Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to satellite communications, and, in particular, to methods for identifying growth limits of handheld services for mobile satellite communications.
2. Description of Related Art
Communications satellites are in widespread use. The communications satellites are used to deliver television and communications signals around the earth for public, private, and military uses.
The primary design constraints for communications satellites are antenna beam coverage and radiated Radio Frequency (RF) power. These two design constraints are typically thought of to be paramount in the satellite design because they determine which customers on the earth will be able to receive satellite communications service.
Satellite weight is also a factor, because launch vehicles are limited as to how much weight can be placed into orbit. Lower orbits, such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), also known as Intermediate Circular Orbit (ICO) do not require as large of a launch vehicle per pound of satellite weight, but LEO and MEO satellites are also weight limited. Since launch costs are large, the satellite must be utilized as much as possible in order to make the satellite commercially viable. If there is not enough usage of the satellite, the satellite manufacturer or the satellite owner will not be able to recoup the financial outlay for the satellite, thus decreasing the available worldwide communications links.
Proper selection of beam coverage, radiated RF power, and weight do not guarantee that the satellite services, also known as xe2x80x9cspace assets,xe2x80x9d are utilized in an efficient or complete manner. For example, the fact that a satellite transponder channel has enough radiated RF power supplied by an RF amplifier, and the satellite has a proper antenna to direct the transponder channel to a given area on the earth""s surface, does not guarantee full utilization of the transponder signal. The bandwidth of the signal must be reviewed, analyzed, and configured to fully utilize the transponder channel to maximize the usage of the space asset, i.e., the transponder channel.
Further, as the assets operating on satellite systems become saturated, a typical response by satellite operators is to launch more satellites into the constellation to provide more services. These responses are made without regard to space asset efficiency and/or whether the launch of additional satellites will be cost efficient in terms of being able to provide additional communications links. At times, the launch of additional satellites into a constellation will provide diminishing returns.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for techniques to review, analyze, and configure a satellite constellation to fully utilize the space assets of the satellite constellation. It can also be seen that there is a need in the art to provide a tool to determine the growth limit of a satellite constellation. It can also be seen that there is a need in the art to provide more complete utilization of space assets without dramatically increasing the cost of manufacturing and operating a satellite.
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses methods for operating a satellite constellation at an increased efficiency operational point. One method comprises the steps of calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.
An object of the present invention is to provide techniques to review, analyze, and configure a satellite to fully utilize the space assets of the satellite. Another object of the present invention is to provide more complete utilization of space assets without dramatically increasing weight. Still another object of the present invention is to provide more complete utilization of space assets without dramatically increasing the cost of manufacturing and operating a satellite.

Method for identifying growth limits of handheld services for mobile satellite communications


Systems and methods for optimizing drilling results may be based on, inter alia, (1) real-time data collected during drilling, (2) a transiently modeled cuttings distribution along the wellbore, and optionally (3) a theoretical change to one or more operational parameters. In some instances, methods may include drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid; gathering real-time data about the drilling; calculating a cuttings distribution along the wellbore based on the real-time data using a transient model; calculating an equivalent circulating density profile along the wellbore based on (1) real-time data collected during drilling, (2) a transiently modeled cuttings distribution along the wellbore, and optionally (3) a theoretical change; and changing at least one operational parameter based on a comparison of the equivalent circulating density profile to a fracture gradient of the subterranean formation.

The exemplary embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for optimizing drilling results based on, inter alia, (1) real-time data collected during drilling, (2) a transiently modeled cuttings distribution along the wellbore, and optionally (3) a theoretical change to one or more operational parameters.
Once a prospective reservoir of oil or natural gas in a subterranean formation has been located a drilling rig is set up to drill a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. The drilling rig includes power systems, mechanical motors, a rotary turntable drill, and a circulation system that circulates drilling fluid, sometimes called "mud," throughout the borehole. The fluid serves to remove materials, sometimes called "cuttings," as the drill bit loosens them from the surrounding rock during drilling and to maintain adequate wellbore pressure.
At least some drilling operations involve rotating a drill bit at the distal end of the pipe, sometimes called "drill string," and transmitting rotary motion to the drill bit using a multi-sided pipe known as a "kelly" with a turntable. In other drilling operations, the drill bit is rotated with a motor near the drill bit such that the drill string does not rotate. In both cases, as drilling progresses, drilling fluid circulates through the pipe and out of the drill bit into the wellbore. The cuttings are removed from the wellbore by the circulating drilling fluid. New sections are added to the pipe progressively as the drilling continues to extend the drill bit further into the subterranean formation. Once a desired depth is reached, drilling is completed. Various tests can be conducted at this point to precisely locate and isolate portions of the formation housing the desired hydrocarbon deposits.
Drilling operations are extremely expensive and time consuming. For example, drilling operations at an offshore rig can cost in excess of $500,000 to $1,000,000 per day. Therefore, increasing drilling efficiency or productivity, even to a small degree, can lead to huge monetary savings.
The efficiency of a drilling operation is generally determined by the ratio of productive rig time (e.g., time spent drilling) ("PRT") to non-productive time ("NPT"). During a drilling operation, it is desirable to maximize this ratio because NPT has a cost with minimal to no associated payout. Further, it is desirable to minimize the total time (i.e., PRT plus NPT) to minimize costs.
Minimizing rig time may be achieved by increasing the rate of penetration of the drill bit through the subterranean formation without the equivalent circulating density ("ECD") exceeding the fracture gradient. Generally, the fracture gradient (which varies along the length of the wellbore) is the pressure at which the formation will fracture, and the ECD is a measure of the pressure that the drilling fluid exerts on the formation. When the ECD exceeds the fracture gradient, the formation will fracture. Unintentional fracturing of the formation can lead to lost circulation that may require remedial operations that contribution to NPT.
In some instances, modeling programs that use steady-state approximations are used to estimate the ECD and compare it to the fracture gradient. Steady-state approximations typically use an average of the drilling parameters/operations and apply those averages to determining an ECD at any point during drilling. For example, a well cleaning method during a drilling operation may average about 5 minutes and be performed on average every 45 minutes. During a well cleaning method, drilling ceases, so cuttings are not produced. This change in concentration of cuttings changes the ECD for that portion of the drilling fluid. Steady-state approximations of ECD would not take into account a well cleaning operation with a different time. This example can be extended to other drilling parameters including rate of penetration into the subterranean formation, length of connection times, and rpm variations for the drill bit. Collectively, these introduce varying levels of error into the modeling program. To account for this error, drilling is performed at an ECD sufficiently lower than the fracture gradient to mitigate formation fracture and resultant fluid loss and lost circulation.

Systems and methods for optimizing drilling operations using transient cuttings modeling and real-time data


Digital records are automatically sorted and stored based on scheduled recurring events. In one embodiment, a device stores schedule information having one or more time intervals associated with recurring events. A record is generated using the device, including one or more audio, text, video, image, or other digital media. After the record is generated, a storage location for the record is determined based on when the record was created. A creation time of the record is compared to the time intervals in the schedule information until a matching time interval is found. The matching time interval has an associated directory into which the record is stored. The directory stores other records associated with the recurring event. All records for the recurring event are readily available by accessing the directory. New records are automatically stored based on the schedule information. No time is spent storing, sorting, or organizing new records.

Records are commonly stored in electronic format as digital records. As more devices become readily available to consumers, digital records tend to span across various devices and storage locations. Cloud storage options are one popular technique for storing digital records across multiple devices. Typical cloud storage services are provided via subscription in which a user pays a subscription service fee and is granted an interface to the cloud storage service on multiple devices. The user is able to access files and directories across multiple devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, so long as the devices are connected to a network and have access to the cloud storage service. This is particularly advantageous to the user because the user is able to access files remotely regardless of which device they are presently using. Files owned by the user are accessible across all of their various devices.

Automatically storing records generated by users based on scheduled recurring event information


A media transport module comprising: a transport extending from a pick coupling area to a stacking port; and a retractable guide. The retractable guide is moveable to extend beyond the stacking port when media items are being stacked and thereby guide media items ejected from the stacking port onto a carriage plate. The retractable guide is also moveable to retract to the stacking port when media items have been stacked so that the carriage plate can close without touching the retractable guide.

A media transport module may be used as part of a media dispenser. One type of media transport module is a media presenter. A media presenter is that part of the dispenser that receives media items from one or more pick units, stacks the received media items into a neat bunch (or stack), and then presents the bunch of media items to a customer.
A ballistic stacking media transport module creates a bunch of media items by ejecting the media items onto a stacking plate. The stacking plate may be located within a shuttle (or carriage) that is moved from a stacking position to a customer presenting position.
One problem associated with ballistic stacking modules that create a stack of media items in a shuttle is that the stack may skew or splay when the shuttle is moved to the customer presenting position. This problem has been addressed by having a clamp within the shuttle that interlaces with a slotted floor or slotted ceiling on the shuttle to clamp the bunch in place while it is being transported. This has the disadvantage that the shuttle becomes bigger (taller) because of the integral clamp. A further problem is that the slots in the floor or ceiling reduce the ability of the shuttle to control the media items across their entire length and width.


A portable computer includes a housing and a keyboard unit mounted on the housing. A display unit is mounted on the housing to be movable between a closed position wherein the keyboard unit is covered by the display unit and a desired opened position wherein the keyboard is exposed. A latch mechanism for locking the display unit in the closed position is provided at the display unit. The mechanism includes a pair of latch hooks rockable between a latch position wherein each hook engages the housing and a release position wherein each hook is disengaged form the housing, and an interlocking member movable in interlock with the movement of the latch hooks. When a dial key attached to the display unit is turned on, the movement of the interlocking member is restricted by the key and the hooks are locked in the latch position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable electronic devices such as laptop computers, word processors, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable computers, called laptop computers, have recently been gaining popularity for general use. The computers of this type comprises a housing and a display unit pivotably mounted thereon. The display unit is put on the housing when not in use, and is pivoted to an operating position when it is to be operated.
Conventionally, a portable computer has a software-based function to prevent wrong operation. Although this preventive function provides a certain measure of effectiveness, it may possibly be nullified when the computer itself is ready for operation.
Since a large number of heat-generating components are arranged in the computer housing, the computer is generally provided with a cooling mechanism. This cooling mechanism includes, for example, a cooling fan arranged in the housing. After the components are cooled by means of outside air which is introduced into the housing through intake ports in the housing by means of the fan, the air is discharged through exhaust ports formed in the housing.
In consideration of its portability, however, the portable computer is made as light in weight and compact as possible. It is difficult, therefore, to secure wide enough opening areas for the intake and exhaust ports in the housing therefore, so that sufficient cooling air cannot be easily introduced into the housing. Further, the cooling fan produces relatively loud operating sounds, which result in undesired noises.
Since the housing of the portable computer is compact, as described above, a large number of components must be efficiently arranged in the housing.
The portable computer is provided with a substantially rectangular keyboard unit, which is mounted on the housing so that its peripheral edge portion is supported thereby. If keys of the keyboard unit, especially the ones situated in the central portion of the keyboard unit, are deeply depressed, therefore, the central portion of the keyboard unit sometimes may bend in the direction of the depression. In such a case, the keyboard unit interferes with underlying electronic parts, thereby possibly damaging them.
Some conventional portable computers are provided with an expansion unit which can contain an expansion component for expanding the function of the computer. This expansion unit is removably mounted on the housing. In attaching the expansion unit to the housing, a unit-side connector is connected to a housing-side connector. In order to connect these two connectors with accuracy, they must be accurately positioned with respect to each other. Accordingly, the expansion unit and the housing should be manufactured with high accuracy, thus entailing increased costs.

Portable electronic apparatus having a removable keyboard unit


A pocketed spring assembly comprises a plurality of parallel strings of springs, each string joined to at least one adjacent string, each string comprising one piece of fabric folded into first and second opposed plies of fabric. Outer pockets are formed along each string by transverse seams joining the first and second plies. One pocketed spring and at least cushion pad is positioned in each outer pocket. The cushion pad may be individually pocketed. An upper end of each transverse seam may be below an upper surface of the string to partially separate adjacent outer pockets within a string.

Mattress spring core construction over the years has been a continuously improving art with advancements in materials and machine technology. A well known form of spring core construction is known as a Marshall spring construction wherein metal coil springs are encapsulated in individual pockets of fabric and formed as elongate or continuous strings of pocketed coil springs. In an earlier form, these strings of coil springs were manufactured by folding an elongate piece of fabric in half lengthwise to form two plies of fabric and stitching transverse and longitudinal seams to join the plies of fabric to define pockets within which the springs were enveloped.
More recently, improvements in spring core constructions have involved the use of fabrics which are thermally or ultrasonically weldable to themselves. By using such welding techniques, these fabrics have been advantageously used to create strings of individually pocketed coil springs wherein transverse and longitudinal welds, instead of stitching, are used to form the pockets encapsulating the springs.
Once strings of pocketed springs are constructed, they may be assembled to form a pocketed spring core or assembly for a mattress, cushion or the like by a variety of methods. For example, multiple or continuous strings may be arranged in a row pattern corresponding to the desired size and shape of a mattress or the like, and adjacent rows of strings may be interconnected by a variety of methods. The result is a unitary assembly of pocketed coil springs serving as a complete spring core assembly.
Conventional pocketed spring cores incorporating pocketed strings of springs have less motion transfer between sleeping partners when compared to traditional helically-laced open coil spring assemblies. Each pocketed coil spring is able to move with greater independence and, therefore provide less influence on adjacent pocketed coil springs than if the coil springs were not inside individual pockets. However, with a traditional pocketed spring mattress, a sheet of foam or other cushioning layer is attached to an upper surface of the pocketed spring assembly. The foam or cushioning sheet or sheets acts like a bridge, such that a load applied to one side of a mattress affects the other side of the mattress, providing an undesirable bridging effect. The present invention eliminates the undesirable bridging effect by encapsulating individual cushion members inside outer pockets of strings of springs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,744 discloses a pocketed spring assembly incorporating strings which have individually pocketed coil springs with cushioning pads inside the pockets. However, due to the individual coil springs being un-pocketed, the coil springs may damage the cushioning pads and/or affect the feel of the pocketed spring assembly due to the coil springs pressing against the cushioning pads. The capability of the individually pocketed springs to act independently from the adjacent pocketed springs in the string of springs may be compromised.
Therefore, there remains a need to combine multiple technologies to improve the feel and motion transfer in a bedding or seating product having a pocketed spring core.

Pocketed spring assembly including cushion pads


A service server apparatus is provided which can easily cope with a correction of an error of a task performed based on the content of verbal speeches of a speaker. The service server apparatus includes a service activating unit that receives an instruction for performing a different task from a task performed by an application relating to a speech communication, a telephone/call control enabler that records verbal speeches of the speaker during a speech communication between a plurality of speech communication terminal device, a speech recognizing enabler which performs a task based on the recorded speeches and which generates task data including text data representing the result of the performance and speech data representing the result of the performance, a text translating enabler, and a speech synthesizing enabler.

These days, translators and translation systems are in practical use for automatically translating the content of a talk made by a speaker in an arbitrary language into another language. Conventional translators, etc., include a so-called personal type or interactive type, and a so-called remote conversation type.
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a personal type translator. In the case of FIG. 8A, for example, a speaker inputs verbal speeches "kono hon wa ikura desuka? (Japanese) how much is this book?" in Japanese into the translator. In this case, the translating function of the translator translates the Japanese verbal speeches into English and outputs synthesized speeches "how much is this book?". The personal translator can be used as a Japanese-English dictionary or can be used for a speaker to tell the intent of the speaker himself/herself to another person by letting another person in seeing the speaker face to face to listen the synthesized speeches. For example, Non-patent Document 1 discloses such a conventional translator.
FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a remote conversation type translator. The translator illustrated in FIG. 8B has a speech communication function as a telephone and a translating function. In the case of FIG. 8B, for example, a speaker who is Japanese inputs verbal speeches "please make a reservation for three people" in native Japanese into the translator. In this case, the translating function of this translator translates the Japanese verbal speeches into English, and outputs synthesized speeches "Please make a reservation for three people". The remote conversation type translator allows a speaker to tell the intent of the speaker himself/herself to another person who does not understand the native language of the speaker while the speaker is speaking in the native language. For example, Non-patent Document 2 discloses such a conventional translator.
Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses another remote conversation type translator. A telephone system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is capable of not only translating the content of a telephone call and transmitting the translated telephone call to a called party, but also transmitting the verbal speeches of a speaker in the telephone call to the called party. Hence, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 allows a user to feel as if the user were talking to a called side through an interpreter.

Service server apparatus, service providing method, and service providing program


A medical/surgical microscope with two cameras configured to capture two dimensional images of specimens being observed. The medical/surgical microscope is secured to a control apparatus configured to adjust toe-in of the two cameras to insure the convergence of the images. The medical/surgical microscope includes a computer system with a non-transitory memory apparatus for storing computer program code configured for digitally rendering real-world medical/surgical images. The medical/surgical microscope has an illumination system with controls for focusing and regulating the lighting of a specimen. The medical/surgical microscope is configured for real-time video display with the function of recording and broadcasting simultaneously during surgery.

3D images and devices have been broadly applied in many fields, including medical surgery and examination. In a surgical application of a 3D microscope, there should be virtually no lag between a surgical action such as a surgeon manipulating a surgical sample within the view of the microscope and what appears on the screen. The typical latency is approximately 60 msec. This latency period in developing the 3D will cause a perceptible lag.
In current implementations of a 3D microscope, the "depth of field" or depth of view is less 1 mm.
"Computational Imaging for 3D Micrographs with 10-Fold Depth-of-Field Enhancement" Carles, et al SPIE Newsroom, Mar. 7, 2017, DOI: 10.1117/2.1201611.006749 found Apr. 2, 2019, at http://spie.org/newsroom/6749-computational-imaging-for-3d-micrographs-with-10-fold-depth-of-field-enhancement, states that focus today depends on engineering optical elements to optimally focus light from the sample to form a sharp image at a single plane. A specific sample plane is inherently defined so that objects not located exactly in the sample plane are out of focus. In current implementations of a 3D microscope, the "depth of field" or depth of view is less 1 mm. In high-resolution microscopy, the depth of field (DOF) over which a sharp image is recorded is typically a 1 μm or less, which offers the benefit of optical sectioning (i.e., the ability to produce clear images of focal planes within a thick sample). However, samples that exceed the DOF of a microscope are the norm, which means it is necessary to refocus the image throughout its depth to build a clear picture.
One solution to this problem was to record a single image as the sample was swept through the plane of best focus. A coherent optical processor is used to recover a sharp image. A more modern approach records a 'Z-stack' of up to 100 images and computationally combines the images into a single sharp image with an extended depth of field. Other techniques have been developed for high-resolution 3D microscopes, such as light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, confocal/multiphoton microscopy, and localization super-resolution microscopy (although the latter two are not strictly 3D techniques in themselves). Due to their scanning nature, however, none of these techniques can be used for a snapshot or video-rate imaging.


A method for displaying graphically interconnected network fabrics on a graphical user interface. The method disclosed herein is a view manager that identifies fabrics (e.g., storage area networks) in a network system and then displays graphical representations of the fabrics within a graphical user interface. In this manner, the fabric representations are displayed in respective regions of the graphical user interface such that the pixels of each fabric representation do not overlap. Graphical interconnections are displayed between network fabrics to represent the relationship and connectivity between the fabrics. Additionally, the view manager displays the physical and virtual components or resources (e.g., host computers, switch devices, storage devices) that make up the network fabrics as graphical objects within the fabric representations. In order to show the relationship and connectivity between the resource objects, the view manager also displays graphical interconnections that flow between the resources.

Conventional computer systems that operate software applications designed for interaction with users often provide a graphical user interface enabling such interaction. Some software applications are designed to perform network management to control and manage an interconnection of computer systems and other devices. Often such applications provide a graphical user interface to assist the operator in management of the network. The graphical user interface can include information relative to the structure and operation of the network (e.g., local area network "LAN", wide area network "WAN", storage area network "SAN", etc.). Typically, conventional computer systems that employ graphical user interfaces can display these network structures as graphical objects or icons representing the physical and/or virtual resources contained within the network environment. A user may then access certain information regarding the network resources by selecting the desired network resource representation in a view of the graphical user interface.
Additionally, conventional graphical user interfaces are able to display a topology of a network. As an example, conventional computer systems can display a single network fabric of a storage area network in the graphical user interface that represents the network resources and interconnections between those resources in that fabric. Storage area network management differs from general network management in that storage area networks or SANs define an interconnection of host computer systems through one or more switches to storage devices such as disk drives that are either logical devices or physical entities. The data transmitted on SAN networks are input-output (I/O) requests for data. Generally, in a SAN a network fabric thus defines a set of one or more host computers that are mapped to storage devices via switch devices. Each host computer in a conventional network fabric typically operates software, sometimes referred to as an agent, that executes as a computer process for retrieving and transmitting status and diagnostic information pertaining to a resource to a central network management application. There may be many types of agents that collect data on many different types of SAN resources within a given fabric. In turn, the status and diagnostic information is transmitted, directly or indirectly by each agent, to a management computer system operating the graphical user interface as part of a network management application for display to the network manager (i.e. operator).

Methods and apparatus for displaying network data


In a manufacturing process in a factory or in a maintenance process in a service center, an initial control program or an updated control program is easily written in a digital TV receiver. The digital TV receiver has an IDE connector to which an external memory apparatus through an IDE cable. A main controller judges whether the external memory apparatus is connected or not with utilizing opening terminals of the IDE connector. When the external memory apparatus is connected, the control program is read out from the external memory apparatus, and written into a control program memory of the digital TV receiver or the existing control program is replaced with the updated control program. When the external memory apparatus is not connected, the existing control program is read out from the control program memory and the digital TV receiver is controlled corresponding to the control program.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a digital TV (television) receiver, and especially relates to writing of a control program of the digital TV receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the digital TV receiver, it is proposed that the control program is written in a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and rewritten according to need for updating the control program corresponding to change of service level of the TV broadcast in the future or correcting the bug in the control program (see publication gazette of examined Japanese patent application 5-56052).
Furthermore, it is proposed that a digital equipment is connected to a network for receiving programmable signals from a server, so that the control program can be updated (see publication gazette of unexamined Japanese patent application 2002-14835).
Still furthermore, it is proposed that the updated control program is superimposed on and delivered with airwaves of the TV broadcast, and the receiver extracts the control program from received signals and updates the control program (see publication gazettes of unexamined Japanese patent applications 2001-103333 and 11-275609).
When the control program of the digital TV receiver is downloaded through the network, the transmission speed is slower even though the communication pathway is stable. Thus, it is not suitable for downloading the control program of the digital TV receiver having a capacity of several mega-byte. Furthermore, a host computer such as an external server for communicating the control program is needed.
When the control program of the digital TV receiver is downloaded through the airwaves, the communication pathway is unstable, so that there is a possibility to receive the interference due to the communication error. Thus, the reliability of the received control program is lower. Furthermore, the transmission speed is not so fast. Still furthermore, it needs not only the host computer such as the external server but also cooperation of TV stations. Therefore, such the update service of the control program of the digital TV receiver cannot be offered at all areas in the world.
Still furthermore, it is necessary to memorize two control programs before and after the update, temporarily, so that two sets of flash memories are necessary, which causes the increase of the cost of the digital TV receiver. Still furthermore, it is necessary to write an initial control program into the flash memory of the digital TV receiver in a manufacturing process in a factory by another method different from receiving the airwaves. Thus, the digital TV receiver is connected to a hard disc drive apparatus through a connector so as to be written the initial control program into the flash memory, the connector and interfaces, which are not used ordinarily, are necessary.
Still another method for reading the updated control program from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD can be considered. It, however, needs a recording medium reader which is inherently unnecessary with respect to the digital TV receiver, so that the recording medium reader causes upsizing and increase of the cost of the digital TV receiver.
For writing the control program in the manufacturing process in the factory, it is considered that the control program is written into the flash memory through a port which is inherently used for debugging a heard ware of the digital TV receiver. It, however, needs an expensive and extraordinary apparatus such as an in-circuit emulator. Furthermore, it requires careful treatment for activating the system stably, since the flash memory is disposed at a delicate portion near to a CPU core and it can easily be affected by external noises.


A coaxial connector including a connector main body is formed of an upper housing and a lower housing. An outer conductor includes a circular cylinder portion surrounding the periphery of a hole of the connector main body and configured to be inserted into an outer conductor of a mating coaxial connector. A main body portion is provided on the connector main body, and a fixation portion that is extended from the main body portion so as to sandwich the connector main body along with the main body portion. A fixed terminal is anchored to the connector main body. A movable terminal includes a fixation portion anchored to the connector main body, and a plate spring that extends from the fixation portion toward the fixed terminal and overlaps with the fixation portion at tip ends of the plate spring.

As a conventional coaxial connector having been invented, for example, a coaxial connector disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4442719 is well-known. FIG. 7(a) is a cross-sectional structure view of a coaxial connector 510 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4442719 in a state in which a mating coaxial connector is not mounted. FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional structure view of the coaxial connector 510 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4442719 in a state in which a mating coaxial connector is mounted.
The coaxial connector 510 includes, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a connector main body 512, an external terminal 514, a movable terminal 520, and a fixed terminal 522. The movable terminal 520 and the fixed terminal 522 are anchored to the connector main body 512. The movable terminal 520 makes press-contact with the fixed terminal 522 from the lower side thereof. Further, the connector main body 512 is provided with a hole 534a extending in the vertical direction. The external terminal 514 is configured of a circular cylinder portion concentric with the hole 534a.
On the coaxial connector 510 configured as described above, a mating coaxial connector is mounted, as shown in FIG. 7(b). The mating coaxial connector includes a probe 542. The probe 542 is inserted into the hole 534a and pushes down the movable terminal 520. With this, the movable terminal 520 and the fixed terminal 522 are separated from each other, and the movable terminal 520 and the probe 542 are connected with each other.
Note that in the coaxial connector 510 disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4442719, there is a risk that the connector main body 512 is deformed. More specifically, a tip end of the movable terminal 520 is in contact with the connector main body 512. In the case where the movable terminal 520 is pressed by the probe 542, the tip end of the movable terminal 520 pushes the connector main body 512 downward. As a result, a risk arises that the connector main body 512 is bent so as to project downward.


A method for recording changing boiler conditions over time in three spatial dimensions including: sensing the boiler conditions in real time using sensors which traverse the combustion chamber and gas path generating data from a plurality of positions in one or more supervisory spaces of interest within the boiler system; transmitting the generated data to a computer system; presenting data containing sensor position information and which optionally contains temperature, chemical species information, and other combustor condition information for delivery to a boiler management system to enable said boiler management system to make real time operational adjustments.

Combustion boiler controls allow combustion engineers to optimize boiler performance. To optimize the performance of a boiler, a combustion engineer balances and lowers emissions, e.g., oxygen (O2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2), from the boiler. The boiler has a series of controls to adjust, for example, the amount of fuel and air supplied to a primary combustion zone in the boiler, a reburn zone, and an overfire air zone (exemplary "supervisory spaces of interest"). The boiler heat rate can be improved by increasing oxygen supply but this increases emissions. Having a three dimensional temperature map of the boiler enables the fine adjustment of boiler controls to improve heat rate and reduce emissions.
A boiler is typically measured for temperature and emissions such as NOx at intervals of twelve to eighteen months using high velocity thermocouples (HVT). This process provides a three dimensional map of boiler conditions. The process is carried out manually and the operator can generate three dimensional maps of conditions in the supervisory spaces of interest considered critical for efficient burning of the fuel and the minimization of noxious emissions. Sensor data has not been previously available for conditions at the point of combustion in real time with the location identified in three dimensions. Due to the extremely harsh conditions in the boiler it has not proven feasible to have fixed sensors in the supervisory spaces of interest in the combustion chamber.
Currently, engineers adjust the controls for a boiler combustion system without receiving immediate feedback as to the consequences of their adjustments on emissions and heat rate. Engineers do not see the results of their adjustments until after the data on emissions and heat rate subsequent to the adjustments becomes available for review. Systems exist which provide information about, for example, combustion conditions within the boiler by measuring conditions at a distance from the combustion events for which feedback is required. It would be desirable for engineers to receive prompt emissions and heat rate condition measurements directly from specific supervisory spaces of interest within the boiler to see the effect on emissions and heat rate due to adjustments being made to a boiler based on utilizing said condition measurements.

Method and system for dynamic sensing, presentation and control of combustion boiler conditions


A method of coating a substrate comprises immersing a surface portion of a substrate in a first phase comprising carbon dioxide and a coating component comprising a polymeric precursor; then withdrawing the substrate from the first phase into a distinct second phase so that the coating component is deposited on the surface portion; and then subjecting the substrate to conditions sufficient to polymerize the polymeric precursor and form a polymerized coating.

The present invention relates to meniscus coating methods and apparatus in which the need to use volatile organic solvents to carry or dissolve the coating material is obviated by the use of a carbon dioxide liquid that contains a coating component.
There are three forms of meniscus coating processes which are commonly grouped under the term xe2x80x9cfree meniscus coatingxe2x80x9d: Withdrawal processes, drainage processes, and continuous processes. Many other coating processes use a meniscus to produce films on the substrate to be coated. These include roll coating, blade coating, and slot coating.
Withdrawal coating (often referred to as dip coating) is the most common free meniscus technique used in both laboratories and industry because of its simplicity and cost. Continuous coating is often desirable because of higher output, but the complicated engineering involved often prevents it from being utilized. Drainage is based upon the same principles as withdrawal and is advantageous when space is limited since it requires no mechanical lifting mechanism. See, e.g., C. Brinker et al., in Liquid Film Coating, 673-708 (S. Kistler and P. Schweizer eds. 1997).
In general, free meniscus coating is a solvent intensive process and accounts for a considerable use of environmentally undesireable solvents. Accordingly, there is a need for new free meniscus coating methods and apparatus that reduce or eliminate the use of solvents such as VOCs and the use of solvents such as CFC, HCFC, HFC, or PFC solvents, as well as aqueous solvents.
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of coating a substrate. The method comprises immersing a surface portion of a substrate in a first phase comprising at least one coating component which is a polymeric precursor; then withdrawing the substrate from the first phase into a distinct second phase so that the at least one coating component is deposited on the surface portion; and then subjecting the substrate to conditions sufficient to polymerize the at least one coating component and form a polymerized coating.
The foregoing and other objects and aspects of the present invention are explained in greater detail in the drawings herein and the specification set forth below.

Method for meniscus coating with liquid carbon dioxide

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A threshold voltage read method of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The threshold voltage read method applies a first threshold voltage measuring read voltage to the word line with a selection gate kept in a nonconductive state and then makes the selection gate conductive to read out a threshold voltage of the first data at the time of reading out the threshold voltage of the first data. Then, it applies a second threshold voltage measuring read voltage to the word line with the selection gate kept in the conductive state to read out a threshold voltage of the second data at the time of reading out the threshold voltage of the second data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and more particularly to a threshold voltage read method which reads out a threshold voltage of a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device used to perform the read method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the memory capacity of a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, for example, the memory capacity of a NAND flash memory has been stably increased. As the technique for increasing the memory capacity, the technique for miniaturizing memory cells and forming memory data into a multi-level form is provided. The distribution of threshold voltages of memory cells of a multi-level flash memory is narrower than that of a binary memory and the control operation for the threshold voltages is strict than that in the binary memory. Further, since a plurality of read voltages applied to word lines are required, it is necessary to precisely perform the strict threshold voltage control operation.
In order to precisely perform the threshold voltage control operation, for example, it is necessary to make a highly precise circuit design of a data write circuit such as a page buffer. In order to make the highly precise circuit design, it is preferable to acquire actual information from the device itself and feed back the actual information to the circuit design.
As one example of the operation of acquiring actual information, an item of "measurement of distribution of threshold voltages of memory cells" is provided. The item is to actually read out and check the form of the threshold voltage distribution from the device itself after data is actually written into a memory cell. The information acquired at this time is utilized for determining various control parameters for controlling the threshold voltages, such as timing setting values used for write verify operations or read operations, and voltages applied to word and bit lines.
However, when the accuracy of the read threshold voltage is not so high, or when there is no excellent function of estimating the threshold voltage distribution, it adversely affects the optimization of the flash memory that stores multi-level data.

Threshold value read method of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and nonvolatile semiconductor memory device


A sealing arrangement for turbomachines with a shaft bearing, a throw-off ring and a shaft seal which is assigned to a sealing gap and has a seal housing wherein opposing faces of the throw-off ring and the seal housing form an annular gap for centrifuging out dirt and oil particles.

The invention relates to sealing a shaft of a turbo machine. Specifically, the invention pertains to an arrangement with a throw-off ring assigned to a shaft bearing and with a seal assigned to a sealing gap and having a seal housing, in particular for turbomachines.
Particularly where turbomachines are concerned, as is known, the seal between shaft and housing, said seal being designed, for example, as a gap, slide-ring or brush-type seal, must be contactless because of the high circumferential speed.
Furthermore, direct contact between the medium to be sealed off, for example lubricant, and specific structural elements of the seal leads, as a result of contamination and/or chemical changes, to deposits, such as dirt and/or oil-carbon deposits on the seal elements. Experience has shown that this is detrimental to the sealing function and often results in the failure of the seal.
An object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of the type initially mentioned, in particular for turbomachines, the design and arrangement of which allows trouble-free operation in all the operating states of the turbomachine equipped with it, including during the standstill of the latter.
Proceeding from an arrangement of the type initially mentioned, this object is achieved, according to the invention, in that the mutually confronting regions of the seal housing and of the throw-off ring are designed initially to run radially and subsequently conically outward and, enclosing an annular gap between them, are arranged on the associated structural element in such a way that, during the rotation of one of the structural parts, the medium entering the annular gap has imparted to it a turbulent flow, by means of which heavy constituents contained in the medium are centrifuged out.
By structural parts, such as the seal housing and throw-off ring, present in any case per se, being designed and arranged according to the invention, the feared dirt and/or oil-carbon deposit on seal elements and the adverse consequences associated with this are reliably avoided.
According to a further feature of the invention, an annular groove and a projection are arranged on the seal housing.
By virtue of this measure, when the arrangement is at a standstill, oil running down on the walls of the sealed chamber receiving the arrangement is prevented from penetrating into the seal.
The design according to the invention of the arrangement is surprisingly simple and, in all operating states, reliably ensures the discharge of media located in the bearing chamber, in particular of oil mist and of the heavy constituents, contained in it, of dirt and lubricating-oil droplets, so that deposits in the region of a seal which lead to the failure of the latter are prevented in all the operating states of the turbomachine equipped with it.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Arrangement comprising a slinger associated with a shaft bearing and a gasket associated with a sealing gap


A programmable timed electrical power management device protects and controls electrical equipment and peripherals which are plugged into it. The front of the housing containing the electrical circuitry is provided with a LCD display, a series of pressure sensitive switches for inputting function and control commands to control the operation of the device. A series of LED's mounted on the front of the housing indicate the operational status of the device. The back of the housing is provided with an AC power input receptacle, an on/off reset switch, a series of AC outlets which are divided into pairs of filtered banks, and two or more modular jacks for receiving the modular plug of a telephone, fax, and/or modem. The device circuitry includes a CPU, timer/calendar, a sound generator, voltage sensors, and a back-up battery power supply. The outlets and modular plugs are protected from electrical surges. Each bank of outlets can be selectively programmed to turn on and off at a different time of the day and different days of the week. When more than one bank is set to start at the same time, power is sequentially supplied to each electrical outlet bank allowing the voltage to stabilize before turning on the next bank. A warning tone will sound fifteen, ten, and five minutes prior to shutting off any of the banks, to alert the user that the system is approaching the preset time for the power to the outlets to be turned off, to prevent accidental loss of information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the protection of electrical equipment, and more particularly to a programmable timed electrical power management device for protecting and controlling electrical equipment plugged into it.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Conventional surge protectors are used with computer equipment to prevent them from becoming damaged in the event of a power surge. Most often, they have a plurality of electrical receptacles into which a computer and various other peripheral devices, such as printers, monitors, modems, etc. are plugged. A control switch allows all the devices to be turned on or off at the same time.
In large business establishments having their computer systems plugged into surge protectors, the workers will usually turn on their computer systems at the start of their work day at about the same time, say 8:00 AM, which will often result in tripping the circuit breaker in the building.
There are several patents which disclose various surge protection devices for electronic equipment.
Fussell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,071 discloses a transient and surge protection apparatus for absorbing and dissipating the electrical energy present in voltage transients and surges. The device limits the peak voltage of a surge to a safe value and dissipates the surge energy to prevent damage to the power distribution system and associated equipment.
Zulaski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,687 discloses device for detecting unbalanced conditions in a polyphase equipment bank. The device detects capacitor unit failures in a multi-phase grounded wye-connected capacitor bank in a high voltage transmission system.
Stifter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,705 discloses a combination surge protector filter having a plurality of electrical sockets having a filter connected between each socket and the suppressor which provide electrical isolation between electronic equipment connected to the individual sockets and isolation from AC power line noise and transients.
Speet et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,386 discloses a power receptacle for use in a modular office panel power supply system which has a plurality outlets at least one of which can be selectively electrically isolated from the remaining outlets for filtering the isolated outlet. In one embodiment, the system includes a line conditioner having a cam which, when mechanically and electrically coupled to the receptacle, couples a surge protection circuit in parallel with each of the outlets of the receptacle and a line conditioning filter only in series with the isolated outlet for supplying power to a computer.
Austin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,083 discloses a voltage surge suppressor for connecting electronic equipment to AC power and coaxial antenna lines. The apparatus includes two surge suppression circuits within a single housing, one for the coaxial antenna line and the other for the AC power line.
The present invention is distinguished over the prior art in general, and these patents in particular by a programmable timed electrical power management device that protects and controls electrical equipment and peripherals which are plugged into it. The front of the housing containing the electrical circuitry is provided with a LCD display, a series of pressure sensitive switches for inputting function and control commands to control the operation of the device. A series of LED's mounted on the front of the housing indicate the operational status of the device. The back of the housing is provided with an AC power input receptacle, an on/off reset switch, a series of AC outlets which are divided into pairs of filtered banks, and two or more modular jacks for receiving the modular plug of a telephone, fax, and/or modem.
The device circuitry includes a CPU, timer/calendar, a sound generator, voltage sensors, and a back-up battery power supply. The outlets and modular plugs are protected from electrical surges. Each bank of outlets can be selectively programmed to turn on and off at a different time of the day and different days of the week. When more than one bank is set to start at the same time, power is sequentially supplied to each electrical outlet bank allowing the voltage to stabilize before turning on the next bank. A warning tone will sound fifteen, ten, and five minutes prior to shutting off any of the banks, to alert the user that the system is approaching the preset time for the power to the outlets to be turned off, to prevent accidental loss of information.

Programmable timed electrical power management device


A lighting system includes a lamp that is configured to illuminate. The lamp is coupled to a fixture. A heat bridge is made of a metallic material and is configured to contact the lamp and the fixture, conduct heat from the lamp to the fixture, and deform in response to at least one governing condition.

Typically, lights such as those used in manufactured environments have been designed for incandescent or halogen bulbs that are contained within a fixture. Conventional incandescent lamps work well in high temperature environments. The incandescent lamp's filament heats and glows to give off light. Heat is beneficial to producing the desired light and therefore is desirable. Halogen lamps are similar to incandescent lamps in-that they include a filament, and typically glow hotter and brighter. Accordingly, transferring heat away from the lamp to protect the lamp for cooling purposes is generally not a primary objective of fixtures designed to use these types of lamps.
Other types of lamps that are more sensitive to temperature such a light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are increasingly being used for their light quality, long-life and efficiency. Unlike incandescent and halogen lamps, the LED lamp does not use a heated filament. A typical self-contained LED lamp generally includes a number of LED chips, which emit the desired light, and internal driver electronic circuitry which are together contained in a housing. The housing typically includes an optic lens through which the light is directed. The driver circuitry regulates current flow through the LED chip.
Because they do not use a heated filament but instead include electronic circuits and components, LED lamps prefer lower temperatures. However, LED lamps and their related circuitry and driver components consume energy and as a result, they also generate heat. These LED lamp and related components may be sensitive to heat, which if not adequately managed may decrease their lifespan. In addition, even slight changes in current such as may be caused by temperature excursions, can cause undesirable changes in light output. In addition, as temperature increases an LED becomes less efficient and repeated high temperature excursions may degrade the overall efficiency of the LED. Therefore lamp cooling is desirable.
A lighting fixture designed for other lamp types may not include appropriate heat management capability for LED lamps. This is particularly the case in drop-in replacement applications because a replacement LED lamp will typically include the driver circuitry in close proximity to the LED itself. In some applications, changing a lighting fixture may be necessary to evolve to the use of LED lamps or other heat sensitive lamps. For example, managing the LED heat is challenging in a manufactured environment where packaging space and light fixture designs are not easily changed.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide simple and more effective heat management solutions for temperature sensitive lamps such as LEDs for use as alternatives in existing light fixture applications. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Lighting system with deformable heat bridge


A reflected light beam from a magneto-optic disk is reflected by a first and second reflective element toward a signal detecting system. The first reflective element reflects the reflected light from the magneto-optic disk and gives a phase difference into the light beam. The second reflective element reflects the reflected light by the first reflective element toward the signal detecting system, and gives a phase difference which has the same amount as the phase difference caused by the first reflective element, but with the inverse sign thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system of a magneto-optical disk apparatus which reads a signal from an optical magnetic disk using polarized light.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In optical systems that use magneto-optical disk devices, a signal is read by detecting a slight rotation in the direction of polarization as a change of optical intensity due to the magneto-optic Kerr effect when a laser beam is reflected from the disk surface. The laser beam which is used is a linearly polarized beam for which a change in the direction of polarization is easiest to detect.
On the other hand, since a general optical element such as a mirror or a half mirror has a phase difference which is generated between a P polarized component and a S polarized component, the optical element changes the polarized condition of laser light. If such an optical element is used for the optical system of the magneto-optical disk apparatus which detects slight rotation of a polarized surface, the polarized condition of reflected laser light changes and a wrong signal be read from a disk.
In order to prevent this error, a non-phase difference coating, which cuts down the phase difference between the incident light and the reflected light of a polarized light, is given to optical elements such as a mirror and/or a half mirror used in the optical system of a conventional magneto-optical disk apparatus.
However, the cost of a non-phase difference coating given to the optical element is high, since the number of layers of a coating is large.

Magneto-optical reproducing device with optical system having two reflective elements and providing phase difference cancellation


A process for preparing 1H-indole-3-glyoxamides useful for inhibiting SPLA.sub.2 and novel intermediates useful in the preparation of such compounds.

Certain 1H-indole-3-glyoxamides are known to be potent and selective inhibitors of mammalian sPLA.sub.2 useful for treating diseases, such as septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pancreatitis, trauma, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis and related sPLA.sub.2 induced diseases. EPO publication No. 0675110, for example, discloses such compounds.
Various patents and publications describe processes for making indole-3-glyoxamides.
The article, "Recherches en serie indolique. VI sur tryptamines substituees", by Marc Julia, Jean Igolen and Hanne Igolen, Bull. Soc. Chim. France, 1962, pp. 1060-1068, describes certain indole-3-glyoxylamides and their conversion to tryptamine derivatives.
The article, "2-Aryl-3-Indoleglyoxylamides (FGIN-1): A New Class of Potent and Specific Ligands for the Mitochondrial DBI Receptor (MDR)" by E. Romeo, et al., The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Vol. 262, No. 3, (pp. 971-978) describes certain 2-aryl-3-indolglyoxylamides having research applications in mammalian central nervous systems.
The abstract, "Fragmentation of N-benzylindoles in Mass Spectrometry"; Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 67, 1967, 73028h, reports various benzyl substituted phenols including those having glyoxylamide groups at the 3 position of the indole nucleus.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,449,363 describes trifluoromethylindoles having glyoxylamide groups at the 3 position of the indole nucleus.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,630 describes alpha-substituted 3-indolyl acetic acid compounds and their preparation inclusive of glyoxylamide intermediates.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,734 describes the preparation of 3-(2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)indoles using 3-indoleglyoxylamide intermediates such as 1-phenethyl-2-ethyl-6-carboxy-N-propyl-3-indoleglyoxylamide (see, Example 30).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,850 prepares isoxazolyl indolamines using glyoxylamide indoles as intermediates. U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,594 describes analgesics prepared using 3-indoleglyoxylamide intermediates.
The article, "No. 565.--Inhibiteurs d'enzymes. XII.--Preparation de (propargylamino-2 ethyl)-3 indoles" by A. Alemanhy, E. Fernandez Alvarez, O. Nieto Lopey and M. E. Rubio Herraez; Bulletin De La Societe Chimique De France, 1974, No. 12, pp. 2883-2888, describes various indolyl-3 glyoxamides which are hydrogen substituted on the 6-membered ring of the indole nucleus.
The article "Indol-Umlagerung von 1-Diphenylamino-2,3-dihydro-2,3-pyrrolidonen" by Gert Kollenz and Christa Labes; Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1975, pp. 1979-1983, describes phenyl substituted 3-glyoxylamides.
Allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 08/469954, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,326, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a process for preparing 4-substituted-1H-indole-3-glyoxamide derivatives comprising reacting an appropriately substituted 4-methoxyindole (prepared as described by Clark, R. D. et al., Synthesis, 1991, pp 871-878, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference) with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide at room temperature (20-25.degree. C.) then treating with arylmethyl halide at ambient temperatures to give the 1-arylmethylindole which is O-demethylated using boron tribromide in methylene chloride (Tsung-Ying Shem and Charles A. Winter, Adv. Drug Res., 1977, 12, 176, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference) to give the 4-hydroxyindole. Alkylation is achieved with an alpha bromoalkanoic acid ester in dimethylformamide using sodium hydride as a base. Conversion to the glyoxamide is achieved by reacting the .varies.-[(indol-4-yl)oxy]alkanoic acid ester first with oxalyl chloride, then with ammonia, followed by hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide in methanol.
The process for preparing 4-substituted-1H-indole-3-glyoxamide derivatives, as set forth above, has utility. However, this process uses expensive reagents and environmentally hazardous organic solvents, produces furan containing by-products and results in a relatively low yield of desired product.
The present invention provides an improved process for preparing 4-substituted-1H-indole-3-glyoxamide derivatives. The process of the present invention can be performed with inexpensive, readily available, reagents using aqueous solvent systems and resulting in better overall yield while avoiding the production of furan byproducts. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims.

Process for preparing 4-substituted-1H-indole-3-glyoxamides


A device for locally puncturing skin is disclosed, especially for applying permanent make-up or a tattoo, comprising a housing, a needle guided in the housing for movement between extended and retracted positions, and a diaphragm made of an elastically extensible material and dividing a front-end space at a front surface of the diaphragm from a rear-end space at a back surface of the diaphragm in the housing. A coupling mechanism firmly couples the needle and the diaphragm for backward movement of the needle in the direction of the retracted position, a return force generated by the diaphragm for moving the needle back in the direction of the retracted position being introduced into the needle shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for locally puncturing skin, especially for applying permanent make-up or a tattoo.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A device of the kind in question is known, for instance, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,530 B2. With this known device a needle is guided in a housing so as to be movable between an extended position in which the tip of the needle lies outside of an aperture in the housing and a retracted position in which the tip of the needle is located inside the housing. By repetitive forward and backward movements, shifting the needle between the extended and retracted positions, the needle repeatedly penetrates the skin and is subsequently withdrawn again from the same. A medium for application in liquid form thus may be introduced into the skin. When the known device is used for applying permanent make-up or for tattooing coloring matter is introduced into the skin. The coloring matter either may be applied by immersing a tip of the housing in a reservoir of coloring matter whereby the coloring matter will become distributed along the needle, perhaps all the way into the housing. Operating the device will allow the coloring matter to get into the punctured skin region. Alternatively, or in addition, a container filled with coloring mater may be disposed at the housing of the device to assure replenishing of coloring matter in the interior of the housing and in contact with the reciprocating needle.
In the known device, the needle is driven forward by a drive means which includes a motor. The housing together with the needle guided by it may be implemented as a separate module adapted to be coupled to and detached from the drive means. But the housing and the guided needle and the drive means also may be integrated in a single device. Likewise known are devices which allow the needle to be removed from the housing.
The housing of the known device includes a diaphragm made of an elastically extensible material to prevent liquid, both coloring matter and any body fluid released when the skin is punctured, from reaching the zone where the drive means is coupled or even getting into the drive means itself. The diaphragm separates a front-end space in the housing at a front surface of the diaphragm from a rear-end space in the housing at a back side of the diaphragm. The diaphragm establishes a tight seal between the two spaces inside the housing. The above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,530 B2 describes embodiments with the needle extending through a breakthrough in the diaphragm and being surrounded in the region of the breakthrough by a sealing lip. When being shifted between the extended and retracted positions, the needle thus slips in the breakthrough and the sealing lip slides on the needle. Operating the known device for locally puncturing skin causes the needle to move from the retracted position into the extended position by the propelling force of a drive means. The return movement of the needle from the extended position back into the retracted position is accomplished by the force of a helical spring arranged in the housing. This spring force is introduced into the needle through the shaft of the needle.
Also known are devices for local puncturing of skin, especially for applying permanent make-up or a tattoo with which the tip of the needle is not received in the surrounding housing when the needle itself is in its retracted position. Instead the tip still projects outwardly.


An aerodynamic brake includes a rigid panel having a panel leading edge portion and a panel trailing edge portion. The panel trailing edge portion is pivotably coupled to a vehicle body. The aerodynamic brake also includes a flexible sheet having a sheet lower edge portion coupled to the vehicle body, and a sheet upper edge portion coupled to the panel leading edge portion. The aerodynamic brake further includes a panel actuator configured to pivot the rigid panel between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the rigid panel is located proximate the vehicle body and covers the flexible sheet in a folded state. In the deployed position, the panel leading edge portion is pivoted away from the vehicle body and the flexible sheet is in an open state exposable to an oncoming airflow for generating aerodynamic drag for slowing the vehicle.

Aircraft typically include one or more mechanisms for slowing the aircraft during landing. For example, many aircraft include wheel brakes on the landing gear wheels. An aircraft with turbine engines may include thrust reversers for deflecting the through-engine airflow out to the sides of the engine to generate drag and slow the aircraft during landing. Unfortunately, thrust reversers are complex mechanical systems that are expensive to manufacture and maintain. On certain types of engines such as those with high bypass ratios, thrust reversers are difficult to design and develop. Thrust reversers also increase the weight of the engine nacelle which reduces aircraft fuel efficiency. In addition, thrust reversers generate noise during landing.
Some aircraft include wing-mounted spoilers that may be deployed to slow the aircraft during landing. Unfortunately, large spoilers are difficult to implement and may impact the available volume for carrying fuel in the wing fuel tanks. Some aircraft include fuselage spoilers mounted on the aft end of the fuselage to increase drag during landing. Unfortunately, fuselage spoilers may require additional load-carrying structure which adds to the aircraft weight. In addition, fuselage spoilers may complicate the installation of the auxiliary power unit which is typically mounted in the aft end of the fuselage.
As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a system and method for slowing an aircraft that avoids the above-noted challenges associated with existing aircraft.


A piston ring for use in a piston of an internal combustion engine comprises a base material of a first hardness formed into a ring, and a secondary material of a second hardness formed by selective and superficial heat treatment of an outer portion of the base material. At least one outer surface of the ring is selectively and superficially heat treated in one of a variety of ways to form an austenitic metal layer about 100 xcexcm thick on the surface of the ring. The ring is then rapidly cooled in an appropriate environment, resulting in the transformation of the austenitic compound into a martensitic compound adjacent the base material at the point of heat treatment. Preferably, the martensitic metal has a hardness range of 800 to 1000 HV (Vickers Hardness scale) measured at a load of 100 grams.

The present invention relates to a piston ring, and more particularly, to a piston ring formed of a base material having an outer layer that is first selectively subjected to localized and superficial heating such that the outer layer is transformed to an austenitic form, and second to a rapid cooling such that said austenitic form is converted to a martensitic form.
Piston rings are well known. They are usually received within an annular groove disposed about an outer periphery of a piston. In turn, the piston is reciprocated within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Typically, the piston ring is discontinuous, having two end portions. The end portions are separated from one another to expand the piston ring for insertion into a corresponding groove of the piston. The piston ring is then compressed, bringing the end portions closer together, to install the piston within the cylinder.
A piston compresses fluids such as gases within the cylinder. In an internal combustion engine, these fluids are ignited and expand, forcing the piston away from the point of ignition. The outer surface or bearing face of a piston ring in an internal combustion engine is subjected to high temperatures, corrosion, and frictional interaction with the walls of the cylinder.
To improve durability, wear and scuff resistance, it is known to use a variety of wear surface materials bonded to an underlying substrate forming the core of the piston ring. Examples include wear surface materials comprising ceramics, nickel-boron face coatings and various nitride coatings such as chromium nitride coating. These wear materials have a number of limitations. First, they are extremely brittle and subject to cracking or other unacceptable failure modes. Second, there is often a problem with achieving a sufficient coating thickness such that the coating does not prematurely wear away and expose the base material, thereby possibly resulting in piston ring failure. Third, it is extremely difficult to machine a piston ring having a known wear material already bonded to the base material. Fourth, piston rings with known wear materials are often heavier, increasing inertial force and friction within the cylinder. Finally, known piston rings with wear materials bonded to a base material are typically fairly expensive to manufacture.
Another way to improve durability, wear and scuff resistance of piston rings is to form the piston ring from a base material having a first hardness, and then subject the base material to a heat treatment, thereby hardening the base material. Typically, piston rings of this type are formed from powdered, austenitic iron, and are then subjected to a form of heat treatment to form martensitic iron in at least a portion of the piston ring. However, austenitic iron is difficult to work with, and forming piston rings from powdered austenitic iron may create undesirable manufacturing defects within the piston ring. Moreover, the entire piston ring is subjected to a heat treatment, requiring sufficient time and heat treatment to affect substantially all of the piston ring.
The present invention is directed to a piston ring for use in a piston of an internal combustion engine. The ring includes a base material of a first hardness formed into a ring, and a secondary material of a second hardness formed by selective and superficial heat treatment of an outer portion of said base material. The heat treatment may be selectively and superficially limited to only the face and contact areas of the piston ring, or may involve the entire surface of the piston ring.
In a first embodiment, the ring is formed from cast iron, iron-aluminum alloys or steel alloys. At least a portion of the outer surface of the ring is selectively and superficially heat treated in one of a variety of ways to form an austenitic metal layer about 25-200 xcexcm, and most preferably 100 xcexcm thick on a surface of the ring. The ring is then rapidly cooled in an appropriate environment, resulting in the transformation of the austenitic compound into a fine martensitic compound adjacent the base material at the point of heat treatment. Preferably, the martensitic metal has a hardness range of 800 to 1000 HV (Vickers Hardness scale) measured at a load of 100 grams. In a second embodiment, the base material is a quenched and tempered alloy that includes coarse martensite. The heating of a portion of the surface of the base material causes a transition to austenite, and the subsequent rapid quenching transforms the austenite into a fine martensite that is harder than the original base material.
Several methods may be used to heat the surface of the piston ring. In one method, electrons emitted by a cathode are accelerated and concentrated onto an outer surface of the piston ring while it is in a high vacuum environment. As the electrons interact with the surface of the ring, energy is transferred to the surface of the ring, thereby heating the surface of the ring. In this way, the electron beam heats the surface of the ring beyond the temperature of austenite formation.
In another method, the surface of the ring is heated by focusing a laser upon the surface of the ring such that the temperature of the surface of the ring exceeds the temperature of austenitic iron formation. In other methods, the surface of the ring is heated by an induction furnace or by exposure to a plasma torch.
In all cases, the base material comprising the piston ring is relatively ductile and workable, selected from the group comprising cast iron, aluminum-iron alloys or steel alloys. The base material must be able to transition to both an austenitic form and a martensitic form having the desired end characteristics described below. In a first embodiment, the base material has not been hardened or pre-treated in any way, and need not include any austenite. In a further embodiment, the base material has been quenched and tempered so that it includes some martensite. In both embodiments, the base material is relatively easier to initially form and shape. The heat treatment according to the present invention occurs only superficially on the piston ring, so the entire ring is not subjected to heat treatment. In fact, because all of the methods described for heating the surface may be selectively aimed, portions of the surface of the piston ring may be selectively hardened. Thus, the heat treatment may be limited only to the face or contact areas of the piston ring. As a result, the original ductility of the base material is sufficiently maintained to allow conformability of the piston ring with the groove of a piston.
The surface heat treatment also occurs over a relatively short period of time, compared to the time required to heat treat an entire piston ring. By limiting the scope of the heat treatment, the time required to heat treat the piston ring is reduced, resulting in manufacturing efficiencies. Manufacture time is further reduced without adversely affecting the piston ring quality. Finally, because the heat treatment occurs only to a limited depth on the piston ring, only those faces which require hardening need be subjected to the treatment, thereby maintaining the ductility and resiliency of the base material.


A climbing shoe comprising: a shoe-upper which is shaped so as to accommodate and cover substantially the whole foot of the user; a sole made of polymeric material, which is fixed to the bottom of the shoe-upper so as to cover the front part of the bottom of said shoe-upper; a front tensioning band made of elastomeric material, which is substantially U-bent and is fixed to the toe of the shoe-upper so as to embrace/surround the front part of the bottom of the shoe-upper, while joining to the front sole; a rear patch made of soft and flexible material, which is arranged astride of the rear part of the shoe-upper, in the area above the heel portion of the shoe-upper; and a rear tensioning band which is substantially U-bent and is firmly fixed to the shoe-upper so that the central elbow/bend of the rear tensioning band covers the plantar arch portion of the bottom, and the two branches of the rear tensioning band extend obliquely along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper up to reach and firmly join said rear patch.

As is known, the currently most popular climbing shoes comprise: a leather and/or fabric shoe-upper that is substantially sock-shaped so as to accommodate and cover the user's foot, including the sole of the foot; a front tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed to the toe of the shoe-upper by gluing so as to surround the tarsus-phalangeal portion of the user's foot; a rear tensioning band that is made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, is substantially U-bent, and is fixed by gluing to the rear part of the shoe-upper so as to cover the area above the Calcaneus of the user's foot, and then to extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper up to reach and join the front tensioning band; and a lower sole which is made of a soft and flexible polymeric material with a high friction coefficient and substantially inextensible, and is fixed by gluing to the bottom of the shoe upper, partially overlapping the front and rear tensioning bands, so as to cover the whole of the sole of the user's foot.
Patent EP2274994 additionally describes a climbing shoe provided with an additional tensioning band, again made of a high-elasticity elastomeric material, which is substantially V-shaped and is fixed by gluing to the lower part of the shoe-upper, beneath the sole, so as to cover the bottom of the shoe-upper in the metatarsophalangeal area of the sole of the foot, and then extend along the two lateral sides of the shoe-upper, up to reach and join the rear tensioning band.
Unfortunately, although working very well, the climbing shoe described above has a limited capability to adapt to the morphology of the user's foot with the comfort problems that this entails, and is excessively rigid with the operating limits that this entails.
The climbing shoe described above, in fact, is not very suitable for climbing rock walls that are grade IV or higher.


A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit, having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit. The process includes an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit, an individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape, a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit or that one of a convex part of the fruit, and a check step that determines that the fruit is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

EP 2 731 893 describes a multiple-lane fruit positioning apparatus, in particular peaches, comprising a longitudinal frame and a fruit flight conveyor travelling in the longitudinal direction of said longitudinal frame. The fruit holding flights are shaped with a number of crosswise spaced recesses, each recess being inferiorly provided with an opening through which a part of the fruit protrudes. Located under the fruit holding is a fruit-orientating device including a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse spindles, each bearing a number of transversely spaced orientating elements like said number of recesses. Each orientating element, being integrally rotatable with each transverse shaft which carries it, is in said recess opening in contact with the fruit contained therein and moves the fruit until a plane containing the suture line of each fruit is positioned at right angles with the longitudinal direction, and the stalk cavity thereof faces downwardly.
A drawback related to an automatic orientation operation such as that obtained in the apparatus of the aforementioned patent application lies in the fact that said automatic orientation operation does not absolutely guarantee that the central axis of symmetry of the fruit is positioned, after the automatic orientation operation, in a vertical position. This is due to the fact that the stalk cavity, for example that of peaches, or even the calycin, i.e. the apple cavity opposite to the stalk cavity, is not always so well defined to be perfectly combined with the orienting element. Ultimately, fruits are positioned blindly. As a result, not all the fruits reach the above mentioned position in the cutting station, with the consequence that not all the cuts are perfect, i.e. along the desired cutting surface.
WO-2015136420 provides a machine for recognizing and orienting fruits, especially peaches, comprising a fruit recognizing station suitable to detect the position of the vertical suture plane of each fruit, to calculate the dihedral angle formed between the vertical suture plane and the vertical cutting plane, and to communicate either information on the calculated dihedral angle or information of not detection. Further, the machine comprises an orientation station, being connected to a removing station. Thanks to the machine according to WO-2015136420 a cutting station is allowed to cut the fruits along their suture plane.
There are other operations such as fruit coring, in which it is not necessary for a fruit to be positioned with a precise arrangement of its suture plan. In fact, the coring generally involves the sinking of at least one knife in the direction of the axis of the fruit, as for peaches, or that passing through the calycin and the stalk cavity, as for apples, because it must take place in the axial direction of the hazel or core. To proceed with this operation, it is sufficient that the axis of the fruit is arranged vertically.
In this regard, EP 2 167 408 teaches how determine the orientation of the stalk-calycin axis with respect to supporting rollers of a fruit, in particular apples, by means of laser light illumination. In fact, a vision system is provided that is capable of acquiring and analyzing images of a fruit to establish when its stalk-calycin axis is placed in a vertical position. The procedure is quite complex because the images of the moving fruit are captured by a camera mounted above the rotating apple and processed to evaluate its position. It should be emphasized that the laser light in EP 2 167 408 only serves to illuminate the fruit because the function of automatic determination of the orientation of its axis is assigned to the cameras and to the image processing procedure.
There are documents in which a laser light is used as a distance meter in relation to a fruit. For example, JP H11169799 A describes an automatic sorting machine for fruit and vegetables in which a laser-type distance sensor is provided that detects the height of the fruit or vegetable to be conveyed by means of a conveyor, after being sorted. The sensor emits and receives a laser beam swung vertically downwards. In this way, the container in which to convey fruit or vegetables of different height can be chosen.
A similar distance meter is used for measuring box sizes and for optimal placement of objects in devices described by US 2016/0300187 A1.

Method and apparatus for recognizing fruit orientation


A tab lead soldering apparatus soldering a tab lead to a front face and a rear face of a solar cell has a first pressing mechanism pressing the tab lead toward the front face of the solar cell, a second pressing mechanism pressing the tab lead toward the rear face of the solar cell rear face, a heat member and a support member provided to the first pressing mechanism and/or the second pressing mechanism to contact with the tab lead, a heat member shift mechanism shifting the heat member between a contact position to contact an end of the heat member with the tab lead and a separation position to separate the end of the heat member from the tab lead, and a support member shift mechanism shifting the support member between a contact position to contact an end of the support member with the tab lead and a separation position to separate the end of the support member from the tab lead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for soldering a tab lead to a solar cell in a solar battery manufacturing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a solar cell module formed by arranging solar cells in a form of matrix, which convert solar energy into electrical energy, is known. This solar cell module is manufactured by a step of forming strings by arranging solar cells, which are in approximately square thin plate shape, in a line and electrically connecting adjacent solar cells, a step of forming a matrix by arranging the strings in parallel and electrically connecting the strings, and a step of covering the front face (light-receiving face) of the matrix with a cover glass and laminating the rear face of the matrix with a protection material (laminate material).
In the step of forming strings, long tape-like tab leads are connected to front face electrodes and rear face electrodes of the solar cells by soldering. In other words, the tab leads are connected to two adjacent solar cells. A half portion of the tab lead is soldered to the front face electrode of a prior solar cell and a rear half portion of the tab lead is soldered to the rear face electrode of a subsequent solar cell. A predetermined number of solar cells are connected linearly in this way to form a string.
Regarding such forming of strings, the applicant has disclosed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-236235. According to a soldering method disclosed in the publication, a tab lead is heated as being pressed toward a front face and a rear face of a solar cell so that the tab lead is surely heated and melted for soldering.

Tab lead soldering apparatus and tab lead soldering method


An air pump has a body, a piston rod and a seat cap assembly. The body has an outer protrusion and a first engaging part. The outer protrusion protrudes from the body. The first engaging part is longitudinally mounted on the outer protrusion. The piston rod is inserted into the body. The seal cap assembly has a top cover and a sleeve. The top cover is movably mounted on the piston rod. The sleeve is mounted on the body and has a retaining rib and a second engaging part. The retaining rib protrudes from an inner surface of the sleeve and abuts against a retaining surface of the outer protrusion. The second engaging part is longitudinally mounted on the inner surface of the sleeve and is engaged with the first engaging part of the body. Therefore, the relative rotation between the body and the sleeve is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air pump, and more particularly to an air pump which decreases manufacturing elements and is easy in assembling.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, an air pump comprises a body 60, a piston rod 70 and a seal cap assembly 80. The body 60 is hollow and has a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, an inner surface, an opening 61, a nozzle 62 and multiple concave loops 63. The opening is formed in the top surface of the body 60. The nozzle 62 is mounted on the bottom surface of the body 60. The concave loops 63 are formed in the inner surface of the body 60 near the opening 61 of the body 60.
The piston rod 70 is inserted into the body 60 and has a piston 71. The piston 71 is mounted on an end of the piston rod 70 and is located in the body 60.
The seal cap assembly 80 has a plug 81 and a collar 82. The plug 81 is movably mounted on the piston rod 70 and has multiple convex ribs 83. The convex ribs 83 are respectively received in the concave loops 63 of the body 60. When the piston rod 70 is pressed into the body 60 via the opening 61, each convex rib 83 is engaged with one of the concave loops 63. The collar 82 is mounted on the body 60 and outside the outer surface of the body 60 near the opening 61 of the body 60. The collar 82 has a flange 84. The flange 84 protrudes inward from the collar 82 and is mounted between the top surface of the body 60 and the plug 81.
After the plug 81 is fixedly engaged in the opening 61 of the body 60, a gap is formed between the plug 81 and the top surface of the body 60. Thus, the air pump needs the collar 82 to close the gap. The flange 84 of the collar 82 is just mounted between the top surface of the body 60 and the plug 81 and is not fixed, so this may cause the relative rotation between the collar 82 and the body 60. The relative rotation between the collar 82 and the body 60 may be considered as a defect of the air pump in that the plug 81 that is not sealed tightly. Then, the stores selling the air pump have the problems of having to refund customers and suffer damage to the reputation as a supplier of goods.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an air pump obviate the aforementioned problems.