An axially symmetric ring work piece is formed by a warm or hot, forward and backward extruding, die forging system. In this system, a die having a rearwardly projecting portion, which projects in the opposite direction to a pressing direction, a heated work piece, and a punch having a forwardly projecting portion, are arranged, in that order, in a container. A withdrawal die is arranged between the container, and the heated work piece, the die and the punch. The die is fixed so that a die velocity V.sub.D is 0, and the punch is moved toward the die while a punch velocity V.sub.P is set to be twice as large as a withdrawal die velocity V.sub.WD and the strokes of slide of the withdrawal die are not less than one-half of a forward-extruded foot length of a product. Thus, the forward and backward simultaneous extrusion can be substantially performed in a single-action type, short-stroke, die forging system. In addition, it is possible to effectively and accurately form a ring part, which has good metal flow and no defects, and which has a stable quality, at higher than 80 strokes per minute.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for performing a warm or hot high-velocity die forging and a method for performing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to the manufacturing of a ring part by a warm or hot die forging, particularly by a forward and backward extrusion, high-velocity die forging.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the accuracy of dimensions and shape of die forged parts has been required strictly year by year in order to decrease the number of steps by near net shape forming. On the other hand, the manufacturers have made various attempts to increase the manufacturing efficiency to reduce the costs to make profits.
In order to manufacture various ring parts, a ring part 13 shown in FIG. 4(b) is generally obtained by ring rolling of a ring material 18 shown in FIG. 4(a) after the hot forging.
Referring to the drawings, conventional methods for manufacturing a ring part will be described below.
A method shown in FIGS. 5(a) through 5(d) comprises the steps of: open-up setting a sheared work piece 7 as a first step (FIG. 5(a)); forming a cup-shaped blank by the backward extrusion pressing as a second step (FIG. 5(b)); punching a bottom portion as a dummy portion 10 (which will be hereinafter referred to as a "punched scrap portion") as a third step (FIG. 5(c)); and forming an annular raised portion raised from the circumferentially extending central portion of the inner surface of the work piece by ironing as a fourth step (FIG. 5d)) (this method will be hereinafter referred to as "method A").
Another method shown in FIGS. 6(a) through 6(d) comprises the steps of: open-up setting a work piece 7 as a first step (FIG. 6(a)); forming a cup-shaped blank having a step 11 by the backward extrusion pressing as a second step (FIG. 6(b)); punching a bottom portion serving as a punched scrap portion as a third step (FIG. 6(c)); and forming a ring part by the ring rolling by means of a ring rolling machine shown in FIG. 9 as a fourth step (FIG. 6(d)) (this method will be hereinafter referred to as "method B").
In the case of method A, there is a disadvantage in that, since the central portion of the product is not restricted by the die, ununiform excess thickness may occur in the central portion of the product during the ironing in accordance with the lubrication in the die or the temperature during the forming. Therefore, even if ring rolling is performed, it is difficult to work a ring part as an object of the present invention. On the other hand, in the case of method B, there is a disadvantage in that a ring height 12 may be disengaged from a diesinking portion 19, i.e., a groove portion, of a forming roll during ring rolling to cause defective forming, and there is also a disadvantage in that cracks or flashes may be produced on the line of intersection of the raised inner-surface portion. And the other inner-surface portion since the outside rotating speed is different at the initial stage of forming. Therefore, the aforementioned method B can not be used to work a ring part as an object of the present invention.
In order to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages in methods A and B, the inventors have studied a method for forming a ring part by ring rolling (which will be hereinafter referred to as "method C"), using the computer aided engineering (CAE) analysis and the plasticine simulation. As shown in FIGS. 7(a) through 7(d), the method C comprises the steps of: open-up setting a work piece 7 as a first step (FIG. 7(a)); preforming a cup-shaped blank by the forward extrusion pressing as a second step (FIG. 7(b)); performed the backward extrusion pressing as a third step (FIG. 7(c)); and punching a punched scrap portion 10 to form a ring part by ring rolling as a fourth step (FIG. 7(d)). In a case where a ring part is forged by the method C, the stroke of the used forging system may be shortened, so that the ring part can be sufficiently formed by means of a high-velocity die forging system having slide strokes per minute of not less than 80 per minute. However, as shown in FIG. 12, the turbulence of metal flow may be produced near the line of intersection of the outer wall portion with the bottom plate portion, or burrs may be produced on the peripheral portion. Since these burrs can not corrected by ring rolling as a secondary processing, it is difficult to stably provide good products.
In order to improve the aforementioned method C, the inventors have studied a method for forming a ring part by the CAE analysis, the plasticine simulation and ring rolling (which will be hereinafter referred to as "method D"). As shown in FIGS. 8(a) through 8(c), the method D comprises the steps of: open-up setting a work piece 7 as a first step (FIG. 8(a)); performed the forward and backward simultaneous extrusion pressing (the double-action pressing) as a second step (FIG. 8(b)); and punching a punched scrap portion 10 to form a ring part by ring rolling as a third step (FIG. 8(c)).
It was found that, in the case of the method D, the forging load can be reduced by 20% in comparison with the aforementioned method C, and it is possible to obtain a smooth metal flow and a sufficiently good quality. However, in order to form a product at higher slide strokes per minute than 80 per minute, a single-action type, short-stroke, die forging system (a horizontal former) must be used. Even if such a system is used, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient filling since the stroke is short, so that it is not possible to form a product by the double action pressing. However, a double-action type, high-velocity, die forging system has not been widely spread. In order to newly provide such a system, infinite costs are required for initial investment, so that such a system can not actually adopted. In addition, even if a long-stroke die forging system is remodeled into a double-action type system, the forging velocity is limited to decrease the manufacturing efficiency, so that the costs of the product are increased. That is, it has been conventionally difficult to obtain a ring blank of a stable quality, which is an object of the present invention.
As mentioned above, in order to form a ring part at higher slide strokes per minute than 80 per minute, a single-action type, short-stroke, die forging system (a horizontal former) must be used. Even if such a system is used, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient filling since the stroke is short, so that it is not possible to form a product by the double action pressing. In addition, a double-action type, high-velocity, die forging system has not been widely diffused. In order to newly provide such a system, costs required for initial investment are increased, so that such a system can not actually adopted.

Method and system for warm or hot high-velocity die forging


Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for positioning a truss on a plurality of spaced apart truss tables and for positioning a truss bundle on an expandable rollerbed trailer. A movable image of a truss is superimposed on a stationary image of each of the truss tables. The truss image includes indicia at each location where a respective truss plate is to be embedded in the truss. The indicia has a distinct appearance when a portion of a respective truss plate location overlies an ejector unit slot or space between adjacent truss tables. A movable image of a truss bundle is superimposed on a stationary image of an expandable rollerbed trailer.

A wood truss consists of multiple planks of lumber joined together via metal connector plates, commonly referred to as truss plates. A wood truss typically comprises top and bottom chords joined by web members to form various triangular patterns. The design of a wood truss involves selecting a span and pitch to satisfy a particular architectural plan and then utilizing various engineering methods to determine the shape of the truss and the web pattern required, as well as the size and length of each member required based upon the various loads that the truss may be subjected to during use.
Because of the size of a typical truss (e.g., one that is 45 feet in length), truss fabrication is typically performed on one or a series of fabrication tables. The lumber planks are placed on the fabrication tables in an arrangement to match the final desired shape of the truss. Truss plates having impaling members extending from one side are placed at each joint where the ends of the lumber planks are to be joined. Typically, a system of pressure rollers is used to embed the impaling members of each truss plate into the lumber planks to create a truss.
To achieve a strong connection at each joint, it is necessary that the impaling members of each truss plate are pressed firmly into the wood. This is accomplished by pressing each truss plate downwardly against the surface of the truss table, which provides the resistance necessary to ensure the firm embedment of each truss plate. Unfortunately, when a series of spaced-apart truss tables are employed, the size and configuration of a wood truss often results in one or more truss joints being unsupported by a truss table. As a result, pedestals are typically positioned under these truss plates to provide resistance during the pressing operation. Of course, the pedestals provide less support, and the use of pedestals between truss tables hampers the movement of operators who move therebetween to place lumber planks and truss plates on the truss tables. Consequently, the use of pedestals is discouraged.
Many truss tables utilize an ejector unit for raising a truss so that it may be removed easily from the truss table when completed. An ejector unit typically resides within and extends from a slot in the surface of each truss table. It is desirable to avoid locating a truss joint directly over an ejector unit slot because of the risk of inadequate resistance during pressing of a truss plate into the joint area.
A particularly time-consuming task associated with truss fabrication is the process of setting up the truss tables for a particular truss configuration. A set-up system typically includes placing a number of jigging fixtures and/or mechanical stops on each truss table in a pattern matching that of the truss configuration. Typically, the mechanical stops are used to hold the top and bottom chords in place. The remaining planks for each truss are precut to the proper length and end angle and are arranged on the fabrication tables in the correct triangulated truss configuration prior to being fixed into that configuration with truss plates.
Each mechanical stop typically includes some means for being secured to a fabrication table. Often times a graduated scale is attached to each table adjacent each slot. Once positioned, the mechanical stops are tightened down so as to provide a solid location against which the truss planks may be held in place. The positions of the mechanical stops may be determined in advance for a truss either manually or by a software program associated with the set-up system, such as the FREEFORM.TM. program offered by Tee-Lok Corporation, Edenton, N.C. Once the planks are arranged on the truss tables, they are attached to one another by a pressure roller, such as that described above, which presses a truss plate into each joint area to form the truss. The completed truss is removed from the table via the ejector unit, and another set of planks is guided into position within the mechanical stops. The mechanical stops remain in place until all trusses of the selected configuration have been formed. They are then re-positioned on the truss tables to define the next truss configuration to be fabricated.
Unfortunately, the process of positioning and repositioning the mechanical stops has the tendency to slow truss production considerably. This is particularly true when sets of trusses of significantly different configuration are constructed sequentially, as this requires considerable repositioning of the cogs.
Trusses are often transported via an expandable rollerbed trailer. Trusses are often large and irregularly shaped, making the task of fitting a load of trusses onto an expandable rollerbed trailer a somewhat difficult and costly task. Adding to the cost of truss transportation are shipping regulations which often limit the "over-length" and "over-width" dimensions of materials transported on expandable rollerbed trailers. If truss overhang exceeds that permitted by law, special permits are often required. These special permits often limit the routes and times of travel, thus adding to the cost of truss transportation. In addition, it is often desirable to load an expandable rollerbed trailer in such a way that the trusses can be unloaded at a construction site in the order in which they will be used during construction. Each of these factors can render the loading of trusses onto an expandable rollerbed trailer an expensive and time consuming trial and error operation.

Systems, methods and computer program products for positioning wood trusses for fabrication and delivery


A base is provided with a plate-shaped body and two pairs of opposite protrusion edges surrounding the periphery of the plate-shaped body. The two pairs of opposite side plates are hinged to the protrusion edges of the base and are foldable relative to the base. Connecting parts are arranged at the bottom of the side plate, and corresponding base hinging parts are arranged on the protrusion edge of the base, where the connecting parts are hinged to the base hinging parts respectively, thus hinging the side plate to the base. At least one pair of the two pairs of opposite protrusion edges are provided with first closed cavities extending along the length direction of the protrusion edges, and/or the plate-shaped body is provided with second closed cavities, where the second closed cavities protrude from the main surface of the plate-shaped body.

When the prior folding box is used, the side plates are unfolded and erected, and four side plates are interlocked with each other, so as to form a relatively closed room to accommodate goods. After the goods are emptied, the folding box can be recycled. In order to reduce cost, the side plates are folded, so that more boxes can be accommodated in the same place. During the recycling process, it should be convenient to clean the box, especially when the folding box is used for loading fresh food such as vegetables and fruits, the cleaning is especially important after use. Meanwhile, when the box is in use, it should be ensured that the box is safe and reliable when goods loaded in the box body, and the side plate can be to be unlocked and folded simply and quickly when goods in the box body are emptied.
The prior folding box, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,786B2, has a box body structure composed of thin walls and reinforcing ribs arranged on the surface of the thin walls, and the structure of the base hinge mounting position is single layered and weak due to the elastic installation requirements. The base is formed with many molded non-closed cavities, dirt can be easily remained when the concave parts of the grid ribs are rapidly cleaned, and cleaning efficiency is very low. Particularly, at the protrusion edge position of the base, due to assembling to hinges of the side plates and base forming, a large amount of deep cavities are remained in the base, a large amount of sewage can flow into these areas during cleaning and is not easy to discharge, and bacteria are easy to breed.
In addition, the thin-wall structure is weak in the bending-resistance and compression-resistance, and particularly, at the position where the side plate is hinged to the base, a single layered thin wall is connected with the side plate and the hinge. Especially when the box bears high-density goods, the inner surface of the base is depressed and recessed downwardly, and at the moment, the side plate is hinged to the protrusion edge of the base with its hinge, the protrusion edge will bend inwards along with the recessing of the base, and one side close to the hinge of the side plate is also randomly pulled by the protrusion edge and deforms and bends inwardly and downwardly. Thus, in the prior folding box, the part of the side plates close to the hinges can not stand the deformation caused by inward bending of the protrusion edge when the load is increased, so that the base of the box is more prone to recess, causing the further inward bending of the protrusion edge bend and thus inward deformation of the side plates. When the layers of boxes are stacked, the goods in the upper layer will sink along with the deformation of the thin wall base, so that the goods in the lower layer will be pressed, so that the goods subject to potential safety hazards to a certain extent; when the boxes are repeatedly used, fatigue damage will be caused by stress deformation due to frequent switching between high and low temperature environments, and the service life of the boxes is shortened.

SHANGHAI HONGYAN RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGINGS CO., LTD.


A high resolution processing device that is provided to a target finder for detecting a presence of a target, and that increases resolution of a received signal received by the target finder, includes a first change amount calculator, a second change amount calculator, a coefficient setting component, and an output signal production component. The first change amount calculator calculates as a first change amount an amount of change in the received signal received by the target finder per unit quantity in one direction of an angle direction and a distance direction. The second change amount calculator calculates as a second change amount an amount of change in the first change amount per unit quantity in the one direction. The coefficient setting component sets at least one coefficient based on the first change amount and the second change amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high resolution processing device and a high resolution processing method for improving resolution in a received signal received by a radar or other such target finder.
2. Background Information
The inverse filtering discussed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2002-311126 (Patent Citation 1) is an example of prior art that deals with improving resolution in a signal received by a radar or the like. This inverse filtering improves the resolution of a received signal by using a filter function produced from an antenna pattern to process a signal received by an antenna.

Target finder, high resolution processing device, and high resolution processing method


The method consists of detecting an enteric virus in a test sample, where the detection of said enteric virus in said test sample indicates the existence of contamination. The method allows us to detect the presence or absence of enteric viruses in a test sample, and then to determine the existence of environmental contamination, especially faecal contamination of livestock origin, in the test sample and, therefore, the place where the test sample was taken. The characterisation and/or molecular or serological typification of the enteric virus detected and its comparison with that of other enteric viruses present in sources of contamination near to where the samples were taken for analysis, also allows us to identify the origin of said contamination.

The contamination of water and pastures can cause different diseases in the animals drinking the contaminated water and feeding on the pastures. The control of these possible sources of infection requires knowing if the pastures and water is contaminated in order to treat them accordingly, thus avoiding or reducing the risk of appearance of human or animal infections. The sources of such contamination include animal faeces, which may carry different organisms that could potentially contaminate the environment and/or pathogens affecting plants and animals, including humans.
Faecal microbiological contamination in water is usually analysed by determining the presence of organisms, not necessarily pathogenic, identified as "indicator or marker organisms". In this respect, some faecal bacteria, such as Escherichia coli have been used as faecal contamination markers (EP 438115 A2).
Surprisingly, it has now been discovered that enteric viruses, which infect the gastro-intestinal tract and are excreted in the faeces, can be used as environmental contamination markers, in particular, to identify faecal contamination of animal origin affecting pastures and water.
Enteric viruses form a heterogeneous group including representatives of different virus families, of which the most important are possibly picornaviruses (basically, enteroviruses and teschoviruses), caliciviruses, astroviruses and reoviruses (rotaviruses) and hepatitis E virus. In spite of their heterogeneity, these viruses have a series of characteristics in common, since they are nearly all small RNA viruses without a membranous envelope and stable in an acid pH (the only DNA virus in the group is the adenovirus). They can therefore withstand their route through the gastrointestinal tract, in the epithelium of which they usually establish acute infections, causing gastro-enteritis. They are disseminated through the faeces and transmitted through the faecal-oral route. Because of their characteristic resistance to adverse environmental conditions, they remain in the environment for long periods, and water contaminated by faeces and the food in contact with such water, mainly molluscs, are their primary transmission carriers.
Of the enteric viruses, one of the largest and best known groups is that of the enteroviruses, some of them important pathogens for humans and animals. Enteroviruses (EV) belong to the Picornaviridae family and their genome consists of a simple chain RNA positive pole molecule (ssRNA+) with approximately 7,400 nucleotides (nt). These are the most common viruses and infect a large variety of mammals. Approximately 90 serotypes have been identified, 62 of which infect humans and 27 animals. Bovine enteroviruses (BEV) are broadly distributed all over the world and classified as enzootic in some countries. Two species have been described to date: BEV1 and BEV2 (Knowles, N. J., and Barnett, I. T. (1985), Arch Virol 83 (3–4), 141–55), although there are probably more that have not yet been identified. There are 3 species of porcine enteroviruses have been described. An ovine enterovirus (OEV-1) that is closely linked to the BEVs has been isolated. The existence of viruses has been described in ocean environments, although it is believes that most of the viruses found in natural water are cyanophages or other types capable of infecting microalgae. The existence of water contaminated by human enteric viruses has also been described, especially close to urban areas, related to sources of human infections [Chapron et al., 2000, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:2520–2525; Abbaszadegan et al., 1993, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59:1318–1324; Abbaszadegan et al., 1999, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:444–449; Bosch A., 1998, Int. Microbiol. 1:191–196; Pianetti et al., 2000, Epidemiol. Infect. 125:455–462; Schvoerer et al., Res. Microbiol. 152:179–186].
Another important group of porcine enteric viruses are Teschoviruses, related to enteroviruses (Zell, R., M. Dauber, A. Krumbholz, A. Henke, E. Birch-Hirschfeld, A. Stelzner, D. Prager, and R. Wurm. 2001. J Virol 75:1620–31) and including the agents causing both mild and severe forms of a neurological disease known as "Teschen-Talfan's disease", in addition to reproductive failure, pneumonia, diarrhoea and skin lesions in pigs. It is assumed in general that each animal species is the natural host of a large number of enteroviruses, often enzootic, and many of them probably pending identification. Although it is not common, they do occasionally transfer from one species to another, and this often gives rise to new emerging viral diseases. This appears to have occurred in the case of swine vesicular disease, an important swine disease caused by a human enterovirus which adapted to swine some 50 years ago (Zhang, G., D. T. Haydon, N. J. Knowles, and J. W. McCauley. 1999. Journal of General Virology 800:639–51).
Other enteric viruses, which are often found contaminating surface water, are reoviruses, in particular rotaviruses. Like enteroviruses, this virus group is very large. There are six known rotavirus antigen groups (groups A-F), infecting a wide range of species. Each group has its own preferences. For instance, group A viruses have been isolated in most of the mammal and bird species studied, group B viruses infect humans, pigs, cows, sheep and rats, group C infects pigs and rarely humans, and groups D and F are typical of birds, whereas group E is usually found in swine. They are stable in water and highly resistant to changes in temperature, pH and salinity. This carrier that contaminated water and the molluscs living in such water are important transmission carriers of these pathogens, both by their consumption and from contact when bathing or during other recreational activities (Bos, P., M. Kirsten, R. E. Cronje, and A. D. Steele. 1995. S Afr Med J 85:887–91., Bosch, A. 1998. Int Microbiol 1:191–6). Rotaviruses are highly variable, often giving rise to new reassortant variants when two different variants infect the same host. These natural reassortants, which can arise from different animal species, could play a role in the appearance of emerging human and animal diseases (Vonsover, A., I. Shif, I. Silberstein, H. Rudich, Y. Aboudy, E. Mendelson, L. Shulman, T. Nakagomi, and 0. Nakagomi. 1993. J Clin Microbiol 31:1783–7). Recently, Gratacap-Cavallier et al have detected human and bovine rotaviruses in potable water in the south-east of France, during an epidemic outbreak of viral diarrhoea in children (Gratacap-Cavallier, B., O. Genoulaz, K. Brengel-Pesce, H. Soule, P. Innocenti-Francillard, M. Bost, L. Gofti, D. Zmirou, and J. M. Seigneurin. 2000. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:2690–2). The co-detection of pathogenic human and animal viruses in potable water suggests a possible zoonosis in this outbreak, with water acting as the source of propagation.
Astrovirus infections are considered to be emerging viral diseases. Like other enteric viruses, they are transmitted in faeces/orally and are very persistent in aquatic media. Outbreaks are associated to the consumption of molluscs contaminated with waste water, and the intake of water contaminated by faeces. Besides in humans, astrovirus strains have been isolated from different animal species, including cows, sheep, swine, cats, dogs, ducks and turkeys (Abad, F. X., R. M. Pinto, C. Villena, R. Gajardo, and A. Bosch. 1997. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:3119–22. Chapron, C. D., N. A. Ballester, and A. B. Margolin. 2000. J Appl Microbiol 89:11–5).
Caliciviruses are well-known viral diarrhoea agents in many species, including humans, cats, pigs, cows and minks, and also in a large number of marine mammals, which apparently act as natural reserve stores (Smith, A. W., D. E. Skilling, N. Cherry, J. H. Mead, and D. O. Matson. 1998. Emerg Infect Dis 4:13–20., Smith, A. W., D. E. Skilling, and S. Ridgway. 1983. J Am Vet Med Assoc 183:1223–5). They are divided into five strains, of which four (Sapporo, Norwalk, hepatitis E and marine caliciviruses) are well-known pathogenic agents in humans. Many of these diseases can be considered cases of zoonosis, and species transfers are not uncommon, as can be seen with the swine disease known as swine vesicular exanthema, caused by a calicivirus that can not be distinguished from the San Miguel Sea Lion virus (Smith, A. W., D. E. Skilling, and S. Ridgway. 1983. J Am Vet Med Assoc 183:1223–5). Outbreaks of gastro-enteritis caused by caliciviruses are associated to the consumption of water contaminated with faecal waste and bathing in contaminated water (Lodder, W. J., J. Vinje, R. van De Heide, A. M. de Roda Husman, E. J. Leenen, and M. P. Koopmans. 1999. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:5624–7). Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that hepatitis E, caused by a virus that is closely liked to caliciviruses, could be of a zoonotic nature, because this virus is also pathogenic in several animal species, both domestic and wild, and it is found serologically in a growing number of animals, including pigs (Balayan, M. S. 1997. J Viral Hepat 4:155–65).
Finally, the adenovirus group, also a virus of between 60 and 90 nm with no membranous envelope, which makes it stable in ambient conditions, has a double DNA chain genome. Although this virus is not characteristic of gastrointestinal infections, it can have similar symptoms, such as gastro-enteritis, and be excreted in the faeces of infected individuals. It is often found contaminating water and molluscs (Pina, S., M. Puig, F. Lucena, J. Jofre, and R. Girones. 1998. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:3376–82).
Breakthroughs in molecular biology techniques have led to highly sensitive and specific RT-PCR protocols (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) with better performances than classical isolation methods for the detection of enteric viruses with an RNA genome such as enteroviruses. Besides being highly sensitive, RT-PCR reactions provides an ADN fragment that can be sequenced and used to typify the isolated virus. Detection generally uses specific RNA region indicators containing conserved motives shared by this group of viruses (Hyypia et al., 1989, J. Gen. Virol. 70:3261–3268; De León et al., 1990, Pro. 1990 Amer. Water Works Assoc. WQTC; Reynolds et al., 1996, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62:1424–1427; Puig et al., 1994, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:2963–2970; Schwab et al., 1995, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:531–537).

Method to identify environmental contamination by detecting enteric viruses

Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)


A length measuring instrument including a hollow profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and an end piece fixed on the hollow profile section for closure of the hollow profile section on an end of the hollow profile section. A scale is disposed inside the hollow profile section, wherein the scale includes a measurement graduation which can be scanned by a scanning unit that is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the hollow profile section. The length measuring instrument includes a sealing element on the end piece for sealing off the hollow profile section, wherein the sealing element has a cross-section that is at least extensively equivalent to an inside diameter of the hollow profile section. In addition, the sealing element rests sealingly so that a circumferential surface of the sealing element is on an inner face of the hollow profile section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a length measuring instrument.
2. Background Information
One such length measuring instrument is described for instance in European Patent Disclosure 0 418 212 A2. Such length measuring instruments are known as encapsulated length measuring instruments, and they serve to measure the position of two objects that are displaceable relative to one another. Encapsulated length measuring instruments are used especially in machining machines for measuring the relative motion of a tool relative to a workpiece that is to be machined.
The length measuring instrument known from European Patent Disclosure 0 418 212 A2 includes a hollow profile section, which protects a scale secured inside it from environmental factors. The face ends of the hollow profile section are each closed with an end piece, which is also embodied for mounting the hollow profile section on one of the objects to be measured. The end piece has an insert part, with which it plunges into the inside of the opening in the hollow profile section. A seal disposed on the end piece effects sealing between the end piece and the hollow profile section. For receiving the seal, there is a groove in the insert part.
Instead of a seal acting along the circumference, the concept of a butt seal is also employed in length measuring instruments. One example is found in German Patent Disclosure DE 34 12 879 A1. There, the face end of a hollow profile section that has a scale is closed by an end piece, and a seal is inserted between the face end of the hollow profile section and the end piece placed onto it.


A system and method for asynchronous triggering in a waveform generator comprising a DAC sample clock for generating DAC sample clock signal. The system includes a sequencer clock for generating a sequencer clock signal having a frequency of 1/N of the DAC sample clock. The system also includes an output data generator having I outputs to receive a waveform data stream of samples shifted into the data generator at the rate of the sequencer clock signal. An output multiplexer coupled receives samples from each of the I outputs of the output data generator and outputs the samples as a multiplexed data stream to the DAC. A triggering system receives an asynchronous trigger and splits the signal into an integer multiple M trigger inputs, each trigger input delayed by a DAC sample clock cycle. A shift controller determines a trigger position based on the trigger inputs and shifts a different waveform data stream into the data generator in accordance with the trigger position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to test and measurement systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for generating waveforms.
2. Description of Related Art
Arbitrary waveform generators (ARBs) are waveform generators that are capable of generating any arbitrary signal within the bandwidth of the generator. ARBs store digital descriptions of a signal in digital memory and play them out as analog signals. The digital descriptions are samples of data that are converted to analog signals using a digital-to-analog converter.
The amount of signal that can be stored in the memory space in a typical ARB is limited. For example, storing 10 G samples in a typical ARB generates only about 8 seconds of playtime. ARBs may include a sequencer to make more efficient use of the memory by playing the waveform repetitively in a loop.
Some ARBs use complex sequencers to control the playing of the waveform. Complex sequencers allow for waveforms to be played in nested loops to generate more sophisticated waveforms. One part of a signal may be a waveform stored in one part of memory to be played out in one loop, and another part of the signal may be a different waveform played out in a second loop nested in the first loop. When the nested loops are run by the sequencer, the varying output signal is generated as the combination of the waveforms.
The varying output signals are often produced in response to an externally applied trigger signal. It is desirable to have the output signal appear as soon as possible after the trigger is applied. However, the repeatability of this output latency for repeated trigger inputs is often more important than the latency itself.
To reduce the cost of memory and other digital electronics, most ARBs process the digital waveform data at a sub-multiple of the output sample rate. In many cases, the input trigger is latched with this lower speed clock. This gives rise to a larger output latency uncertainty, depending on when the trigger is received in relation to the lower rate clock.
Sequencers are typically implemented using programmable logic devices such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The FPGAs may employ a digital clock manager (DCM), which requires an uninterrupted clock signal. Since the trigger processing is performed in the FPGA at a lower clock rates, there is a relatively large uncertainty in when the trigger arrives. For example, a typical high-speed ARB might have a clock rate of 622 MHz. This is divided down (by 4) to 156 MHz for the main fabric of the FPGA. Hence, there is a trigger uncertainty of 1 FPGA clock period (6.4 ns) as to exactly when a trigger arrives before it is latched by the FPGA clock. With a complex sequencer, there are many actions that can be taken upon detection of a trigger, such as for example, starting a waveform or jumping to a new waveform.
One way to reduce the trigger uncertainty is to use a synchronous trigger. In the synchronous case, the trigger need only arrive some time during the FPGA clock period to achieve the desired triggered waveform. The user must be able to produce the synchronous trigger some time during the 6.4 ns window—with the expectation that the trigger will be acted upon on the next FPGA rising clock edge. Trigger uncertainties on the order of 1 ps (or less) can be achieved in this way. However many users cannot produce a synchronous trigger (which requires knowledge of the FPGA clock frequency and phase in the trigger generation circuitry. The user is also left with the relatively coarse granularity (6.4 ns) of the FPGA clock in setting when he wants the trigger to occur. Thus if the user is unable to employ the synchronous trigger, they are left with the relatively large FPGA clock (6.4 ns) uncertainty inherent with an asynchronous trigger.
Another way to reduce the asynchronous trigger uncertainty is to gate the sample clock. The sample clock (and FPGA clock) are disabled (gated) and the FPGA clock divider is reset. The waveform data is loaded into the FPGA. Using external high-speed logic (typically ECL) the clocks are gated on with a resolution of one Sample clock (1.6 ns in the case of a 622 MS/s DAC) and the predetermined waveform begins spooling out. This approach has the advantage of greatly reduced trigger latency uncertainty (4 times smaller, in this example) but suffers from several problems. First it can only be used to play a single waveform. Complex sequencing is not supported. Second more expensive and complex latch circuitry at the full sample rate is required. Finally, sequencer architectures that use complex FPGAs with DCMs do not support clock gating. Hence many of the features these FPGAs provide including advanced sequencing, reprogram ability, and smaller size without the time and expense of ASIC development are lost if clock gating is required.
There is a need for methods and systems for obtaining improved asynchronous timing resolution.

Systems and methods for asynchronous triggering of an arbitrary waveform generator


A composite material bicycle disc brake rotor is provided for a bicycle disc brake device and is designed to be mounted to a bicycle wheel hub directly or using a hub mounting member. The rotor basically includes a rotor member and a fastening member. The rotor member has a first ring-shaped member and a pair of second ring-shaped members disposed on opposite sides of the first member. The second members include a material with higher wear resistance than the first member. At least one fixing hole is formed through the first and second members and a depression is formed around the fixing hole on the surface of one of the second members. The fastening or tightening member is mounted through the fixing hole of the rotor member to fix the rotor member to another member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a disc brake rotor, which selectively contacts the brake pads of a bicycle disc brake caliper. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composite material bicycle disc brake rotor designed to be mounted to a bicycle wheel hub without deformation of the rotor during attachment.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One component that has been extensively redesigned is the bicycle brake device. In particular, in recent years, bicycles have been provided with disc braking devices in order to improve braking performance.
Bicycle disc brake devices are provided for controlling and stopping the relative rotation of the bicycle wheels. Each disc brake device typically includes a metal disc brake rotor that rotates in unison with one of the wheels, and disc brake calipers with brake pads that selectively contact the disc brake rotor and apply pressure thereto to apply a braking force. Typical disc brake devices can be fluid actuated (i.e. by fluid pressure) or cable (mechanically) actuated. In any case, the disc brake rotor includes a mounting member and a ring-shaped rotor member fixed to the mounting member. The mounting member is mountable to a hub of a bicycle wheel.
It is generally important to preserve the wear resistance of such disc brake devices to create more light-weight disc brake rotors with better heat dissipation. Particularly in the case of bicycles, which run on the use of human power, reducing the weight is one of the most important issues. A known example of a conventional disc brake rotor that is relatively light weight and has relatively good heat dissipation capability includes a rotor member that uses composite materials formed by laminating a stainless steel sheet to both sides of a core of aluminum or aluminum alloy. See, for example Japanese Patent 2679162.
Conventional rotor members involving the use of composite materials have a plurality of fixing holes. A flanged collar member involving the use of a zinc alloy material is mounted in the fixing holes.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle disc brake rotor. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A valve cover system is disclosed for use in a piston-and-cylinder type motor which includes a cylinder head assembly including a row of piston rods and valves operatively associated with respective rocker arms. A stud projects through each rocker arm and an adjusting nut is threaded on each stud for adjusting the position of the respective rocker arm. An elongated stud girdle extends along the row for unitarily locking the adjusting nuts together. At least one mounting post projects upwardly from the stud girdle. A valve cover is provided for covering the cylinder head assembly and is secured to the mounting post projecting from the stud girdle.

A typical piston-and-cylinder type motor generally includes a plurality of pistons/cylinders in one or more rows and including a cylinder head assembly. The cylinder head assembly includes a piston rod and at least one valve for each piston/cylinder, operatively associated with a respective rocker arm. A stud projects through each rocker arm, and an adjusting nut is threaded onto each stud for adjusting the position of the rocker arm.
Typically, an elongated valve cover encloses the cylinder head assembly and is secured to the cylinder head most commonly by one of two arrangements. First, the cover is provided with a peripheral flange or lip, and the cover is secured directly to the cylinder head by bolts or other fasteners extending through the peripheral flange. In some vehicles, the peripheral flange seats on top of a narrow rib projecting upwardly from the cylinder head, and the flange cannot be used to fasten the cover to the head, because the rib is too narrow for receiving the bolts or fasteners. In those instances, a second fastening system is used whereby bolts or studs project upwardly from the cylinder head between adjacent cylinders and through a top wall of the cover to, thereby, fasten the cover to the cylinder head.
In some engines or motors, a stud girdle is used to interlock the adjusting nuts for the rocker arms. A typical stud girdle is a two-part structure which is elongated and is used to clamp the adjusting nuts therebetween. The stud girdle locks all of the adjusting nuts together, prevents the nuts from rotating and also prevents an individual stud (to which the adjusting nuts are secured) from bending because all of the nuts are "unitized" by the stud girdle. Some engines or motors, including the engine blocks and cylinder heads, are fabricating of aluminum or an aluminum alloy material which can expand and contract considerably in response to heat variances. This can cause one or more of the adjusting nuts to become loose which, in turn, results in lost horsepower for the motor. The stud girdle locks the adjusting nuts and prevents such losses.
Unfortunately, when using a stud girdle, and when the valve cover cannot be secured to the cylinder head by means of the peripheral flange of the cover, there is no way to secure the cover to the cylinder head because the stud girdle forms a barrier for any bolts to extend upwardly from the cylinder head to the top wall of the cover. Consequently, in those types of engines, the use of a stud girdle is prevented and the considerable advantages thereof cannot be utilized.
The present is directed to solving these problems by providing a valve cover system in which the valve cover is mounted directly to the stud girdle.


A dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus easily attachable on a wind shield of the motor vehicle includes an antenna, a radio module, a data processing unit and others contained in a single box-like housing. The antenna (8) has directivity in a predetermined orientation. The radio module (10) performs transmission/reception of radio wave with road-side radio equipment through the antenna (8). The data processing unit (11) processes data transferred through the radio module (10). The box-like housing (4) houses the antenna (8), the radio module (10) and the data processing unit (11) en bloc. The box-like housing (4) is fixedly attached onto a windshield (3) of the motor vehicle at a mounting plate (4a) of the housing (4) on the antenna radiation side by an adhesive member (30). A radio wave aperture portion of the mounting plate (4a) is made of a radio wave transmissible material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a short-range communication system. In particular, in the dedicated short-range communication system, the present invention relates to a short-range communication apparatus which is destined to be mounted on a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus which can be mounted or stuck on a windshield of a motor vehicle by making a mounting plate of the on-vehicle apparatus on the side for radiation of antenna from a radio wave transmissible material while adjusting the directivity of the antenna.
2. Description of Related Art
The dedicated short-range communication system (i.e., system dedicated for short-range communicator, also referred to as DSRC system for short) is designed for performing radio communication only within a limited range on a road by making use of radio wave of a microwave band. In such system, radio communication is carried out between an on-road apparatus (i.e., short-range communication apparatus installed on a road) and an on-vehicle apparatus (i.e., a short-range communication apparatus installed on a motor vehicle) for the purpose of transferring various types of data with a view to realizing such services as toll collection, presentation of traffic information and others, profitably for the drivers of motor vehicles and managers who are in charge of controlling of roads, parking spaces and others.
As the systems designed for performing such short-range communication, there have been conceived various and numerous applications such as exemplified by toll collections at gas stations, drive-throughs and the like and presentation of traffic information as well as the electronic toll collection (ETC for short), needless to say.
In the dedicated short-range communication system mentioned above, a dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus is mounted on the motor vehicle, which apparatus is designed for conducting short-range communication with road-side radio equipment installed on the road side through the medium of radio wave.
In general, the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus employed in such dedicated short-range communication system is comprised of an antenna having the directivity in a predetermined direction, a radio module for performing transmission/reception of radio wave with road-side radio equipment through the antenna, and a data processing unit for processing the transmission/reception data transmitted/received by the radio module. As to the data processing unit among others, this unit has generally been combined integrally with a car navigation system installed in a dashboard of the motor vehicle in many applications. Of course, the motor vehicle must be then equipped with the car navigation system.
Heretofore, the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus has been installed on a dashboard of the motor vehicle. However, the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus mounted on the dashboard provides an obstacle to the view field. Besides, there exists a desire for making the dashboard aesthetically neat. For these reasons, there has been a demand for installing the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus at another position.
Under the circumstances, such arrangement of the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus has already been proposed that only the antenna or alternatively only the antenna and the radio module are mounted on the windshield of the motor vehicle. For more particular, reference may have to be made to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 297758/1996 (JP-A-H8-27758), pp. 2 to 3, FIG. 3.
Further, as to the orientation (direction) of the directivity (boresight direction) of the antenna in the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus, it is prescribed in the relevant mounting standards that the antenna should be directed with an angle of inclination in a range of 0 to 30 degrees (°) with reference to the forward direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the zenith direction is defined to be 0 degree with inclination in the forward direction being affixed with a sign "plus or +" while inclination in the backward direction is of a sign "minus or −".
In conjunction with the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus designed to be installed in combination with the car navigation system as mentioned previously, there has existed a demand for the apparatus of a unitary structure designed to realize only the functions of the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus so that the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus can also be employed in the motor vehicles which are not equipped with the car navigation system.
Certainly, the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus of the type designed to be mounted optionally on the motor vehicle which is not equipped with the car navigation system has been implemented in the unitary structure which can be installed to be mounted on the dashboard of the motor vehicle, which apparatus however involves a problem mentioned below.
Namely, in the case where the dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus destined to be installed on the dashboard of the motor vehicle is stuck on the windshield as it is so that the view field is not obstructed, then the orientation (direction) of directivity of the antenna will incline excessively in the forward direction of the motor vehicle, rendering the on-vehicle apparatus useless because inclination of the windshield of the motor vehicle (direction normal to the windshield, e.g. 50 degrees (°) when the windshield plane is vertical as in the case of a four-wheel drive vehicle) is usually within the range of 25 degrees to 50 degrees.

Dedicated short-range communication on-vehicle apparatus


An apparatus for diagnosing driving behavior includes a storage unit that stores ideal running information defining a relationship between a vehicle speed and a vehicle position corresponding to a road situation, a generation unit that generates actual running information expressing a relationship between an actual vehicle speed and an actual position when a vehicle passes through a road, a condition identification unit that identifies a matching condition where the degree of correlation of the actual running information with the ideal running information exceeds a predetermined value, and a diagnosis unit that diagnoses a driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle, based on a degree of similarity between the ideal running information and the actual running information under the matching condition identified in the condition identification unit.

In the past, there has been developed a method for objectively evaluating a driving behavior of a driver, based on actual measurement information relating to a running state of a vehicle passing through a road such as an intersection or a traffic crossing point, a railroad crossing, or a traffic circle. In other words, based on position information and vehicle speed information of the vehicle, the driving behavior of the driver is evaluated using a preliminarily set driving behavior rule.
For example, there has been known a technique for determining, based on the transition of a vehicle speed at the time of passing through an intersection, whether or not a vehicle has temporarily stopped at a temporary stop line or a brief stop line, a technique for determining whether or not driving at reduced speed has been performed in an intersection approach, or the like. Such a technique has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-328612. In addition, there also exists a technique where, in the case of evaluating such a driving behavior, a driver characteristic is multilaterally perceived by estimating the law-abiding tendency or the information collecting capability of a driver. Such a technique has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-46759. Evaluation results of driving behaviors, obtained through these methods, may be provided as, for example, information for alerting a driver, or may be utilized as information for offering advice on a driving operation or correcting a vehicle behavior.

Apparatus for diagnosing driving behavior, method for diagnosing driving behavior, and program thereof


An object of the present invention is to provide a safety cabinet that allows a clearer observation of contamination of an operation stage surface. In order to realize the object, the safety cabinet is configured to include an operation space including an operation stage; a front panel formed in a front surface of the operation space; an operation opening provided in a lower portion of the front panel; a suction port that is provided in the vicinity of the operation opening on a front side of the operation stage to lead downward; and an air circulation path through which air suctioned from the suction port flows along a lower portion, a back surface, and an upper portion of the operation space, in which the operation stage is made of a transparent material, and a light source is provided to irradiate the operation stage with a light from a side of the operation stage, which is opposite to the operation space.

In the related art, in the fields of industries such as medicine and pharmaceuticals, a safety cabinet is used as a countermeasure against biohazards. In the safety cabinet, an air barrier is provided and an operation is performed in a partitioned space including an opening portion in a part thereof, and thus the safety cabinet has the isolation capability to be able to protect specimen from sundry bacteria from outside.
Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose the background art of the technical field. Patent Document 1 discloses a safety cabinet that includes an open duct including a coupling portion connected to an exhaust port of the safety cabinet, an opening portion which is different from the coupling portion and into which air flows, and an exhaust duct. The safety cabinet includes a differential pressure sensor that detects a difference between a pressure in a space where the open duct is disposed and a pressure in the open duct, and detection means for outputting detection signal when an absolute value of the differential pressure sensor is a predetermined threshold value or less. In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique where see-through windows are provided in a part of a back wall or a side wall of an operation space of the safety cabinet and a part of a main body rear wall or a main body side wall of the safety cabinet which is separated from the back wall or the side wall by a circulation flow path, to allow an operator to see through both walls, a display device is installed in an outside portion of the see-through window, and the operator inserts the arms from a front opening portion of the safety cabinet perform an operation while seeing the operation space from a front shutter.

Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.


A hat for enhancing visual acquisition of a wearer, comprising a bowl portion for fitting the head of the wearer; a brim portion attached to the bowl portion and extending from the bowl portion; and a first rechargeable glowing portion affixed to at least one of the bowl portion and the brim portion for emitting light energy. More than one rechargeable glowing portions may be added to the hat in various areas as desired. The invention could be alternatively described as a method of enhancing the visual acquisition of a hatted person, comprising the steps of: (a)attaching a rechargeable glowing material to a hat; (b)charging the rechargeable glowing material by placing the hat near a light source; (c)removing the hat from the light source; and (d)wearing the hat away from the light source, so that the rechargeable glowing material gives off light.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to a hat that is worn by a wearer, as well as a method of making the hat. More particularly, this invention pertains to a hat having one or more glowing (also called xe2x80x9cphotoluminescentxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cglow in the darkxe2x80x9d) portions that are sewn or otherwise attached to the hat for increasing the visibility of wearer, especially in low-light conditions. The hat as described herein may also be worn as a novelty item to increase the enjoyment of the wearer.
Hats have traditionally been worn for various purposes. Some hats are worn for protection from the sun or other elements, while others are worn purely for enjoyment. Still other people wear a hat while jogging or exercising. Whatever the reason, hats can be found being worn with great frequency in public.
Particularly in the case where one is jogging at night, the risk of not being seen by motorists and others exists. In such cases, the probability of an accident is increased. What is needed, then, is a hat that will increase the visibility of a wearer in low-lighting conditions. Additionally, what is needed is a hat that will raise the level of enjoyment of the wearer while wearing the hat.
The invention is a hat that increases the visibility of a wearer by incorporating one or more strips of photoluminescent material into the hat. Enhancement of the hat as described herein will also increase the enjoyment of the wearer as a novelty.
The hat of the invention is similar to most baseball caps in that it has a bowl that fits over the skull of the wearer and a bill that extends from the bowl. The novel and distinguishing feature of the hat of the invention is that one or more areas of the hat incorporate a photoluminescent material that has the capability of absorbing energy from a light source, then giving off that energy as a glowing light over a period of time. This giving-off of light is most striking and notable when the hat is worn in darkened conditions. The photoluminescent material could be attached to different portions of the hat, as desired, and more than one area could be so adorned.
The giving off of light in darkened conditions aids in visual acquisition of the wearer, which could increase the safety of the wearer by enabling automobile drivers and others to see and avoid the wearer. Also, wearing the hat of the invention would increase the enjoyment of the wearer as a novelty item in that such a hat would be a conversation piece.
The invention also is described herein as a method of enhancing the visual acquisition of a hatted person by attaching a rechargeable glowing material to a hat, charging the rechargeable glowing material by subjecting the hat to a light source, removing the hat from the light source, and wearing the hat away from the light source, so that the rechargeable glowing portion gives off light.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hat that increases the visibility of the wearer.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hat having photoluminescent material attached for increasing the wearing enjoyment of the wearer.
In addition to the foregoing, further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention should become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, wherein there are shown and described illustrated embodiments of the invention.


A method of producing volume renderings from magnetic resonance image data in real time with user interactivity. The method comprises collecting raw magnetic resonance image (MRI) data representative of shapes within an image volume; transferring the raw MRI data to a computer; and continuously producing volume renderings from the raw MRI data in real time with respect to the act of collecting raw MRI data representative of shapes within the image volume.

It is a common procedure for a caregiver to make an image of a patient's body while either planning or performing a surgical procedure. One type of image that is particularly useful is a volume rendering produced from magnetic resonance image (MRI) data, which enables a caregiver to achieve a greater understanding of anatomical shapes and motion. Examples of procedures for using an MRI include angiography for identifying vascular disease, or locating abnormal tissue for possible surgical resection.
A problem with current methods of generating volume renderings from MRI data, however, is that generation of the renderings is slow. In some methods, the MRI scanner generates data for a series of parallel two-dimensional image slices and downloads them to a computer. The computer stores this data and then creates a volume rendering from the two dimensional slices. One of the problems with this technique is that the volume is rendered off line and thus there is a substantial latency between the time the data is gathered and the time the volume is rendered.
This latency is acceptable for some diagnostic procedures such as an examination to locate and identify abnormal tissue such as cancerous tumors. However, this latency can cause problems in other procedures such as surgical procedures or interventions. An example of such a problem is misregistration between the image and the patient's actual anatomy. Misregistration can occur because of a variety of events such as surgical manipulation or movement of the patient's muscles through normal contraction and relaxation.
One technique to reduce the latency of the volume renderings is to speed up the rendering process itself. This improves user interactivity, such as rotating or translating. It is often referred to as "real-time volume rendering," but neglects the fact that the image data itself is not real-time, and could have been acquired well before the rendering takes place. Hence, it is not real-time with respect to when the MRI data was acquired.
In other techniques, real-time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been achieved, but only when displaying two-dimensional images. These two-dimensional techniques often employ a thin slice to visualize structures in fine detail. However, when manipulating an interventional device, such as a catheter, the tip of the device will frequently move out of the imaging plane as it travels through a patient's body. At this point, the device tip is no longer visible. One way to work around this problem is to continually adjust the position of the imaging plane to include the catheter tip. The caregiver can manually make this adjustment on the computer while viewing the image, but has to continuously and manually adjust the image plane, which is inconvenient and increases the risk of error.
Another way to work around the problem of the catheter tip leaving the image plane is to use a technique called active tip tracking, where a device determines the coordinates of the catheter tip and automatically adjusts the scan plane. However, active tip tracking requires a more complicated catheter design and additional computer hardware or software resources. Not only does this technique increase the complexity and cost of the equipment required for both the catheterization procedure and the MRI system, it can result in a degradation of the image quality if not designed properly.

Real-time, interactive volumetric magnetic resonance imaging

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


The invention relates to a composition [composition (C)] comprising a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) polymer [polymer (P)] and selected metal oxides in specific amounts. Composition (C) can be advantageously used for the manufacture of sterilizable shaped articles.

Different methods of sterilization are available on the market for the elimination of transmissible agents such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. They are usually classified under heat, chemical or radiation sterilization processes. Among them, the high temperature steam sterilization and the low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization methods are widely used today in the medical field.
The hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization method, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,876 (SURGIKOS INC [US]), exploits the synergism between hydrogen peroxide and low temperature gas plasma, thereby allowing effective sterilization at about 50° C., which is significantly lower than that achieved in high temperature autoclave sterilization. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization represents a valuable alternative to autoclave sterilization of medical articles comprising parts or devices (e.g. electronic or optical parts or devices) that do not withstand high temperatures or high moisture environments.
In the hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization method, a medical article to be sterilized is placed into a closed plasma chamber wherein vacuum is applied and a solution of hydrogen peroxide is injected at a sufficient pressure to allow contact between the solution and the article. Thereafter, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma is generated for a time allowing complete sterilization.
The advantage of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization is that sterilization is completed in a relative short time, so the articles can be subjected to more sterilization cycles; however, due to the harsh oxidizing power of hydrogen peroxide and to the fact that an ionized acidic vapor is formed, certain articles, especially plastic articles, undergo deterioration of their properties and appearance. For example, commercially available articles made from polyphenyl sulfones (PPSU) compositions have an outstanding resistance to steam sterilization but a low resistance to hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization: their color turns to orange and a slight decrease in the molecular weight of the (PPSU) is observed after a high number of cycles.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,501,291 (SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V) discloses a sterilized article comprising a hydrogen peroxide plasma or hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilized polymer composition, the polymer composition comprising:                from 20 to 80 weight percent of a polyphenylene ether sulfone; and        from 20 to 80 weight percent of a polyetherimide.
When sterilized with a hydrogen peroxide plasma, or hydrogen peroxide vapor, the articles are said to have surprisingly improved resistance to changes in color and clarity, as well as resistance to loss of mechanical properties with respect to compositions comprising only a polyphenylene ether sulfone.
The polyphenylene ether sulfone/polyetherimide composition may include several optional ingredients, among them fillers or reinforcing agents (col. 11, lines 48-49); titanium dioxide (TiO2), aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide are cited in the description as examples of fillers or reinforcing agents (col. 11, lines 55-56). In the compositions of the examples, only TiO2 is used.
Other patent documents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,400 (AMOCO CORP) (herein after "US '400"), US 2008064801 (SOLVAY ADVANCED POLYMERS LLC) (herein after "'US '801"), US 20080206536 (SOLVAY ADVANCED POLYMERS), US 2009048379 (SOLVAY ADVANCED POLYMERS LLC) (herein after "US '379") and WO 2014/170255 (SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS USA) (herein after "WO '255") disclose polymer compositions comprising poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) and metal oxides. In particular, US '801 and US '379 mention, inter alia, MgO and US '801 further mentions CaO; nevertheless, none of such documents recognizes or addresses the problem of increasing the resistance of compositions made from poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) to sterilization, in particular the problem of avoiding discoloration, and none of such documents provides hints or suggestions to the selection of a particular oxide in order to solve such problem.
Therefore, there is currently a great need on the market to find polymer compositions that withstand the harsh environments of both the high temperature steam sterilization and the low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization methods.

Polymer composition and sterilizable articles obtainable therefrom


The puncture closure for closing a blood vessel with a puncture, in particular an artery, a vein short circuited with an artery, a shunt or a prosthesis, etc. has a pressure chamber in which an overpressure may be created, provided with an opening for receiving a pressure medium and fastenable to the body in the area of the puncture. The part of the pressure chamber that faces the body is extensible. In order to create a puncture closure that reliably closes the puncture of a blood vessel without too much blood loss, without forming significant hematomas nor completely collapsing the blood vessel, the opening for receiving the pressure medium is located above a piercing channel of the puncture hole and the blood that flows out of the blood vessel is used as a pressure medium.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a puncture closure for closing a puncture of a blood vessel, particularly of an artery, a vein short circuited with an artery, a shunt or a prosthesis and the like being under arterial pressure, this puncture closure has a pressure chamber, which can be loaded with excess pressure, as well as an opening for receiving the pressure medium and can be fastened onto the body in the vicinity of the puncture, whereas the body facing part of the pressure chamber is extensible.
Blood vessels within the scope of the present invention are all arterial vessels, i.e. all vessels leading away from the heart or vessels being under arterial pressure (133,322-266,644 mbar). Thus veins short circuited with an artery, and prosthesis connected to arteries (interpositions or shunts) fall within this denomination, since with all these vessels the problem of closing the wound after medical intervention occurs.
In many invasive interventions in human and animal bodies the physician needs to gain access to an artery or an arterial vessel. Such invasive interventions are for example catheter examinations of any kind, like arteriographies at the heart, in the brain and so on by means of X-ray (roentgen) contrast medium injected into an artery; balloon dilatations or millings of arteries; thrombectomies; functional examinations of the left heart or bringing drugs to defined blood irrigated areas, like for example to the coronary arteries for lysis.
Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis are equally concerned, since, in order to clean the blood outside the body, an easily accessible arterialized vessel has been operatively provided. For example, this vessel can be a vein of the patient itself or an inserted plastic tube short circuited with the artery (shunt).
After each blood cleansing procedure, that means several times a week the same problem occurs, since the aspirated shunt is difficult to close.
The blood is pressed with a pressure of 133,322-266,644 mbar through the puncture of the vascular wall into the open air or into the tissue surrounding the artery. Due to the relatively high pressure in the artery, a lot of blood gets lost in a very short period of time and undesirable hematomae can arise in the surrounding tissues.
Loss of blood and hematomae are absolutely to be avoided. Up to now this has been achieved by exerting an adequate pressure onto the artery or the arterial vessel with the finger.
This pressure can be adjusted individually according to the blood pressure in the vessel and to the depth and consistency of the covering tissue. It varies interindividually (from one patient to another) and intraindividually (depending on changes in the blood pressure, especially on dropping of the blood pressure of one specific patient) and has to be continuously controlled and adjusted.
If the pressure exerted is to weak, a hematomae of considerable dimensions having several liters can occur, may cause serious consequences. A few consequences which have to be avoided are quoted below by way of example: hemodynamic difficulties, i.e. blood circulation problems occuring when the remaining, intravascular blood volume cannot compensate the blood loss any more; compartment syndromes, i.e. compression of important structures (nerves, shunt) by the hematoma (or by the pressure of an additionally developing edema), the compression destroying these structures; local sterile inflammatory responses during resorption and organization (tissue reconstruction) of the hematoma; infection of the hematoma; and possibly the necessity to remove operatively the hematoma with further risks like infection, abscess, secondary wound healing, and so on.
On the other hand, the exerted pressure should not be too strong, since in that case, the blood vessel would completely collapse. Possible consequences of a too strong pressure are disturbances of the blood supply in subsequent structures (e.g. in a leg and so on) with its possible irreversible loss due to the ischemic tissue damage or, particularly with dialysis patients, shunt occlusion due to thrombogenesis following hemostasis.
2. Description of Related Art including information Disclosed Under 37 CFR .sctn. 1.97-1.99
Due to the serious complications involved, inaccurate systems of puncture closure like clamps or circular tourniquets and so on could not find acceptance. The same applies to the puncture closures proposed in the EP 0 554 602 and EP 0 514 026. These puncture closures have a pressure chamber fastened onto the body by means of a surrounding tape and inflated with air pressure. The expansion of the pressure chamber generates a pressure onto the tissue surrounding the puncture closure. Herewith the manually exerted pressure is simply replaced by a pressure bandage, whereas the above mentioned problems of an accurate adjustment to the momentaneous situation still remain.
That is why the pressure is still exerted with the finger, since, thanks to the tactile sense, pressure can be individually varied and adjusted.
But often the patient is not able to exert this pressure with his finger. A debilitation within the frame of the basic disease, a sedation because of the completed examination or the lack of experience are making it impossible for the patient to execute by himself the above mentioned activity.
This means that the nursing or the medical staff has to take on the job of doing it, so that a considerable period of time, namely between 10 and 60 minutes, is blocked for this activity.
This requires a lot of time from the nursing and the medical staff and for the bearer it is expensive and inefficient. Moreover, the above mentioned complications prove that the best solution used up to now is not yet good enough.


The present invention is a puncture apparatus with an automatic puncture function, that includes: a hollow needle tube; a flexible sheath having the needle tube inserted therethrough; a main body having one of the ends of the sheath fixed thereto; a slider attached to the main body, the slider being capable of sliding in an axial direction relative to the main body; a needle tube-maneuvering section, attached to the slider, capable of sliding in an axial direction relative to the slider, the needle tube-maneuvering section having an end section of the needle tube fixed thereto; a retraction state-maintaining member for maintaining the needle tube-maneuvering section in the retracted state toward a proximal end; an urging member, provided in the needle tube-maneuvering section, for urging a retracted state of the needle tube-maneuvering section toward the distal end; an operation section for resetting the operation of the retraction state-maintaining member; releasing the ejection force; and projecting the needle tube-maneuvering section toward the distal end; and an unintentional operation preventive member, provided to the slider, for holding the operation section in an non-operating state, wherein the non-operating state of the operation section held by the unintentional operation preventive member can be reset only when the distal end of the needle tube is exposed by sliding the slider to a predetermined position relative to the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a puncture apparatus having an automatic puncture function used for endoscopic insertion.
2. Background Art
In conventionally known puncture apparatuses having automatic puncture function using a hollow needle for removing tissue for autopsy, high speed movement of the needle provided by accumulating an ejection force in an automatic puncture mechanism having a spring, etc. and discharging the accumulated force all at once to enable automatic puncture in a case where puncture to a stiffened object tissue is difficult due to fibrosis.
The object tissue may be damaged if the automatic puncture mechanism providing high speed and powerful puncture is unintentionally activated. Known puncture apparatuses proposed for preventing this are provided with a protection cover that covers an operation switch for activating the automatic puncture mechanism (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-68732).
However, the operation switch can be exposed by opening the protection cover prior to a manual puncture of the puncture apparatus disclosed by the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2007-68732. Therefore, an unintentional activation of the automatic puncture function cannot be prevented if an endoscopist conducts therapeutic operation while opening the protection cover.

Puncture apparatus with automatic puncture function


Systems and methods for computer system data backup. A computer system includes an application server operating on a first host and a backup application configured to create new target database images for a sequence of backup datasets. The backup datasets include data from source databases associated with the application server. At least one of the source databases is hosted on a remote source host separate from the first host. The computer system includes a client registered with the application server and installed on a backup host. The client stores a seed document in each of the new target database images and modifies each seed document to specify which portions of a backup dataset in the sequence are to be stored in each new target database image. The backup application updates each new target database image based on the contents of a seed document.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to backup and restoration of data within computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an increasing need for organizations to protect data that is associated with a variety of applications via some type of backup mechanism. For example, popular email and collaboration servers such as Microsoft Exchange® and IBM® Lotus® Domino® have associated data that may be critical to an organization's operation. Data associated with these servers may be stored in one or more databases along with application-specific metadata. One approach to protecting data associated with these servers is to save an image of the database. Such an approach may be less than satisfactory because the data's associated application may not be able to readily recognize the saved image and associated metadata needed to properly access the data from within the application. It is often necessary to backup metadata that captures the context of the data as well as the data itself. In addition, it may be necessary to store the data context in order to enable restoration of selected portions of an application's data. Such restorations may be referred to as granular recovery.
Generally speaking, application servers provide various backup facilities such as APIs through which to backup data and associated metadata. Unfortunately, the capabilities of these APIs and similar mechanisms may be limited. For example, the Domino® server product provides a backup API that can be called locally by a backup agent in order to backup data and metadata stored in the server's Notes Storage Facility (NSF) format. The Domino® server product requires that the agent be installed on the same host as the application server and its local NSF database. However, the Domino® product also allows data to be stored remotely in other databases, such as in a remote installation of IBM's database management system DB2, also know as NSFDB2. Unfortunately, to use the backup APIs for these remote databases, additional agents must be installed on each remote host. Making a backup of such complex configurations involves obtaining authority to access the backup APIs in multiple locations as well as coordination among multiple backup agents.
In addition to the above considerations, additional limitations may be imposed when an incremental backup is attempted. In order to produce an incremental backup, backup applications may require that the targeted application server be configured to perform archive logging in order to provide the information needed to determine what data qualifies for a given incremental backup. Unfortunately, archive logging may cause poor performance. As a result, archive logging may be unsuitable for various applications.
In view of the above, an effective system and method for allowing both full and incremental backups and granular recovery to be performed on both local and remote databases is desired.

Incremental backup of database for non-archive logged servers


[Problem]

A light source unit of such type is conventionally known (for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2). Hereinafter, a conventional light source unit will be described. The conventional light source unit is provided with: a light emitting diode; and a coolant for cooling the light emitting diode, the coolant being formed as an aluminum die cast portion.

Vehicular lighting instrument semiconductor light source light source unit and vehicular lighting instrument

Abstract: [Problem]

Abstract: To attain weight saving or the like of a light source unit.

Abstract: [Means for Solving the Problem]

Abstract: The present invention includes a light source portion 10 and a socket portion 11. The socket portion 11 is an integrated structural part which is composed of an insulation member 7, a thermo conductive resin member 8, and electric power feeding members 91 to 93. As a result, according to the present invention, the thermo conductive resin member 8 is used as a heat radiation member to radiate to the outside a heat which is generated at the light source portion 10 and thus it is possible to save the weight of the light source unit 1, save manufacturing costs, and improve durability of a die in comparison with that of a conventional die cast.