In a method to modify the chemistry of a portion of the surface of an article, the surface is placed adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber, the distance to the wall of the chamber being at least five times the size of the electrode. A plasma of very high power density is generated in a discharge volume surrounding the electrode so that the surface area closest to the electrode receives a very intense plasma which diminishes with increasing distance from the discharge volume thus forming a chemical gradient on the article surface. The preferred article is a tube having one closed end, and the gradient may be formed from either the closed end or the open end. The gradient may be of decreasing glass-like character or decreasing plastic like character.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical devices and more particularly relates to a process for modifying the chemistry of a particular region of the surface of the device.
2. Background
Blood samples are routinely taken in evacuated tubes, such as glass VACUTAINER.TM. tubes (Becton Dickinson and Company). One end of a double-ended needle is inserted into a patient's vein. The other end of the needle then punctures a septum covering the open end of the VACUTAINER.TM. tube so that the vacuum in the tube draws the blood sample through the needle into the tube. Using this technique a plurality of samples can be taken using a single needle puncture of the skin.
Plastic tubes have also been proposed for blood collection. Plastic offers a number of advantages such as lower breakage than glass tubes, less weight in shipment, and easier disposal by incineration.
During sample collection, the blood comes into contact with the interior surface of the collection tube. The nature of the blood surface interaction is complex. For example, the blood clotting cascade is activated by contact of the blood with a wettable glass surface and the formed clot does not adhere to the glass, making it easy to separate clot from blood plasma by centrifugation. However, because the clot is non adherent, it is subject to resuspension in part or whole into the plasma layer during handling or transportation. Thus, in glass tubes, the same surface properties that lead to easy separation of clot from the serum also allow the clot to move freely in the tube.
Plastic tubes generally have a nonwettable surface and do not activate the clotting process efficiently. Clots formed in these tubes may be quite gelatinous relative to those in glass. These gelatinous clots adhere tenaciously to plastic surfaces and do not allow for clean separation of serum from clot in conventional hematological centrifuges. However, the adherent clot is not easily disrupted by ordinary handling procedures. Thus, although plastic surfaces do not cleanly separate serum from clot, the adhesion of the clot to the plastic surface and its mechanical stability is a positive feature not available in glass tubes.
Thus, the ideal blood collection tube for serum separation would exhibit both glass-like and plastic like surface activity. In the present disclosure, the term glass-like is used to describe a surface which is substantially wettable by aqueous liquids, which initiates clot formation and which is non-adherent to the formed clot. The term plastic-like is used to describe a surface which is substantially nonwettable by aqueous liquids, which does not initiate clot formation to any significant degree, but which is highly adherent to clot material.
Various methods have been proposed for modification of glass and plastic surfaces. In one method, plastic surfaces are coated with a detergent material to render them more glass-like. This approach has the disadvantage of adding a soluble foreign material which contaminates the serum and may interfere with subsequent blood analysis. Another approach has been to treat surfaces with a gas plasma to modify either the hydrophilic or hydrophobic character of the surfaces. In these approaches, the entire interior surface of the tube is substantially modified to interconvert glass-like and plastic-like surfaces.
Formation of a hydrophobicity gradient on a polydimethylsiloxane film is taught by Golander et al. in Biomaterials 11,32 (1990). The film surface is exposed to an oxygen plasma generated in a planar diode system for various lengths of time as regulated by a cover movably positioned between the plasma and the polymeric surface.
Wettability gradients are formed on silicon plates by Elwing et al. in Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 32,317 (1990). The gradients are formed by diffusion-induced silylation using dichlorodimethyl silane.
There is need in the art of blood collection for a tube which promotes clot formation, permits clean separation of clot from serum and enhances strong adherence of the formed clot to minimize mechanical remixing of clot material with serum.

Tube having regions of different surface chemistry and method therefor


A label holder made from a single piece of molded plastic with an area of reduced thickness (i.e., a living hinge) dividing the single piece into a back panel and a transparent front panel. The back panel has an area into which a label is placed. By applying finger pressure to the front panel, the holder can be closed along the living hinge until the front and back panels contact each other. Each locking tab on a panel interlocks with a corresponding free edge on the other panel and locking the label in a sandwiched condition. A release lip on the front panel facilitates unlocking and opening of the holder by similar finger pressure. The back panel has attachment means allowing easy insertion into any surface adapted with appropriate receiving means. Once connected, the holder is securely attached to the surface, while at the same time being easily removeable for quick and simple replacement.

This invention relates to label holders for use on drawers, doors, walls and the like. In particular, this invention relates to label holders used on the fronts of medication dispensing drawers or on the doors and walls of extended care facilities (i.e., nursing homes), hospitals and the like. However, it is understood that this invention has applications in other areas besides the health care industry.
Typical label holders have a picture frame-like structure which is permanently attached to or formed as an integral part of the outer front surface of such drawers. A label is usually inserted into such holders through either a slot along an outer edge of the frame or the label is flexed and inserted through the frame opening itself, with the information on the label being viewable through the picture frame opening. A drawback to this type of label holder has been that the surface of the label is not protected from such things as spilled liquid or contact with solid objects which could damage the label and obliterate the information thereon. The label could also be forced or fall out of the holder through the slot by brushing up against it or tipping the holder at an angle. This problem could be reduced by making the dimensions of the slot very close to the cross section of the label; however, the tighter the fit the more difficult it becomes to insert and remove the label. In addition, the label holding area in these type holders is not accessible to cleaning which can create an infectious control problem and a potential health hazard.
Clear plastic sheets have been inserted into the frame in front of the label in an effort to protect the label. This improvement provided protection from direct contact by solid objects and some protection against spilled liquids; however, a spilled liquid could not only enter the holder through the slot but also along the inside periphery of the frame. Seepage through the frame's inside periphery could be decreased by making the sheet and label fit tighter behind the frame. However, as previously discussed, the tighter the sheet and label fit behind the frame the more difficult it will be to insert and remove both, and the problem of inaccessibility to cleaning still remains.
In an attempt to protect the label, the frame type holder was modified by bonding the clear plastic sheet onto the frame in front of the label. Utilization of the cover sheet in this manner afforded additional protection against spilled liquids, except through the slot. However, with time the sheet becomes scuffed up or dirt accumulates behind it, due to its inaccessibility to cleaning, to the point of preventing a clear view of the label. In addition, the sheets often break off from the frame, leaving the user of the holder with little if any recourse because of the permanent nature of the holder.
Another holder, used to hold identification labels onto medication dispensing drawers, trays, shelves and the like, is formed from a single piece of transparent plastic which is extruded into a J shape, with the label being seated within the well formed by the J cross-section. This holder is typically glued to the subject surface. Such label holders exhibit the same type of problems as previously discussed.
Still another label holder, typically used to hold personnel identification cards, is formed from a single sheet of transparent plastic folded at two points along its length and closable like a matchbook cover, with attachment by means such as an open loop/pin combination. While this holder can tend to sandwich the subject label within the folded plastic sheet, there is still little protection from spilled liquids entering through the open sides and there is no structural means for preventing the label from falling out of either open side of the holder.


A mail collection point-of-use for and method of preventing detected hazardous materials within a mail collection point-of-use from contaminating components of subsequent mail delivery system processes. The mail collection point-of-use comprises a mail drop unit having an opening for receiving customer-deposited mail, a mail receptacle for accumulating received mail, an enclosure coupled to the mail drop unit and containing the mail receptacle and having a door that seals an opening large enough to permit removal of the mail receptacle, a detector inside the enclosure, which generates a detection signal upon detection of airborne hazardous material, and an indicator outside the enclosure for indicating the detection of hazardous material. By indicating the detection of hazardous materials within the mail collection point-of-use before removing the mail receptacle and its contaminated mail, the further spread of the hazardous materials in a mail delivery system may be prevented.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a mail collection point-of-use for reducing the spread of hazardous materials deposited in a mail collection point-of-use to processing equipment in a mail delivery system. In particular, they relate to a mail receptacle which reduces the force of impact experienced by deposited mail, and a mail collection point-of-use which provides an indication of the detection of hazardous materials within it, prior to the removal from the point-of-use of a mail receptacle and its contaminated mail.
2. Description of Related Art
Standard postal points-of-use include the familiar curbside mail collection boxes. They also include the PS 1814 face plate drop unit and 1577 letter drop units in the wall of a lobby of a post office or other building. Points-of-use installed in the wall have corresponding mail receptacles on the opposite side of the wall in a workroom, where the process of mail delivery begins with sortation. A curbside mail collection point-of-use has a mail receptacle within it.
Mail deposited into a postal point-of-use slides and falls from the point of deposit to a landing place, which, in an empty mail receptacle, is the bottom of the mail receptacle. The bottom of the mail receptacle is approximately a meter below the point of deposit. The force of impact with which the mail hits the bottom of the mail receptacle can cause any powdery substance within the mail to escape through openings or porous surfaces into the air. Moreover, as additional mail is deposited on top of the deposited contaminated mail, the contaminated mail becomes compressed, which can force more powdery hazardous material into the air.
In mail receptacles accumulating mail from building lobbies, the mail receptacle has an open top. Thus the air in and near the mail receptacle is not isolated from the rest of the work area containing the mail receptacle. With all types of mail collection points-of-use, a mail handling employee regularly checks to see when the mail receptacle is full. The employee removes the full mail receptacle and places an empty one in its place to accumulate newly deposited mail by customers. The full mail receptacle is taken to the next mail delivery processing equipment. During that subsequent mail processing step of sorting, the pieces of mail are compressed further, enabling any powdery hazardous material contained in the mail to escape the mail through openings or porous surfaces and contaminate the surrounding air and equipment. Contamination of the air and equipment places mail handling employees at risk of exposure to hazardous materials. There is a need to prevent contamination of the air in the work area and the spread of hazardous materials to further mail processing equipment.
Events of 2001 involving anthrax pointed out the need for early detection of hazardous materials in mail or otherwise placed in the mail delivery system for health and successful investigation of the perpetrators, and preferably prior to the mail reaching automated equipment which spread the anthrax within the postal service work areas.

Hazardous material mail collection point-of-use


Techniques regarding resetting highly excited qubits are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a memory that can store computer executable components. The system can also comprise a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and that can execute the computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can comprise a reset component that can de-excite a qubit system to a target state by transitioning a population of a first excited state of the qubit system to a ground state and by applying a signal to the qubit system that transitions a population of a second excited state to the first excited state.

The subject disclosure relates to resetting qubits from excited states, and more specifically, to conditionally or unconditionally resetting qubits from excited states that can include states higher than a first excited energy level.
Quantum computers can encode information in one or more quantum bits ("qubits") via quantized excitations of a degree of freedom in superconducting devices. Qubits are prepared in a known state of excitation before circuits can be applied to them. Also, in some architectures qubits can be recycled throughout a quantum computation. A process by which qubits are initialized to a known state with high fidelity can be referred to as a "reset" of the qubits.
Qubits can be reset to the known state, for example a ground state, via passive or active preparation. For instance, a qubit reset can be passively achieved by waiting a sufficient amount of time after the last circuit of the quantum computer has run in order for the energy relaxation to return the qubit from its excited state to the target state (e.g., a ground state). To maintain high fidelity, it is traditionally necessary to consider various decay time constants; thereby limiting the throughput of the quantum computer. In another instance, a qubit reset can be actively achieved applying one or more signals to de-excite the qubit. Further, an active reset can be conditional, wherein the state of the qubit is initially interrogated, or unconditional, wherein the reset is initiated without interrogating the current state of the qubit.
A narrow range of qubit excited states is generally desired for quantum computations (e.g., a ground state and a first energy state). However, there is a finite probability that during operation qubits can unintentionally transition to higher excited states (e.g., a second energy state, a third energy state, etc.); thereby causing an error on the circuit. If the qubit does not return to the ground state before the next circuit is started, the next circuit will then be affected by the error from the previous circuit rather than the desired result of being independent. Additionally, some circuits can intentionally transition the qubit to a higher level state, which will need to be returned to the ground state before the next circuit can be run. Traditional reset procedures are unable to efficiently and/or effectively reset a qubit regardless of the qubit's excited state; particularly when the qubit is being reset from one or more higher excited states. Further, some operations, such as the measurement of transmons, can excite the qubit to the higher excited states.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In an RF access control system, a method for establishing a reliable RF signal link between points of the RF access control system. A first RF signal from a first point of the system is transmitted to a second point of the system at a first RF power level that is below a second RF power level used during normal operation of the RF access control system. Once the second point acknowledges the RF signal from the first point, then a pre-determined number of RF packets are transmitted and received back and forth between the first point and the second point at the first RF power level. An RF packet error count is generated in response to the transmitting and receiving of the pre-determined number of RF packets. If this error count is below a certain threshold value, then an indication is provided to an installer of the RF access control system of an RF channel number to be used by the RF access control system during normal operation.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to an RF access control system for controlling access to an access point. More specifically, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for establishing a reliable wireless link between two components of the wireless access control system.
A wireless access control system may provide several advantages over a traditional, wire-based access control system. In a traditional, wired access control system, each access point, such as a door, for example, is equipped with a locking module to secure the access point. Each locking module is in turn directly wired to a remote access control module. The access control module is typically a database that compares a signal received from the locking module to a stored signal in the database in order to determine an access decision for that locking module. Once the access decision has been determined by the access control module, the decision is relayed to the locking module through the wired connection.
The use of wired connections between the access control module and the locking module necessitates a large investment of time and expense in purchasing and installing the wires. For example, for larger installations, literally miles of wires must be purchased and installed. An access control system that minimizes the time and expense of the installation would be highly desirable.
Additionally, wire-based systems are prone to reliability and security failures. For example, a wire may short out or be cut and the locking module connected to the access control module by the wire may no longer be under the control of the access control module. If a wire connection is cut or goes, the only alternative is to repair the faulty location (which may not be feasible) or run new wire all the way from the access control module to the locking module, thus incurring additional time and expense. Conversely, an access control system that provides several available communication channels between the locking module and the access control module so that if one communication channel is not usable, communication may proceed on one of the other communication channels, would also be highly desirable, especially if such an access control system did not add additional costs to install the additional communication channels.
A wireless access system providing a wireless communication channel between the locking module and the access control module may provide many benefits over the standard, wire-based access control system. Such a wireless access system is typically less expensive to install and maintain due to the minimization of wire and the necessary installation time. Additionally, such a system is typically more secure because communication between the locking module and the access control module is more robust that a single wire.
However, one difficulty often encountered in installing and maintaining such a wireless access system is maintaining a wireless communication link between the locking module and the access control module in spite of a constantly-changing interference condition between the modules. For example, the wireless link between the modules may be susceptible to interference from environmental conditions or transient electrical impulses.
Consequently, a single RF channel between the modules may become comprised during use. A system that provides multiple wireless channels between the modules would be highly desirable. Additionally, a system that would automatically detect desirable channels between the modules would be highly desirable. Also, a system that would determine a new channel for communication if the old channel became corrupted or lost would also be highly desirable.


The invention relates to a process for preparing compounds of the general formula (I)

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for preparing 2,2′-di(alkylenedioxythiophene)s (also referred to in the literature as 2,2′-bis(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene)s or 3,4-(alkylenedioxy)-2,2′-bithiophenes), to novel compounds of this class and also to their use as important precursors or for preparing important precursors for π-conjugated polymers.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The class of the π-conjugated polymers, which are also referred to as conductive polymers or synthetic metals, has been the subject matter of numerous publications. Owing to the considerable delocalization of the π-electrons along the main chain, these polymers exhibit interesting (non-linear) optical properties, and after oxidation or reduction, they become good electrical conductors. This allows these polymers to be used in various practical fields of use, for example in data storage, optical signal processing, the suppression of electromagnetic interference (EMI), solar energy conversion, rechargeable batteries, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), field effect transistors, circuit boards, sensors, capacitors and antistatic materials.
Examples of existing π-conjugated polymers are polypyrroles, polythiophenes, polyanilines, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes and poly(p-phenylene-vinylenes). A particularly important and industrially utilized polythiophene is poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) which has very high conductivity in its cationic form. Of note is a series of polymers which contain the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene building block, which are suitable as materials for light-emitting diodes, owing to their electroluminescence,.
Of particular interest here are 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) building blocks which are useful for the adjustment of the emission wavelengths and of the luminescence intensity. (See, for example, A. Donat-Bouillud, I. Lévesque, Y. Tao, M. D'lorio, S. Beaupré, P. Blondin, M. Ranger, J. Bouchard and M. Leclerc, Chem. Mater. 2000, 12, p. 1931–1936).
A problem associated with this use is that the 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene)s have hitherto been obtainable only via complicated organometallic syntheses which, depending on the reaction conditions, can lead to low yields and/or to only moderate purities.
The 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)s have hitherto generally been prepared in the literature by the following process (Ullmann coupling):3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene is lithiated under protective gas using n-butyllithium at −78° C. in absolute tetrahydrofuran and subsequently coupled with copper(II) chloride oxidatively to give 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene).
Pertinent studies cited hereinbelow illustrate the disadvantages of this synthetic route, in particular with regard to reaction conditions, yields and purities: G. A. Sotzing, J. R. Reynolds and P. J. Steel, Adv. Mater. 1997, 9(10), p. 795–798 shows that only an impure product was obtained (m.p. 183–185° C.). A. Donat-Bouillud,. I. Lévesque, Y. Tao, M. D'lorio S. Beaupré, P. Blondin, M. Ranger, J. Bouchard and M. Leclerc, Chem. Mater. 2000, 12, p. 1931–1936 describe the preparation of a purer product by the same process, (m.p. 203° C.), with yield of only 27.7% of theory, which is rather low. Extension of the reaction time for the Ullmann coupling as reported by A. K. Mohanakrishnan, A. Hucke, M. A. Lyon, M. V. Lakshmikantham and M. P. Cava (Tetrahedron 55 (1999), p. 11745–11754) provided a yield of 84% of a relatively pure product (m.p. 203–204° C.). However, the reaction time had to be increased by a factor of six.
Also, the following significant disadvantages of the processes for preparing 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are described in all these publications: 1 ) For the lithiation, it is necessary to work at low temperatures (−78° C.) with the aid of an external cold mixture, for example of acetone/dry ice. 2) n-Butyllithium as an organometallic reagent, is expensive and is air- and moisture-sensitive when handled, and also, especially in the event of ingress of moisture, readily flammable. 3) Owing to the sensitivity of the butyllithium and of the lithiated thiophene formed as an intermediate, the entire reaction has to be carried out under protective gas (nitrogen or argon).
The variant of this process provided by S. S. Zhu and T. M. Swager in J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, p. 12568–12577 (lithiation at −10° C. using tetramethylethylenediamine and oxidative coupling by means of iron(III) acetylacetonate under reflux in THF). This process results in no simplifications, since cold mixtures and protective gas technology are likewise required: The actual yield is 50% of theory (0.99 g of the maximum possible 1.97 g); the 99% reported results from a printing error.
A further significant disadvantage of the cited organometallic procedures is their limited applicability. 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)s substituted on the ethylene bridge have, therefore, hitherto not been described. The substituents can be, for example, hydroxyalkyl groups, carbonyl or heterocarbonyl groups, double bonds, etc. They would not be accessible by a selective route by the method of lithiation with subsequent Ullmann reaction, since, in the case of numerous conceivable substituents on the ethylene bridge, lithiation of these substituents as a side or main reaction would occur. 2,2′-di(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene)s having alkylene bridges other than the ethylene bridge have also hitherto not been described in the literature.
There is therefore a need for a novel method for preparing existing and also novel 2,2′-di(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene)s which                dispenses with the use of low temperatures, i.e. cold mixtures or the like for external cooling,        allows implementation under air without protective gas technology        provides broad applicability, for example for the preparation of 2,2′-di(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)s functionally substituted on the ethylene bridge or other optionally substituted 2,2′-di(3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene)s.

Abstract: to novel compounds of this substance class and also to their use as important precursors or for preparing important precursors for π-conjugated polymers.


A tailgate for a utility hauling vehicle is alternatively held in either a closed position or a supported position by a pair of formed rods which are located at the opposite ends of the tailgate. When the rods are in latched positions, they are slightly flexed so as to create a bias which acts between the rods and the tailgate to maintain a rattle-free connection.

The present invention relates to utility hauling vehicles and more particularly relates to latches and supports for tailgates of cargo boxes of such vehicles.
Various hauling vehicle tailgate designs are known which include a cargo box having a tailgate forming a rear wall thereof and being mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis at its bottom end between raised closed and lowered open positions. Typically a latch is provided at each upper corner of the tailgate for retaining the tailgate in its closed position and a flexible element, such as a cable, is provided which extends between each upper corner and the upper rear portion of each side wall of the box for retaining the tailgate in an open position wherein it forms a horizontal extension of the bed or floor of the box. These known tailgate latches and supports include many parts that make them relatively costly and somewhat complicated to assemble. Furthermore, in most cases the latch assemblies are not tight enough to keep the tailgate or latch assemblies from rattling when the vehicle is operated with the tailgate closed.

Utility vehicle cargo box tailgate latch and support


A structural component, especially a shielding part, has structural parts configured at least in part differently in terms of their superficial extension and/or the direction in which they extend. At least one structural part of a first type (10) is provided. Structural parts of a second type (34) are formed from the structural part of the first type (10) such that hollow section-like receiving channels (36) which are curved in at least two directions are molded into the structural part of the first type (10). The receiving channels (36) in one direction of curvature follow the curvature of the structural part of the first type (10). Thermal components, such as, for example, the curved exhaust lines of the exhaust system, can be accommodated in an integrating manner. Effective thermal shielding and noise insulation is ensured by overlapping.

While heat development, for example, of an economical power-optimized diesel engine on the engine block can be very low, this situation in no way applies to "hot zones" as in the manifolds, turbochargers, catalytic converters, etc. Due to the increasingly compact configuration of engines, components which are not thermally "compatible" are increasingly ending up in close proximity. Accordingly, it is necessary, using so-called shielding parts, such as heat shields, to protect thermal engine components facing adjacent heat-sensitive assemblies, such as sensors, fuel lines, pressurized sensors, body parts, etc. The situation is also exacerbated by the compact structure in that the high packing density of the assemblies constricts the cooling air flow in the engine compartment. Noise abatement measures may also contribute to this problem. Thus, for example, plastic bottom plates which are designed to reduce the emergence of noise from the engine compartment onto the roadway under certain circumstances can produce effective insulation with which heat is contained in the engine compartment. Catalytic converters, due to their phased high surface temperature, are considered heat sources which certainly necessitate the use of protective shield barriers. One typical example involves design-engineering measures, such as positioning of the catalytic converter tightly on the manifold of the overall exhaust system. This design principle, which is used for rapid heat-up of the catalytic converter to reduce emissions in the cold starting phase, shifts a strong heat source into the engine compartment where numerous assemblies are crowded in a narrow space. Likewise, one cause of the growing importance of shielding parts such as heat shields is the tendency towards use of thermoplastics. The outstandingly moldable, light and economical materials are becoming noticeably more common in the engine compartment, but require special attention with respect to the ambient temperatures at the application site, relative to the other thermal engine parts (New Materials and Development Tools for Heat Protection, in MTZ December 2001, Volume 62, page 1044 ff.).
DE 102 47 641 B3 discloses a structural component, especially in the form of a noise-damping shielding part as a component of the motor vehicle. To improve noise abatement in the known structural component, the pertinent shielding part includes a shielding body with a base edge as a structural part of the first type. It may be mounted on the edge side by angular clamp legs within the engine compartment on the stationary parts there, and shields thermal engine components facing heat-sensitive components.
The shielding body as a structural part of the first type is arched in a U-shape in the middle area, and is configured to be symmetrical in this respect. This middle area is arched in a U-shape on the edge side into the edge areas, and undergoes transition into greater curvature. On the two opposing edge areas, the angular clamps are mounted subsequently as fastening means. The shielding body has two layers of sheet metal, between which a noise-damping and/or heat insulating insulation layer extends. To fasten the cover layers of sheet metal to one another, flanging is used in which the free flared flange of one cover layer superficially encloses the edge area of the other cover layer. To reduce weight, the shielding body is made of aluminum or some other lightweight metal.
The known solution is used preferably for shielding a coupling between the transmission flange and a universal shaft against structure-borne noise originating from the transmission as well as the continuous influence of the temperature radiation of the adjacently extending exhaust pipe. During tests, a reduction of noise emission by 3 dB was achieved in the known solution. In order to achieve the pertinent shielding action, other structural parts of a second type extending in the form of bead-shaped lengthwise, and transverse ribs over the convex outer side of the shielding body extend along the middle area of the first structural part in the form of a shielding body. It is characteristic in this known structuring that the lengthwise ribs extending over the entire length of the shielding body are adjoined by transverse ribs molded on in one piece. The transverse ribs form a type of nub structure, and fit adjacently between two respective transverse ribs of an adjacent lengthwise rib in an alternating sequence at intermediate distances. The edge areas which are curved more dramatically to the outside with the connecting clamps are conversely kept free of the aforementioned ribs. With respect to the interrupted transverse rib structure of the known solution, it is to be expected that stiffness and strength are reduced in this respect. Furthermore, at the transition site to the connecting clamps, stiffening of the shielding body is acquired only by the bent clamp legs which largely define the connection geometry, here of the structural component on the stationary engine components or chassis components. This arrangement limits the possible applications of the known structural part accordingly. The connecting clamps with their bent clamp legs and eye connecting points for penetration of a fastener (screw) on the one hand require installation space and on the other they increase the weight for the known solution. Also, the known solution is unsuitable for thermal insulation of larger areas in the engine compartment.

Structural component, especially shielding part


A rotatable endoscope coupler which enables an endoscope to be rotatably attached to a camera and selectively locked in place. The coupler enables single handed rotation of the scope while the camera remains in a fixed orientation. A plurality of ceramic ball bearings riding in a stainless steel race enable the coupler to be repeatedly autoclaved. A locking mechanism allows the scope and camera to be fixed from relative rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to endoscope couplers for optically and mechanically coupling an endoscope to a video camera. More particularly, the invention relates to endoscope couplers which enable relative rotation of the endoscope and camera about the endoscope axis.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Endoscopes have become widely utilized in surgery for viewing body cavities and organs to permit performance of diagnostic and surgical procedures internally without the need for invasive surgical procedures. An endoscope is typically inserted through a small incision or portal or natural body passage to provide access to the body cavity. A lens at a distal end of the endoscope is positioned to receive light reflected from a site to be observed, and images of the site can be viewed remotely to conduct diagnostic examinations and to perform closed, or endoscopic surgery. As used herein, the term endoscope refers generically to viewing devices for remotely observing otherwise inaccessible body cavities with minimal trauma and intrusion, including but not limited to arthroscopes, colonoscopes, bronchoscopes, hysteroscopes, cystoscopes, sigmoido-scopes, laparoscopes and ureterscopes, etc.
Endoscopes are sometimes supplied with an eyepiece at the proximal end thereof, and relay lenses in the endoscope typically produce an image for direct viewing through the eyepiece. However, adaptation of video camera technology to endoscopy imaging has enabled the output image of an endoscope to be viewed on a video monitor. Specifically, a video camera is electronically coupled to the video monitor and optically and mechanically coupled with the proximal end of the endoscope. Indirect or video monitor viewing of endoscopic images provides numerous benefits over direct viewing through an eyepiece, including: protection of a direct viewer's vision from high intensity illumination passed through the endoscope and reflecting off bodily tissue; enhancement of operator comfort and freedom of movement; increased endoscope utility and efficiency; reduction in the time required to conduct many endoscopic procedures; simultaneous viewing of endoscopic images by more than one person; and recordation and real time transmission of images of surgical procedures.
An endoscope coupler is required to couple the proximal end of the endoscope to the video camera and may be made as a separate device or in combination with either the endoscope or the video camera or both. Illustrative endoscope couplers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,333 (Bel et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,888 (Prenovitz et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,058 (Hori et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,448 (Chatenever et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,594 (Chatenever); U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,071 (Chen et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,450 (Chinnock et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,902 (Chinnock et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,992 (Hori et al.). Endoscope couplers sometimes include a cylindrical body which may be closed at opposing ends by end windows and contain a lens holder carrying one or more lenses longitudinally movable within the body to optically adjust an image from the endoscope onto a focal plane of the camera. The optical adjustments most commonly used may be a focus and/or zoom adjustment. Sometimes, endoscope couplers operate with the eyepiece of an endoscope and other times the eyepiece is replaced with an optical arrangement which must be viewed through the camera and monitor (that is, no eyepiece is available).
In addition to enabling optical adjustments, in certain applications such as the urology field, it is often necessary to maintain the camera in a fixed position while rotating the endoscope about its axis in order to view the surgical site. Therefore, rotatable endoscopic couplers have been developed to enable this rotation of the scope relative to the camera. Such couplers may not include any optical components although they serve to properly position the proximal end of the scope relative to the distal end of the camera so the image planes are properly spaced along their common axis. Known rotatable endoscopic couplers generally include a distal ring, which may be fixedly attached to the proximal end of the endoscope, a proximal ring, which may be fixedly attached to a camera, and a rotatable interface between the two rings. The rotatable interface often includes a plain bearing structure (not ball bearings) and a selectively actuatable lock (such as a lever with a pin or cam) to selectively prevent rotation.
Additionally, it is advantageous for the surgeon to use only one hand to manipulate the scope or the camera thereby leaving the other hand free to operate various instruments during surgical procedures. Therefore, rotatable couplers must be easy to operate.
Aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,450 (Chinnock et al.) discloses a rotatable coupler for a video arthroscope which can be held and controlled with one hand. The rotatability is achieved by closely fitting cylindrical members including bores and counterbores which are rotatable about their common axes and sealed with several O-rings.
Another example of a rotatable coupler is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,888 (Prenovitz et al.). The Prenovitz coupler consists of two sections rotatable with respect to one another, the front section being non-rotatably mounted to the proximal end of an arthroscope and the rear section being non-rotatably mounted to the distal end of a video camera. The image produced by the scope is rotatable relative to the camera by simply rotating the front section relative to the rear section.
In order to maintain sterile surgical conditions, all imaging components, including endoscope couplers, whether rotatable or not, must be sterilized before and after each use. Steam autoclaving has long been the best accepted method of sterilization and is used for all instruments that can withstand the necessary high temperature and pressure. Instruments that will not survive the steam autoclave process, such as video cameras and prior art endoscopic couplers are treated by less effective or less efficient means such as immersion in sterilization liquid or gas sterilization. However, there is no known conventional rotatable endoscopic coupler which can withstand repeated steam or other sterilization and all known rotatable endoscopic couplers are adversely affected by such.
While known prior art couplers are available to enable the rotation of the endoscopic image relative to the camera, all known rotatable couplers utilize bearing surfaces, which are rotatable relative to each other, and locking mechanisms in the form of cams and pins to frictionally engage the rotatable elements to lock them together when the desired angular orientation is achieved. Over time, these known rotatable coupler designs become more and more difficult to operate because of the build up of residue caused by improper cleaning as well as the deterioration of the cooperating parts caused by their exposure to the harsh environments of autoclaves. This deterioration eventually leads to the inability to easily operate the rotatable coupler with one hand and eventually leads to the inability to rotate the coupler at all. These prior art couplers must then be totally rebuilt or replaced.
An improved rotatable coupler design is necessary in order to enable the autoclavability of rotatable endoscopic couplers and improve their performance over an extended period of time.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to produce a rotatable endoscope coupler for joining an endoscope to a camera.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a rotatable endoscope coupler capable of being repeatedly subjected to an autoclave without significant deterioration of performance.
It is still another object of this invention to produce a rotatable endoscope coupler incorporating ball bearings which are adapted to withstand the autoclave environment.
It is still another object of this invention to produce a rotatable endoscope coupler capable of being easily disassembled for repair.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope coupler that may be quickly and easily inserted between an endoscope and a video camera or may be formed as an integral part of either the endoscope or the video camera or both.


A portable ballistic shield and mount combination includes a mounting plate for attachment to a vehicle door and a ballistic shield removably engaged with the mounting plate. The ballistic shield has a handle extending outwardly therefrom. When a user of the portable ballistic shield grasps the handle and applies force away from the mounting plate, the ballistic shield detaches from the mounting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to safety apparatus for law enforcement officers and more specifically relates to an easily accessible and portable shielding device and associated mount.
2. Background
The disclosed shield and mount provide immediate access to the shield to a law enforcement officer or other individual within a vehicle.
Law enforcement officers are particularly vulnerable to attack from small caliber arms or other projectile launching devices when the officers are seated within a vehicle. For example, it is known for assailants to fire weapons at law enforcement officers as the officer is writing a citation or preparing other paper work in the vehicle, or when the officer is merely parked alongside a roadway and observing traffic. While it is common for law enforcement officers to wear protective vests which protect their chest and abdomen, the officer's head, neck, shoulders, and upper arms are typically exposed. While the use of shield devices is known, typically when used with riot gear, the conventional shields are not readily available for use and easy access while the office is seated within the vehicle.
Conventional shields have the desirable feature of providing protection for a large portion of the officer's body, and are therefore sized accordingly. However, such shields are, by necessity, stored in the trunk or back seat of the vehicle and are therefore not readily accessed by an officer seated in the front seat of a vehicle. Unfortunately, there are no known ballistic shields which may be accessed immediately by an officer seated within his or her vehicle. Given the amount of time officers may spend seated within their vehicles, the officer may have significant exposure to being fired upon by hostile individuals.
Examples of patented shield devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,495 to Sankar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,947 to Bauer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,394 to Martino; U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,735 to Mui et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,052 to Gabriel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,686 to Sankar; U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,949 to Carreira; U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,675 to Sand; U.S. Pat. No. 7,594,515 to Prock; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,516 to Hogan, which are all illustrative of such prior art. While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not readily accessible to an officer seated within the front seat of a vehicle. None of the generally known devices is mountable to the inside panel of the vehicle door, thereby providing the officer easy access to a protective shield when a need arises unexpectedly.

Easy access ballistic shield with vehicle door mount


The invention relates to the isolation and cloning of the structural gene, hipP, for the NTHi pili serotype 5 and the LKP operon. The invention relates to DNA molecules capable of hybridizing to the DNA sequences of the Haemophilus influenzae genome related to the pili. The invention further relates to a DNA molecule which encodes a pili protein, particularly a tip adhesion protein. The DNA molecules of the invention can be used in a method for assaying a sample, such as a blood sample, for the presence of Haemophilus influenzae in the sample. Accordingly, the invention further relates to the use of the DNA molecules as a diagnostic. The invention also relates to a recombinant Haemophilus influenzae pili protein, such as a tip adhesion protein. The protein can be employed in a method for immunizing an animal, such as a human, as a therapeutic or diagnostic.

Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are primarily noninvasive human respiratory tract pathogens. NTHi can reside in the respiratory tract as a commensal or give rise to local infections, including otitis media, bronchitis, sinusitis, and rarely, pneumonia (Bluestone, C. D., and J. O. Klein, In Pediatric Otolaryngology., 356 (1983); Bluestone and Stool ed. W. B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia.; Musher, D. M. et al., Ann. Intern. Med. 99:344-350 (1983)). Several potential adherence factors have been described for Haemophilus influenzae (both typable and nontypable) adherence to human cells, including four classes of fimbriae/pili and two high molecular weight proteins with similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin of Bordetella pertussis (St. Geme, J. W., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:2875-2879 (1993)). Pili are bacterial surface antigens. They are protein appendages consisting of a helically symmetrical assembly of major protein (pilin) subunits. Some pili can also carry from two to three minor proteins assembled on their tips. One of these proteins, adhesin, carries the active site for pilus adhesion to specific membrane receptors on human and animal cells.
One class of pili/fimbriae has been widely studied, the long thick positive (LKP) family. LKP pili are expressed by both typable and nontypable H. influenzae (Hib). The pili in this family have a characteristic morphology, partially shared adhesion specificity and their structural proteins share amino acid sequences. These pili are hemagglutination positive and mediate attachment to human mucosal cells (Brinton, C. C. et al., Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 8 Suppl.:54-61 (1989)). Hemagglutination of human erythrocytes is accomplished via binding to the AnWj blood group antigen while binding to epithelial cells involves a sialic acid containing lactosylceramide receptor (van Alphen, L. et al., Infect. Immun. 69:4473-4477 (1991)).
The LKP family has been divided into different strain specific serotypes based on reactivity to polyclonal antisera raised against the purified pili. Little cross reactivity among pili serotypes has been observed (Brinton, C. C., et al., Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 8 Suppl.:54-61 (1989)).
Inhibiting, or blocking, LKP pilus-mediated adhesion by H. influenzae to cells can prevent H. influenzae diseases. Purified, intact LKP pili have been shown to be vaccine candidates for NTHi otitis media in the chinchilla model, conferring protection against challenge with NTHi strains bearing homologous pili serotype (Karasic, R. et al., Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 8 (Suppl.): S62-65 (1988)). However, because protection is pilus-specific, for broad protection, a vaccine would be required to be multivalent, including the most frequently occurring serotypes of pili in the natural population of pathogens. LKP pilin structural genes have been cloned and sequenced by several groups (Coleman, T. et al., Infect. Immun. 59:1716-1722 (1991); Forney, L. J. et al., Infect. Immun. 59:1991-1996 (1991); Kar, S., et al. Infect. Immun. 58:903-908 (1990); van Ham, S. M., et al., EMBO Jour. 8:3535-3540 (1989)), but only the genes responsible for pili serotypes 1 and 4 have been identified.

Sequence and analysis of LKP pilin structural genes and the LKP pili operon of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae


A method and an apparatus for customizing an audio file, such as a ring tone stored in a mobile device is described herein. In particular, a mobile device according to the present invention includes an audio utility and an audio processor. The audio utility stores one or more pointers associated with a stored audio file. Each pointer identifies a specific user-selected start position for the audio file. Whenever the audio processor plays the audio file, the audio processor plays the audio file from the start position identified by one of the user-selected pointers.

This invention relates generally to audio files for a mobile device, and more particularly to customizing a ring tone for the wireless communication device.
An increasing number of mobile devices have multi-media features that enable a user to listen to music, watch video clips, program ring tones, etc. Ring tones enable a user to personalize the notification system used by, a mobile device, i.e., a wireless communication device, to notify the user of an incoming call, message, etc. For example, the wireless communication device notifies the user of an incoming call by playing a user-selected ring tone.
While conventional multi-media devices continue to expand the options associated with ring tone features, conventional ring tones still have some drawbacks. For example, whenever a ring tone is accessed, the mobile device plays the ring tone from the beginning of the stored ring tone file associated with the ring tone. As such, each time a ring tone is played, the user hears the same section of the ring tone, which typically corresponds to a beginning of a song. Currently, the only way to change the starting position of a ring tone is to edit the ring tone file on an external computer to remove a beginning portion of the ring tone, and therefore, to move the desired start position to the beginning of the ring tone file. By storing the edited ring tone in the wireless communication device, the user forces the wireless communication device to play the ring tone from a desired start position. However, any time the user wishes to change the start position of the ring tone, the user must repeat this cumbersome editing process.

Method and apparatus for customizing an audio file in a mobile device


A dishwasher includes a case, a sump connected to an inside of the case and collecting washing water, a washing pump receiving washing water from the sump and generating steam, and a steam nozzle connected to the washing pump and spraying steam to the inside of the case. The steam nozzle includes a steam nozzle body having a steam inlet and including a steam accommodating portion accommodating steam therein, a first steam sprayer provided in the steam nozzle body and spraying steam to the inside of the case, and a second steam sprayer provided in the steam nozzle body and disposed at a position farther from the steam inlet than the first steam sprayer, wherein a tunnel flow path penetrating through a lower end of the first steam sprayer is formed to allow steam passing through the tunnel flow path to be introduced into the second steam sprayer.

A dishwasher is a home appliance for removing soiling such as food waste residing on dishes or cooking utensils (hereinafter, referred to as 'cleaning target (i.e., object to be cleaned') by high-pressure washing water sprayed from a spray arm.
The dishwasher cleans a cleaning target using heated washing water or performs cleaning or sterilization by supplying steam to the cleaning target. It has been proposed to generate steam by installing a heater in a washing pump in order to efficiently generate steam. It has also been proposed to dispose a steam nozzle for spraying steam at a lower end of a door so that steam may be effectively applied to a washing object (Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2017-0016180).
The steam nozzle has a plurality of sprayers (spray orifices) for spraying steam into a washing chamber in which a cleaning target is accommodated. Here, the amount of steam sprayed from the plurality of sprayers (spray orifices) provided at both ends of the steam nozzle is not uniform.


In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for counting sharps returned to a container. An example method of counting sharps returned to a container having at least two layers of penetrable conductive material includes periodically checking a plurality of circuits formed by the first and second layers of material to determine if each circuit is open or closed, and keeping a count of the number of closed circuits.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for the counting of needles, scalpel blades, and other sharps and, more particularly, to the application of radio frequency identification devices (RFID) used to automate such counts.
This disclosure addresses the issue of counting sharps in and around the operating room. Current technology automates the counting of some items in the operating room, such as surgical sponges, by affixing an RFID tag to the item. Objects such as needles and scalpel blades are not conducive to tagging because of their small size and because the smooth profile of the object is essential to the function of the object. Therefore, even if RFID tags were miniaturized, there would not be a suitable location on the exterior surface of a needle or scalpel blade for placement of a tag. The current state of needle counting technology consists of many variations of mechanical needle counting devices. These devices provide numbered spaces, slots, foam blocks, magnets, among others, usually all carried within a hard plastic clam-shell type of box that can be snapped shut after the box is filled with sharps. These devices vary primarily in size and needle capacity, but also differentiate through features such as magnetic areas where needles and blades may be placed to prevent falling out, fixtures for removing needles from syringes and blades from scalpels, safety hinges, etc.
We have polled various nursing staffs and have found almost unanimous interest in a solution that would automate the counting of needles, and/or validate the manual counts, and/or assist in entering these counts into the electronic medical record. A need exists for a product that can provide these various functions.

Apparatus for automating the counting of sharps using RFID tags


In a liquid crystal display apparatus, it is a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a liquid crystal panel for forming an image by a video signal from the outside, a light source substrate comprising at least one point-like light source, and a cabinet to which the light source substrate is attached, and light emitted from the point-like light source illuminates the liquid crystal panel and the light source substrate is constructed detachably from the outside of the cabinet in a direction of a surface opposite to a display surface of the liquid crystal panel and thereby the light source substrate is constructed detachably without disassembling the liquid crystal display apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, and electronic equipment comprising the display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a point-like light source such as an LED light source comprises a light source substrate in which the point-like light source is mounted, an optical waveguide for guiding light from the light source to the display surface side and a cabinet for receiving the light source substrate and the optical waveguide, and has a structure in which the light source substrate is pinched and supported by a substrate support part provided in the cabinet and the optical waveguide in the inside of the cabinet. Therefore, it is unnecessary to use a screw or a double-sided adhesive tape, etc. in order to fix the light source substrate in the substrate support part, so that assembly work of the liquid crystal display apparatus or replacement work or attachment and detachment of the light source substrate can be performed easily (for example, see JP-A-2002-107721).
As described above, in the case of adopting a structure in which the light source substrate is engaged and pinched by the optical waveguide and the cabinet without using a screw or a double-sided adhesive tape in the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus, attachment and detachment of the light source substrate become easy, but even in that case, work for removing a liquid crystal display panel or the optical waveguide is required. That is, when the light source substrate is attached and detached, it is necessary to disassemble the liquid crystal display apparatus itself after the liquid crystal display apparatus is removed from a product resulting in the final form. Therefore, for example, there were problems that when the need to replace the light source substrate arises, the liquid crystal display apparatus is removed from the electronic equipment before and after the replacement work and thereafter disassembly and reassembly work of the liquid crystal display apparatus is required and further with disassembly and reassembly of the liquid crystal display apparatus, display performance decreases due to occurrence of a flaw or intrusion of foreign matter into a display area.

Liquid crystal display apparatus and electronic equipment


A method of determining parameters that are characteristics of the operation of a vehicle having a power plant with at least one engine and mechanical transmission means, sensors, and display means. During the method, various items of information about the aircraft, its state and/or its operation and/or its environment are measured, and then, for at least one parameter Pi relating to the state and the operation of the aircraft there are determined a first limit value Pi_lim for the parameter Pi, a second value Pi_X for each parameter Pi to enable the aircraft to perform a predetermined maneuver X, and an instantaneous third value Pi_inst for each parameter Pi. Thereafter, each first, second, and third values Pi_lim, Pi_X, Pi_inst is displayed simultaneously in order to show up the relative position of second and third values Pi_X and Pi_inst relative to a first value Pi_lim for each parameter Pi.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of assisting the piloting of vehicles, and in particular of rotary wing aircraft.
The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining and optimizing parameters that are characteristic of the operation of a vehicle, and in particular of a rotary wing aircraft.
(2) Description of Related Art
A vehicle is generally operated while monitoring several characteristic parameters by using instruments situated on an instrument panel of the vehicle. These characteristic parameters represent the current operation of the vehicle and in particular of its engine or its power plant.
For physical reasons, there exist numerous limits on such characteristic parameters that need to be taken into account at all times during the operation of the vehicle. These various limits may depend on external conditions and also on the mode of operation of the vehicle.
For example, for a self-propelled vehicle, these characteristic parameters may be the speed of rotation of its engine, the temperature of its engine cooling water, or the temperature of its engine lubricating oil.
In another example, the vehicle may be a rotary wing aircraft having a power plant with two turboshaft engines and a main gearbox, the power plant driving rotation of at least one main rotor and possibly of an anti-torque rotor, such as a tail rotor. Under such circumstances, these characteristic parameters may include, among others: the speed of rotation Ng of the gas generator of each engine, the gas ejection temperature T4 at the inlet to the free turbine of each engine, and the drive torque Cm from each engine.
Thus, while a vehicle is in operation, a pilot of the vehicle needs to monitor continuously the current values of these characteristic parameters on various instruments situated on the instrument panel of the vehicle, and to compare the current values of these characteristic parameters with their respective limits.
For a rotary wing aircraft having a power plant with two turboshaft engines, the pilot needs to act continuously during operation of the aircraft to monitor at least three instruments per engine, i.e. at least six instruments. The pilot is then assumed to be capable of detecting, for each engine, any inconsistency between the current values of those characteristic parameters and their respective limits on those at least six instruments. This requires particular attention on the part of the pilot, who also needs to be concentrating on actually flying the aircraft.
In addition, those limits generally differ depending on the stage of flight of the aircraft and/or on external conditions, such as altitude, for example. During each stage of flight and/or depending on external conditions and on the mode of operation of the power plant, the maximum power that can be delivered by the power plant differs, and the length of time for which it is available can also be limited.
For example, while the aircraft is taking off, a maximum takeoff power MTOP can be used for a limited duration of about five to ten minutes, corresponding to a level of torque for the main gearbox and to a level of power and of heating for each engine that can be accepted without significantly degrading the power plant. Likewise, after the stage of taking off, there is a maximum continuous power MCP that can be used continuously without any limit on duration.
Furthermore, there are also contingency ratings at extra high power that are used on a power plant having at least two engines when one of the engines has failed. The valid engine(s) can then deliver contingency power levels for limited durations, these contingency power levels being greater than the maximum continuous power MCP in order to compensate for the failure. Nevertheless, using such contingency ratings generally requires specific maintenance operations to be performed thereafter.
Consequently, the limits on the various parameters that are characteristic of the operation of the aircraft can differ, in particular depending on the power available from each engine.
At present, certain kinds of assistance given to the pilot make it possible to limit the parameters that the pilot must monitor.
In particular, Documents FR 2 749 545 and FR 2 756 256 are known, which describe a first limit indicator (FLI). That first limit indicator identifies among various characteristic parameters the characteristic parameter that is critical, i.e. the parameter that is the closest to its limit value. The current value of this critical characteristic parameter and its limit value are then grouped together on a single display, respectively for each engine, where appropriate, thereby limiting the number of instruments needed for monitoring the operation of the aircraft, thereby simplifying the pilot's task. Such FLIs thus make it possible to display an available power margin for the aircraft or for each engine, by means of the current value of the critical characteristic parameter and its limit value.
For example, the current value of the critical characteristic parameter and its limit value may be displayed on a scale graduated in engine torque for each of the engines, thereby characterizing the power margin available from each engine of the aircraft, as described in Document FR 2 749 545.
The current value of the critical characteristic parameter and its limit value can also be displayed on a scale that is graduated in collective pitch, where the collective pitch is the angle of incidence of the blades of the main rotor of the aircraft relative to the incident wind, and as induced by a collective pitch control for those blades, thereby characterizing the power margin that is available for the aircraft as a whole, as described in Document FR 2 756 256.
Also known are Documents WO 2006/081334 and US 2005/278084 that describe indicators for an aircraft that determine and display at least the value of the critical characteristic parameter.
The indicator of Document WO 2006/081334 also determines and displays a characteristic parameter of value that is important and that may correspond to a predetermined maneuver of the aircraft.
The indicator of Document US 2005/278084 also determines and displays a predictive value for the critical characteristic parameter, which predictive value is determined as a function of its current value and of its variation.
In addition, Document EP 2 505 502 describes a method and a device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft having two rotors, e.g. a lift rotor and an anti-torque tail rotor. A power margin relative to a known maximum power from the engine of the aircraft is determined using that one of the characteristic parameters that has a value that is the closest to its operating limit. A limit curve for available power that takes this power margin into account is displayed to the pilot in the form of a diagram in a reference constituted by a first collective pitch of the first rotor and a second collective pitch of the second rotor. A pointer that is characterized by the current positions of the first and second collective pitches is also displayed. The pilot thus knows the additional power that is available from the first and second rotors.
In addition, a curve that takes account of an engine damage threshold can be displayed, which threshold corresponds to the maximum power that can be used without running the risk of damaging the engine. This usable maximum power is determined on the basis of the known maximum power of the engine of the aircraft as supplied by the manufacturer of the engine.
Finally, Document DE 2 970 3902 forms part of the technological background of the invention.
Nevertheless, the limits used by the instruments of the panel instrument and by the FLI in particular do not represent the real limits for each engine, but rather predetermined limits that correspond for example to a minimum guaranteed power level from an engine over its entire lifetime.
Specifically, the engine manufacturer performs calculations or carries out tests to establish available power curves for a turboshaft engine as a function in particular of the altitude of the aircraft and of the outside temperature, with this being done for each of the power ratings that can be used for each engine. Furthermore, the manufacturer determines the available power curves for different degrees of aging of each engine from a new engine to an engine that has come to the end of its lifetime.
Consequently, a minimum power level guaranteed over the entire lifetime of an engine is defined. The value of this guaranteed minimum power varies in particular as a function of the altitude of the aircraft and the outside temperature, and it corresponds to the power delivered by an aged engine, i.e. an engine that has come to the end of its maximum lifetime. Thus, any engine in normal operation, i.e. an engine that has not suffered a failure, can always deliver power that is higher and at worst that is not less than the minimum power that is guaranteed for its entire lifetime.
As a result, the instrument panel instruments and the FLI in particular that make use of limits corresponding to the guaranteed minimum power are favorable in terms of safety, since the pilot always has a level of power that is genuinely available from each engine that is generally greater than and at worst not less than the maximum power indicated by the control panel instruments or by the FLI.
In contrast, the use of each engine is not optimized, since the power used is the minimum guaranteed power and not the maximum power that is genuinely available. Specifically, each engine is under-used. The use of limits corresponding to the maximum power that is genuinely available would enable the performance of the aircraft to be improved, such as the total mass it can transport or the range it can cover, for example.
In addition, the instruments of the control panel of a vehicle and also the FLI in aircraft indicate the current values and the limits of characteristic parameters. As a result, when a pilot envisages carrying out a maneuver, the pilot must rely on experience and on the difference that can be seen between these current and limit values in order to estimate whether there is a sufficient power margin on the characteristic parameters for performing the maneuver.
Thereafter, the pilot will receive confirmation only while performing the maneuver that none of the characteristic parameters has exceeded its limits and that the maneuver can be carried out in complete safety.
Otherwise, and depending on the maneuver being performed, the pilot may interrupt the maneuver in order to return to a safe stage of flight, such that each characteristic parameter remains below its limits. This applies typically when the pilot of an aircraft begins a descent and it is possible to use the inertia of the aircraft and/or the total power available from the power plant to perform a maneuver to avoid an obstacle. Nevertheless, for certain maneuvers, going back to the previous situation is not possible once the maneuver has been started and that can lead to an accident, e.g. while landing and during the transition from no ground effect to the ground effect applying.
Such poor estimation by the pilot of the available margin, in particular in terms of power, lies behind numerous rotary wing aircraft accidents, in particular during stages of landing, while hovering, in particular close to the ground, and while taking off in a purely vertical mode.

Method and a device for determining and optimizing parameters that are characteristic of the operation of a rotary wing aircraft


A method of modulating transmission power to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies is provided. The method can include determining a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology. The method can further include reducing a transmission power of a transmission from the device via a second wireless communication technology to a threshold level prior to the scheduled time period and controlling the transmission power so that the transmission power does not exceed the threshold level during the scheduled time period. The method can additionally include, subsequent to the time period, increasing the transmission power to a level exceeding the threshold level.

Many wireless communication devices support multiple wireless communication technologies and may concurrently communicate via multiple wireless communication technologies. In many instances, wireless communication technologies used by a device use channel bands that may interfere with each other. In such instances, energy from a band used by one technology can leak into a band used by another technology. This energy leakage can raise the noise floor and cause a problem known as desense. In many instances, desense can negatively impact the use of certain channel bands and, in severe cases, can render certain channel bands unusable. Accordingly, interference that can result in desense poses a problem for in-device coexistence of multiple wireless communication technologies.
A particularly troublesome desense problem can result in a scenario in which a device emits a transmission via a first wireless communication technology, referred to as an aggressor technology, while the device is receiving data via a second wireless communication technology, referred to as a victim technology. Data receipt by the victim technology can be damaged by the aggressor transmission, particularly in instances in which the aggressor technology uses a relatively high transmission power. In this regard, received packet errors, or even complete deafening of the victim technology receiver can result from the interference that can be caused by the aggressor technology transmission. For example transmission of a cellular signal by a device at a time when a Bluetooth signal is received can deafen the Bluetooth receiver, causing errors and, in some cases, complete loss of the Bluetooth connection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission power modulation to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies


An electronic circuit includes a first conductor configured horizontally on a first layer and a second conductor configured horizontally on a second layer. The second conductor is separated from the first conductor by a plurality of layers. A third conductor is configured between the first layer and the second layer. The third conductor electrically couples the first conductor and the second conductor. One or more intermediate conductors are electrically coupled to the third conductor, with the one or more intermediate conductors configured on one or more intermediate layers between the first layer and the second layer.

The present disclosure relates to generally to vias in printed circuit boards for electrically coupling electrical signals between conductive layers of the printed circuit boards.
Printed circuit boards, as well as integrated circuits, include vias for electrically connecting conductive layers in the printed circuit to allow for electrical signals to be communicated between these conductive layers. An electrical signal must propagate or transition from a first conductive layer through a via to one or more other conductive layers in the PCB. For example, in a ball grid array (BGA) package, connection pads on the package, each of which has a solder ball attached thereto, are attached to corresponding connection pads on a PCB. Electrical signals from a circuit in the BGA package are provided on respective connection pads, and these electrical signals must transition through vias in the PCB to multiple conductive layers of the PCB. An electrical signal transitioning through a via must have a low magnitude of reflection or low return loss to minimize errors in the signal. The return loss is the loss of power in a signal that results from a portion of that signal being returned or reflected back towards a source of the signal due to impedance discontinuities in a signal path over which the signal is being communicated. As Nyquist sampling frequencies go higher in modern circuits, such as high-speed switching circuits in datacenters, the return loss of electrical signals must be lower over a larger frequency range to achieve adequate performance. For example, emerging 112G PAM4 standards will increase the Nyquist frequency from the 13.281 GHz currently employed to 26.5625 GHz. The via transition between the connection pad on the BGA package and the conductive layer in the BGA causes an impedance mismatch, which increases the return loss of the signal transitioning through the via.
The present disclosure is directed to vias in PCBs or integrated circuits having reduced return loss at frequencies of interest.


A combination window mounted pet/plant enclosure and carrying case capable of replaceably housing a pet/plant therein and having a window mounted pet/plant enclosure modality where it is adapted to be maintained in an opening of a double hung window that has a sill and separates the outdoors from the indoors and a pet/plant carrying case modality where it is removed from the opening of the double hung window and adapted to carry the pet/plant housed therein. The combination includes a housing that extends from the opening of the double hung window to the outdoors and replaceably houses the pet/plant therein, and a facia assembly that is attached to the housing and extends from the opening of the double hung window into the indoors and provides access into the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an enclosure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination window mounted pet/plant enclosure and carrying case.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for window mounted pet/plant enclosures have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,522 to Schifman teaches a device for growing houseplants. The device is adapted to extend from a window such that the plants provided therein receive adequate sunlight. The device is enclosed on all sides extending from the window to protect the plants from exposure to temperature excesses. The rear of the box is open and communicates with the interior of a room to maintain the plants at a temperature substantially equivalent to the indoor temperature. The device is provided with a pull-out drawer to provide easy access to the plants and vents for permitting outside air to enter the device. Flexible baffle curtains are provided so that the entire window area through which the planter box extends may be closed off from the outside.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,459 to Julie teaches a removable, assemblable and portable window porch and container for animals pets which is adapted to interfit within, project from and extend the opening of a standard window. The device has attaching clamps and braces secured to and carried by the elements thereof. The porch when in operative position is in the form of an open entry enclosure comprising assemblable base, side, rear and top walls for effectuating operative condition. The side, rear and top walls include frame pieces adapted for selective panel mounting and substitution to enable protection to the pet against adverse weather and atmospheric conditions. The porch is further adapted for pet transportation when in operative condition by providing a removable front wall closure and further providing a carrying handle. The porch when in disassembled position may be easily stored away and is characterized by taking little space in stored condition.
STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,767 to Torchio teaches an enclosure arranged for mounting within a frame-work of an associated window to permit a pet to be received within the enclosure to permit access to fresh air when the pet is maintained within an interior environment in a dwelling. The enclosure is arranged to be formed with spaced side walls and an end wall, with each of the walls having a screen member mounted therewithin. The invention in modified form may include window plates pivotally mounted above each screen member and may be further provided with a heating assembly to provide heating within the enclosure during periods of depressed temperature conditions.
FINALLY, YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,344 to Demurjian teaches a pet cage capable of ready disassembly and erection for mounting within a window having a bottom rail and a stop, and projecting beyond the window opening. The pet cage consists of a 5-sided enclosure, including a hollow panel. An accordion-pleated panel assembly is removably connected to the enclosure for adjustably extending between the enclosure and the window stop. Upon disassembly, the panel assembly is removed from the enclosure and stored within the hollow panel so that the disassembled pet cage forms a single, compact, portable structure.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for window mounted pet/plant enclosures have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

Combination window mounted pet/plant enclosure and carrying case


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an interconnect comprising interfaces to communicate with respective requester and receiver node devices, and home nodes. Each home node is configured to: receive requests from one or more requester nodes, each request comprising a target address corresponding to a target receiver nodes; and transmit each said request to the corresponding target receiver node. Mapping circuitry is configured to: associate each of said plurality of home nodes with a given home node cluster; perform a first hashing of the target address of a given request, to determine a target cluster; perform a second hashing of the target address, to determine a target home node within said target cluster; and direct the given message, to the target home node.

The present technique relates to the field of interconnects for providing communications between node devices.
Such nodes may be conceptually termed "requester nodes", which issue requests, and "receiver nodes", which receive the requests. For example, a requester node may be a processor or other processing circuitry, which issues a request for data from a storage such as a memory. The storage can thus be considered a receiver node. The "requester" and "receiver" status may be contextual and/or specific to a particular interaction. For example, a node which issued a request to a node (and thus acted as a requester) may subsequently receive a request from a different node (and thus act as a receiver).
A plurality of nodes can be connected via an interconnect, for example with each node separately connected to the interconnect such that all inter-node communications travel via the interconnect. This allows customisability and extensibility of the system, as nodes can be added and removed depending on operating requirements. However, the performance of the interconnect can be a bottleneck to the performance of the whole system.
There is thus a desire for improved interconnects.

Methods and apparatus for communicating between node devices


This invention relates to process for asymmetrically producing enantiomerically pure .alpha.-cycloalkylalkyl substitututed methanamines from .alpha.-pinene. One key step of the process of this invention utilizes the oxidation product of .alpha.-pinene, hydroxy pinanone, as a chiral auxiliary to direct the stereoselective alkylation of the corresponding ketimine. This invention also relates to key intermediates useful in the processes referred to herein.

.alpha.-Cycloalkylalkyl substituted methanamines constitute an important class of intermediates used in the production of various substituted 2-benzoxazoles, 2-benzothiazoles, 2-oxazolpyridines and 2-thiazolopyridines, which compounds are potent leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors. Examples of such compounds are described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,486, issued Mar. 22, 1994 and in Lazer et al, J. Med. Chem, 37, pp. 913-23 (1994). Such inhibitors are effective drugs in the treatment of particular disease states involving leukotriene biosynthesis, such as asthma.
Others have reported various synthetic schemes for the production of certain .alpha.-cycloalkylalkyl substituted methanamines and structurally similar compounds. For example, production of a racemic mixture of .alpha.-cyclohexylmethyl-2-pyridimenethanamine described in P. L. Pickard and T. L. Tolbert, J. Org. Chem., 26, pp. 4886-88 (1961). That method reacts 2-cyanopyridine with an organometallic reagent such as cyclohexylmethylmagnesium bromide to form a ketimine intermediate, which is then reduced in situ. An asymmetric synthesis of (S)-.alpha.-substituted benzylamines and pyridylamines is reported in M. Aiqiao et al., Synthetic Communications, 21, pp. 2207-12 (1991). In addition, an asymmetric synthesis of (S)-.alpha.-substituted benzylamines using ketimines derived from 2-hydroxy-3-pinanone is described in C. Yuanwei et al., Synthetic Communications, 19, pp. 1423-30 (1989). Furthermore, ketimines of 2-hydroxy-3-pinanone have been used for the synthesis of various .alpha.-amino acids and .alpha.-alkyl benzylamines (see, for example, S. I. Yamada et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comun., pp. 136-37 (1976); T. Oguri et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 26, pp. 803-808 (1978); A. Solladie-Cavallo and M. C. Simon, Tetrahedron Lett., 30, pp. 6011-14 (1989)).
All of these conventional methods for producing .alpha.-cycloalkylalkyl substituted methanamines and structurally related compounds suffer from one or more disadvantages, including numerous and cumbersome process steps, use of expensive or commonly unavailable reagents, low overall yields and low to moderate stereoselectivity. In addition, those conventional methods are generally not suitable for use on an industrial scale.

Asymmetric synthesis of .alpha.-cycloalkylalkyl substituted methanamines

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


Projection and camera systems may employ a joint locking mechanism that may enable a user to reposition or move structures (arms, lenses, etc.) that are otherwise locked in position. The joint locking mechanism may include a touch-activated presence detector to sense a presence of an extremity of a user. In response to the presence detector sensing the presence, an actuator may unlock a joint or structure to enable movement of the joint or structure while the presence detector continues to sense the presence. In response to a detection of an absence of the extremity, the actuator may return to a locked state to prevent further movement of the joint or structure.

Augmented reality allows interaction among users, real-world objects, and virtual or computer-generated objects and information within an environment. The environment may be, for example, a room equipped with computerized projection and imaging systems that enable presentation of images on various objects within the room and facilitate user interaction with the images and/or objects. The augmented reality may range in sophistication from partial augmentation, such as projecting a single image onto a surface and monitoring user interaction with the image, to full augmentation where an entire room is transformed into another reality for the user's senses. The user can interact with the environment in many ways, including through motion, gestures, voice, and so forth.
To enable such augmented reality environments, however, there is a continuing need for improved projection systems. Such improvements might include increased ease of repositioning and movement of the projection system or components thereof.


A shredder having a pivoting top panel which may include a display which may reduce potential safety hazards. The shredder may include a top panel thereon that is moveable between a first position, in which the top panel covers the slot, and a second position, in which the top panel is positioned to allow access to the slot.

The present invention is generally directed to shredders and, more specifically, to a shredder having a pivotable top panel with an integrated display.
Conventional shredders can have one or more slots designated for the insertion of material to be shredded, and the action of the shredder is determined by the user's selection of one of three operating modes. The first operating mode is an "off" mode in which the shredder blades are deactivated and no shredding of material can take place. Material placed in the shredder slot may come in close proximity to the shredder blades but the material will not by itself activate the shredder. The second operating mode is an "on" mode in which the shredder blades continually rotate to shred any material inserted into the shredder. The third operating mode is an "automatic" mode in which the shredder blades are automatically activated when the shredder detects that material is being inserted into the shredder. The "automatic" mode is advantageous in that material can be sporadically shredded without having to continually turn the shredder on and off. This makes it easy to open mail and immediately shred those items which are unneeded and may contain personal information.
However, the use of shredders in "automatic" mode can be problematic. The user can unintentionally leave the shredder in "automatic" mode after all shredding tasks are completed. The lack of noise generated from shredder blade movement and the difficulty of visually determining the shredder state by observing the selectable control or interpreting a visual indicator may lead the original user or a new user to believe that the shredder is in the "off" mode. The original user or a new user who is unaware that the shredder is waiting to detect the insertion of material may position fingers or clothing near or inside the uncovered shredder slot, which may lead to serious injury.
Safety hazards are also present in those shredders operating in "on" mode, as a user may leave the shredder in "on" mode while unattended. A user who is interrupted by another task may leave the shredder on when leaving the work area, or a user with hearing impairment or in a noisy environment may be unaware the shredder is still in the "on" mode. If the noise from the running blades is not sufficient to alert the original user or a new user to the shredder state, it may be difficult to visually determine the shredder state.
A general safety hazard with a conventional shredder is the ability of any person to activate the shredder blades. The danger is greater when the shredder is in a home environment where a young child may approach an unmonitored shredder. The location of the shredder controls may allow a young child to place the shredder into the "automatic" or "on" mode and insert material into the shredder while risking serious injury.
It may be advantageous to provide a shredder that includes a pivotable top panel with an integrated display that may alert a user to the current state of the shredder, and that may allow the a user to securely cover the shredder slot in a way that protects the display and provides increased safety for others who come into contact with the shredder.

Shredder and/or shredder head with pivotable top panel


In embodiments, a method includes: defining a plurality of visual icons; receiving a voice message, metadata and voice tagging criteria from a first client device; converting the voice message to text; generating a summary of the converted text; generating keywords based on the summary; categorizing the voice message into categories based on the keywords and the metadata; selecting visual icons based on the categories and the tagging criteria; tagging the voice message with the selected visual icons; and sending the tagged voice message to a second client device.

The present invention relates generally to categorizing and tagging voice messages and, more particularly, to attaching a visual display such as an emoji describing the content of a voice message.
Social media applications on mobile devices are currently widely used, and over a billion people worldwide use some form of media-supported chatting. A large number of people rely on media-supported group chatting methods to send texts and voice messages, and any given person may receive a large number of voice messages, particularly within the context of a group chat.

Voice message categorization and tagging