plastics pipes, and more particularly to such apparatus and methods for reducing temporarily the width of plastics liner pipes for use in relining old or damaged fluid transport pipelines, such as mains water or drainage water pipelines.
The provision of such plastics liner pipes in these circumstances is a known area of technology utilising a variety of ways of fitting the liner pipes into the existing pipework system. The present invention relates to a technique, hereinafter referred to as the "roll-down" technique, in which a liner pipe, either in a continuous length as formed on extrusion, or as separate plastics pipes butt-welded together to a continuous length, and having an appropriate width for eventually fitting tightly within the pipeline to be relined is pushed through a sequence of roller sets to reduce the width of the liner temporarily so that it may then be fed into and through the pipeline system to be relined and subsequently allowed to expand, possibly with the help of pressurised fluids and/or heat, to its original width so as to fit tightly within the original pipework.
In such a roll down system, the pipe liner is physically driven from the upstream end through a succession of curved profile rolls each of which, in end view, is somewhat half-circular in configuration, the basic principle being that the pipe liner, of larger diameter than a first pair of opposed rolls having a somewhat circular roll throat in front view, is, subject to the thrusting force from upstream, caused to reduce in diameter on passage through that set of rolls, and then on through a second pair of rolls, usually rotatable at right angles to the first set of rolls, and possibly even a third pair of rolls, again having their axes of rotation at right angles to the previous set of rolls.
It has been found in such an arrangement that a straightforward reduction in diameter of the liner pipe in passing through a set of such rolls, if the rolls exert a truly circular radial force on the incoming pipes, and therefore result in the output of a truly circular reduced pipe from the first rolls, can result in collapse of the pipe liner during passage therethrough inwardly into a configuration generally known as a "heart collapse" (from its collapsed configuration of a somewhat heart-shaped nature). When this occurs, there is quite clearly a failure of the rolling technique.

Apparatus and methods for reducing plastics pipes


A continuous tunable laser system includes at least one DBR laser. The DBR laser includes a Phase section, a Braggs section, and a gain medium. The DBR laser is capable of generating a continuous-wave laser signal. A Phase current input is electrically connected to the Phase section. A Bragg current input is electrically connected to the Bragg section and synchronized with the Phase current input. A gain control input is electrically connected to the gain medium.

It is often desirable to measure mechanical strains on certain materials. The use of optical fibers for measuring strains has been employed on many occasions and in various ways. When the fibers are attached to the material under test, the physical forces that stretch, or contract the material, impart the same forces to the fiber. Stress to the optical fibers can also occur as a result of variations in temperature of the environment within which the optical fiber is located. Such physical forces and temperature variation are typically found in aerospace environments such as aircrafts or spacecrafts.
Therefore, rigidly attaching or bonding optical fibers to physical structures can measure strain to the physical structure. Optically measuring strain on the optical fiber then provides information regarding strain on the physical structure. This type of arrangement has been used, for instance, to measure stress in bridges.
Fiber Bragg Gratings have been used to optically measure strain in optical fibers. Fiber Bragg Gratings comprise a portion of the optical fiber where the index of refraction has been changed, such that it reflects a particular resonant wavelength. The Gratings are written on a section of the optical fiber, which is then spliced to longer lead-in, lead-out optical fibers. Coherent light at the resonant wavelength is transmitted down the core of the optical fiber, and reflects off the Bragg Gratings, and passes back up the fiber. The time period between transmitting the light down the core of the optical fiber and receiving the reflected light is measured.
As the grating spacing changes in response to strain, the index of refraction of the grating changes thereby altering the measured time period of modulation of the index of refraction. Multiple Fiber Bragg Grating configurations can also be used for measuring strain. In such a configuration, each Bragg Grating can have a unique central frequency (and no overlap of the frequency response). Thus, multiplexed signals can be transmitted by the optical fiber and discriminated by the Fiber Bragg Gratings.
The lasers typically used to sense strain in optical fiber use a large mechanically rotating and displacing grating element as one of the laser cavity endfaces to continuously tune the wavelength. When tuning a laser, care-must be taken to delicately control the mirror endface such that only one axial mode will be output. The tuning of the laser can also be disrupted by physical vibration, which is not uncommon on a bridge or in other locations where measuring physical strain is desirable. A DBR laser, which is a smaller, electrically controlled laser, would be less mechanically cumbersome for this purpose. However, while physically and mechanically more compact, a DBR laser can be equally cumbersome to tune.
A DBR laser has a semiconductor laser mirror endface and an optical cavity length, which are each modifiable by a current input. There are periodic states (called, "mode hops") that the semiconductor laser mirror endface and the optical cavity length must avoid. Typically, either the semiconductor laser mirror endface is modified to tune the DBR laser or the optical cavity length is modified to tune the laser using its respective current input. The concern of mode hops and the limitations on index of refraction modification and noise concerns discourages the use of DBR lasers for applications that require continuous tuning.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Continuous wavelength tuning of DBR laser

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


The present invention provides phenothiazine compounds, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and the use of the compounds or the compositions in the treatment of various diseases or conditions, for example ribosomal disorders and ribosomopathies, e.g. Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA).

Mutations in ribosomal protein (RP) genes or transcription factor GATA1 can result in the loss of erythrocyte progenitor cells and cause severe anemia. This is seen in patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), a rare blood disorder that is almost exclusively linked to RP gene haploinsufficiency. DBA, also known as Blackfan-Diamond anemia or inherited erythroblastopenia, affects approximately seven per million live births and is usually diagnosed during the first year of life (Vlachos et al., Br J Haematol. 2008 September; 142(6): 859-876). Classic diagnostic criteria are: (1) macrocytic, normochromic, anemia; (2) reticulocytopenia; (3) bone marrow erythroid hypoplasia; and (4) early onset of anemia (90% present before age one year) (Alter et al., N Engl J Med. 1976; 295(26):1437-43).
In DBA patients, erythrocyte precursors do not mature sufficiently leading to congenital erythroid aplasia, developmental defects and increased risk of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Affected individuals may have physical abnormalities, such as craniofacial malformations, thumb or upper limb abnormalities, cleft palate, as well as defects of the genitalia, urinary tract, eyes and heart. In some cases, low birth weight and short stature are sometimes observed. DBA patients are also at a modest risk of developing leukemia and other malignancies.
The current treatment options for DBA includes corticosteroids, blood transfusion, and bone marrow transplantation (Vlachos et al., Bone Marrow Transplant. 2001; 27(4):381-86). Approximately 80% of DBA patients respond to an initial course of corticosteroids. However, the efficacy of corticosteroids can wane over time in many patients. These patients and the 20% who do not respond initially to such therapy must be maintained on a chronic blood transfusion with iron chelation (Vlachos et al., Blood 2010; 116(19):3715-3723). Chronic transfusions are known to cause iron overload in various organs including the liver, heart, and endocrine system. Other therapies such as interleukin-3 (Bastion et al., Blood. 1994; 83(2):617-8), high dose corticosteroids, cyclosporine, anti-thymocyte globulin, immunoglobulin (reviewed in Vlachos et al., Br J Haematol 2008; 142(6):859-76), and metoclopramide (Abkowitz et al., Blood. 2002; 100:2687-2691; Leblanc et al., Blood. 2007; 109:2266-2267), are either of unproved benefit and/or seem to benefit relatively few people. Pharmacological doses of Erythropoietin (EPO) are also ineffective. Bone marrow transplantation is the sole cure for the hematologic manifestation of DBA-related anemia, but is usually only considered in corticosteroid-resistant persons because of substantial morbidity and mortality. Typically, only transplants from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling were considered. For many patients, the lack of a suitable donor excludes bone marrow transplantation as a therapeutic option.
Consequently, there is a dire need to develop novel, effective, and targeted therapies for DBA and other associated ribosomal disorders or ribosomopathies. In particular, improved methods for treatment of DBA with small-molecule drugs are strongly desired.

Phenothiazine derivatives and uses thereof


The present invention relates generally to high-speed packet forwarding (switching/routing) system such as the present IP (Internet Protocol). More particularly, the invention encompasses a protocol that includes having the capabilities of high-speed IP packet forwarding to over come network delays. The invention further includes a protocol that allows for an easy and transparent implementation on current IP networks or any packet switching system/device so that one can route once (at a certain level) and cross-connect many (at a lower layer) (ROACM).

The increase of media-based applications on the Internet has incurred great cost on the routing infrastructure that is required to serve the content. Because of the increase of media-based applications the routers can be a major stumbling block for such Internet-powered media applications. As more and more users use the Internet the stress on the backbone, including the routers, increases. To overcome this and related problems research is being done to develop routing technologies that allow for scalability to cope with the current and future bandwidth hungry applications of the Internet. This also includes having the capabilities of high-speed IP packet forwarding to overcome the increasing network delays.
Furthermore, the increased traffic transfer through ISPs (Internet Service Providers) caused by new access methods, such as, for example, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a burden on routers, especially backbone routers.
Thus, there exists a need to speed up the routers.
Furthermore, there is also a need for a new protocol which will enable routing once and cross-connect to any packet switching system/device, such as, router.
Similarly, there is also a need for a new protocol which will enable routing once and cross-connect to many packet switching systems/devices, such as, routers.
Yet there is another need to have a simple protocol that allows for easy and transparent implementation on high speed networks, such as the current networks.
This invention overcomes the problems of the prior art. The invention provides a protocol to speed up the routers or any packet switching system/device by providing a new protocol which enables to route once and cross-connect many (ROACM).


A bi-directional belt sorter for unloading items into a selected bin located along a travel path of a conveyor system includes a carrier and a support frame secured to the carrier. The carrier has a plurality of orientations with respect to the support frame. The carrier includes a conveyor belt for unloading items into the selected bin located to the side of or in-line with the travel path of the conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a host computer for controlling the distribution of items to selected bins.

Conveyor systems are configured to sort items into bins located along a travel path of the conveyor system. In a typical system, the items are placed on top of a "flat" by an order filling system, and a central controller activates a divert mechanism to control the unloading of the items on a particular flat into a predetermined bin.
Presently, the flats travel along the conveyor system until a particular flat is located above or adjacent a predetermined bin. A rake is then lowered to wipe the items off the moving flat into the selected bin. Thereafter, the rake is raised to permit passage of other flats supporting items, until another item is to be unloaded from a flat into the selected bin.
Present conveyor systems have a plurality of rakes and bins located along the travel path. The bins are located directly below the flats to enable the rakes to wipe the items off the traveling flat. Present conveyor systems restrict the location of bins to along the sides of the conveyor system thereby limiting the capacity and flexibility of the conveyor system.
Also, the rakes and associated actuating equipment require a substantial amount of "headroom" over the flats such that multi-level conveyor systems are not commercially feasible. The rakes, being movable mechanical equipment, require considerable maintenance and set-up time to ensure proper functioning.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bi-directional belt sorter to eliminate the use of rakes to wipe items off a moving flat. Also there is a need to unload items into predetermined bins located on either side or below the conveyor system. These and other needs are addressed by the conveyor system of the present invention.


Guide and fastening device for plant support wires, in particular for rows of grapevines, the device having at least one pair of vertical upright elements, fastened to a head pole and provided with longitudinal guides within which are made to slide fastening elements for the lateral containment wires for the growing vegetation. To each pair of upright elements for the lateral containment wires is associated a further vertical upright provided with a guide within which is made to slide a fastening element for at least one carrying wire.

In the viticultural field, a well-known practice is to prearrange vine support structures consisting of rows of poles driven into the ground so as to form rows of grapevines. The poles are spaced at regular distances and are connected at a certain height from the ground by at least one fixed horizontal wire, called "carrying wire" or "training wire".
On the two poles located at the head of each row, called "head poles", is also fastened at least one pair of parallel wires arranged on respective sides of each pole in the row. These wires are commonly called "containment wires" or "movable wires" because, during the different phases of cultivation of the plants, they are moved to different heights above the ground to contain and arrange the growing vegetation according to a desired configuration. This is a particularly laborious operation.
Italian Patent application PN2010A000023, filed by the same holders of the present application, describes a fastening device for the "movable wires" of a row of plants, in particular grapevines, which foresees connecting the movable wires to vertical guide elements associated to the end or head poles. The ends of the movable wires are fastened to mounting means that are inserted and can slide within the guides formed in the vertical guide elements, so as to modify the height of the movable containment wires and adapt it to the growing vegetation.
This solution is advantageous, but it does not offer the possibility of optimizing at another moment the position of the training wire and of the second wire, and of any third fixed wire, if present, that are located higher than the training wire having a support function. Moreover, it does not completely solve the problem of pruning the vine shoots after the grapes have been harvested. In effect, automatic machines have been built that move along the rows and are provided with means for lifting and cutting the vegetation. However, these machines cannot perform satisfactorily in the area at the head of the rows, that is in the area that goes from the head pole to the first plant support pole.
European Patent Application EP 2 324 700 A1 describes an elastic compensation device for the movable wires in viticultural systems. This device includes a first fastening element for connection to a head pole in the row and a second fastening element to receive at least one pair of movable wires. The first and the second fastening elements are interconnected by an elastic element and are both arranged at the same end of said elastic element, so as to apply only a compression force on the latter. Wire-tensioning means are also provided in opposite positions with respect to the elastic element to engage the pairs of containment wires and to make it possible to adjust their tension. However, the solution described in Patent Application EP 2 324 700 A1 is not adaptable to a "training wire" and is bound to the use of a specific tensioning means.


A three-dimension image processing apparatus includes a CPU. When the CPU detects by collision determination that another object, e.g., a wall, is existent between an operable object and a camera, it calculates such a moving angle of the camera that an eye of the camera to the operable object is not obstructed by the other object. The camera is moved in accordance with the moving angle to a position where the operable object and the other object existing in a photographed three-dimensional space are displayed on a display.

The conventional so-called 3D (3-Dimensional) video game uses player controlled or operable objects (objects operable by an operator) configured with three-dimensional data when viewed by an apparent camera at predetermined angles and distances, thereby obtaining displayed images. In the conventional game, however, if a background image (e.g., a wall) or an object used as an opponent character (another object) comes between the player controlled object and the "camera", or if another object is moved to interrupt the line of sight between the operable object and the camera, the operable object can not be viewed in the three-dimensional world. To this end, there has been a limitation in the conventional 3D games in that the other object has to be arranged by a program not to exist between the operable object and the camera.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which is capable of displaying an operable object at substantially all times and hence free from limitation in arranging other objects.
The illustrative image processing apparatus displays on a display an operable object image and another object existing in a three-dimensional space from a predetermined viewing or "photographic" position. The image processing apparatus includes an external memory which stores operable object and the other object data and a predetermined program. The system uses an input controller which inputs data which alters the position of the operable object in the three-dimensional space. Operable object position data generating hardware and software generates operable object position data so as to alter the position of the operable object in the three-dimensional space based on the data input by the input controller. The three-dimensional data is created based on the data stored in the external memory and the operable object position data. Point of view position data is generated representing photographing position data in the three-dimensional space for displaying the operable object. The system detects whether or not the other object exists between the "camera" view position and the operable object position. If so, the system alters the photographing position data such that the other object is not existent between the photographing position and the operable object position when the detecting means detects existence of the other object. The system creates display data for displaying the image of the operable object photographed from a predetermined position in the three-dimensional space based on the three-dimensional data and the photographing position data; and image signal generating circuitry outputs an image signal to the display based on the generated display data.
The system determines whether or not there is a possibility of a collision between the operable object and a polygon plane of the other object. If there is a possibility of a collision of the operable object with the other object, the camera position is changed so that the other object does not exist between the operable object and the camera. Therefore, the operable object is "photographed" without interference by the other object.
In accordance with the present invention, even if another object is permitted to freely move, it is possible to display at substantially all times an operable object on a screen of a display. Consequently, if the present invention is applied to a game apparatus, the operable object can be displayed at all times on a display, even for a game that involves an operable object and a number of other objects moving around on the display screen.
The above and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Three-dimensional image processing apparatus


A water heater for use in a carpet cleaning system has a pair of inner copper tubes which are press fit into outer copper sleeves. Each tube/sleeve combination defines a heating chamber. A hollow tubular bridge extends perpendicularly between and in fluid communication with the heating chambers. A heating element extends coaxially into each heating chamber. A small annular clearance extends between each heating element and inner tube. High pressure fluid enters one of the heating units through an inlet/outlet port and circulates through the bridge to the other heating unit for additional heating. An electronic thermostat is mounted to the exterior surface of each outer sleeve at a desired location to detect the temperature of the fluid by monitoring the temperature of the exterior surface of the heating unit.

Carpet and upholstery cleaning devices typically direct a stream of water-based cleaning solution directly onto the material to be cleaned. Along with the solution utilized and concurrent vacuuming, the volume and temperature of the solution significantly affect the ability of the cleaning device to remove dirt from the material. Cleaning devices typically use water heaters which have relatively low volume output in order to maintain the proper temperature.
In general, most prior art electric water heaters have a chamber wherein water is circulated around a heating element which heats the water to a desired temperature. The volume of the chamber is usually relatively large compared to the volume required by the heating element. The temperature of the water is monitored by a thermostat which is located within the chamber at some distance from the heating element. The thermostat must also be sealed and insulated and can be rather expensive. Internal thermostats present problems under high pressure operating conditions in the range of 1000 psi.

Electric water heater with a pair of interconnected heating chambers having concentric copper tube structures


A speech processing apparatus includes a speech processor for acquiring information on a relationship between a first user and a second user on the basis of a spoken language of the first user, a storage for storing a first user database (DB) that includes personal information of the second user identified by a second identification tag and a second user DB that includes personal information of the first user identified by a first identification tag, and a DB managing processor for updating the first user DB and the second user DB based on the acquired information on the relationship between the first user and the second user.

With the development of vehicle related technologies, various functions for increasing user convenience are being developed and deployed alongside basic driving functionality. For example, functions such as making a call or sending a message may be provided by a vehicle connected to a mobile terminal of a user.
In this way, as functions performable by a vehicle are diversified, a manipulation load of a user increases. The increase in manipulation load may decrease a level of user concentration on driving, which may lead to adverse driving situations. Also, a user who is unskilled in manipulating a device may be unable to properly utilize vehicle functions.
Consequently, there is a need for research and development of a user interface able to decrease a manipulation load. Particularly, a manipulation load of a user is expected to be decreased when speech recognition technology, in which speech of the user is recognized and a function corresponding to the speech of the user is performed, is employed in a vehicle.

Speech processing apparatus, vehicle having the speech processing apparatus, and speech processing method


A gas turbine combustor vibration sensing system includes a non-contact reflective optical vibration sensor adapted for reflecting photons off of a component within the combustor with a photon source and receiving reflected photons with a photon detector. Exemplary combustor internal components include the combustor basket or transition. A vibration analyzer is coupled to the vibration sensor, for correlating photons received by the detector with vibration characteristics of the component. Vibration characteristics in turn can be correlated with combustion characteristics, including by way of example flame front position and flameout conditions. Vibration characteristic information may be used as an operational parameter by a turbine monitoring system to modify operation of a gas turbine.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to vibration detection in gas combustion turbine combustors and more particularly to a system for remote vibration detection on the combustor basket and/or transition in gas turbines during their operation. Vibration is detected with one or more non-contact reflective optical vibration (NROV) sensors that are positioned within the combustor housing and reflect photons off the combustor basket and/or transition combustion containment components that are also within the housing. The sensed vibration characteristics can be associated with combustion flame characteristics, and used as a turbine operation monitoring parameter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Monitoring of steady state and transient vibration characteristics within a gas turbine combustor section, and especially the combustor basket and transition combustion containment components are desirable tools for turbine design and operation. Those components are susceptible to induced vibration excitation caused by combustion gas dynamics A multitude of factors and operating conditions provide for efficient and clean combustion dynamics within the gas turbine combustor section during ongoing operation. Although a stable lean mixture is desired for fuel efficiency and for environmentally acceptable emissions, unstable engine operating conditions must be avoided. Not only is the fuel/air mixture important: also relevant to gas turbine operation are the shape and location of the combustion flame front within the combustion containment components, including the combustor basket and transition. Given the efficiency and emissions criteria, the operation of gas turbines requires a balancing of design and operational approaches to maintain efficiency, meet emission standards, and avoid vibrational, excessive pressure and/or thermal damage due to undesired combustion dynamics characteristics.
Thus during gas turbine engine design and subsequent field operation it is beneficial to monitor combustion vibration characteristics that are impacted by combustion characteristics such as: flame shape and flame front position; pressure variations; thermoacoustic vibrations induced by combustion temperature and/or pressure variations that may damage combustor components; flashback and/or combustion flameout within one or more of the engine's combustors. The monitored vibration and combustion characteristics are then used as a control parameter for engine operation. For example, if a combustor flameout is detected, a typical control response is to shut fuel supply to at least the affected combustor, if not the entire engine. In another example, if a flashback condition is detected, a typical control response is to increase air intake pressure and/or flow rate into the combustor.
Vibration and combustion characteristic direct monitoring with instruments is difficult given the local pressure and temperature conditions within a combustor, and particularly within the combustor basket and transition combustion containment components. Known combustion characteristic monitoring instrumentation include single thermocouple or thermocouple arrays oriented within the combustor, that associate temperature and/or changes in temperature with combustion characteristics. However, temperature information alone does not provide information about combustor vibration characteristics. Other known combustion characteristic monitoring instrumentation include one or pressure transducers (such as piezo-electric transducer) oriented within the combustor, that associate pressure and/or changes in pressure with combustion characteristics. Pressure transducers can also monitor thermoacoustic vibrations induced by combustion temperature and/or pressure variations that may damage combustor components, so that useful vibration monitoring information is available for turbine design and operation. Some proposed known combustion monitoring optical systems associate flame luminescence with combustion thermoacoustic vibration characteristics, eliminating the need for a pressure transducer to perform the same vibration monitoring function. These optical sensors measure changes in combustion flame luminescence (e.g., in any of the infra-red, visible light or ultraviolet spectra) and may include optical pipes inserted within the combustor that are coupled to photodiode detectors located outside or inside the combustor housing. Combustion monitoring by laser-optical sensors employing backscatter, diffraction or phase-Doppler principles have been proposed for monitoring cooling water injection content and droplet distribution within the combustor, but they do not provide vibration monitoring information.
Other known combustor vibration monitoring systems utilize accelerometers that can also associate sensed vibration characteristics with combustion characteristics. The accelerometers can be mounted inside or outside the combustor housing. Accelerometers, or for that matter any type of monitoring sensor that is mounted within the combustor, are susceptible to damage from hot pressurized combustion gasses, reducing their potential service reliability. Failed combustion monitoring sensors mounted within combustors require engine shutdown—hence service interruption—to facilitate their replacement. If the accelerometer or other vibration sensor is mounted to internal combustor components, full combustor tear-down may be required to replace them. If accelerometers or any other vibration measuring sensors are affixed to a combustion containment component, such as a combustor basket or transition, they may also negatively impact vibration characteristics of the component itself—for example by introduction of unbalanced undamped mass. Additionally, if an accelerometer or other vibration measuring sensor inadvertently separates from an attachment point within the combustor it may cause internal damage to other components. While accelerometers or other combustion/vibration monitoring sensors may also be mounted external the combustor housing, avoiding all of the above-noted disadvantages, they may not offer the same monitoring sensitivity and/or response rate as those mounted within the combustor housing due to, among other things, housing vibration attenuation or propagation delay.
Thus, a need exists in the art for a gas turbine combustor vibration monitoring system that functions reliably despite high temperature and pressure conditions within an operating combustor.
Another need exists in the art for a gas turbine combustor vibration monitoring system that provides high monitoring sensitivity and response, without adversely impacting vibrational characteristics of combustor internal components.
An additional need exists in the art for a gas turbine combustor vibration monitoring system facilitates association of sensed vibration characteristics with combustion characteristics, and the characteristic information used as an operating parameter by the turbine monitoring system to modify operation of the gas turbine.

System for remote vibration detection on combustor basket and transition in gas turbines


A leakpoint wetness sensor for urological investigations including an instrument having a passage therethrough to pass a catheter intended for insertion into the bladder through the urethra. A temperature sensitive reference sensor mounted to the body and exposed to and responsive to ambient temperature. A receptacle in the body so disposed and arranged to receive liquid which leaks from the urethra past the catheter. A temperature sensitive detector sensor mounted to the body where it will be contacted by the leaked liquid and detector sensor being responsive to the temperature of the liquid. A circuit device is responsive to outputs from the sensors to provide a response reflective of a difference between the temperatures when the detector sensor is wetted by leaked liquid.

Urologists are interested in learning when and under what conditions leakage from urethra first occurs during an investigation of the bladder and urethra. In the course of the investigation, liquid is forced into the bladder through a catheter, and the pressure and the amount of liquid (urine and water) is known. The patient is asked to assume a number of positions, and to make various exertions, such as muscular contraction and coughing. In the course of these events, liquid will at times and under certain circumstances leak past the catheter. The conditions under which this leakage just begins is of importance to the urologist in his investigation of the bladder and urethra.
While leakage can be visually detected, the relationship of its exact time of occurrence with respect to other measured parameters during a urodynamic procedure is critical for the proper evaluation of the test data. It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and rugged sensor and related circuity which will inform the urologist of the event of leakage, and if desired also record the relative time and conditions under which it occurred, all without immediate attention by the urologist.

Leak point wetness sensor for urological investigation


A pole adapter assembly for a pole luminaire includes an adapter body having an upper end, a lower end and an aperture for receiving a pole at the lower end, one of a raised area or a recessed area located on the body between the upper end and the lower end, a multi-point contact area along one plane of the body beneath the one of a raised area or recessed area having a first rib opposite a first set fastener, a second rib opposite a second set fastener and spaced from the first rib and the first set fastener, and at least one fastener and opposed nut disposed between the first and second ribs and the first and second set fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to pole mounted luminaires. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an adapter for mounting a luminaire arm to a pole.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pole lights come in various forms, and typically include a pole and a mounting arm which is mounted to the pole near an upper portion of the pole length, and further includes a luminaire disposed at an end of the arm distal from the pole. The pole luminaire may include a single arm or a double arm with two opposed luminaires. The arms are typically four to ten feet in length and may be round, tapered or elliptical. In general, the pole and arm must support the weight of the luminaire and be properly engineered for wind loading. The means for mounting the arms to the poles come in various forms. In a pole top installation, the arm structure may be mounted within the inner diameter of the pole at an upper end. Alternatively, in a side mount installation, a bracket may be mounted to the outside circumference of the pole attached by bolts. In yet a further alternative, a hub may be utilized which slips over the upper end of the pole or tenon and may be held in place with set screws. In this type of installation, the arm may be oriented in any direction desired at the time of installation. With hub mounted luminaire arms, problems are sometime associated with the setscrews which are not resistant enough to prevent rotation of the hub in high wind conditions. Also a pre-drilled hole is required on the lighting pole for routing the electrical wiring. Similarly, an arm may be mounted using a clamp-on bracket, which clamps about the outer circumference of the upper end of the pole or tenon. With clamp-on brackets, problems often occur with complex installations due to the many components and fasteners. Also a pre-drilled hole is required on the lighting pole for electrical wiring coming from the bracket. With bolt-on brackets, pre-drilled holes are required on the lighting pole. For lighting pole with thin walls, it may also be necessary to install a threaded insert. Similarly, as previously described, a pre-drilled hole is required on the lighting pole for routing of electrical wiring between the pole and the bracket.
It is preferable to provide a pole luminaire with an adapter assembly for mounting which overcomes these deficiencies.


In an indentation hardness tester a specimen placed on a specimen table is brought to a position just under an indenter mounted on one free end of a balance having its fulcrum received by a fulcrum bearing member, the balance is turned about the fulcrum by a test load to make an indentation in the specimen by the indenter and then the size of the indentation is measured through a microscope including an objective lens. The fulcrum bearing member for receiving the fulcrum of the balance is vertically movably mounted on a stationary part so that the indenter mounted on the balance is brought up from or down to a position right above the specimen table in close proximity thereto, and the microscope or at least its objective lens is pivotally mounted on the stationary part so that the objective lens turns to or turns away from a position right above the specimen table.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an indentation hardness tester.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore there has been proposed an indentation hardness tester which will hereinbelow be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
The conventional indentation hardness tester has a case 1 as a stationary part. The case 1 has a bottom panel 2 extending horizontally, a rear panel 3 extending upwardly from the rear edge of the bottom panel 2, a lower front panel 4 extending upwardly from the front edge of the bottom panel 2 to a height shorter than that of the rear panel 3, a panel extending rearwardly from the upper edge of the lower front panel 4 and shorter than the bottom panel 2 in the front-to-back direction, a central front panel 6 extending upwardly from the rear edge of the panel 5, a panel 7 extending forwardly from the upper edge of the central front panel 6 in opposing relation to the panel 5, an upper front panel 8 extending upwardly from the front edge of the panel 7, and a top panel 9 extending between the upper edge of the upper front panel 8 and the upper edge of the rear panel 3.
Reference numeral 11 indicates a specimen table unit, which includes a vertical moving lever driver 12 which is fixedly mounted on the bottom panel 2 in the space defined by the bottom panel 2 and the panel 5 of the case 1, a vertically moving lever 13 which extends upward from the vertical moving lever driver 12 through a window 5a made in the panel 5 and is vertically moved up and down by the vertical moving lever driver 12, and a specimen table 14 mounted on the top of the vertically moving lever 13. In this instance, the specimen table 14 has a horizontal specimen bearing surface 14a on which a specimen 20 is paced from above, and the table 14 is movable back and forth with the specimen bearing surface 14a held horizontal.
Reference numeral 32 denotes a fulcrum bearing member, which is formed by a plate member which has a top surface 32a extending horizontally and a fulcrum bearing surface 32b formed by a laterally extending V-shaped groove cut in the top surface 32a, as shown in detail in FIG. 4. The fulcrum bearing member 32 is fixedly mounted on the central front panel 6.
Reference numeral 41 denotes a balance, which has a centrally-disposed downward fulcrum 42 formed by a V-shaped projecting piece which is received by the fulcrum bearing surface 32b of the fulcrum bearing member 32. The balance 41, with the fulcrum 42 received by the fulcrum bearing surface 32b of the fulcrum bearing member 32, is extended forwardly of the central front panel 6 through a window 6a made therein and carries at the extended free end an indenter 43 located close to the specimen table 14 and a test load weight 44. Further, the balance 41 is extended rearwardly in the case 1 and carries at the extended free end a horizontal balancing weight 45. The weight and position of the horizontal balancing weight 45 on the balance 41 are determined so that the balance 41 may remain level in the state in which the test load weight 44 is not mounted on the free end portion of the balance 41 near the indenter 43. The balance 41 further includes a lever 46 which extends downward from the position of the fulcrum 42 through a through hole 32c (shown in FIG. 4) made in the fulcrum bearing member 32 and by which the center of gravity of the balance 41 is located at the tip end portion of the fulcrum 42. The lever 46 carries a vertical balancing weight 47. The balance 41 further has a pin 48 planted rearwardly on the free end portion on the side opposite from the indenter 43.
Reference numeral 51 identifies a balance control, which is disposed in the case 1 between the rear panel 3 and the central front panel 6 thereof and includes an actuating lever driver 52 fixed to the rear panel 3 and an actuating lever 53 which extends upwardly from the actuating lever driver 52 and is driven up and down by the driver 52. The actuating lever 53 has in its free end portion a vertically elongated hole 54 which has loosely fitted thereinto the pin 48 of the balance 41.
Reference numeral 61 denotes a microscope which is optical means for observing the specimen 20. The microscope 61 includes an eyepiece lens 62 which is mounted on the upper front panel 8 of the case 1 in such a manner that its optical axis may extend aslant from the front of the panel 8 and into the case 1 through a window 8a made in the panel 8, an objective lens 63 which is mounted on the panel 7 of the case 1 in such a manner that its optical axis may extend vertically from under the panel 7 and into the case 1 through a window 7a made in the panel 7, and an optical system 65 which includes a reflector 64 mounted on the panel 7 in the optical path between the eyepiece lend 62 and the objective lens 63. In this instance, the objective lens 63 is mounted on the panel 7 at a position forwardly of the forward free end portion of the balance 41 so as to keep the optical path of the objective lens 63 under the panel 7 from being intercepted or blocked by the above-said free end portion of the balance 41.
With such a conventional indentation hardness tester as described above, the actuating lever 53 of the balance control 51 is normally held down by the actuating lever driver 52, and consequently, the upper inner face of the elongated hole 54 engages the pin 48 of the balance 41, causing the balance 41 to slightly turn about the fulcrum 42 received by the fulcrum bearing member 32 against a test load by the test load weight 44. On the other hand, the vertically moving lever 13 is held down by the vertically moving lever driver 12, and consequently, the specimen table 14 remains at its lowered position. Further, the specimen table 14 stays at its rear position.
When placing the specimen 20 on the specimen table 14 of the specimen table unit 11 and then actuating the vertically moving lever driver 12 of the specimen table unit 11, the vertically moving lever 13 and consequently the specimen table 14 moves up to a position where the specimen 20 lies right below the indenter 43 in adjacent but spaced relation thereto. Then, operating the actuating lever driver 52 of the balance control 51, the actuating lever 53 moves up, and hence the pin 48 of the balance 41 disengages from the elongated hole 54 of the actuating lever 53 and the balance 41 turns about the fulcrum 42 received by the fulcrum bearing member 32 owing to the test load by the test load weight 44, making an indentation in the specimen 20 by the indenter 43 with the test load based on the test load weight 44.
After an impression has been made in the specimen 20 as mentioned above, the actuating lever 53 will automatically return to its initial position when the actuating lever drive 52 of the balance control 51 is operated in a direction reverse to that in which to make the indentation in the specimen 20. As the result of this, the elongated hole 54 made in the actuating lever 53 engages the pin 48 of the balance 41 and presses it downward, by which the balance 41 is caused to turn about the fulcrum 42 received by the fulcrum bearing member 32 against the test load by the test load weight 44, thus lifting the indenter 43 off the specimen 20.
After the indenter 43 has been brought up from the indented specimen 20 as referred to above, the specimen 20 can be brought to a position just under the objective lens 63 of the microscope 61 when the specimen table 14 of the specimen table unit 11 is moved forward. Thus, the size of the indentation made in the specimen 20 can be measured by the microscope 61 through the eyepiece lens 62, the optical system 65 including the reflector 64 and the objective lens 63. Based on the thus measured size of the indentation and the test load by the test load weight 44, the hardness of the specimen 20 can be detected.
After the size of the indentation made in the specimen 20 has been measured as mentioned above, the vertically moving lever 13 will move down when the specimen table 14 is brought back to its initial position and then the vertically moving lever driver 12 is operated in a direction reverse to that in which to raise the vertically moving lever 13. Consequently, the specimen table 14 lowers to its initial position, where the specimen 20 can be removed from the table 14.
As will be seen from the above, it is possible, with the conventional indentation hardness tester of FIGS. 3 and 4, to measure the hardness of the specimen 20 on the basis of the size of the indentation made in the specimen 20 and the test load applied thereto when the indentation was made.
In the case of the conventional indentation hardness tester depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, since the fulcrum bearing member 32 is fixedly mounted on the central front panel 6 of the case 1 which is a stationary part, and since the microscope 61 as optical means for specimen observation use, including the objective lens 63, is fixedly mounted on the case 1, the specimen 20 after being indented must be brought to a position just under the objective lens 63 of the microscope 61 by moving the specimen table 14 forward. In this case, if the specimen table 14 lies at a position where the optical axis of the objective lens 63 exactly passes through the center of the indentation made in the specimen 20, then the center of the indentation lies at the center of the visual field of the microscope 61 and the size of the indentation can be measured precisely. In practice, however, it is difficult to place the specimen 20 at a predetermined position on the specimen table 14 with high precision, and hence it is necessary to effect fine positioning control of the specimen table 14 by moving it back and forth or to right or left little by little so that the table 14 may lie at the position where the optical axis of the objective lens 63 exactly passes through the center of the indentation made in the specimen 20.
Thus, it is seriously cumbersome, in the prior art indentation hardness tester, to bring the indented specimen 20 to the position just under the objective lens 63 of the microscope 61 by moving the specimen table 14. Moreover, much skill and time are needed to bring the specimen table 14 to the above-mentioned position with high accuracy, besides it is necessary to prepare, as the specimen table 14, an expensive table which can be moved little by little.


A chemical metering and control system is provided which maintains a desired level of a pesticide (or other chemical) in any open or closed channel flow stream with fluctuating flow rates. The system dispenses an amount of the pesticide at an injection point of the flow stream along with a fluorescent indicating dye, and then takes a sample downstream from the injection point to determine how much of the indicating dye is present in the flow stream, and therefore how much pesticide is present. At the sampling point a pump extracts a flow stream sample and passes the sample to a fluorometer which measures the amount of fluorescent indicating dye injected upstream. A proportional integral derivative (PID) controller then adjusts the level of the pesticide/dye mixture in order to achieve the appropriate concentration of pesticide in the flow stream.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to feedback control systems, and in particular to a control system for maintaining a constant concentration of a chemical being injected into a flow stream having fluctuating flow rates.
2. The Prior Art
One prior art method for automatically controlling the concentration of a chemical in a flow stream uses an ion-selective electrode, a data acquisition system, and specialized computer software. However, the electrodes used in this method often encounter interference from other ionic species, and thus this method is only capable of measurement within a specific limited range of ionic concentrations.
Although the method of the invention is obviously not limited to such an application, an important application is in the treatment of water channels with pesticides in order to destroy, and prevent growth of aquatic site pests such as Sago Pondweed. The current method of controlling the amount of such pesticides injected into a canal over time involves manually adjusting a peristaltic pump. However, many of the canals requiring aquatic site pest control are in areas where flood or spray irrigation is used. Each time water is added or removed from the canal, the flow rate of the canal changes. For this reason, the current method requires continuous monitoring and adjusting of the rate of pesticide injection. Sometimes the pesticide is most effective when injected over a period of 100 hours or more, which necessitates extensive manpower. Not only is this extensive manpower costly, but experience has shown that manual injection of the pesticide is often ineffective and costly as well because it is difficult to maintain proper pesticide concentration in this way.
Another candidate method for controlling the rate of chemical pesticide injection uses a personal computer along with a data acquisition system to monitor canal flow rate or pesticide concentration. A computer program uses this acquired data in order to control the peristaltic pump. However, this method is impractical for the specific applications being considered for at least the following reasons:
1) the majority of the sites where the injection system is to be used are remote and do not have access to the electrical grid power necessary to run the computer or data acquisition system and therefore, a large battery bank or a gas generator is required to meet the high energy demands; PA1 2) it is difficult and expensive to protect a computer and data acquisition equipment from potential vandalism (particularly where left unattended on site for extended periods) and the harmful effects of dust and moisture; PA1 3) highly trained, experienced personnel are required to set up and maintain both the computer and data acquisition system; and PA1 4) the associated capital costs are high.

Automated chemical metering system and method

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior


Provided are methods for binding particulate solids in a polymer fiber matrix utilizing composite waste products. A mixture of composite waste products and particulate solids is formed into solid products to create degradation resistant solid units which capture the particulate solids.

In the past, particulate materials, such as coal fines, coke breeze, saw dust, and other biomass wastes, have presented storage, handling, and processing challenges. Additionally, metal oxides from blast furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces have routinely been discarded, in large quantities, creating a source of pollution and presenting an environmental hazard, which continues for decades. Further, composite waste products, including post-consumer and post-industrial carpet waste, are routinely discarded into waste storage facilities, such as landfills. In addition to presenting challenges related to handling the composite waste products, the slow rate of decomposition results in an unfavorable environmental impact that continues for decades.
Prior attempts at disposing of coke breeze, coal fines, and other particulate solids by producing solid forms, such as briquettes or pellets, have been largely unsuccessful because the particulate solids do not adequately bind and the resulting product can be mechanically unstable, disintegrating or degrading back into small, fine particles during storage and handling. Other attempts at producing solid forms from the particulate solids may use costly binder materials, such as petroleum pitch or water-based latexes, and may use costly and complex processing techniques. Water-based materials will reduce the heating value of fuel based solids and produce a formed material which is unstable during outside storage and transport and may disintegrate causing fugitive dust emissions or ground water contamination. Further, previous attempts have utilized binders, including petroleum-based materials, which become tacky and difficult to transport at ambient and elevated temperatures, and may cause contamination and run-off problems when stored outside.
Thus, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is applied to the distribution of music and videos via the Internet. Single stream content is divided into a plurality of parts A to D in a time-series manner, and a first part A is transmitted via stream distribution, and remaining parts B to D are transmitted via buffering distribution such that decoding of a receiver's side can be started upon the end of decoding an immediately preceding part.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a content providing apparatus and a content providing method that can be applied, for example, to the distribution of music and videos via the Internet. In the present invention, single stream content is divided into a plurality of parts in a time-series manner, and a first part is transmitted via stream distribution, whereas remaining parts are transmitted via buffering distribution such that decoding of a receiver's side can be started upon the end of decoding an immediately preceding part, whereby the stream content is distributed with a high reliability and latency can be reduced remarkably as compared to that in the conventional art.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, to distribute information such as music, films, etc. whose content changes with time (hereinafter called stream content), it is designed to use a method of providing stream content while its data is being received (hereinafter called stream distribution) and a method of providing a user with stream content after its data is temporarily buffered (hereinafter called buffering distribution).
That is, in the stream distribution, as shown in FIG. 1, a transmitter's side transmits stream content to a client at a transfer rate that is substantially the same as a reproduction speed (FIG. 1 (A)), and a receiver's side buffers the received data in an amount large enough to decode the stream content (FIG. 1 (B)) for sequential decoding (this process on the receiver's side is called stream reception as corresponding to the stream distribution). In the case of this method, the stream content transmitted by the transmitter can be reproduced only to a very small delay time required for data transmission and decoding (FIG. 1 (C)), whereby the latency between the start of receiving the stream content and the start of actually reproducing it can be reduced, thereby allowing the stream content to be provided smoothly.
By contrast, in the buffering distribution, as shown in FIG. 2, a transmitter's side transmits stream content at a rate irrelevant to the reproduction speed (FIG. 2 (A)). A recipient receives the stream content, buffers all the received stream content (FIG. 2 (B)), and thereafter decodes the buffered stream content to provide a user with the decoded stream content (FIG. 2 (C)) (this process on the receiver's side is hereinafter called buffering reception as corresponding to the buffering distribution). In the case of this method, there is a shortcoming that a relatively long time interval is required between the start of receiving the content and the start of actually reproducing it. However, in the case of this method, all the stream content is received and buffered in advance prior to its reproduction, and this allows an error recovery technique, such as error correction or retransmission request processing in TCP/IP, to be applied, whereby the stream content can be distributed with a correspondingly higher reliability.
In the buffering distribution, it is so designed that single stream content is decomposed into a plurality of parts to be transmitted sequentially, thereby reducing the latency between the start of receiving the stream content and the start of actually reproducing it.
That is, in the case of this method, as shown in FIG. 3, a transmitter's side divides single stream content into, for example, four parts A to D in a time-series manner, and transmits these parts A to D sequentially (FIG. 3 (A)). In response thereto, a receiver's side receives and buffers these parts A to D, and, upon completion of receiving one part, starts reproducing this part. Thus, it is so designed that after having buffered the first part A, the receiver's side starts decoding a part whose reception is completed while buffering another part, thereby reducing the latency (FIGS. 3 (B) and (C)).
Thus, the buffering distribution has merit in that stream content can be distributed with a high reliability, but it does involve the problem of generating latency. For this reason, a user who has requested stream content cannot listen to a demonstration of the content during the latency period. Incidentally, as explained with reference to FIG. 3, even when single stream content is divided and distributed as a plurality of parts, the latency does exist before reception of the first part is completed.

Content providing apparatus and content providing method


A frame molding fastening structure is disclosed. The frame molding includes a first molding, a second molding, and a bracket that fastens the first and second molding to each other. The bracket includes a fixed portion fixed to the first molding and an insertion portion inserted into the second molding. The insertion portion includes a main body and a resin member. The main body includes a first portion, which is located at one end side of a cross-section perpendicular to an insertion direction of the insertion portion relative to the second molding, and a second portion, which is located at an end portion at an opposite side of the first portion. The resin member is arranged in at least either one of the first portion and the second portion to abut an inner surface of the second molding.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a frame molding fastening structure of a vehicle. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a frame molding of the prior art from the inner side of a vehicle. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5. More specifically, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling portion 110 arranged between a rear molding 103, which forms a frame molding, and a belt molding 106, as seen from the belt molding 106. As shown in FIG. 6, a stainless bracket 120 includes a first insertion portion 121 inserted into the belt molding 106. The first insertion portion 121 includes an upper end portion 121a that abuts an inner surface 106a of a cornered portion having a reversed-L shape and located at an upper side of the belt molding 106. The first insertion portion 121 includes a lower end portion 121b that is curved to have an arc-shaped cross-section. The lower end portion 121b includes a convex surface 121c and a lower end surface 121d, either one of which abuts an inner surface 106b of a generally U-shaped bent portion, which is located at the lower side of the belt molding 106. Thus, the belt molding 106 supports the bracket 120 at two points, which are the inner surface 106a of the cornered portion and the inner surface 106b of the bent portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the bracket 120 includes a second insertion portion 122 inserted into a lower end section of the frame molding 103. The second insertion portion 122 is crimped by a crimping hook (not shown), which is arranged in the rear molding 103. This fixes the bracket 120 to the frame molding 103.
Patent document 1 discloses a belt molding that extends along an upper rim of a main body of a vehicle door and includes a main body portion and a garnish portion. A coupling bracket couples the main body portion and the garnish portion, and an attachment bracket attaches the garnish portion to a door panel. The coupling bracket and the mounting bracket are integrated to form an integrated bracket.


The disclosure provides cysteamine salt and cystamine formulations comprising enteric coatings. The disclosure also provides composition for use in treating diseases and disorders that can be treated with cysteamine.

Cysteamine (HS—CH2—CH2—NH2) is a small aminothiol molecule easily transported across cellular membranes, markedly reduces intralysosomal cystine accumulation and is currently approved as a treatment for cystinosis. Cysteamine can increase the cellular thiol and free thiol tripeptide glutathione pool, and thus modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and decreased lipoperoxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity. Furthermore, cysteamine also increases adiponectin levels. Cysteamine is a precursor to the protein glutathione (GSH) precursor, and is currently FDA approved for use in the treatment of cystinosis, an intra-lysosomal cystine storage disorder. In cystinosis, cysteamine acts by converting cystine to cysteine and cysteine-cysteamine mixed disulfide which are then both able to leave the lysosome through the cysteine and lysine transporters respectively (Gahl et al., N Engl J Med 2002; 347(2):111-21). Within the cytosol the mixed disulfide can be reduced by its reaction with glutathione and the cysteine released can be used for further GSH synthesis. The synthesis of GSH from cysteine is catalyzed by two enzymes, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and GSH synthetase. This pathway occurs in almost all cell types, with the liver being the major producer and exporter of GSH. The reduced cysteine-cysteamine mixed disulfide will also release cysteamine, which, in theory is then able to re-enter the lysosome, bind more cystine and repeat the process (Dohil et al., J Pediatr 2006; 148(6):764-9). In a study in children with cystinosis, enteral administration of cysteamine resulted in increased plasma cysteamine levels, which subsequently caused prolonged efficacy in the lowering of leukocyte cystine levels (Dohil et al., J Pediatr 2006; 148(6):764-9). Cysteamine is addressed in International Patent Application Nos. WO 2009/070781, and WO 2007/089670, and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20110070272, 20090048154, and 20050245433.
Cystamine has the structure H2N—CH2—CH2—S—S—CH2—CH2—NH2. It should be readily apparent that cystamine can be reduced at the sulfide bond to for two molecules of cysteamine, which can then be processed and used by cells and the body as described above. Cystamine is generally handled as the dihydrochloride salt, C4H12N2S2.2HCl.

Formulations of cysteamine and cystamine

The Regents of the University of California


A method of controlling a washing machine. The washing machine includes a tub with an entry hole configured to receive laundry, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, a ring-shaped gasket disposed along a circumference of the entry hole of the tub, a pump configured to circulate water that is discharged from the tub, and at least one circulation nozzle provided in the gasket and configured to spray the water that is circulated by the pump into the drum. The method includes: supplying water into the tub; rotating the drum; accelerating a pump speed of the pump while the drum rotates; and based on the pump speed of the pump reaching a threshold speed during the acceleration of the pump, opening a spray valve of the washing machine such that water supplied from an external water source is sprayed into the drum through a direct water nozzle.

A washing machine is a general term referring to an apparatus that separates contaminants from clothing, bed sheets, and so on (hereinafter, referred to as "laundry" using chemical decomposition and friction between water and detergent
The washing machine includes a tub for containing water, and a drum rotatably provided in the tub and accommodating laundry. The washing machine is configured to circulate water, discharged from the tub, using a circulation pump and spray the circulating water into the drum through a nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,534,331B2 (hereinafter, referred to as "Related Art 1") discloses a direct water nozzle and a pair of gasket nozzles, which are provided in a ring-shaped gasket installed at an entry hole of a tub. Related Art 1 suggests that was water is sprayed into the drum using the direct water nozzle or the pair of gasket nozzles when a laundry distributing step, a penetration rinsing step, or the like is performed. However, Related Art 1 does not explicitly mention how spray times of the respective nozzles are controlled. In particular, in Related Art 1, the circulation pump just pumps wash water to the pair of gasket nozzles, but does not control a flow rate of circulating water (or a rotation speed of a pump).
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-36016 (hereinafter, referred to as "Related Art 2") discloses a washing machine having a rotary drum in a water tank, and a circulation pump configured to circulate water discharged from the water tank, wherein the circulation pump is able to control a rotation speed. Related Art 2 suggests that an electronic valve of a water supply system is opened to supply source water into the water tank (tub) through a detergent accommodator and then the circulation pump is controlled to operate. However, Related Art 2 does not control operation of the electronic valve while the circulation pump operates.
It is necessary to come up with a new cycle that takes movement of laundry, pressure of circulating water sprayed through the gasket nozzle, and supply of direct water (source water) through the direct water nozzle all into account by controlling a spray time of the direct water nozzle accurately in consideration of rotation of the drum and rotation of the circulation pump.