An adapter for a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography device is provided. The adapter is placeable on a patient support for the magnetic resonance tomography device. The adapter includes an adapter upper part that is removably connectable to the local coil. The adapter also includes an adapter lower part that is removably connectable to the patient support. The adapter also includes a tilt device, by which the adapter upper part is movable relative to the adapter lower part.

The present embodiments relate to a head coil for a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system.
Magnetic resonance tomography devices for examining objects or patients using magnetic resonance tomography (MRT, MRI) are known, for example, from DE 10314215 B4.
In magnetic resonance tomography, images are conventionally recorded with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using coils (e.g., "local coils"). The coils are antenna systems that are mounted in immediate proximity on (anteriorly) or under (posteriorly) the patient. During an MRT measurement, the excited nuclei induce a voltage in the individual antennae of the local coil. The induced voltage is amplified with a low-noise preamplifier (e.g., LNA, preamp) and passed on via cables to the receiving electronics. In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, including with high resolution images, high-field systems are used (e.g., having field strengths of 1.5 T to 12 T and more). Since more individual antennae may be connected to an MR receiving system than receivers are present, a switching matrix (e.g., RCCS) is connected between the receiving antennae and the receiver. The switching matrix routes the currently active receiving channels (e.g., the channels that are currently in the field of view (FOV) of the magnet) to the receivers present. By this, more coil elements than receivers are present may be connected, since for whole-body coverage, only the coils that are in the FOV or the homogeneity volume of the magnet are to be read out.
The "coil" (or "local coil") may be an antenna system that may include one or more antenna elements (e.g., coil elements, an array coil). The individual antenna elements may be configured as loop antennae (loops), or butterfly or saddle coils. A coil includes coil elements, a preamplifier, further electronics (e.g., sheath current filters) and cabling, the housing and may include a cable with a plug, by which the coil is connected to the MRT system. The receiver (RX) provided on the system side filters and digitizes the signal received by the local coil and passes the data on to the digital signal processing unit. The digital signal processing unit may derive an image or a spectrum from the measurement and make the image or spectrum available to the user for diagnosis.
In order to position patients with abnormal changes to the cervical spine, for example, ankylosing spondylitis, wryneck, round back, or trauma patients, in head coils, the head coils may be raised (e.g., tilted) in a posterior region of the head, since the patient is not able to place the head flat in the coil in this position. For contacting systems that provide a defined relationship between the patient support and the head coil, for example, with "direct" contacting (e.g., contacting by plugging in plugs for power supply and/or for data lines) of the head coil to the patient support or with alternative contacting variants such as capacitive coupling between the patient support and the head coil, movement of the coil relative to the patient support is not possible in the plugged-in condition (e.g., if contacts of the local coil are plugged into contacts of the patient support). The coil and the patient support form a fixed plugged-together unit.
For coils that directly contact the patient support or for alternative contacting possibilities having a fixed relationship between the patient support and the coil, in the case, for example, of ankylosing spondylitis patients, a possible solution is changing the position of the patient with suitable mounting materials (e.g., a higher support for the pelvis). A further alternative solution is the placement of wedge-shaped parts under the head coil.

Adapter for a direct-connection head coil with adjustable tilt angle


‘LJ23’ is a distinctive variety of Callistemon viminalis which is characterized by the combination of a dense growth habit, large leaves, and green foliage as well as the stability and uniformity of traits through successive cycles of asexual propagation.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Callistemon viminalis, which has been given the variety denomination of 'LJ23'. Callistemon, a member of the myrtle family, is a relatively large genus of shrubs and small trees noted for their unique bottlebrush inflorescences which typically cover plants in spring and fall with colors ranging from white to pink to dark red. Nurserymen and plant breeders alike have for several decades made seedling selections for different habits with forms and sizes now ranging from low growing groundcovers to large trees. Callistemon is a popular landscape plant in its native Australia as well as in the western and southern United States.
Parentage: Callistemon viminalis 'LJ23' was the result of a seedling selection from an openly pollinated plant of Callistemon viminalis 'Little John' and was discovered in Clarendon, Sydney, NSW. In 2006 seed was collected from Callistemon viminalis 'Little John' plants and many seedlings were grown. Six candidate plants were selected from said seedlings and further grown and evaluated for subsequent testing. In 2009 a final selection took place and one plant was then selected as the final candidate due to the combination of a dense growth habit and large leaves, green foliage. The plant was given the name 'LJ23'.
Asexual Reproduction: 'LJ23' was grown to a mature age and was found to grow uniform; 4 successive cycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type. Propagation was first accomplished in 2009 at a commercial plant breeding facility in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia using softwood cuttings and roots well without the aid of rooting compound or hormone. Time to develop roots is approximately 2 to 4 weeks and an average crop time is approximately 12 months to produce a mature and marketable 400 mm container, starting from a rooted cutting. 'LJ1' was grown to a mature age and was found to grow uniform; 4 successive cycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type.


A photoresponsive pulser/sampler system for investigating electrical signals and responses in VLSI systems employs a microtip which communicates electrically and mechanically with the device under test, and electrically with an electrode via a photoresponsive gate. The photoresponsive gate is formed of interdigitated electrodes which have interdigital spacings therebetween on the order of 1 .mu.m. The structure of the invention is operable in the dual modalities of probe and pulser which share a common probe tip. Simultaneous implementation of the pulser and sampler functions is achieved with the use of a lock-in amplifier and the technique of difference frequency mixing, where the pulser optical pulse frequency is f.sub.1 and the gate optical pulse frequency is f.sub.2. Multiple photoresponsive gates coupled to a common probe tip and having respective electrodes are disclosed for achieving respective pulsing and sampling functions, and also for effecting S-parameter measurements. The lock-in amplifier is tuned to the difference between the two frequencies (f.sub.2 -f.sub.1). Piezoelectric apparatus is employed for translating the probe tip over the device under test.

This invention relates generally to systems for measuring electrical signals form electronic or optoelectronic devices and systems, and more particularly, to an electrode structure having a contact electrode for receiving the signals to be measured, and interdigitated electrode structure forming a metal-semiconductor-metal photoconductive gate, and an output electrode.
There is a need for an arrangement which can communicate directly with one or more portions of a circuit to be tested, such as an integrated circuit, and particularly for facilitating internal node testing within very large scale integration (VLSI) systems. Such node testing requires compliance with increasingly challenging specifications, since VLSI systems are increasing in circuit component density, and soon will have electrode dimensions nearing 0.1 .mu.m. Additionally, such VLSI systems will soon be operating a very high speeds, on the order of 50 ps and below. Known measurement systems fall short, by at least an order of magnitude of reaching both of these benchmarks simultaneously.
In addition to achieving communication with specific nodes within a VLSI system, and achieving the high gate speeds necessary to achieve meaningful measurements, it is essential that the measuring system be nondisturbing, in several senses. First, the measurement system should have a high electrical impedance so as not to produce loading of the integrated circuit components. Such electrical loading not only disturbs the circuit under test whereby the results obtained are representative of the operation of the circuit, but also present a danger to the circuit under test since such high density systems operate at extremely small currents. In addition, it is crucial that the measurement system not disturb the integrated circuit mechanically. It is well known that the internal mechanical structures of integrated circuits, particularly VLSI systems are extremely small and fragile.
A system for measuring signals in integrated circuitry should, in addition to the foregoing, produce absolute voltage measurements, including DC-offsets. In this manner, a true representation of the electrical activity within the integrated circuit is achieved. Such measurements should additionally be free of cross-talk from adjacent electrode structures.
With respect to temperature, there is a need for a system which can function at ambient temperatures and pressures which are elevated and fluctuating. Oftentimes, elevation in temperature is produced by the circuit under test, and therefore, it is imperative that the measurements system not itself be responsive to such temperatures.
Prior art arrangements have been unable to achieve a sufficient sensitivity. Such sensitivity preferably should be on the order of 1 .mu.V/.sqroot.Hz at a 1 MHz repetition rate. In addition, the measurement system should be translatable over a field of view of the circuit under test of at least 500 .mu.m by 500 .mu.m.
Currently available measurement systems are not capable of probing bonded pads and through-holes in passivation layers. Neither is there available in the state of the art a system capable of probing intermediate circuit layers of multilayer circuits.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide temporal resolution of less than 50 ps, and preferably on the order of 1 ps.
It is another object of this invention to provide a measurement system which achieves a spatial resolution of 0.1 .mu.M with repeat positionability.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an arrangement capable of measuring signals in VLSI circuits which does not disturb the circuit electrically.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a system for measuring signals in integrated circuits which does not disturb the circuit under test mechanically.
It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a system for measuring signals in integrated circuits which is immune to cross-talk from adjacent electrode structures.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a system which provides repeatable measurements of signals in VLSI circuits and which is immune to variations in ambient temperature and pressure.
It is also another object of this invention to provide a signal measurement system which achieves sensitivity on the order of 1 .mu.V/.sqroot.Hz at 1 MHz repetition rate.
It is yet an additional object of this invention to provide an integrated circuit measurement and testing arrangement which can test over a field of view of at least 500 .mu.m by 500 .mu.m.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a system for measuring signals in integrated circuits which is capable of probing bonded pads and through-holes in passivation layers.
It is a yet further object of this invention to provide an integrated circuit measurement system which is capable of probing intermediate circuit layers.
It is also a further object of this invention to provide a system for measuring signals in integrated circuits which is capable of multiple, synchronous measurements.
It is additionally another object of this invention to provide an arrangement for producing controlled translation of a probe over a VLSI system for communicating with predetermined portions of the VLSI system.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a system which achieves pulser and sampler functions using a single probe tip.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a system which achieves sampling at frequencies greater than 100 MHz.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system which achieves pulsing at frequencies greater than 100 MHz.

High-speed, high-impedance external photoconductive-type sampling probe/pulser


A method of making a ceramic tube of silicon and silicon carbide comprising the steps of covering a mandrel with carbon fiber material; infiltrating the carbon fiber material with a thermoset resin; curing the resin to render the carbon fiber material rigid and produce a green body; removing the mandrel to produce a free-standing body; treating the free standing body with graphite to fill voids and render the green body gas tight and infiltrating the green body with molten silicon to form a silicon and silicon carbide ceramic tube.

This invention relates generally to tubular ceramic articles and, more particularly, to tubular ceramic articles comprised of silicon and silicon carbide.
Radiant burner tubes are used in high temperature, corrosive environments such as found in gas fired industrial heat treating furnaces and aluminum melting furnaces. Commercially available radiant burner tubes include metal alloy (e.g., nickel-chromium-based alloy) tubes, ceramic composite (e.g., oxide ceramic fibers in a silicon carbide ceramic matrix) tubes, and ceramic (e.g., silicon carbide) monolith tubes. Such tubes typically have an upper use temperature in a range of about 1100.degree. C. (2012.degree. F.) for metal alloy tubes, to about 1260.degree. C. (2300.degree. F.) for ceramic composite tubes to about 1350.degree. C. (2462.degree. F.) for silicon carbide monolithic tubes.
Although monolithic silicon carbide radiant burner tubes are available, such tubes are typically very expensive.
Through the taking of great care and by making some compromises in properties it may be possible to select a ceramic composite from which to prepare a radiant burner tube which generally meets most, but not necessarily all, of the requirements for use in high temperature, chemically corrosive environments.
Silicon carbide, a crystalline compound of silicon and carbon, has long been known for its hardness, strength, and generally excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Silicon carbide has a low coefficient of expansion, good heat transfer properties and exhibits high strength and excellent creep resistance at elevated temperatures. These desirable properties may be attributed to strong covalent bonding. However, such strong bonding may also be the cause of a generally undesirable property of silicon carbide of being difficult to work or fabricate into particular useful shapes. For example, because at high temperatures silicon carbide dissociates rather than melts, it is not generally feasible to fabricate articles from silicon carbide by melt processing. Also, because silicon carbide has a relatively very slow diffusion rate, fabrication of such articles by plastic deformation processes is generally not viable.
It has been proposed to produce shaped silicon carbide articles by forming bodies of silicon carbide particles and either bonding or sintering the particles at high temperatures to form a consolidated body. If the particulate silicon carbide starting material is fine enough, and suitable sintering aids are added, the fine, particulate material will exhibit sufficient self-diffusion at high temperatures that the particulate material will sinter and form into a substantially dense single phase material. Sintering processes, in general, require fine powder starting materials and pressureless sintering processes, in particular, require an even finer starting material. Because of the needed fineness and high purity of the starting materials, articles formed by sintering processes are relatively expensive.
Coarser and less pure silicon carbide powders are known to bond together at high temperatures. However, the resultant products have considerable porosity and for that reason are usually not as strong, or as corrosion resistant, as more fully densified materials. The properties of such materials may be substantially improved by infiltrating the pores of such materials with silicon, in either vapor or liquid form, to produce a two phase, silicon-silicon carbide product. Although such processes utilize relatively inexpensive coarse powders as starting materials, they require two high temperature treatments such as in a furnace, one to form the silicon carbide to silicon carbide bond and a second, separate high temperature treatment, to infiltrate the formed body with silicon.
Mixtures of coarser and less pure silicon carbide powders with particulate carbon or with a carbon source material may be preformed and subsequently impregnated with silicon at high temperature to form "reaction bonded" or "reaction sintered" silicon carbide products. The carbon component may be in the form of particulate graphite or amorphous carbon, or may be in the form of a carbon source material, for example a carbonizable organic material, such as pitch, resin or similar materials, which will decompose during furnacing to yield carbon. The infiltrating silicon reacts with the carbon in the preformed body to form additional silicon carbide which bonds with the original silicon carbide particles to produce a dense silicon carbide article. Typically reaction bonded silicon carbide materials are characterized by almost zero porosity and the presence of a second phase, or residual, of silicon, usually greater than about 8% by volume.
In typical siliciding or typical reaction bonding processes, the particulate silicon carbide and carbon starting material is initially preformed or preshaped into an article, commonly referred to as a "green body", which is subsequently fired. The particulate silicon carbide and carbon starting mixture is commonly blended with a binder to aid in shaping. If the binder is dry, or relatively dry, the powder may be compacted to the desired shaped green body such as by using a press. If the binder is liquid, or semi-liquid, and is used in sufficient quantity, the mixture may suitably be slip cast, extruded or injection molded to form a shaped green body.
High temperature heat exchange components desirably have relatively thin walls to facilitate high rates of heat transfer. In general, previous techniques for fabricating tubular articles of silicon carbide have generally met with varying degrees of success.
One previously disclosed technique is the subject of commonly assigned Kasprzyk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,506, issued Dec. 6, 1988. In accordance therewith, a tubular article of silicon carbide and silicon is produced by concentrically positioning a vertical tubular column particulate silicon contiguous to a hollow, vertical tubular column of particulate silicon carbide, carbon, or mixtures of silicon and carbon, and heating the adjacent columns to a siliciding temperature. The silicon component infiltrates the column containing the particulate silicon carbide, carbon, or mixtures thereof, to form the tubular article.
While such a technique generally works well in producing straight tubular articles, such a technique is generally not well suited for producing arcuate tubular ceramic articles or ceramic tubular articles having arcuate sections or portions.
Consequently, arcuate tubular ceramic articles are generally formed by an alternative technique, such as by slip casting, for example. Unfortunately, such processing can be relatively slow and may also be either or both equipment and labor intensive. For example, such processing typically requires the use of various mixing and molding equipment and the labor associated therewith. As will be appreciated, such processing generally requires a large supply of plaster molds to permit the fabrication of a particular article in typical commercial production quantities. Further, such processing typically requires the use of various pieces of equipment such as mixing mills, vacuum deairing chambers and drying ovens as well as correspondingly large areas of floor space. Consequently, such processing can be more costly and time consuming than is desired or preferred.
In the past, mandrels have been used to make tubular articles. Rigid tubular articles have been made by placing the material that will form the tubular article about the mandrel and then hardening the material to a rigid state. After the tubular article has become rigid, the mandrel is removed from the interior thereof.
The removal of a mandrel from a tubular article having a simple shape is generally easily accomplished by sliding the mandrel out from the interior of the tubular article. For instance, for a tubular article having a straight, as opposed to a curved or bent shape, the corresponding mandrel is generally easily removed by simply sliding the mandrel out from the interior of the tubular article.
Conventional mandrels come in one piece and have an outer shape that generally corresponds to the shape of the interior of the tubular article being produced. In the past, it has been difficult to form rigid tubular articles in more complex forms, such as forms including both a straight portion and an arcuate portion, through the use of a single conventional mandrel. In practice, the fabrication of such tubular articles has necessitated the use of more than one mandrel: one mandrel is used to form the straight portion and a second mandrel is used to form the arcuate portion. These individual tubular segments formed from each of the separate mandrels are subsequently joined together to form the desired final tubular product.

Method of preparing tubular ceramic articles


A dental appliance being adaptable to fit a range of variously sized dental arches composed of a polymeric material that preferably comprises a hydrophilic foam, in which a medicinal agent such as, for example, carbamide peroxide, in dry or hydrated form, may be incorporated or predispensed. In one embodiment of the invention, the appliance may be provided in packaging, or medicinal agent may be provided in a separate dispenser that minimizes or prevents permeation by water.

Recently, home bleaching has been introduced into the dental health care market for the management of stained or discolored teeth. Such treatments are administered by application of bleaching products that are professionally prescribed and supervised, or purchased over the counter and self-administered.
In both the professional and over the counter markets, home bleaching is a technique utilizing oxidizing agents, such as carbamide peroxide or other peroxy compounds, which are delivered to the dental arch by the patient using a rigid dental appliance which is custom fabricated by a dentist or dental laboratory. Protocols supervised by dental professionals employing home bleaching generally have the patient apply a rigid custom dental appliance for periods of up to 120 minutes per day. The daily applications are administered over several weeks, thereby totaling between 20 to 40 hours of home bleaching time. Over the counter procedures typically call for reduced daily bleaching times of up to one hour, and vary in total treatment times.
The exact origin of home bleaching is unclear. The earliest reports of dental bleaching occurred in the mid-1960's when Glyoxide.TM., an over-the-counter preparation containing 10 percent carbamide peroxide in glycerin which was used for soft tissue wound healing (commercially available from Marion Merrel Dow, Inc.) was observed to have and used for the desirable side effect of whitening teeth. In 1972, Proxigel.TM. (commercially available from Reed & Carnrick Pharmacym), was introduced as the agent of choice for whitening teeth. Proxigel.TM. is a combination of water, glycerin, Carbopol.TM. (thickening agent) and 10% carbamide peroxide.
The first report of a home bleaching procedure was published in 1989, when Haywood and Heymann reported successful bleaching using Proxigel.TM. in a custom fabricated dental appliance to be worn at night. In the Haywood and Heymann procedure, the bleaching agent was placed in a soft plastic, vacuum-formed dental appliance for an average of 7.5 hours per night for 2 to 5 weeks. Also in 1989, a White and Brite.TM. bleaching agent (commercially available through Omni International) became the first system sold specifically for whitening teeth. White and Brite.TM. is a preparation contain ten per cent carbamide peroxide in glycerine, and is sold exclusively to dentists in conjunction with custom-fitted or prescription dental appliances. Since its introduction into the professional dental health care market, over 20 companies have marketed similar products.
Fabrication of rigid, custom dental appliances entails fabricating stone models of the patient's dental arch impressions, and heating and vacuum-forming a thermoplastic sheet corresponding to the stone models of a patient's dental arches. Thermoplastic films are sold in rigid or semi-rigid sheets, and are available in various sizes and thicknesses. Some manufacturers also may provide laminations of porous foams or low modulus plastics to the rigid thermoplastic films.
In the professional teeth bleaching market, dentists have traditionally utilized one of three types of dental appliances for delivery of home bleaching agents. All three are rigid and custom-fitted to an individual patient's dental arches. The first type is molded to closely fit a patient's dental arches, having no space or lining within the trough for inserting a dental arch.
The second type of rigid custom dental appliance is an "oversized" rigid custom dental appliance, wherein the facial surfaces of the teeth on the stone models are augmented with linings such as die spacers or light cured acrylics. In "oversized" appliances, thermoplastic sheeting is heated and subsequently vacuum formed around the augmented stone models of the dental arch.
The third type of rigid custom dental appliance, which is used with less frequency than the types of appliances described above, is a rigid bilaminated custom dental appliance fabricated from laminations of materials, ranging from soft porous foams to rigid, non-porous films. The non-porous, rigid thermoplastic shells of these bilaminated dental appliances encase and support an internal layer of soft, porous foam.
Professionally supervised bleaching systems utilizing each of these three varieties of custom-fitted appliances require at least two dental office visits and the fabrication of the rigid custom dental appliance. During the first office visit, the dentist explains the procedure, expected outcome and risks of side effects, and estimated costs of the professionally supervised dental bleaching. If the patient then wishes to proceed, dental impressions are taken and a second office visit is scheduled. During the interim period between the first and second office visits, a rigid custom-fitted dental appliance is fabricated from a thermoplastic sheet vacuum molded to a stone model of the patient's dental impressions. Subsequent to molding the appliance, the excess sheeting is removed and the resulting rigid, custom dental appliance polished and provided to the dentist for fitting to the patient's dental arches. If the patient elects to treat both upper and lower arches, a separate dental appliance for each arch must be fabricated.
At the second office visit, the dentist delivers the first bleaching treatment and instructs the patients on the proper procedure to dispense bleaching agent in the custom appliance. The dentist then provides to the patient a sufficient amount of carbamide peroxide gel to complete the home bleaching regimen prescribed. Typically, the dentist provides several syringes containing about 2 ml to 3 ml of 10 percent to 15 percent carbamide peroxide gel. The patient subsequently applies the bleaching agent daily or as the dentist otherwise prescribes. In the home dental care regimen, the patient dispenses the bleaching agent into the rigid custom dental appliance and then places the appliance over the dental arch for a specified period of time. Typically, the recommended treatment period ranges from 30 to 120 minutes per day. At the end of the treatment period, the dental appliance is removed, thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining bleaching agent, and then stored until the next application.
Unfortunately, there exist many problems with existing dental bleaching agent treatment systems. As to systems utilizing rigid custom-fabricated dental appliances, the time and expense of forming dental impressions, making the dental appliances and associated dental laboratory work, and multiple office visits are costly and time consuming. Moreover, if a dental appliance is improperly fitted or otherwise defective, a patient may be further inconvenienced by the requirement of additional office visits may be required.
Problems with existing dental treatment regimens are manifold. Conventional rigid, custom-fabricated dental appliances require time-consuming and expensive dentist office visits, dental laboratory tests and fitting of each patient's dentition. Furthermore, any changes in the surface of the patient's teeth, such as filings, crowns, and other accidental or therapeutic alterations of the dentition, would affect the fit of the rigid custom dental appliance and warrant repeating the entire fabrication procedure. Refabrication of the splint may also be required in the event of subsequent rebleaching.
There also exist particular drawbacks with custom bilaminated dental devices, including occlusion and retention of bleaching agent. Furthermore, cleaning and maintenance of foam-lined dental appliances may be problematic, due to the high surface area and pore volume of the foam materials.
Oversized rigid custom dental appliance also have particular drawbacks, including, but not limited to, occlusions in the augmented region, increased appliance fabrication time and cost irritation and the lip of the appliance contacting the gingival region, and decreased retention to the bleaching agent within the target area.
Such and other problems triggered the development of an alternative type of treatment regimen employing self-administered dental bleaching replacing rigid custom dental appliances with disposable soft universal fit, U-shaped appliances. Soft open cell foam trays saturated with a premeasured quantity of bleaching agent (distributed through Cadco Dental Products in Oxnard, Calif. under the tradename VitalWhite.TM.). Recommended treatment protocol described in the product's package insert instructs the patient to fit the device around his or her teeth and to keep the tray in position for sixty minutes after which time it is removed and discarded. Cadco recommends delivery of fourteen sixty-minute applications in a two week period.
Unfortunately, however, side effects of foam appliances used in home bleaching systems have also presented their unique drawbacks. Such foam appliances fail to direct and confine the application of home bleaching agents on the surfaces of a patient's teeth, which is critical to the safety and efficacy of any dental appliance, or other medical device used in or on the human body. Furthermore, the surfaces of such foam devices, which are saturated with bleaching agent are open and exposed to the oral cavity, and allow the elution of large quantities of bleaching agent from the device, enter the oral cavity, and be ingested by the patient. In addition, because of the discomfort associated with the moisture buildup resulting from foaming of the bleaching agent and salivation, patient compliance and acceptance is low.
Such disadvantages include, but are not limited to, the bulk of foam trays of such systems, lack of adequate structural rigidity to fit securely over the dental arches, excessive salivation, and consequent adverse side effects, including hypersensitive reactions and nausea. The likelihood of such side effects is commensurably increases with the strength of the bleaching agent concentration, and is more likely if a patient is unaccustomed to teeth bleaching.
To date, no medicinal agents have been derived to alleviate or attenuate such and other contraindications. Nor have compositions been derived to general, improve the condition of the teeth and mouth, regardless of whether the dentition have been subject to whitening or another dental procedure. Thus, there exist many problems with devices for delivery of home bleaching agents which are presently available.
Additional drawbacks with known systems for treatment of dental arches relate to improper dispensation of agents into dental appliances, particularly when the agents are dispensed by patients who are inexperienced and unaware of the importance of precision and infection control. Improper dispensing may result in overfilling, spillage or incorrect measurement of the agent. Lack of aseptic technique increases the risk of contaminating the bleaching or other medicinal agent into an appliance. Patients who self-administer bleaching or other medicinal agents often fail to provide the careful maintenance, cleaning, and storage which is necessary for a rigid custom dental appliance to perform adequately throughout its entire service life.
Further disadvantages of known bleaching systems relate to dispensing of excessive bleaching or other medicinal agent into the dental appliance which is subsequently displaced from the appliance into the oral cavity, spilled into the mouth, and ingested. Ingestion of significant amounts of bleaching agent may cause the user great discomfort and hypersensitive reactions. The excessive bleaching agent may also cause gingival irritation, burning, edema, nausea and other allergic reactions. A patient may thus ingest The risk of such side effects excessive quantities of bleaching agent increases with the number of treatments, and becomes most significant after the multiple treatments typically required to attain acceptable clinical results. The sponge-like permeability of disposable foam trays merely exacerbates-problems of systems utilizing custom dental appliances resulting from their poor retention or confinement of the bleaching agent to the target area.
Some of the above problems were addressed by the single-step, single use dental appliance and method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,654, a predecessor to the present application. The latter system addresses problems resulting from leakage and hygiene discussed above by utilizing a prefabricated U-shaped dental appliance composed of a nonporous polymer that has a front and rear wall integrally joined at their lower edges to form a trough. As claimed, a predetermined amount of bleaching agent is predispensed in its trough. A layer of open cell foam is preferably affixed to the front and rear walls of the latter appliance.
Although the latter system addressed significant drawbacks relating to leakage and spillage, limitations of this predispensed, prepackaged, single-step dental treatment procedure persist. A particular limitation involves the reduced shelf life and associated efficacy of existing bleaching agents, particularly when predispensed in an appliance. Over a limited period of time, the efficacy of the agent may be attenuated primarily due to moisture in the agent or the surrounding air.
Currently available bleaching agents utilized in both the professional and over the counter markets are either viscous liquids or gels. The peroxy compounds are hydrous and typically provided in gel matrices of differing concentrations. Carbamide peroxide gels dispensed in the professional market range between about 10 to 25 percent while the concentration of carbamide peroxide in over the counter products range between about 6 and 15 percent. Bleaching agents are commercially available and packaged in separate dispensing containers such as bottles and tubes, and most often, gels. The peroxy compounds utilized in the professional and over the counter markets are hydrated and generally provided in gel matrices differing in concentration. Carbamide peroxide gels dispensed in the professional market range between about 10 and 25 percent, while the concentration of carbamide peroxide in over the counter products range between about 6 and 15 percent. When applied at home, the patient dispenses an estimated quantity of bleaching agent to the rigid custom dental appliance, and then places the appliance over the dental arches being treated.
Existing carbamide peroxide systems utilize gels comprising hydrogen peroxide coupled to urea in either anhydrous glycerin base or a soluble, aqueous Carbopol base. When carbamide peroxide is hydrated, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into urea and peroxide, which subsequently breaks down into water and oxygen. This instability of the agent in hydrated form limits the efficacy of existing bleaching agents, particularly when exposed to water.
This background is not an exhaustive discussion of problems with prior art bleaching systems, but merely exemplifies some prevalent drawbacks encountered with present devices. Therefore, it is apparent that there is a need for substantial improvement in dental treatments involving application of bleach or other medicinal agents to a patient's dentition and periodontal tissue.

Method and device for treatment of dentition


A step ladder stabilizer for mounting behind the front step portion and having two adjusting legs which adjust as a slide lock moves vertically within a slot attached to the rear of the ladder steps. When not in use, the ladder stabilizer closes flush against the back of the ladder steps. An alternate embodiment includes a ladder stabilizer for an extension ladder comprising an extending leg and a stabilizer arm with the top of the extending leg attaching to a slide lock that slides along a channel mounted on the side of the ladder. Bolts passing through expansion inserts hold the channel onto each side of the ladder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ladders and in particular to ladder stabilizers which are attached to a ladder and provide safety by reducing the possibility of slipping or tipping.
2. Description of Related Art
Ladders are known to be unstable and often require the assistance of a second person for steadying the ladder when a first person has climbed the ladder. However, another person is not always available when a ladder has to be used. There have been many devices made for stabilizing a ladder, and yet they do not solve the problems of being adjustable to all site conditions, convenient to use, easily installed on the ladder, compromising the integrity of the ladder, interfering with the use of the ladder, retractable and out of the way for storage, and providing stabilization when one side of the ladder is close to a wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,054 issued to Clayton E. Larson in 1975 discloses a step ladder stabilized by channel members which are fixed on each side of the lowest rung of the ladder and have an extendable member. Braces are provided at the upper rungs to provide rigidity and resistance against sway. However, it is not adjustable to all site conditions and adds very little stabilization to the ladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,488 issued to John V. Stewart on Oct. 23, 1990 discloses a step ladder stabilizer for a step ladder comprising a brace hinged to a ladder rail and an arm hinged to the rail at a lower position trussing the brace. The stabilizers on each side of the ladder fold against the front of the ladder. However, this ladder stabilizer is not adjustable to all site conditions and it interferes with the use of the ladder when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,222, issued to Francois Charbonneau on Feb. 9, 1999 discloses an extension ladder having a telescopic tube mounted to each side of the ladder's lower section and a lateral brace to support the telescopic tube extending away from each side of the ladder. However, the telescopic tubes bolt to the ladder which may compromise the integrity of the ladder, it is not easily installed on the ladder, and it is cumbersome and inconvenient to use. Also, it has removable pins and clips which are easily lost.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,231, issued to Douglas A. Chantler et al. on Apr. 3, 1979 discloses a ladder stabilizing device connected on the outer sides of the side pieces of the ladder. The device comprises outwardly extensible legs having an upper leg part connected to a slide plate on the side of the ladder which adjusts up and down. A lower leg support extends from the side of the ladder near the bottom and extends out to the upper leg part at its lower end. The upper and lower leg parts lie flat against the side of the ladder for storage when the ladder is not in use. However, this device lifts the ladder legs off the surface which eliminates the stability which otherwise would be provided by these legs. Also, this device is cumbersome and inconvenient to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,477, issued to Robert Ralston on May 28, 1984 discloses an adjustable stabilizer device for an extension ladder with hollow rungs comprising two stabilizing elements, an upper bracket and a lower bracket. Each stabilizing element connects to an upper right angle bracket which connects to a side wall bracket. The stabilizing elements are connected to each other by rods which extend through the hollow rungs of the ladder and attach to the side wall brackets. When the ladder is not in use the stabilizer elements are retained flush against the sides of the ladder for storage. However, this device is not adjustable to all site condition, is cumbersome and inconvenient to use, and has removable pins and clips which can be easily lost.


Embodiments are directed to systems and apparatuses for tracking usage of a packetized item. In one scenario, an apparatus may be provided for tracking use of a packetized item. The apparatus may include a roll of packets where each packet is designed to contain packetized items such as pills. The packets may have an electrically conductive material applied to various parts thereof. The apparatus may also include an enclosure configured to track usage of the packets. The enclosure may include a power source, a display, a transceiver, and a microcontroller that is configured to control operation of the display and may also analyze signals from the electrically conductive material to determine the distribution status of the packets. In one example, as packets are removed from the roll of packets, the microcontroller can determine when, where and how many packets were removed from the roll.

In today's marketplace, items for sale are often distributed in disposable packages. Food items such as cereal, toys including action figures and dolls, or even small kitchen appliances may each be packaged in disposable packaging. Other items such as pills may also be packaged in disposable packaging. In some cases, the pills may be packaged together in a pouch or sleeve. These pouches may include a collection of different pills, for example, where each pouch is to be consumed at a certain time of day. Other items may be distributed using a similar method of packaging.
Manufacturers of these packages typically produce these packages and ship them to their various destinations. The manufacturers typically have no way of knowing when or if their packages were used. They simply produce the packages and send them to the user or to a reseller, not having any way of knowing whether the packages were ever opened.

Trackable, packetized distrubution system


A method for distributing digital subscriber line (xDSL) data traffic includes receiving xDSL traffic at a DSLAM including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output queues. Each input port includes a plurality of virtual circuits. Each of the plurality of virtual circuits are dynamically assigned to one of the plurality of output queues. The assignment of any particular virtual circuit to one of the plurality of output queues is independent of which of the plurality of input ports the particular virtual circuit is associated with. In accordance with the particular embodiment, the total number of virtual circuits is greater than a total number of output queues.

As communication networks provide greater connectivity and access to information, there is an increasing demand for data communication at higher rates. One solution to providing increased data rates replaces existing twisted pair wiring with high bandwidth media, such as coaxial cables or fiber optic links. Other solutions adopt improved communication techniques using the existing hardware infrastructure. For example, digital subscriber line xDSL technology provides higher bandwidth data service over existing twisted pair wiring.
xDSL data traffic is transmitted over a network having various telecommunications components, including digital subscriber line-access multiplexers (DSLAMs). A DSLAM is a distribution device for xDSL service from a central office. The DSLAM combines and separates different formats of communications contained in xDSL carriers and routes them to their respective hosts. In general, the amount of bandwidth available for transmitting communications from end users to the Internet decreases as the communications approach the Internet. Therefore, a DSLAM typically incorporates asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching fabric which multiplexes local subscriber traffic with user traffic arriving from subtended DSLAMs. xDSL data traffic is often buffered, and/or queued at a DSLAM, until sufficient bandwidth is available to continue along the path to the Internet, or other communication network.

System and method for assignment of ATM virtual circuits to queues in a DSLAM


A foot insert is provided that is capable of providing protective cushioning to an area at the front of a wearer's foot including an area extending from the front tips of the toes to the metatarsal region of the ball portion of the foot. The foot insert includes a half-sock formed from a stretchable fabric material and is capable of extending over a toe portion up to about a mid-point of a length of a wearer's foot. A cushioning pad is attached to a lower sole portion of the half-sock and is formed from a shape-memory material that is capable of substantially permanently molding into a shape of a bottom portion and toes of the wearer's foot upon use.

A common problem experienced by athletes and non-athletes alike when wearing shoes is the shifting of weight toward the ball and toe portions of their feet and shoes. The toe and ball portions of a foot, and more particularly, a metatarsal region of the ball portion of the foot, generally receive a majority of the normal pressures of the foot when a person walks and/or runs during the course of the day. Moreover, experiencing such pressures intermittently when making sudden stops or cuts while participating in more vigorous activities such as football or soccer, for example, may also cause severe soreness, callouses, and/or foot damage known as 'turf toe'.
Furthermore, individuals already suffering from various frontal foot maladies such as, for example, calluses, corns, and hammertoes, are oftentimes unable to comfortably wear shoes and, therefore, resort to the use of one or more different types of known toe and/or foot pads to mitigate the pain. The daily or semi-daily use of these known toe and/or foot pads can provide limited results and can involve a relatively complex and time-consuming application procedure. As a result, some individuals resort to wearing larger shoes to reduce or eliminate the agitation of their foot maladies. However, oversized shoes can introduce new foot discomfort because they do not properly fit the foot.
Accordingly, a need exists for a device that can be readily slipped onto a front portion of a foot and that can cushion and protect the foot against pressures created by the shifting of weight toward the front of a shoe. In particular, a need exists for a device that is capable of readily conforming to the shape of the wearer's front foot and cushioning it from various pressures encountered during activities ranging from casual walking to strenuous sporting activities requiring sudden stops and/or lateral movement.


For exhaust gas recirculation in internal combustion engines operating, for example, with low sulphur marine diesel oil, an exhaust gas cooler with a cooling unit may be applied that uses a liquid injection system to maintain clean and/or clean a cooling surface of the cooling unit. The liquid injection system may provide liquid into an exhaust gas passage upstream of and or along a condensation starting region the cooling surface, thereby reducing the formation of films and deposits from particulate matter and condensing liquid of an evaporated liquid within the exhaust gas such as sulphuric acid and/or water, as those deposits could otherwise at least partially block the exhaust gas cooler.

Due to a recently grown sense of responsibility for the environment and current and prospective emission regulations, it is an object of engine manufacturers to reduce the amount of air pollutants generated by internal combustion engines. Those air pollutants may include particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulphur components.
Engine manufacturers have developed various approaches to reduce generation and exhaust of air pollutants. A well known technique to reduce generation of NOx is EGR. EGR may be performed by re-circulating a portion of the exhaust gas to the combustion process. Thereby, the temperature within the combustion chamber may be lowered and, thus, the generation of NOx may be reduced. To guide the exhaust gas to the charge air system, EGR lines may branch off at different positions in the exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine.
For example, a so-called high pressure EGR may have its inlet arranged upstream of an exhaust gas turbine. The terminology "high pressure" is derived from the fact that the extracted exhaust gas has a pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure. The outlet of the EGR line may open into the charge air system of the internal combustion engine, for example, into the charge air manifold or upstream of the charge air manifold and downstream of a charge air cooler.
WO2011/066871 A1 discloses an exemplary embodiment of a high pressure EGR line. The EGR line is interconnected between an exhaust gas line and an air inlet. A high temperature (HT) cooler, an exhaust gas compressor, and a low temperature (LT) cooler are arranged within the EGR line. The extracted exhaust gas may subsequently be cooled in the HT cooler, pressurized in the exhaust gas compressor, and be further cooled in the LT cooler.
Cooling below or within the range of a dew point of an evaporated liquid within the extracted exhaust gas, for example, within a "high pressure" or a "low pressure" EGR line, may result in condensation of that liquid around condensation nuclei. Those condensation nuclei may be PM or a cooling surface of an exhaust gas cooler. As LT cooler typically include a condensation starting region where said dew point may be reached, that condensation starting region may be particularly affected. For example, formation of deposits containing PM and sulphuric acid may deposit on the cooling surface and may subsequently grow during operation. Those deposits (also referred to as fouling) may result in various negative effects on the EGR system and the engine such as an increased pressure drop across the LT cooler, a decreased cooling efficiency of the LT cooler, and/or a corroding cooling surface due to aggressive sulphuric acid.
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving or overcoming one or more aspects of prior systems.


ECG and ultrasound data of the heart are acquired in real-time during a scan. A data acquisition module is controlled during the scan to prospectively gate acquisition of CT data as a function of the real-time ECG data and the real-time ultrasound data. An image is reconstructed from the acquired CT data.

The present invention relates generally to diagnostic imaging and, more particularly, to correcting motion errors in imaging data acquired from an object prone to motion.
Various imaging modalities are useful to image objects in or prone to motion, such as the heart in cardiac studies. For example, in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging modalities directed to the acquisition of data from an object prone to motion, one or more motion correction techniques are generally used to reduce motion-induced artifacts in the reconstructed images. In known studies, this motion correction or compensation can add significant complexity in post processing of the images.
In one specific example, CT imaging requires measurement of more than 180 degrees of projection data to formulate an image. Because of various limitations in conventional CT scanners, the time necessary to collect a complete set of projection data is significant relative to object motion. For example, cardiac CT imaging is typically performed with the aid of an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, which is used to synchronize data acquisition and image reconstruction with the phase of minimal cardiac motion. The ECG signal collected from the patient represents the electrical properties of the heart and is helpful in identifying the quiescent period of cardiac activity, which is preferred for data acquisition. Moreover, the ECG signal assists in identifying this quiescent period over several cardiac cycles. By synchronizing data collection with the quiescent period of the cardiac cycle, image artifacts and spatial resolution due to heart motion are reduced. Additionally, by consistently identifying this quiescent period in successive cardiac cycles, inconsistencies between images acquired at different cardiac cycles are reduced. ECG signals can be used similarly in MR and other imaging modalities. The ECG signal can gate acquisition of projection (known as prospective gating) or may be used subsequent to data acquisition (known as retrospective gating) to identify the phase of the cardiac cycle with minimum motion. Prospective gating allows dramatic reduction in dose administered to the patient since projection data is not collected during phases of the heart having significant organ motion.
The conventional ECG gating described above does not provide mechanical motion detection. That is, while an ECG signal can indicate that motion is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur, it is a boundary measurement (electrical signals within the heart are measured on the surface of a patient) and does not provide accurate real-time displacement data of the heart. Instead, mechanical motion of the heart must be inferred from the electrical activity measured in the ECG signal. Since actual mechanical motion, or displacement, of the heart contributes to sub-optimal image quality, cardiac images that depend solely on ECG signals often require significant post processing to correct for motion artifacts or often require a very high acquisition rate to minimize the extent of cardiac motion during acquisition.
CT reconstruction typically does not utilize a priori information on heart motion. In conventional ECG-gated cardiac CT studies, the heart is presumed to be a stationary object during the short acquisition period identified as the quiescent period in the acquired ECG signal (applicable to both prospective and retrospective gating techniques). Conventionally, half-scan imaging techniques (requiring a fraction of the time for one complete rotation of the gantry about the subject) are used to reduce the impact of motion; however, their effectiveness is less than optimal since half-scan weighting techniques used for image reconstruction combine CT projection data acquired at both extents the of angular range of data acquisition covering 180 degree plus the fan angle of the X-ray beam. The interpolation of projection data at both ends of the dataset is predetermined and, therefore, does not change based on each particular acquisition as needed since there is no a priori information available. For data collected roughly in the center of the angular range of projection data acquisition, the data is incorporated without any weighting. Further, even with a gantry speed of 0.3 s/rotation, the central region of the projection range constitutes a slightly larger than 150 ms temporal window, which is prohibitively slow to sufficiently "freeze" cardiac motion. The data acquisition window for CT systems having dual tube-detector assemblies is typically between 70 ms and 80 ms during which heart motion may occur. Ideally, a temporal window of 20 ms to 40 ms is needed to adequately freeze cardiac motion.
It would therefore be desirable to synchronize data acquisition and image reconstruction with cardiac phase and motion data to acquire and reconstruct substantially motion-free datasets and images.

Method and apparatus of CT cardiac diagnostic imaging using motion a priori information from 3D ultrasound and ECG gating


A method of manufacturing a composite panel for an air vehicle having a predetermined size and shape. The method includes forming a frame including an outer mold line surface and at least one edge extending from the outer mold line surface. The outer mold line surface includes an OML inner surface. The edge includes an edge inner surface and an edge outer surface opposite the edge inner surface. The OML inner surface and the edge inner surface define a cavity. The method also includes positioning a plurality of uncured plies within the cavity. The OML inner surface and the edge inner surface support the uncured plies during a curing process. The method further includes curing the uncured plies using the curing process. A post-cure size and shape of the cured plies and the frame corresponds to the predetermined size and shape without trimming any of the cured plies.

Formed composite structures or panels are commonly used in applications, such as aircraft and vehicles, where a light weight, high strength structure is needed. These applications may require complex contoured parts that must be formed and then cured. Conventionally, the manufacture of complex contoured composite structures has included extensive hand labor prior to and after curing. For example, pre-impregnated composite fiber plies ("pre-pregs") such as epoxy impregnated carbon fiber laminates are placed or "laid up" by hand over a shaped form or mandrel. The laminate structure is then cured, such as by heat curing. This method results in a contoured composite structure that generally matches the shape of the mandrel. However, manual lay-up of pre-preg plies or dry fabric is a time-consuming and laborious task. For example, a technician may be required to retrieve individual plies from a ply cutting station and then physically walk the plies along the mandrel to manually locate the plies thereon.
Additionally, after curing of the pre-preg plies or dry fabric, edges of the cured composite fibers are typically frayed and distorted by the pressure of the curing process. Additionally, while the plies are constructed to engineering tolerances, the engineering tolerances are very loose due to the difficulty of placing the plies on the mandrel. More specifically, the plies stick to the mandrel and remain place once located on the mandrel. As such, the plies cannot be accurately placed in the correct location within the mandrel, and the final size of the cured composite fibers does not correspond to the final specified size of the composite structures. Thus, the cured composite fibers must be manually or automatically cut or trimmed to the final, specified shape and size. Specifically, the cured composite fibers may be manually trimmed using a hand router guided by a trim fixture or the cured composite fibers may be automatically trimmed using a 3-5 axis computer numerical control machine. However, manually or automatically trimming the cured composite fibers is a time-consuming and laborious task, and may introduce process variations that lead to undesired inconsistencies in the finished structures. Moreover, the equipment required to trim the cured composite fibers is expensive, and the processing time adds considerable manufacturing cost to the composite structures.
Further, the cured composite fibers are typically sealed (and painted) after curing to protect the composite fibers from the elements and to prevent edge glow. Sealing the cured composite fibers is also a time-consuming and laborious task, and manual sealing may introduce process variations that lead to undesired inconsistencies in the finished structures. Finally, when the composite panels are assembled on the vehicle, a gap is typically formed between adjacent composite panels. The gaps must be manually filled with a sealant, which is also a time-consuming and laborious task, and manual sealing the gaps may introduce process variations that lead to undesired inconsistencies in the finished structures.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.


A method and apparatus for fairly allocating a shared resource among N operating devices of a computer system. The resource allocation is implemented by operating the shared resource to process data for each of the N operating devices in a round robin manner, through a series of time slots. The shared resource processes up to a fixed maximum amount of data during each time slot.

Modern computer systems often comprise a plurality of operating devices and a shared resource. The operating devices can comprise, e.g., I/O controllers such as serial communication controllers in a line interface card arranged to couple a plurality of data transmission lines through corresponding modems to a processor. The processor is therefore shared by the communication controllers to process data, typically in the form of data packets, received at or to be transmitted by the serial communication controllers.
In known computer systems, a common memory is used to buffer data packets between the shared processor and the serial communication controllers. The common memory is typically divided into a plurality of buffers and each serial communication controller is allocated a fixed number of buffers for buffering of data packets received at or to be transmitted by the respective serial communication controller. Each data packet is stored in a separate buffer, but a single data packet may be stored in several buffers if its size is larger than the buffer size. The shared processor polls the buffers in a round robin fashion, through a sequence of time slots, to process one buffer per time slot.
However, in many applications, the data packets received at or transmitted by each of the serial communication controllers may vary in size from a few bytes to several bytes in length. The amount of processing time required to process each data packet is approximately proportional to the size of the data packet. A serial communication controller that typically receives relatively large data packets can dominate the use of the shared processor when the processor follows a round robin schedule that fixes the processing of data packets to one buffer per time slot. This is because each relatively large data packet may completely fill one buffer and may even fill more than one buffer. Thus, the shared processor will be required to process a relatively large amount of data during each time slot allocated to the buffers of the serial communication controller receiving relatively large data packets.
A serial communication controller that receives a series of relatively small data packets will, on the other hand, only partially fill each one of several buffers, one data packet per buffer, with only one of its buffers being processed by the shared processor during each round robin polling cycle. The serial communication controller may therefore run out of available buffers before the shared processor can completely process all of the relatively small data packets. Thus, the one buffer per time slot processing scheme typically utilized in computer systems is often deficient in operating environments wherein the amount of data requests to be processed during each scheduled time slot varies greatly from device to device.

Deterministic method for allocation of a shared resource


An apparatus is provided which includes a valve transmission designed to connect a valve actuator to a rotational valve. The valve transmission includes a pinion, a pair of stepped racks, and a lower gear, all within a housing. The pinion is designed to be driven by a rotating shaft of an actuator. The pinion engages the teeth of the racks on the upper steps. The lower steps of the rack are displaced laterally from the upper steps to engage a lower gear that is either of lesser or greater diameter than the pinion depending on whether a positive or negative mechanical advantage is desired. The lower steps drive the lower gear which is connected to the drive shaft of a rotational valve. The transmission is placed within a housing which removeably mounts to the valve body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pipeline valve apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in valve transmission apparatus.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Various methods and devices for imparting rotary motion to rotary actuated devices are known in industry. For example, ball and butterfly valves that are used for controlling the flow of liquid materials ranging from milk to oil are commonly controlled by rotary actuators that convert linear motion to rotary motion. In addition, rotary actuators have also been used to impart rotary motion to indexing tables on small part assembly lines in the electronics industry. In general, rotary actuators have also been used in a plethora of other process and assembly operations requiring rotary motion. Such rotary actuators, in some applications, are directly linked to the valves or other devices to be rotated. However, it is desirable to have a transmission between the actuator and the valve which alters the speed of rotation and torque between the output shaft of an actuator and input shaft to the valve or other devices. In some applications, the device to be rotated requires greater power than the actuator is capable of producing. In other applications, it is necessary to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of the valve from the speed of rotation of the actuator shaft. Transmissions are desirable which will achieve the increased or decreased torque or speed while transmitting the motion from the actuator to the valve.
Heretofore, valve transmissions have been of various types including, for example, a transmission which has an actuator and transmission integral with one another. This transmission has a piston, which when actuated, drives a rack in lateral alignment with the piston to turn a pinion. Such an arrangement severely limits the versatility of the transmission as the actuator and transmission are one unit. Also, in order to change the gear ratio or other operating characteristics of such a transmission, the entire actuator/transmission unit must be replaced. A transmission is needed which provides for a simple method of changing the gear ratio without replacing the entire actuator.
A transmission is also needed which includes electronic and mechanical monitoring systems to indicate the position of the valve.
A transmission is further needed which will permit accurate, efficient and effective conversion of the linear motion of an actuator to rotary motion for an object to be rotated.
The present invention is directed toward an improved design for a valve transmission apparatus which overcomes, among others, the above discussed problems.


The present invention relates to a new wheelchair that is adjustable in length, width and height in order to be adapted to different users of different sizes or to a child growing up. The wheelchair comprises a T-shaped rear frame, a T-shaped front frame and a seat assembly. Each T-shaped frame is made of a long arm and two short arms. The rear frame and the front frame are telescopically connected together in such a manner so as to articulate both frame together and to allow to adjust the distance between the front and rear wheels. The two rear wheels are adjustably mounted to the rear frame so that the distance separating the wheels may be adjusted. The seat assembly is mounted on the rear frame and is adjustable in height. The front wheels are mounted on the front frame at each end of the two short arms.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wheelchair and, more particularly, to a new wheelchair that is adjustable in length, width and height in order to be adapted to different users of different sizes or to a child growing up.
(b) Description of Prior Art
There are many different kinds of wheelchairs, many of which are provided with features that allow them to be adapted to different situations or different users.
Presently available wheelchairs are not provided with adjustable characteristics in such a manner that the same wheelchair could be used comfortably or with security by a child or an adult. Most of the wheelchairs are adapted to accept or adapt to small variations in weight or size. In some cases the wheelchairs, by construction, will accept small variation and in some other cases the wheelchairs are adapted to accept larger variations by using different interchangeable and adaptable components, such as the wheelchairs described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,540.
Most wheelchairs have rigid frames and have little or no suspension. On uneven ground, a rider will be subject to a rough ride, unless the wheelchair is equipped with a suspension, and still, such wheelchair cannot provide a smooth ride.
Some wheelchairs are adjustable in length allowing for the distance between the front and rear wheels to be adjusted. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,166 proposes a wheelchair for the handicapped, and in particular to a novel means for removably coupling front wheel portions and rear wheel portions to obtain assembled wheelchairs having various different functions. In one embodiment of the invention, the connection between the front and the rear portions are provided by telescopically related horizontal square tubes.
Some other wheelchairs are provided with adjustable seats or other devices allowing them to be adjusted in height to fit different users of different heights. U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,968 proposes a patient-operated wheelchair in which vertical adjustment of position is provided so that the user of the wheelchair in a seated position would be able to elevate himself so that his upper torso would be at a height equivalent to a standing position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,722 discloses a wheelchair having a seat which can be adjustably positioned between the frame members of the wheelchair
Some wheelchairs are adjustable in width allowing for the transverse distance between the side wheels to be adjusted. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,570 proposes an ultra light chair having a seat frame separate from a main frame with seat mountings permitting longitudinal, tilt and height adjustment of the seat on the main frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,151 discloses a wheelchair adapted to provide enhanced mobility for an occupant together with making ground level activities available. The wheelchair comprises a frame that is adapted to be extended upwards or collapsed on itself in order to raise or lower the seat of the wheelchair.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,348 proposes an adjustable wheelchair which facilitates independent seat height and width adjustment to accommodate varying wheelchair size needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,842 proposes an adjustable wheelchair to accommodate changes in the size of an individual, such as a growing child. Accordingly, the seat portion of the wheelchair is adjustable in width continuously over a widely defined range. Furthermore, the seat of the wheelchair is adjustable vertically.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,624 proposes a wheelchair with a height-adjustable seat.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,693 proposes a wheelchair for a child which grows and expands with the child. The wheelchair may be used to custom-fit wheelchairs to adults, enabling it to be used by adults or children of different sizes. Accordingly, the wheelchair is adjustable in width while retaining constant height.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,816 proposes a wheelchair having opposite side frames which comprise individual frame sections which are connected by a longitudinally and angularly adjustable joint allowing for adjustable width of the wheelchair.
As apparent from the above, many adjustable devices exist for wheelchairs. The most common device is the adjustability which allows the seat to be raised, lowered, tilted or inclined in different positions for different users. Some other wheelchairs, in order to allow expansion with the user, are provided with chairs of adjustable length. In this case, the front wheels may be adjusted more or less distant from the rear wheels. In some cases, an adjustment is provided to increase or decrease the distance between the two main wheels of the wheel chair, that is generally the rear wheels.
In any event, none of the prior art described above discloses a wheelchair which is capable of being adjusted in length, in width and in height either by elevated or lowering the seat or increasing or lowering the distance between either the rear set of wheels or between the rear and the front set of wheels or of all these possibilities altogether.


A system includes a memory device. The memory device has a first bank and a second bank. A memory controller has a write request queue to store write requests. When a read bank conflict exists between a first read request to the first bank and a second read request to the first bank, a first write request is executed to the second bank during a delay. The delay takes place after the first read request is executed and before the second read request is executed.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of this invention relate to the field of memory controllers to read and write to a memory.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Current Double Data Rate ("DDR") and Double Date Rate-II ("DDR-II") Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) subsystems exhibit significant latency when performing back-to-back reads to the same bank in memory. Several server chipsets can operate within a single rank of memory, providing a total of 4 independent memory banks. The probability of random traffic hitting the same bank repeatedly in such configuration is 1:4 (25%). In the case of page empty accesses (which are typical in server chipsets), the total bank conflict time is the total of the "activate to read" (tRCD) latency plus the "read to pre-charge" (tRPD) latency plus the "pre-charge" to "activate" (tRP) latency, or the "activate to activate command period" (tRC), whichever timing constraint is longer. In the case of DDR-266, Intel DDR-266 JEDEC Specification Addendum, Rev. 09, published Aug. 14, 2001, this bank conflict duration is typically 65 ns. In the case of DDR-II-533, published Jun. 25, 2001, this bank conflict duration is typically 60 ns. In contrast, the total data latency for a burst of 4 (32 bytes) for each memory technology is only 15 ns and 7.5 ns, respectively.
Traditional read-write switching methods prioritize read requests until the write requests queue up to a preset threshold. Then, an amount of write requests are "drained" back-to-back, and priority returns to the read requests (which are queued while waiting for the writes to drain). However, such read-write switching methods are slow and inefficient because no additional reads or writes are executed during the bank conflict duration.

Read-write switching method for a memory controller


It is the object of the present invention to provide a coffee extract manufacturing method which prevents deterioration of flavor and precipitation in the coffee extract during long-term preservation and also keeps a sealed container filled with the coffee extract from expanding to deform or break for long preservation or heat sterilization. The invention is directed to a coffee extract manufacturing method allowing a long-term preservation, which has achieved the above object by adding strong alkaline salt that is alkaline noncarbonate into coffee extract.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of manufacturing a coffee extract allowing a long-term preservation, and more particularly to a coffee extract manufacturing method, allowing a long-term preservation of a coffee extract that has a high concentration of solid content and is diluted for drinking.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some components in coffee extract become insoluble and precipitate during long-term preservation. The amount of precipitation is especially large in coffee extract which has high concentration of solids content and is diluted for drinking, and this reduces the value of the product. This precipitation occurs even during refrigeration, and accelerates in ordinary temperature.
The precipitation of insoluble components in coffee extract proceeds from the decline of hydrogen ion exponent (pH), which causes not only precipitation or cloudiness in coffee extract but also deterioration of flavor accompanied with increase of sourness.
Therefore as a method of preventing this precipitation and deterioration of flavor, there has been proposed a manufacturing process containing addition of sodium hydrogen carbonate into coffee extract(Japanese Patent Laid-open Pub. Nos. 61-74543, 2-222647, 6-2925).
However, if coffee extract is filled into a sealed container, the use of a large quantity of alkaline carbonate, such as sodium hydrogen carbonate mentioned above, causes gas because of long preservation or heat sterilization with the result that the container expands to deform and break. The invention purposes to solve these problems and has achieved its purpose by the completion of the invention mentioned below.

Method of manufacturing coffee extract allowing long-term preservation


A base frame for an offshore platform and a method for installing such a base frame includes a self-floating lower building structure having a stable trim, at least one tank in the lower building structure which is dimensioned such that the lower building structure sinks when the tank is flooded, mechanism for flooding at least one tank, and a mechanism for bearing piles in upright standing arrangement on the lower building structure. The method builds a base frame, transports the base frame to the sea in a self-floating manner and floods the base frame until it is on the sea floor and then anchors the base frame to the sea floor with piles.

The present invention relates to a base frame for an offshore platform and to a method for installing a base frame for an offshore platform.
Offshore platforms are artificial floors in the sea, which mostly serve for housing technical equipment and quarters for the crew. The present invention relates in particular to offshore platforms for collecting electrical energy by offshore wind energy turbines and the transportation thereof to a land station in the rectified or the not rectified condition. Such offshore platforms are also called transformer platforms. The present invention can also be applied to other offshore-related topics.
Offshore platforms with a base frame consisting of a steel tube frame are already known. The steel tube frame is hauled to the set-up location on a barge with the aid of a tugboat. There, it is let down to the sea floor by means of floating cranes. Further, piles are set into corresponding bearings of the base frame and driven into the sea floor by means of floating cranes. The piles are grouted with the base frame.
Further, a topside of a platform is transported to the set-up location on a barge, and legs are set into corresponding bearings of the topside of the platform by means of floating cranes. In close vicinity to the sea floor, the legs are set into the upper openings of the piles with their lower ends, and grouted with them. The works under water must be done by means of diving robots or be performed and controlled by divers.
It is also already known to use self-floating platform topsides which are hauled to the set-up location with the legs being already set in. There, the legs will be connected to the piles in the above-described manner.
The installation of the known offshore platforms is expensive.

Base frame for an offshore platform and method for installing such a base frame


An amplifier including complementary push and pull components, a bias component and a quiescent current balancer. The complementary push and pull components are serially coupled to one another between an electrical source and sink to generate an output signal at a common output terminal responsive to the input signal source. The bias component is coupled between the input signal source and the complementary push-pull components to bias the input signal to the push component and the input signal to the pull component by discrete amounts which reduce cross-over clipping exhibited in the output signal. The quiescent current balancer is coupled to the output terminal to balance quiescent currents in the push and the pull component at discrete levels which equilibrate amplification levels of the input signal generated by the push component and the pull component in the output signal at the output terminal.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is generally related to amplifiers and more particularly to amplifiers of a push-pull type.
2. Description of the Related Art
An amplifier modulates current from a power supply responsive to an input signal. Amplifiers are divided into classes based on the circuit basics by which the modulation of the power supply is achieved.
A class "A" amplifier utilizes one or more devices each of which operate over the whole input signal cycle to deliver the amplified output signal. The Class "A" amplifier is characterized by relatively low clipping and relatively high power consumption. Relatively high power consumption is a result of the "always on" characteristic of the devices which form the Class "A" amplifier in which power consumption is essentially constant whether or not there is an input signal.
The Class "B" amplifier provides a more power efficient alternative in which complementary push and pull devices operate in anti-phase with one another on opposite halves of the input signal to deliver complementary positive going and negative going amplified portions of the output signal. During the positive going portion of the input signal the push device(s) source current to the output from a positive power supply. During the negative going portion of the input signal the pull device(s) sink current from the output to a negative power supply. The most noticeable price associated with the reduced power consumption of this Class of amplifiers is cross-over distortion or cross-over clipping. This results in the input signal region proximate the common mode or cross-over voltage at which both the push as well as the pull device(s) are in the "Off" state and thus unresponsive to the input signal.
The Class "AB" amplifier reduces the extreme cross-over distortion of the pure Class "B" architecture by biasing each into an "never off" state thereby reducing the efficiency of the amplifier. Both the push and pull devices are provided with input signal biasing to prevent their entry into the "Off" state. The Class "AB" design thus blends the characteristics of the Class "A" and Class "B" designs. This composite design reduces cross-over clipping of the pure Class "B" design at the expense of an increased power consumption associated with the pure Class "A" design. This increased power consumption arises from what is known as the 'quiescent' or 'bias' current which flows from positive to negative power supply through both the push and pull devices constantly even in the absence of an input signal. The Class "AB" architecture is attractive because only small amounts of quiescent/bias current are required to greatly reduce cross-over distortion. Thus this composite design does not for practical purposes have to take on the extreme power consumption associated with the pure Class "A" design.
Typical Class "AB" amplifiers utilize complementary transistor architectures, i.e. "npn" and "pnp" architectures, a.k.a. "N" and "P" type devices respectively. In a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) the three letters refer to the semiconductor material and hence majority charge carrier from which each region of the BJT, i.e. the emitter, base, and collector are made. Similarly in a field effect transistor the three letters refer to the semiconductor material and majority charge carrier from which the drain, substrate, and source are made. The "N" and "P" types are said to be complementary in that their switching characteristics are complementary. The "P" type device, a.k.a. "pnp" type device is generally "On" and conducting when the control input, i.e. the base of a BJT or the gate of a FET is pulled low. Conversely, the "N" type device, a.k.a. "npn" type device is generally "On" and conducting when the control input, i.e. the base of a BJT or the gate of a FET is pulled high.
The designer of a Class "AB" amplifier is faced inherent performance differences when designing a push-pull type amplifier. The most basic of these performance differences arises from the fact that holes have a much lower mobility than electrons. Thus "N" type devices, relying as they do on electrons as the current limiting charge carriers, generally have higher current carrying, gain and frequency characteristics than "P" type devices. These differences in mobility and other differences in device architecture between "P" and "N" type devices make it difficult to minimize distortion across the full operating range of the amplifier.
What is needed is an amplifier architecture which allows for reduced distortion and power consumption.


A mechanism is provided for issuing instructions. An instruction dispatch unit receives an instruction for dispatch to one of a plurality of execution units. The instruction dispatch unit analyzes a tag register to determine whether a previous tag associated with a previous instruction has been stored in the tag register. Responsive to the previous tag associated with the previous instruction failing to be stored in the tag register, the instruction dispatch unit storing a tag corresponding to the instruction in the tag register. The instruction dispatch unit dispatches the instruction to an issue queue for issue to the one of the plurality of execution units.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to an apparatus and method for issuing instructions in-order in an out-of-order processor using false dependencies.
A microprocessor is the heart of a modern computer, a chip made up of millions of transistors and other elements organized into specific functional operating units, including arithmetic units, cache memory and memory management, predictive logic, and data movement. Processors in modern computers have grown tremendously in performance, capabilities, and complexity over the past decade. Any computer program consists of many instructions for operating on data. Processors may be categorized as in-order processors or out-of-order processors.
In-order processors normally process instructions by fetching the instruction, if input operands are available (in registers for instance), dispatching the instruction to the appropriate functional unit or, if one or more operands are unavailable during the current clock cycle (generally because they are being fetched from memory), the processor stalls until they are available, executing the instruction by the appropriate functional unit, and writing the results back to a register file. Out-of-order processors normally process instructions by fetching the instruction, dispatching the instruction to an instruction queue, waiting for operand to be available before issuing the instruction to the appropriate functional unit, executing the instruction by the appropriate functional unit, queuing the results, and only after all older instructions have their results written back to the register file, then this result is written back to the register file. The key concept of out-of-order processing is to allow the processor to avoid a class of stalls that occur when the data needed to perform an operation are unavailable.

Issuing instructions in-order in an out-of-order processor using false dependencies

International Business Machines Corporation


A configuration for controlling a restraining device has a first control unit which controls two electrically controllable power switches of a firing circuit connected to the restraining device as a function of acceleration. A third electrically controllable power switch is provided in the firing circuit and is controlled by a second control unit as a function of the acceleration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a configuration for controlling a restraining device such as an airbag, seat belt pretensioning device, etc., and in particularly for use in a motor vehicle. Such a configuration includes an acceleration sensor for sensing acceleration and outputting an acceleration signal. First and second control units are provided for receiving and processing the acceleration signal. A firing circuit having a firing element for controlling a restraining device is also provided. The firing circuit has a first, a second and a third power switch controlled by the first and second control units. An energy store energizes the firing element when all three power switches are actuated.
A microcomputer that processes the acceleration signals of two acceleration sensors is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,495. If an impact is detected, two power switches in the firing circuit are switched through by the microcomputer, so that energy from an energy source is applied to the firing element disposed between the power switches. Each power transistor in the firing circuit is connected to, in each case, one output of the microcomputer. The power transistors are configured here in such a way that the one power transistor requires a logic one at the output of the microcomputer to be switched on, and the other power transistor requires a logic zero. If the microcomputer chip is severely damaged owing to a high level of heat or a mechanical effect, it is highly probable that either all of its outputs will supply a logic one or all of its outputs will supply a logic zero. The anti-phase actuation of the power switches that is necessary for firing prevents a misfire when the microcomputer is fundamentally degraded.
Misfiring still takes place if the functionality of the microcomputer is faulty, for example if the processing routines for the acceleration signals are faulty.
Published, Non-Prosecuted, German Patent Application DE 40 16 644 A1 discloses a configuration in which a microcomputer evaluates the signal of an acceleration sensor and, where necessary, switches through an electrically controllable power switch in the firing circuit. A further acceleration signal of a further acceleration sensor is assessed in a control unit of analog construction. The control unit that is of analog construction switches on a second electrically controllable power switch in the firing circuit if it detects a minimum acceleration of the vehicle. A firing element is disposed between the two power switches, and energy is applied to it if both power switches are switched on.
Such a configuration has the disadvantage that, in the event of a serious malfunction or severe damage to the microcomputer, the first power switch is incorrectly closed and, owing to the threshold which is low in the analog circuit an acceleration signal with a low amplitude, caused for example by the vehicle travelling over a curb, is already sufficient to fire the firing element.
A generic type of configuration utilizing a microcomputer which processes the signals of two acceleration sensors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,472. Via two of its outputs, the microcomputer controls two electrically controllable power switches of a firing circuit. In addition, the firing circuit contains a mechanical acceleration switch that closes under the effect of a minimum acceleration.
A disadvantage of this configuration is that currently available mechanical acceleration switches have long closing times, and are thus not suitable for detecting a side impact of a motor vehicle.

Configuration for controlling a restraining device, in particular for a motor vehicle