A signal mirror assembly including a convex mirror and a signal indicator. The convex mirror defines a recess or cutout region. The signal indicator fits within the cutout region. The assembly can include a housing, and the convex mirror can include a perimeter extending substantially to the housing, except where the cutout region exists. A gasket can circumferentiate the housing, the mirror and a portion of the signal indicator to prevent water and debris from entering the assembly. The signal indicator also can include a surface parallel to the convex mirror surface. The cut out region and the corresponding signal indicator can be positioned in the housing such that the signal indicator is located at a position distal from the vehicle to enhance its visibility to the vehicle operator.

The present invention relates to, exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles, and more particularly to a mirror including-a signal indicator.
Vehicle manufacturers conventionally located turn signals at the corners of vehicles to improve visibility of those signals when activated to signal a lane change or vehicle turning. Recently, manufacturers have began to include both torn signal and flat, mirrors in exterior rearview mirror assemblies to further improve signal visibility. Such signal mirror assemblies are particularly advantageous where a following vehicle is close, or where the equipped vehicle is a long truck or is towing a trailer.
Although recent signal mirror assemblies are useful, they suffer several shortcomings. For example, to accommodate both a sufficiently-sized flat mirror and a separate signal, the housing for the signal mirror assembly usually must be increased in size. In turn, the driver of the vehicle must take additional care to avoid colliding the larger mirror assembly with objects. Alternatively, the flat mirror of the signal mirror assembly must include a special coating that allows signal lights positioned behind the flat mirror surface to be seen through that surface* This special coating requires additional manufacturing techniques and extra labor to ensure that the signal lights align with the coating. In addition, the recent signal mirror assemblies include flat mirrors, and thus only provide limited rear viewing capabilities.

Exterior rearview mirror with turn signal


Embodiments of the present invention may provide real-time monitoring of a compressor section to determine the possibility of a crack forming on a rotating blade. The present invention does not require the shutdown of the machine. The present invention may be configured to automatically raise an alarm if the acoustic signature of the compressor changes in way that may be consistent with the cracking of a blade.

The present invention relates generally to a compressor section of a turbomachine; and more particularly to a method of detecting a potential crack on a blade of the compressor section.
Turbomachine, such as, air-breathing combustion turbines, have a compressor section with a plurality of blades arrange in multiple rotor stages. During normal operation, the tip speed of these blades may be at sonic or supersonic speeds. A crack in a blade may severely damage the entire turbomachine, if that blade liberates during normal operation.
Currently known methods of crack detection are normally performed through a static inspection process, while the turbomachine is offline. However, these methods require the shutdown of the turbomachine. Here, turbomachine operators are reluctant to stop the operation of the turbomachine.
Therefore, there is a desire for an improved method for detecting a crack on the blade. The method should be capable of detection a possible crack while the turbomachine operates, allowing the turbomachine to operate longer between offline inspections for blade cracking.

Method and system for detecting a crack on a turbomachine blade


A fenestration assembly includes a glazing unit includes a pane spacer between exterior and interior panes proximate glazing unit edges. A fenestration frame is coupled around the glazing unit and includes a frame core extending around the glazing unit. The frame core includes a unitary core wall including a composite material that is hollow and extends continuously from a core interior face to a core exterior face. A metal glazing cap is coupled with the frame core. The metal glazing cap having a cap end indirectly engaged with the glazing unit along the interior pane, and the cap end is remote from the pane spacer. Each of the core exterior face, the pane spacer and the metal glazing cap are thermally isolated from each other with the frame core including the unitary core wall.

Fenestration assemblies including window and door fenestration assemblies include one or more frames. For instance, double hung and door fenestration assemblies include panels (e.g., sashes or doors) movably coupled with a peripheral frame. In at least some examples, each of the panels includes its own frame coupled with a glazing unit, such as a pane of glass.
Some examples of fenestration assemblies include frames constructed with aluminum, steel or the like. For instance, lineal aluminum or steel components are cut to length and assembled to form the frame. In other examples, the frames are constructed with vinyl or polyethylene. In a similar manner to metal components, lineal vinyl or polyethylene are cut to length and assembled to form the frame.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fenestration assemblies including composite frame cores and methods for same


An object detector includes a bottom-up object hypotheses generation unit; a top-down object search with supervised descent unit; and an object re-localization unit with a localization model.

Current object detection algorithms are focused on robustly detects the target object. Even the detection window is not precisely overlapping the object, the object detector can still response with a high detection score. It contradicts with some applications in which want as accurate localization as possible.
Standard sliding window based object detection requires dense classifier evaluation on densely sampled locations in scale space in order to achieve an accurate localization. To avoid such dense evaluation, selective search based algorithms only evaluate the classifier on a small subset of object proposals. Notwithstanding the demonstrated success, object proposals do not guarantee perfect overlap with the object, leading to a suboptimal detection accuracy.

Object detection with Regionlets re-localization


A radio communication system includes a grouping unit for grouping a plurality of base stations into a plurality of groups (Soft Handoff Groups) and a determining unit for selecting base stations belonging to one and the same group selected from the groups produced by the grouping unit and for determining the base stations as base stations to send communication packets to an access terminal.

The present invention relates to a radio communication system and a base station in which a plurality of base stations transmit the same communication information such as the same voice and sound and data at same timing to an access terminal and the access terminal combines the communication information with each other to restore the original data stream.
In the field of communications in recent years, the broadband communication has been broadly developed, routers have been technically advanced, and a need of users to receive, for example, streaming video images having a large capacity or including a large amount of data is increasing. In association therewith, attention has been attracted to a multicast communication technique to broadcast data as well as voice and sound having a large capacity using a few communication resources as compared with a unicast communication technique. "Multicast" is a technique to simultaneously transmit the same communication information such as the same data and/or voice and sound to a plurality of user terminals. "Unicast" is a technique to conduct communication with each user terminal with a one-to-one correspondence established therebetween.
Therefore, when plural access terminals have received the same voice or data by using the multicast, the traffic on the communication can be advantageously reduced when compared with the case using the unicast.
Also, in the field of radio communication such as Evolution Data Only (1xEVDO) using, for example, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), there has been discussed a communication technique in which to improve efficiency of use of radio bands, one data stream can be received by a plurality of access terminals. Heretofore, a physical channel is assigned to each access terminal to establish radio connection for communication therebetween. That is, one-to-one unicast communication is carried out. By assigning one particular channel one the physical channels as a multicast channel, one data stream is sent to a plurality of access terminals. This improves efficiency of use of radio bands.
For efficient use of frequencies, each of the base stations constituting a radio communication system includes a plurality of sectors. An electric wave receiving state of the access terminal varies depending on a wave propagation environment between the access terminal and the base stations. In the unicast, one-to-one communication is conducted between an access terminal and a base station (sector). Therefore, the base station (sector) can control the communication. For example, the base station increases, for each access terminal, a data rate of a data stream when the wave propagation state is good for the access terminal and decreases the data rate thereof when the wave propagation state is unsuitable or is not good for the access terminal. In the multicast, it is required for the access terminal to receive a data stream sent from the base station (sector) at a particular data rate stipulated for the multicast. Therefore, since the data rate of the data stream received by the access terminal varies depending on the wave propagation environment, when the data stream is sent from the base station (sector) at a high data rate in the multicast, an access terminal at a position in a deteriorated or bad wave propagation environment cannot receive the data stream. When the data rate is low, throughput of the communication is reduced.
Reception sensitivity of a signal received by the access terminal depends on a ratio between an actual data signal level of the received data signal and a noise signal level thereof. Therefore, to enable the multicast data stream to be received by as many access terminals as possible, it is only necessary to increase the ratio of the actual data signal level to the noise signal level.
However, since a base station (sector) in a best wave propagation environment is selected for communication in the conventional unicast communication, substantially all electric waves sent from base stations (sectors) not selected as communication targets become interference noise. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) C.S0054 Version 1.0 describes a method in which a plurality of base stations (sectors) transmit at same timing the same data stream using the same frequency to the access terminal. The access terminal combines data signals of the data streams with each other to restore the original data stream to thereby increases the ratio of the actual data signal level to the noise signal level. As a result, an increased number of access terminals can receive data streams multicast at a high data rate. In a technique called Soft Combine, the same data streams sent from a plurality of base stations (sectors) at same timing are combined with each other and restored into the original data stream by the access terminal. This increases the ratio of the actual data signal level to the noise signal level of the signal received by the access terminal to thereby improve data stream reception quality.
Timing to transmit the data stream is sent from the base stations (sectors) to the access terminals at a fixed interval of time.

Radio communication system and base station


This invention pertains to load forming systems, especially those designed to place cased product on e.g. a pallet. The invention contemplates receiving cases at a high rate of input, and fragmenting the input, sending it to parallel processing elements of the load forming system. A layer creating subsystem has parallel processing elements, and preferably has sufficient designed throughput capacity to continue processing cases at the overall rated capacity of the case loading system when any one of the parallel processing elements in the layer creating subsystem fails. The case loading subsystem also can incoroporate parallel layer transfer elements and load forming elements.

The term "pallet" as used herein means a pallet or other rigid supporting structure which holds a generally planar shape while holding a layer of material, while itself being supported by a fork lift having two spaced forks about 4-6 inches wide, as commonly used to support a load e.g. 36 inches wide, measured in a direction transverse to the direction of extension of the forks.
As used herein, "pallet" includes conventional pallets, e.g. about 3 to 4 inches thick, as well as lesser thickness rigid support plates, such as e.g. pressed fibrous sheets commonly known as Masonite.RTM..
The term "load" refers to one or more layers of units of material (e.g. cased product) which are combined together for simultaneous handling by a single handling device, such as a fork lift handling a pallet load, a platen truck handling a unit load on a slip sheet, or a clamp truck handling a unit load, without a slip sheet, by clamping the load between clamps positioned at the sides of the load.
As used herein, the phrase "steady state" means that product is coming out of the load forming system at the same or a faster rate than product is going into the load forming system.
As used herein "designed throughput capacity" refers to the steady state throughput capacity, in number of cases/units of product per minute, which the respective apparatus can be reasonably expected to handle with a high degree of reliability (e.g. greater than 90% up-time) . In many applications, the reliable throughput capacity is related to the line speed at which the cases advance along the conveyor or other material handling apparatus. The reliable speed of throughput for a given application is a function of, as examples, the type and structure of a corresponding conveyor, the size and structure of the cases being handled, and the nature and length of the path being traversed by the respective element.
When I refer to the number of "cases per minute" processed by the case loading system of the invention, or by a subsystem, I mean the average number of cases per minute when considering routine cycling of the system through its various operating steps, including routine cycling of the feed stream to parallel processing elements of the system.
By "parallel processing elements" I refer to more than one processing element or subsystem where multiple elements perform the same type of operation, but where a given case is processed through only one of the respective processing elements.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,060, I teach a palletizer/load forming system including an in-feed conveyor, a layer forming station, a transfer plate, and a load forming station, all fixed in location such that units of material to be processed are brought to the layer forming station, and to the transport plate, and must be delivered to the load forming station. Typically, the units of material are received from a production line. The palletizer/load forming system, as taught in the '060 patent, is advantageously used where the volume of material coming from a single production line, arid/or processed through a single in-feed conveyor justifies the cost of the palletizing equipment.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,264, I teach a depalletizing system wherein the depalletizer used is physically very similar in construction to the palletizer taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,060. However, in e.g. FIGS. 1 and 3 of that teaching, I teach the concept of shuttling a plurality of pallet loads into and out of the in-feed position without necessarily emptying any particular load before shuttling in another load.
In application Ser. No. 08/076,272, I teach in e.g. FIGS. 11A, 12, and 13, the concept of receiving material into the load forming system from at least two in-feed conveyors, with the various in-feed conveyors presenting product from different production lines, potentially presenting a plurality of products which must be kept separated, forming the material so-received into layers in at least two layer forming stations, and depositing the material in layers on pallets in at least two load forming stations.
The '272 invention greatly improves the cost benefit of mechanizing the load forming operation where the output of no single production line justifies a load forming system, but wherein a combination of production lines, if all fed through one load forming system, does justify the equipment expense.
In application Ser. No. 08/100,271, I teach a load forming system having a plurality of layer forming stations, receiving material from a corresponding plurality of production lines, and placing the formed layers on a plurality of load forming stations. A mobile, ground-supported transport vehicle is used to transport the formed layers to the load forming stations, thus obviating need for elevated transport-supporting superstructure to extend along the full length of the path of travel of the transport plate among the several layer forming stations and load forming stations.
It is an object of this invention to provide a load forming system capable of fragmenting, and otherwise processing, the input provided by one or more high speed product conveyors, wherein the feed stream of cases from the product conveyor is fragmented in a layer creating subsystem in the load forming system, and wherein the cases are processed at speeds slower than the speeds encountered on the product conveyor.
It is another object to provide a load forming system having a designed overall throughput capacity, including a layer transfer subsystem, a load creating subsystem, and a layer creating subsystem, the layer creating subsystem having at least two parallel sets of processing elements, and sufficient throughput capacity that the parallel sets of processing elements, less one, have a throughput capacity at least as great as the designed overall throughput capacity of the load forming system.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a case loading system having at least two layer transfer plates for receiving layers formed in a layer forming station, and depositing the layers on loads.
It is yet another object to provide a load forming system having a layer creating subsystem, a load creating subsystem, and a layer transfer subsystem, wherein the layer transfer subsystem includes at least two layer transfer plates, for receiving layers formed in the layer creating subsystem and depositing the layers on loads in the load creating subsystem.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a method of handling cases of product received on a product conveyor, and received into a load forming system, by distributing the cases to more than one in-feed conveyor of a layer creating subsystem, by sensing availability of unused capacity in each of parallel operating elements of the layer creating subsystem, and delivering cases to an operating element having available capacity.
It is finally an object to provide such a method of handling cases of product wherein, as a result of parallel processing in one or more subsystems of the load forming system, the cases are processed at a slower rate in the layer creating subsystem than on the product conveyor.


A system for providing integrated guidance for positioning a needle in a body has two levels of guidance: a coarse guidance and a fine guidance. The system includes a non-invasive tracking system for tracing the biopsy device in the body, for providing the coarse guidance. Furthermore, the system includes an optical detector mounted on the needle for obtaining optical information discriminating tissue in the body, for providing the fine guidance.

For correct diagnosis of various cancer diseases biopsies are taken. This can either be done via a lumen of an endoscope or via needle and catheter biopsies. An example of a needle biopsy is shown in FIG. 1, where a biopsy is taken from the prostate via the rectum. In order to find the correct position to take the biopsy, various imaging modalities are used such as X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound. In case of prostate cancer in most cases the biopsy is guided by ultrasound (see FIG. 1). Although helpful, these methods of guidance are far from optimal.
There are problems directly related to the biopsy:
The resolution of the imaging system is limited and, furthermore, these imaging modalities cannot in most cases discriminate normal and neoplastic tissue and further differentiate between benign and malignant tissue.
As a result of that, there is a high level of uncertainty whether an appropriate tissue specimen is taken.
In addition to that, the biopsies are often taken blindly, with limited feedback of where the needle is relative to the target tumor, which leads to an additional uncertainty whether the lesion has been hit by the needle. It is clear that guidance improvement is required to target the biopsy needle to the correct position in the tissue.
A way to solve the navigation towards the suspicious tissue is by navigating the biopsy needle tip by employing electromagnetic guidance as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,571 B2. However the accuracy of the method is limited to a few millimeters. As a result for small sized suspicious tissue volumes there is a certain chance of taking the biopsy at the wrong place. A further limitation is that even if one could guide the biopsy needle to the exact location corresponding to the pre-recorded image, one is never sure that this is the exact location due to the compressibility of the tissue. Due to the force of the biopsy needle on the tissue during advancement, the tissue may become deformed.
If the specimen taken appears to be cancerous, in most cases this cancerous tissue will be removed by surgery (especially when the tumor is well localized) or treated percutaneously using RF, microwave, or cryoablation.
The surgical approach is confounded by the fact that the surgeons typically use only their eyes and hands (palpation) to find the tumor and have to rely on the information of pre-recorded images. These pre-recorded images provide information on the position of the tumor but do not always clearly show the tumor boundaries. Sometimes, the surgeon implants a marker under image guidance, providing him or her with a reference point to focus on during the surgical procedure. Again guiding the localization wire to the correct position is difficult.
It is particularly difficult to find the boundaries of the tumor, in fact it is virtually impossible. As a result of that, the surgeon removes a significant amount of tissue around the core of the tumor to make sure that the entire tumor mass is removed. Although removing an additional amount of tissue around the tumor will indeed lead in most cases to complete removal, the surgeon is never sure. The number of recurrences of the cancer after removal is 30%, which indicates that some parts of the tumor remained in place and caused further tumor re-growth. One could of course increase the amount of tissue to be removed but this in several cases difficult. In some cases vital structure are present in the tissue (nerves, important blood vessels, brain tissue). The surgeon has then to decide whether the malfunctioning due to the removal of additional healthy tissue outweighs the risk of not completely removing the tumor. It is important to note that when resection is not complete, the surgeon has, in fact, cut through the tumor and may cause further dissemination of the tumor.
The biopsy device may also be used as a device for administering drugs or a therapy (like ablation) at a certain position in the body without removing tissue, for instance for injecting a fluid at the correct location of the affected body part. The same drawbacks apply for these interventions where it is difficult to guide the biopsy device to the correct location.
The current way of working to take a biopsy has some drawbacks, including:                difficult to guide the biopsy needle to a centre of the tissue to be investigated;        difficult to delineate the tumor boundaries (shape and size of tumor); and        taking specimen out of the body for the histological analysis may cause further dissemination of the tumor.

Biopsy guidance by electromagnetic tracking and photonic needle


A downhole tool is described that includes at least three sections welded together. The downhole tool has a downhole section, an intermediate tool section mounted to the downhole section with a lower weldment, and an uphole section positioned opposite the downhole section mounted to the intermediate tool section with an upper weldment. The downhole tools as described herein include an elongate internal passage that extends from the downhole section to the uphole section through the lower weldment and the upper weldment. The elongate internal passage is sized to receive drilling fluid therethrough. Furthermore, one or more of the downhole section, the intermediate tool section, and the uphole section includes: a) at least one sensor module, b) a cavity, and c) a plurality of bores (holes). In certain embodiments, the downhole tool may be triple combo tool, an acoustic logging tool, or a directional tool, such as a steerable tool.

Drilling assemblies for boring holes deep into the earth are well known. For example, drilling assemblies are used by the oil and gas industry for retrieving various fluids and gases buried within earth formations. Typical drilling assemblies comprise a drilling string including a plurality of interconnected sections with a drill bit on the end thereof. Rotating the interconnected sections may rotate the drill bit. Alternatively, the interconnected sections may be held static and the drill bit rotated by employing internally disposed mechanisms that are driven by drilling fluid commonly referred to as "mud," which is supplied under pressure from a surface source into the drill string. The drilling fluid discharges at the drill bit and returns to the surface through the annular space between the drill string and the wellbore wall. Fluid returning to the surface may carry cuttings produced by the drill bit.
Downhole measuring and communication systems frequently referred to as measurement-while-drilling ("MWD") and logging-while drilling ("LWD") are typically disposed within drill string sections above and in close proximity to the drill bit. The systems comprise sensors for collecting down hole parameters, such as parameters concerning the drilling assembly itself, the drilling fluid, and those of formations surrounding the drilling assembly. For example, sensors may be employed to measure the location and orientation of the drill bit, and to detect buried utilities and other objections, critical information in the underground utility construction industry. Sensors may be provided to determine the density, viscosity, flow rate, pressure and temperature of the drilling fluid. Other sensors are used to determine the electrical, mechanical, acoustic and nuclear properties of the subsurface formations being drilled. Chemical detection sensors may be employed for detecting the presence of gas. These measuring and communication systems may further comprise power supplies and microprocessors that are capable of manipulating raw data measured by the various sensors. Information collected by sensors may be stored for later retrieval, transmitted to the earth's surface via telemetry while drilling, or both. Transmitted information provides the bases for adjusting the drilling fluid properties and/or drilling operation variables, such as drill bit speed and direction.
A drill string section including an MWD and/or LWD system will generally have several sensors positioned at spaced apart locations along the length of the drill string, a microprocessor, and a power supply, all being electrically connected by wires. In other applications, such as, for example, pressure sensors, it is desirable to connect spaced apart locations (along a drill collar) hydraulically by fluid passages.
Normally passages are drilled from the ends of the drill string section to house the electrical wires, and thereafter sealed in some manner, such as by welding. The ends of drill string sections usually comprise a coupling means, commonly a threaded portion, such that a plurality of drill sting sections can be directly interconnected without employing additional hardware. Unfortunately, the presence of the passages within a threaded end region creates stress risers that may lead to structural failure of the drill string section. Passages within the threaded ends also create problems for threading re-work, which is beneficial for extending the life of a drill string section.
One solution to the above-identified problems that has been used in the past is to drill passages from one end of a first drill pipe and towards its opposing end, seal the passage opening, and then weld a second drill pipe that does not contain any passages to the sealed end of the first drill pipe. A threaded connection can then be formed on the exposed ends of the connected drill pipes, thereby maintaining the passage internally and distal to the threaded connections. This drill string section manufacturing technique, however, has limitations. The first drill pipe comprising the wire bore will generally have relatively thicker walls (that is, a relatively smaller bore) to accommodate the wire bore, whereas the second drill pipe will have relatively thinner walls (that is, a larger relative bore) to minimize weight and manufacturing cost while maximizing flow rates of drilling fluid. In such a stepped bore arrangement the weld joint is necessarily located, at least partially, in a thin-walled area (interface of the connected first and second drill pipes). This can compromise the structurally integrity of the resulting drill string section, and limit the maximum strain the drill string section can tolerate before failure. Another limitation of this manufacturing technique is the length of the drill string section and number of sensors accommodatable therewith. It is preferred to have drill string sections as long as possible to improve drilling efficiency, and to employ several sensors and corresponding electrical devices. Since the wire bore is only formed in the first section of drill pipe, the overall length of the drill string section will be limited to that of current methods of small diameter and long hole drilling.
Another solution has been to drill radially offset, axially extending holes in two sections of pipe that are then welded together and a hole drilled at an acute angle through the weld joint to connect the offset passages. This approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,427, entitled "Drill String Section With Internal Passage," which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Unfortunately, this approach also has several drawbacks. Drilling the acute angle hole requires the use of a five axis milling center or a manual drilling process with multiple machining steps. Further, the intersection of the connecting hole and the axial hole may have sharp edges that cannot be easily deburred but which might cut wires extending through the hole. Finally, the angled connecting hole is not optimal for routing wires.

Downhole tool with multiple welded section


Hair and garment protector apparatus includes four panels appropriately secured together to define a generally cylindrical protector with a dome shaped top that sits on the top of a user's head and extends downwardly to about the upper portion of the user's chest and downwardly about to the level of the user's neck and upper back to protect garments being changed from makeup on the user. The protector apparatus is placed on the user's head after makeup is applied and prior to putting on clothing, and the apparatus is similarly used prior to removing the clothing to protect the clothing from makeup, and vice versa.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to protector apparatus and, more particularly, to protector apparatus for protecting a user's hairdo and garments from makeup while putting on and taking off the garment over the user's head.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 2,294,593 (Bailey) discloses a head and face protector. The apparatus comprises a split system of a bonnet type. There are ties at the back of the apparatus that extend to the front and tie beneath the user's chin and over a relative short portion of the apparatus which extends down over the user's neck. The short portion extends over the user's neck only at the front of the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,393 (Mufich) discloses a disposable head protector that is somewhat similar to the apparatus of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,393 patent. The apparatus includes a slit at the back, and ties from the back extending to the front for tying purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,678 (Key) discloses a multi-purpose hair net apparatus in the generic configuration of a cylindrical hood. The apparatus includes ties that extend from the sides to the front. The apparatus is designed to protect the user's hairdo and it also may be used as a mosquito net.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,580 (Zeiber) discloses a multi-purpose hair net apparatus. The apparatus includes a dome which fits over the head and a skirt portion which extends downwardly from the dome. The apparatus includes ties adapted to be disposed about the torso of the user to hold the apparatus in place. The apparatus fits not only over the user's head, but apparently downwardly over the user's torso.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,567 (Dilger) discloses a protective mask which may be worn when dressing or changing clothes. The apparatus comprises a hood which is placed over the user's head. The hood apparatus includes three different embodiments, one of which is a hood made of transparent, air permeable material. A second embodiment is made from a generally rectangular piece of material folded along a central edge, and the sides of the material are appropriately secured together. The portion of the apparatus that fits over the lower portion of the user's face includes different types of elements to hold the material in place, such as "Velcro" type closures, or rubber, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,853 (Walton) discloses a protective garment for a hairdo. The apparatus includes a garment which is secured together by a ring at the top of the user's head and which garment extends downwardly over the user's head, and onto the user's neck and shoulders. The elastic element is used to secure the garment about the user's neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,100 (Greer) discloses a hood made of a generally rectangular piece of material with rounded corners. The apparatus includes ties that extend from the rear of the apparatus to the front. The ties then tie beneath the users chin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,316 (Morandini) discloses another type of head protector apparatus that is made of somewhat a cylindrical configuration with a generally flat top and rectangular element is secured to the flat top portion and extends downwardly in a cylindrical configuration. A zipper is used to close the vertically extending ends of the rectangular portion. There is an elastic band at the bottom or lower portion of the cylindrical portion for gathering the cylindrical portion about the user's neck.
It is noted, from the above discussed patents, that some type of tie or closure is usually present. however, such is not needed with the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention fits over a user's head and neck portion, both in the front and in the back, with the front extending lower than the back. The apparatus is made of four generally identical panels, appropriately sewn or stitched together to comprise a sleeve-like element that is easy to put on and easy to remove, and that protects both the user's hairdo and clothes from makeup, and vice versa. The apparatus is made of relatively light weight, non-clinging material.


A scanning laser ophthalmoscope includes: an irradiation optical system including a laser light source and an optical scanner; a light receiving optical system including first to third photo detectors; and a processor. The light receiving optical system includes a wavelength separator causing the light of a first wavelength range to be received by the first photo detector, the light of a second wavelength range to be received by the second photo detector, and the light of a third wavelength range to be received by the third photo detector. The processor generates a first fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the first photo detector, a second fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the second photo detector, and a third fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the third photo detector.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a scanning laser ophthalmoscope for capturing a front image of an examinee's eye.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known scanning laser ophthalmoscope obtains a fundus image by scanning the fundus of the examinee's eye with laser light two-dimensionally. With regard to such technology, an apparatus has been proposed that performs a plurality of types of photography, such as infrared photography and fluorescence photography, by the single apparatus.
A technology of the relevant field is disclosed in JP-A-2008-228781, for example.


A die-casting apparatus has a pair of mold parts together defining a mold cavity and a feed sleeve set in one of the parts and defining a passage having a short inner portion opening into and flared toward the cavity, a long outer portion of uniform cross-sectional shape and having an outer end, and a restriction between the portions. Molten metal is fed to the outer end and through the passage to the cavity. A heater surrounds the sleeve at the outer portion for heating the sleeve substantially only at the outer portion and insulation surrounds the heater. The sleeve and any metal therein are cooled at a location in the sleeve downstream of the passage outer portion, normally at the restriction.

A standard die-casting apparatus has a pair of mold parts together defining a mold cavity and a feed sleeve set in one of the parts and defining a passage opening into the cavity. Molten metal is fed through the passage to the cavity.
Normally the sleeve feed passage is basically frusto-conical, flared along its full length toward the passage. To hold back the molten metal when the mold is opened, the small-diameter outer end, right at the injector nozzle of the metal-supplying machine, is cooled so as to form a small plug. When the workpiece has solidified and is knocked out of the mold cavity, the hardened metal in the passage therefore separates at this cooled region, leaving the workpiece carrying a long outwardly tapering sprue corresponding in shape to this passage. This sprue must be removed, typically with a separate grinding operation that is fairly laborious as the sprue is rather large. The metal of this sprue is frequently contaminated by the grinding operation so it cannot be recycled. Furthermore the mold cycling time is increased by the amount of time it takes this extra mass of metal to harden, and of course heat energy is wasted melting the metal of this sprue which is not used.


By employing the present invention, a unique, pre-printed housing member which is quickly and easily assembled from a flat, generally two-dimensional configuration into a three-dimensional promotional display, along with an integrally affixed stabilizing and locking member is attained. Once the promotional display system is placed in its three-dimensional configuration, with the stabilizing/locking member activated, assurance is provided that the entire advertising/promotional display product is securely retained in the desired, eye-catching, visually exciting, three-dimensional configuration. In particular, in the present invention, the promotional display member incorporates an integral, arcuately pivotable, stabilizing/locking arm and stand combination which cooperates with one or more panel members of the housing to assure secure-ment of the promotional display system in its fully erected configuration when desired by the user.

With the ever increasing quantity of products and services being offered to consumers, substantial interest has been given to promotional systems for advertising such products and services. In this regard, a wide variety of advertising displays and promotional literature has been created and distributed to consumers. However, due to the deluge of material to which average consumers are constantly exposed, greater emphasis has been placed upon developing eye-catching, visual displays and promotional material which will receive consumer attention.
Although various novelty products and printed displays have been created in an attempt to satisfy this demand, these prior art products have failed to provide the desired interest generating result with production costs which advertisers are capable of justifying. In attempting to generate a unique advertising display, some prior art products have employed complex folding systems which produce a three-dimensional display when activated or unfolded. However, in spite of the unique visual appearance generated by such products, the overall cost of production and complexity of assembly of these systems has prevented such prior art systems from becoming popular.
Other prior art displays have attempted to generate consumer interest by providing unique visual images or other indicia as an integral part of the display. However, these prior art attempts have also failed to generate the consumer interest being sought, largely due to an inability to provide an easily erectable display which is both eye-catching and substantially permanent.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a printed advertising or promotional product which is capable of being produced at a reasonable cost and provides an exciting, interest-generating display.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a printed advertising or promotional product having the characteristic features described above, which enables the consumer to quickly and easily erect and achieve a sturdy, permanent exciting eye-catching promotion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a printed advertising or promotional product having the characteristic features described above which is capable of mass production and assembly.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a printed advertising or promotional product having the characteristic features described above which provides a unique, eye-catching, exciting and surprising display which is produced in response to action by the consumer, and remains stationary, providing a long-lasting visual display.
Other and more specific objects will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Promotional display system with locking arm


A portable filtered drinking water system for removing undesirable tastes, odors, and contaminants from potable water to improve the quality of the water for drinking or consumption. The device consists of a container that holds the potable water and has an air tight screw on cap. Mounted on the cap is an opening for a screw-in hand air pump to create air pressure inside the container and an opening for a faucet for dispensing filtered drinking water. Pulling up and pushing down several times on the hand air pump creates air pressure in the container that forces the potable water through a water filter located inside the container and up to a faucet to be dispensed when a lever is pushed down.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to providing a portable system that will have a container of approximately two to three gallons to be filled with potable water, use a hand air pump to put air pressure in the top of the container, use the air pressure to force the water through a drinking water filter located at the bottom of the container and through tubing up to a faucet with a lever that can be pushed to allow filtered drinking water to come out the spout of the faucet when needed.
2. Prior Art
Many companies offer filtered drinking water systems for home use. They are normally hooked into the water pipes to the faucet on the kitchen sink and have a special faucet to dispense water. They can also be hooked into the end of the kitchen sink faucet where the aerator is located. These systems rely on the water pressure in the water pipes to force water through the filter in the drinking water system. Most are capable of providing about 500 gallons of filtered drinking water over a period of about six months. This results in a low cost per gallon for filtered drinking water. These systems fulfill a need in providing filtered drinking water in the kitchen where it is needed.
However, often times large quantities of inexpensive filtered drinking water are needed outside the home. Examples are at picnics, camping, at work, and while a person is traveling or driving around town in their vehicle. Therefore, there has been a need for a system that is portable for providing inexpensive filtered drinking water. An alternative is to buy bottled drinking water at convenience stores. When filtered drinking water is bought in these bottles, it can become extremely expensive compared to the cost per gallon for the filtered drinking water that comes from a system for home use. Therefore, a portable system could be used away from the home to provide less expensive filtered drinking water than buying it from convenience stores.
There are several portable water filtration/purification devices/apparatuses that have been invented. However these systems concentrate on converting contaminated water into potable water. They are not made for the purpose of providing a portable system for improving the taste and appearance and removing odor and contaminants from potable water with a capacity to produce several hundred gallons of filtered drinking water like the systems for home use.
Existing systems often use a pump that pushes water through the water filter. They do not provide a constant pressure in the container to dispense water from a faucet as needed. You would have to pull out on the pump to draw water into a cylinder and then push the pump to force water through the water filter and out a spout each time a drink is needed. These systems do not have a pressurized container that could dispense water as needed from a faucet like a home system.
These systems that convert contaminated water into potable water are small canteen-sized devices that appear to have a camping, survival or military use. They are not pressurized systems that can produce water by simply pushing a lever to have water come out a spout. They would not be practical to use for producing several hundred gallons of filtered drinking water. U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,146 to Moorehead et al (2002) is a canteen sized device that only produces a few pints of water at a time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,437 to Williams (1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,374 to Williams (1996) are for converting unpurified water and is small enough to be carried in a backpack or briefcase. Water has to be pumped each time water is needed and does not come from a pressurized system. Neither are practical to produce several hundred gallons of filtered drinking water.
Other portable systems have a drinking tube that depends on the suction from a person's mouth to draw water in the container through a water filter. This would be unsanitary if used by more than one person. They are small so they can be carried around or fit into a backpack thus are only good for supplying small amounts of water. They are made for camping, survival or military use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,613 to Koczur et al (1996) is designed to convert contaminated water into potable water, requires a chemical purification agent, depends on a drinking tube, is small and could only produce a small amount of drinking water. U.S. patent application 2004/0144711 Alto Cluff et al (2004) is to improve municipal water but depends on a drinking tube, is small and could only produce a small amount of drinking water.
Yet another portable container for purifying drinking water depends on an ozone generator to purify the water and the filter and an air pump for delivering ozone and air through the container. It appears to require a battery of operate. Again this system is small and could only produce a small amount of water. This is U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,143 Dalton et al (1999).


A voltage detector detects a voltage of a positive electrode of a battery, and outputs a detection value indicating a detected voltage value. A target voltage to be detected is applied to one end of a resistor, via a first switch. A current is input to an output circuit from the other end of the resistor. The output circuit outputs a current whose current value substantively coincides with the current value of the current input from the resistor to one end of a resistor, while maintaining a voltage value of the other end of the resistor substantively at a predetermined voltage value. A voltage value of the one end of the resistor is output to a microcomputer as the detection value.

JP 2015-114204A discloses a voltage detector that detects voltage. This voltage detector has two resistors, with a target voltage to be detected being applied to one end of one resistor, the other end of the one resistor being connected to one end of the other resistor, and the other end of the other resistor being grounded.
The two resistors divide the target voltage being applied to one end of one resistor, and output the voltage value of the divided voltage to an A/D (Analog/Digital) conversion unit as an analog detection value. At this time, the analog detection value is a voltage value calculated by dividing the voltage value of the target voltage by a predetermined number.
The A/D conversion unit converts the input analog detection value into a digital detection value. Various types of processing are executed based on the digital detection value obtained through conversion by the A/D conversion unit.
In a conventional voltage detector such as disclosed in JP 2015-114204A, an input range of detection values that can be input to the A/D conversion unit is set in advance. The A/D conversion unit selects one of N digital voltage values belonging to the input range as a digital detection value, based on the input analog detection value. The analog detection value is thereby converted into a digital detection value. N is an integer of two or more. The N digital voltage values are set at equal intervals in the input range. For example, in the case where the input range is from 0 V to 5 V, the width of one scale is represented by 5/(N−1). The A/D conversion unit selects the digital voltage value closest to the input analog detection value, for example, as the digital detection value.
Assume that, in the conventional voltage detector, the upper limit of a fluctuation range related to the voltage value of the target voltage is 25 V, and the input range is from 0 V to 5 V. At this time, with the conventional voltage detector, the two resistors output a voltage value that is calculated by dividing the voltage value of the target voltage by 5, for example, as the analog detection value, such that the analog detection value takes a value in the input range.
In this case, the range of analog detection values that are output is from 0 V to 5 V, and is included in the input range. The voltage value of the target voltage is calculated, by multiplying the digital detection value obtained through conversion by the A/D conversion unit by 5. In many cases, the analog detection value and the digital detection value do not perfectly coincide, and an error exists between the analog detection value and the digital detection value.
In the case where an error exists between the analog detection value and the digital detection value, an error also exists between the calculated voltage value of the target voltage and the actual voltage value of the target voltage. The maximum value of the error related to the voltage value of the target voltage is calculated by converting the width of one scale related to the digital detection value into the width of the voltage value related to detection of the target voltage, and is 25/(N−1). The maximum value of the error is a resolution related to voltage detection.
In the configuration that divides the target voltage, the lower limit of the voltage detection range is 0 V, even when the fluctuation range of the voltage value of the target voltage is from 5 V to 25 V. Because the upper limit of the voltage detection range must be set to a voltage value that is greater than or equal to the upper limit of the fluctuation range of the voltage value of the target voltage, the minimum value of the resolution related to voltage detection is calculated by dividing the upper limit of the fluctuation range of the voltage value of the target voltage by (N−1). Accordingly, there is a problem in that, in the configuration that divides the target voltage, the resolution related to voltage detection is large.
In view of this, an object of the disclosure is to provide a voltage detector that is able to adjust the lower limit of the target voltage detection range to a voltage value exceeding 0 V, and a signal output device provided with this voltage detector.

Voltage detector and signal output device


To reduce an installing space and simplify a mounting structure of a sensor (40) of a rotary encoder, a sealing device with a sensor has a retainer (10) having a fitting tube section (11) and an installation flange section (12) expanding outside thereof and fixed to an engine block (2), and a sealing device body (20) fitted to the fitting tube section (11) and slidably contacted with an outer surface of the crank shaft (4), a sensor (40) detecting a rotation of a pulsar ring (30) rotating together with the crank shaft (4) is attached to a sensor installation section (13) in the installation flange section (12), and a pulsar body (32) of the pulsar ring (30) is formed in a cylindrical shape and extends in a circumferential direction coaxial with the fitting tube section (11) between the fitting tube section (11) and the sensor installation section (13).

In a sealing device provided as a means for axially sealing a crank shaft of an engine, as a sealing device provided in parallel with a magnetic type rotary encoder for detecting a rotation of the engine, there has been conventionally known a structure, for example, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-93554, patent document 1.
In other words, the sealing device is supported to an inner periphery of a non-rotating housing, and is brought into slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of a crank shaft. A pulsar ring (a pulsar wheel) magnetized in multiple poles in a circumferential direction is attached to a shaft end of the crank shaft, and a magnetic sensor facing to the pulsar ring from an outer peripheral side is attached to the housing so as to be adjacent to the sealing device in an axial direction. The magnetic sensor structures a magnetic type rotary encoder together with the pulsar ring, generates a pulse in correspondence to a change of a magnetic field of the pulsar ring rotating together with the crank shaft, and detects the rotation of the crank shaft.
However, in accordance with the prior art described in the patent document 1 mentioned above, since a sensor and a shaft seal ring are attached to the housing side by side in the axial direction, a dimension in an axial direction of the housing (for example, an engine block) becomes large, and a mounting structure is entirely complicated.


A method of manufacturing a bead-inlaid picture by inputting a desired original image as a motif for a bead-inlaid picture by an image input device, dividing the inputted original image into each of pieces in a size equal with that of a bead, comparing numerical data for the hue and the brightness obtained for each of the pieces and numerical data for the hue and the brightness predetermined for each of the beads and replacing the numerical data for each of the pieces with a color code allocated to a bead having numerical data most approximate with the obtained data and outputting signals corresponding thereto by an image processing device, feeding beads allocated with color codes while dividing them on every color codes by a feeder, arranging the thus fed beads in accordance with the arranged sequence for each of the pieces in the original image by an actuator and, fusing the arranged beads on a glass plate. A bead-inlaid picture can be manufactured just in accordance with the original image at high quality and at a reduced cost quite automatically without requiring any particular skill.

The present invention concerns a method of and an apparatus for manufacturing a bead-inlaid picture using, as a motif, various kinds of images such as patterns and pictures drawn on drawing paper, photographs or static images on CRT screens.
2. Related Art Statement
Most of mosaic articles that express patterns and pictures by inlaying various kinds of mosaic materials such as glass, ceramic, plastic, enamel, stone and wood are handicrafts prepared by manual works.
Among them, a bead-inlaid picture made by arranging glass beads (hereinafter simply referred to as beads) of various colors on a transparent glass plate as a drawing board is prepared by appending a color photograph taken, for example, from a landscape as a motif at the back of a transparent glass plate, selecting beads corresponding to the tones of the photograph as a mosaic material among beads of respective colors while seeing through the photograph from the side of the front surface of the glass plate, picking up the beads one by one by using a pincette, arranging them on the surface of the glass plate and securing by an adhesive.
However, if it is intended to express a pattern or a picture on a drawing board of 13 cm (width).times.26 cm (length) by using beads, for example, each of 3 mm diameter, beads have to be arranged by the number in total of 43.times.86=3698 and beads of colors corresponding to the colors of the pattern or the picture have to be selected, so that it takes much time for preparation and needs a high cost.
Further, the quality and the manufacturing time of products differ greatly depending on the skill and the experience of workers and there is a problem that the quality and productivity of products are not constant.

Apparatus for manufacturing a bead-inlaid picture and method


A retriever and a cart that are detachably secured to one another are used for retrieving and transporting, respectively, heavy containers of the type found in trash compactors. A pair of biased looking bolts hold the retriever and container together when they are in repose. The locking bolts are retracted by squeezing a latch release handle positioned just below the retriever handle so that the cart and retriever can be easily separated from one another. The cart has curved leading surfaces so that the two parts can be reattached by simply pushing them together; the curved surfaces drive the locking bolts into their respective retracted positions so that the latch release handle need not be activated during the reattachment procedure. Another biased latch holds the retrieved containers onto the retriever and is released upon activation of a foot-operated pedal; the pedal is biased and specifically configured so that attachment of the retriever and container is accomplished in the absence of foot pedal operation. The container itself is specifically configured so that tightly compacted trash falls out of it when it is inverted, and the cart is specifically configured so that it retains the containers when it is inverted. A trash receptacle having the capacity to similarly retain a plurality of containers when inverted is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to the waste disposal industry. More particularly, it relates to a cart having a detachable part for retrieving heavy containers from trash compactors and depositing them on the cart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A small, refrigerator-size trash compactor was invented by the present inventor about eighteen years ago to fill a need in the convenience store industry. A similar compactor is now in use in the medical field; it is used in many hospitals. Typically, a single hospital will have a plurality of the compactors positioned in convenient locations throughout the facility such as in storage closets and other waste staging areas.
Although compactors fill a longstanding need, they have a few shortcomings. For example, most use a cardboard box supported by the floor of the compactor to hold the compacted waste materials, and no means are provided to facilitate emptying of the box when it is full; accordingly, the box is simply disposed of with its contents. A cardboard box full of compacted waste materials weighs about one hundred pounds, and due to its cubic configuration, it is difficult to lift and handle, creating obvious occupational hazards. Orderlies and janitors have responded to this shortcoming by retrieving the box for subsequent disposal when it is only about half full, thereby saving them the strain of lifting a hundred pound load. This practice wastes cardboard, obviously, by using about twice as much cardboard as should be used. Since it takes about seventeen fully grown, thirty five year old trees to produce a ton of cardboard, the need to avoid such waste is compelling.
The current premature and too-frequent unloading process also wastes man-hours. Even When a waste container has been prematurely unloaded, it still must be carried or transported by some means to a disposal area; presently, no satisfactory means are provided whereby the individual charged with the unloading task can unload several compactors and take a plurality of containers to the disposal area in one trip. Moreover, handling of cardboard boxes full of hospital waste is contraindicated due to the risk of puncturing a hand by an improperly disposed of needle. Finally, back injuries may be sustained by those required to lift the containers from the compactors.
Thus, there is a need for a container-retrieval means that would obviate the need for manual lifting of the containers so that the containers could be allowed to be filled to their designed capacity before removal from the compactor. Such a means would benefit the environment by reducing demand for mature trees, would reduce the man-hours required to service the compactors, and would prevent accidental punctures by improperly discarded needles.
Moreover, there is a need for a container not made from corrugated paper. An improved container would completely eliminate the need to fell trees to make waste containers. The ideal container would not only be made of a different material, it would also be reusable. However, since the trash is tightly compacted in the container, and therefore not easily dumped therefrom, the problem cannot be solved just by substituting a different material for the corrugated paper.
The needed retrieval means should also be simple to operate so that it will be used. Numerous mechanically complex mechanisms could be designed to accomplish the needed retrieval, but there is a need for an elegant, low maintenance, rugged, no-training-required apparatus that accomplishes the job effectively. However, the prior art, when considered as a whole in accordance with the requirements of law, neither teaches nor suggests how the present manual retrieval system could be improved by an apparatus that fills these stringent but desirable requirements.

Retriever and cart for handling heavy containers


A pneumatic high speed motor includes a stator housing, a rotor journalled in the stator housing, and a pressure air inlet passage. A speed governor for the motor includes a valve element that is shiftable between an open position and a closed position for controlling pressure air flow through the pressure air inlet passage, and a spring which continuously biases the valve element toward open position. An air compressor is driven by the rotor to deliver an output pressure, which is responsive to a speed of the rotor, to an activating surface of the valve element. The activating surface of the valve element is acted upon by the output pressure of the air compressor to shift the valve element toward the closed position against the bias force of the spring at rotor speed levels exceeding a desired operating speed level.

A problem concerned with speed control of high speed motors, for instance air turbines, is that mechanical speed governors are difficult to get to operate properly at high speed levels due to high dynamic forces, balancing problems etc.
One way of solving this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,299 wherein the rotation speed of a power tool air turbine is governed by a pressure air inlet flow controlling valve which is activated by the air pressure in a pressure sensing opening in the turbine stator. A co-operation between the pressure sensing opening and an oppositely located idle running nozzle in the turbine stator results in a speed responsive activation pressure to be applied on the air inlet flow controlling valve. This previously known device is less advantageous in that it is difficult to obtain an accurate enough control of the motor speed level.

Pneumatic high speed motor with pressure activated speed governor


The object of the present invention is to provide a pretreating agent for electroless plating that is stable and soluble in organic solvents, a method of electroless plating with excellent adhesiveness using it and an electroless plated product. An object to be plated is pre-treated using a pretreating agent for electroless plating comprising a noble metal soap of naphthenic acid or a fatty acid having 5 to 25 carbon atoms or preferably using a pretreating agent for electroless plating additionally comprising an imidazole silane coupling agent or other silane coupling agent having metal capturing ability, and then electroless plated. The noble metal soap is preferably a palladium soap.

Conventionally, colloidal solutions of tin and palladium and aqueous solutions of palladium chloride and other palladium compounds are used as catalysts in electroless plating. The problem with these catalysts is that because they use inorganic palladium compounds, when using organic solvents which have a better wettability than water and excellent applicability and workability and which can also dissolve other organic compounds such as resins, the solubility is poor and the palladium precipitates without providing a uniform solution. Palladium acetate, which is formed from a lower fatty acid, is soluble in methanol depending on the concentration, but the palladium rapidly precipitates.

Pretreating agent for electroless plating, method of electroless plating using the same and product of electroless plating


A method and transfer circuit topology for a redundant power converter for switching a load between power conversion circuits in a redundant system. The transfer circuit topology includes a first contactor and a second contactor each having an input coupled to a source and an output coupled to a controlled commutating current path. The controlled commutating current path is coupled to the load for switching between the redundant power converters without interrupting current to the load.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to transfer circuits. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a circuit topology and method for switching a load between two power converter circuits without interrupting the current to the load during a transfer between the power converters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power electronic apparatuses for converting electric power from one form to another are referred to as power converters (or power bridges). The power conversion is accomplished using power semiconductor devices. The power semiconductor devices are used as switches. The power semiconductors may include thyristors (also called SCRs, or silicon controlled rectifiers), triacs, power transistors, power MOSFETs, IGBTs (insulated gate bipolar transistors), IGCTs (integrated gate commutated thyristors), and MCTs (MOS-controlled thyristors). Power converters may be generally classified as AC-DC converters, DC-DC converters, and DC-AC converters (i.e., inverters).
To provide redundancy in power conversion circuits and systems, it is necessary to provide a backup circuit and/or components for at least portions of the power conversion circuit and system. For example, in a power generator regulator and an inverting dc drive using an IGBT power converter to regulate power from a source and provide the regulated power to a load, it is known to provide two of the IGBT power converters. Two IGBT power converters are provided, wherein each of the IGBT power converters provide redundant power conversion functionality for the other IGBT power converter in the instance the other IGBT power converter cannot perform its power conversion functionality.
A problem with many known redundant power conversion systems is that the output load must be reduced to zero before the load can be transferred from one power converter to the other (i.e., redundant) power converter. Consequently, the output load current is interrupted during the transfer between the power converters.
The heretofore solution for switching between the power converters without reducing the load current to zero during the switching thereof required a large and expensive DC contactor. The use of the large DC contactor however may necessitate the use of additional circuitry for protecting the contactor contacts and system wiring from an over-voltage situation. High-voltage arcs inside the contactor are particularly problematic with high-inductance loads.
It is also desirable in a number of applications to switch between the power converters after the on-line power converter has failed, without reducing the load current to zero during the switching.
Another problem with prior, known redundant power conversion systems is the coordination required amongst the two power converters to ensure that, in the instance one of the power converters fails and/or becomes disconnected from the source, the failed and/or disconnected power converter does not remain connected to the load during an invoked switching sequence. This is necessary to prevent the other power converter from feeding energy into the failed converter instead of the load. For example, in a system with a high impedance source, the source current may not be high enough to clear the fuses. Therefore, the difficult task of coordinating the fuse(s) to the source impedance is needed.
Thus, there exists a need for a circuit topology and method for switching the load between two power converter circuits without interrupting the current to the load during the transfer between the power converters of the power converter circuit and system.

Transfer circuit topology for redundant power generator regulators and inverting DC drives


A vehicle anti-rollaway device includes a first switch responsive to the presence and absence of an operator at a predetermined location in the vehicle for controlling the on/off state of parking brake of the vehicle in the form of either a servo controlled parking brake or a fluid controlled parking brake. The device can also include a speed control responsive to a speed of the vehicle for controlling the on/off state of the parking brake as a function of the speed of the vehicle. The device can also include a second switch operative for controlling the response of the parking brake to the state of the first switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to preventing inadvertent rollaway of vehicles having fluid, e.g., air or hydraulic, or electrically controlled parking brake(s).
2. Description of Related Art
Fluid actuated parking brake(s), such as air pressure controlled parking brake(s) and hydraulic parking brake(s), or electric parking brake(s) are well-known in the art. Vehicles including such brake(s) typically include a parking control valve or servo controlled brake(s) operating under the control of an actuation means, such as a lever, knob or switch, or a switch, respectively, typically disposed inside the operator compartment of the vehicle for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid, e.g., air or hydraulic fluid, or electrical energy to the brake(s) whereupon the brake(s) can be set to the fully "on" state in a manner known in the art.
It is not uncommon for operators of such vehicles to exit the vehicles without setting the parking brake. In many instances, failure to set the parking brake has resulted in the vehicle inadvertently moving without an operator being present, a so-called "rollaway" condition. In many instances of rollaway, it is not uncommon for such vehicles to collide with other vehicles, structures or individuals causing damage to property and equipment, with resulting workmen's compensation claims and/or personal injury claims involving serious injury and/or death.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an anti-rollaway device that avoids inadvertent rollaway of vehicles having fluid or electric controlled parking brake(s).

Anti-rollaway device for trucks and equipment with fluid and electrically actuated brakes


A high dielectric constant insulator including a thin film of a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of tungsten-bronze-type oxides, pyrochlore-type oxides, and combinations of Bi2O3 with an oxide selected from the group consisting of perovskites and pyrochlore-type oxides. An embodiment contains metal oxides represented by the general stoichiometric formulas AB2O6, A2B2O7 and A2Bi2B2O10, wherein A represents A-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ba, Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca, K, Na and La; and B represents B-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf, Mo, W and Nb. Preferably, the metal oxides are (BaxSr1xe2x88x92x)(TayNb1xe2x88x92y)2O6, where 0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa61.0 and 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61.0; (BaxSr1xe2x88x92x)2(TayNb1xe2x88x92Y)2O7, where 0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa61.0 and 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61.0; and (BaxSr1xe2x88x92x)2Bi2(TayNb1xe2x88x92y)2O10, where 0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa61.0 and 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61.0. Thin films according to the invention have a relative dielectric constant xe2x89xa740, and preferably about 100. The value of Vcc in the metal oxides of the invention is close to zero. The value of Tcc is  less than 1000 ppm, preferably  less than 100.

The invention in general relates to metal oxide materials with optimized stoichiometry in integrated circuits, having high dielectric constants, capacitances and other electrical properties that are virtually independent of voltage and temperature.
It is well known that there is a need for a high dielectric constant material suitable for use as a charge storage medium in integrated circuits and related applications, such as the bypass capacitor in microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs). The most commonly used dielectric material used for charge storage in integrated circuits is silicon dioxide, which has a dielectric constant of about 4. Other common dielectric materials used for charge storage, such as Si3N4, Al2O3 and Ta2O5, also have low dielectric constants, ranging from 4 to 20. Storage capacitors using such a material must have a large area to provide the capacitive values required in state-of-the-art integrated circuits. These large areas make it difficult to reach high densities of capacitive components in an integrated circuit or MMIC. However, the use of other materials to provide the dielectric in integrated circuits has been hindered by the fact that commonly-used materials with high dielectric constants often have undesirable properties. For example, ferroelectric materials such as lead zirconium titanate (PZT) are known to have high dielectric constants and therefore have been proposed as candidates for high dielectric constant memories. However, it is well-known in the art that ferroelectric materials should not be used in high dielectric constant DRAMs since they produce a large switching charge at the coercive voltage, which switching charge would mask the conventional linear charge that the DRAM utilizes as a memory storage medium. See, O. Auciello, J. F. Scott, and R. Ramesh, xe2x80x9cThe Physics of Ferroelectric Memoriesxe2x80x9d, Physics Today, 51, No. 7, July 1998, pp. 22-27, particularly xe2x80x9cBox 1xe2x80x9d on page 24. Moreover, PZT and other high dielectric materials display a significant, nonlinear dependence of dielectric constant on temperature and applied voltage. If used as a capacitor dielectric or a bypass capacitor, the material causes the capacitance value to change with temperature and voltage. Materials in which the electronic properties change with temperature and voltage are generally undesirable in integrated circuits and MMICs, since the effective operation of the circuits requires that the electronic properties have specified values, and integrated circuits should be able to operate over a range of temperatures and voltages. PZT and other high dielectric materials often have electronic properties that do not scale; that is, the properties change significantly as the material is made thinner. Such lack of scaling can place stringent requirements on processing that are difficult to meet, and require wholesale redesign of circuits as they are made more dense. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a high dielectric constant material for which the electronic properties scale and are essentially independent of temperature and voltage.
It would also be useful to have a high dielectric constant capacitor that can be used generally in integrated circuits, such as for gate dielectric films in metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), ferroelectric field effect transistors (ferroelectric FETs), and other transistors, as buffer layers to prevent unwanted interactions between certain materials, as diffusion barriers to prevent diffusion of elements from one layer to another, and as interlayer dielectrics. In each of these applications it is useful that the material have electronic values that do not change with temperature and voltage. In addition, each of these applications have additional electronic requirements. It is particularly difficult to predict if a high dielectric material will be effective in gate insulator films in MOSFETs, ferroelectric FETs, and other transistors because, in this application, it must meet multiple, often conflicting, requirements. In addition to having a capacitance that is flat with respect to temperature, voltage and thickness variations, they must have low leakage current and a high breakdown voltage, they must not alter the threshold voltage of the transistor as a function of gate voltage, and they must be an effective barrier against charge injection. Buffer layers must be compatible with both the material they buffer and the surrounding integrated circuit materials. Diffusion barriers must be effective in preventing migration of particular elements at elevated temperatures and must not themselves include elements that can migrate. Interlayer dielectrics must have low leakage currents and have a high breakdown voltage. As integrated circuits become smaller, all the above requirements become more and more stringent, since thicknesses of the materials decrease and the distances between dissimilar materials shrink. The paucity of materials that have a dielectric constant greater than 20, but do not possess problematic properties, is considered to be one of the serious roadblocks to higher density integrated circuit memories.
Recently, commercial ferroelectric memories, particularly ferroelectric random access memories (FERAMs), have become available. While practical FERAMs have not yet reached the densities of DRAMs, rapid advances are being made in this area that suggest that these memories may soon become competitive with DRAMs. Since these memories, like DRAMs, are optimally intended for use in environments in which the temperature and voltage can change substantially, it would be highly useful to have ferroelectric materials for which the electronic properties scale and are essentially independent of temperature and voltage.
The present invention solves the above problem by providing an integrated circuit incorporating a thin film of metal oxide for which the electronic properties have low dependence on voltage and temperature. The invention also provides a liquid precursor for forming a thin film of metal oxide for which the electronic properties scale and have low dependence on voltage and temperature. In addition, the invention provides a method for applying a liquid precursor to an integrated circuit substrate and treating the applied precursor to form the thin film of the metal oxide for which the electronic properties have low dependence on voltage and temperature. Preferably, the metal oxide is a high dielectric constant material, and most preferably it is not ferroelectric. However, some of the materials are ferroelectric, and therefore will be useful in ferroelectric devices, such as FERAMs.
An embodiment of the invention is an integrated circuit comprising a high dielectric constant metal oxide insulator thin film or ferroelectric metal oxide thin film, wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of tungsten-bronze-type oxides, pyrochlore-type oxides, and combinations of an interlayer oxide with an oxide selected from the group consisting of pyrochlore-type oxides and tungsten-bronze-type oxides. Typically, the interlayer oxide is Bi2O3.
In an embodiment of the invention, the metal oxide has a stoichiometry represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of AB2O6, A2B2O7 and A2Bi2B2O10, wherein A represents A-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ba, Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca, K, Na and La; and B represents B-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf, Mo, W and Nb.
An integrated circuit according to the invention contains a thin film of metal oxide with a thickness preferably ranging from 1 nanometer (nm) to 500 nm. Metal oxide material according to the invention is preferably non-ferroelectric and has a relatively high dielectric constant, i.e., a dielectric constant value, xcex520, of 20 or higher. It shows negligible dependence of capacitance on temperature and on external applied voltage, having low Vcc values and low Tcc values. Typical applications of these materials are as the dielectric material in the capacitor of DRAMs, the gate dielectric of transistors, including ferroelectric FETs, as buffer layers to prevent unwanted interactions between certain materials, particularly layered superlattice materials and semiconductors, as diffusion barriers to prevent diffusion of elements from one layer to another, and as interlayer dielectrics. Some of the materials according to the invention are ferroelectric, and a typical application of these materials is as part of a memory cell in an integrated circuit ferroelectric random access memory (FERAM) or as a ferroelectric gate in ferroelectric FETs.
A liquid precursor according to an embodiment of the invention comprises metal atoms in relative molar proportions for forming a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of tungsten-bronze-type oxides, pyrochlore-type oxides, and combinations of an interlayer oxide, such as Bi2O3, with an oxide selected from the group consisting of pyrochlore-type oxides and tungsten-bronze-type oxides. In an embodiment of the invention, the liquid precursor contains metal atoms having a stoichiometry represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of AB2O6, A2B2O7 and A2Bi2B2O10, wherein A represents A-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ba, Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca, K, Na and La; and B represents B-site atoms selected from the group of metals consisting of Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf, Mo, W and Nb.
An embodiment of the method of the invention comprises steps of: providing a substrate; providing a liquid precursor for forming a thin film of the above-discussed metal oxide; applying the liquid precursor to the substrate to form a liquid coating on the substrate; and treating the liquid coating to form a solid thin film of the desired metal oxide. The step of applying may comprise spin-coating a liquid coating of the precursor on the substrate, misted deposition, dip coating or other liquid application process. The step of treating may comprise a process selected from the group including: exposing to vacuum, exposing to ultraviolet radiation, drying, heating, baking, rapid thermal processing, and annealing. An embodiment of the inventive method includes providing a liquid precursor comprising metal atoms in relative molar proportions corresponding to an interlayer oxide, such as Bi2O3, added to a precursor of a perovskite or a pyrochlore-type oxide compound.
The excellent properties of the material and the ability to make very thin films of the material that retain those properties over wide ranges of temperature and voltage make the invention of particular importance for integrated circuits, but it is also important for any type of charge storage device. Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Interlayer oxide containing thin films for high dielectric constant application

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a Hadamard transform coding device, input image signals are first subjected to Hadamard transform. After the Hadamard transform, the DC coefficients are subjected to variable-length coding, and the AC coefficients are subjected to variable-length coding after the output of an AC coefficient predictor is subtracted therefrom. The AC coefficient predictor predicts the AC coefficients of a center block on the basis of the DC coefficients of the adjacent blocks. In a Hadamard transform decoding device, the DC coefficients are first subjected to variable-length decoding. An AC coefficient predictor predicts the AC coefficients of the center block on the basis of the DC efficient of the adjacent blocks. Thereafter, the AC coefficient prediction error is subjected to variable-length decoding, and added with the output of the AC coefficient predictor to obtain the AC coefficients. The transform coefficients thus obtained are subjected to Hadamard inverse-transform to obtain image signals.

1. Field of the present invention
The present invention relates to a Hadamard transform coding/decoding device for image signals using two-dimensional Hadamard transform.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Hadamard transform coding technique for image signals is described in "DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING OF IMAGES--enlarged edition--"by Takahiko Fukinuke, pp181-193 (issued on Jan. 27, 1992 by Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha), and "MULTIDIMENSIONAL SIGNAL PROCESSING OF TV SIGNALS" by Takahiko Fukinuke, pp247-250 (issued on Nov. 15, 1988, first edition by Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha).
Now, representing image data of 8 rows and 8 columns (8.times.8) by a matrix X=[x(i,j)], (i=0,1, . . . , 7; j=0,1, . . . , 7), a matrix Y of the transform coefficients of the two-dimensional (8.times.8)-th order Hadamard transform (=[y(h,v)]) is calculated according to Y=HXH/8 (h=0,1, . . . , 7; v=0,1, . . . ,7). Here, H is represented by the following matrix: ##EQU1## Here, the Hadamard inverse-transform is represented by X=HYH/8.
Furthermore, with respect to the coding based on a two-dimensional (8.times.8)-th order discrete cosine transform (DCT), the ITU-T recommendation T.81 or ISO/IEC standard 10918-1 describes a manner of predicting AC coefficients of a block concerned on the basis of the DC coefficients of the block concerned and adjacent blocks to reduce a coding amount. According to this coding amount reducing manner, the image waveform of each block is approximated by the following equation 2, and the transform coefficient of the approximated waveform is set as a prediction value. EQU f(i,j)=A1i.sup.2 j.sup.2 +A2i.sup.2 j+A3ij.sup.2 +A4i.sup.2 +A5ij+A6j.sup.2 +A7i+A8j+A9 (2)
The constants A1, A2, . . . , A9 of the above equation (2) are set so that the DC coefficient of the approximate waveform in the block concerned and eight blocks adjacent to the block concerned is coincident with the actual DC coefficient. In the ITU-T recommendation T.81 is provided a prediction equation for five AC coefficients in a low area. That is, representing the DC coefficient of the block concerned by Dc and representing the DC coefficients of the adjacent eight blocks by Dnw (northwest) at left-and-upper side, Dn (north) at upper side, Dne (northeast) at right-and-upper side, Dw (west) at left side, De (east) at right side, Dsw (southwest) at left-and-lower side, Ds (south) at lower side and Dse (southeast) at right-and-lower side, the prediction value of a transform coefficient of first-order in the horizontal direction and zero-order in the vertical direction is set to 36 (Dw-De)/256, the prediction value of a transform coefficient of second-order in the horizontal direction and zero-order in the vertical direction is set to 9(Dw-2Dc+De)/256, the prediction value of a transform coefficient of zero-order in the horizontal direction and first-order in the vertical direction is set to 36 (Dn-Ds)/256, the prediction value of a transform coefficient of first-order in the horizontal direction and first-order in the vertical direction is set to 5(Dnw-Dne-Dsw+Dse)/256, and the prediction value of a transform coefficient of zero-order in the horizonal direction and second-order in the vertical direction is set to 9(Dn-2Dc+Ds)/256. The prediction values as described above are optimized by the DCT (discrete cosine transform).
However, since the Hadamard transform based on the prior art as described above is considered to have no perfect reversibility in the case of DCT, it is not effective to directly apply the prediction equation of the DCT to the Hadamard transform, and it is required to optimize the prediction equation for the Hadamard transform.
Japanese Post-examined publication (Kokai) No. Hei-1-33992 "ORTHOGONAL TRANSFORM CODING DEVICE" and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei-3-289282 "HIGH-EFFICIENT CODING DEVICE FOR IMAGE DATA" are known as prior art which belong to the related technical field as the present invention. However, since these prior art references use the same order transform coefficient for the prediction of image signals, they are different from the present invention.


According to the present invention, the expansion of measurable concentration range for an antigen in a sample solution can be achieved, without a step of dilution or the like. The concentration of an antigen contained in a sample solution is determined from the maximum value and/or minimum value of turbidity level detected in the observation of the transient phenomenon of turbidity, elapsed time when the maximum and/or minimum value is observed, and turbidity level.

The present invention relates to a turbidimetric immunoassay for measuring the concentration of an antigen dissolved in a sample solution and more particularly to a turbidimetric immunoassay for measuring the concentration of albumin contained in urine, and an apparatus therefor.
Conventional methods for measuring the concentration of an antigen involve: adding, to a sample solution, an antibody that specifically binds to an antigen contained in the sample solution to produce an antigen-antibody complex by an antigen-antibody reaction, which makes the sample solution turbid; and determining the concentration of the antigen from the turbidity of the sample solution. The turbidity is measured by directing light to the sample solution and then detecting scattered light generated in the solution or transmitted light having passed through the solution. When the turbidity increases, the intensity of the scattered light also increases, but the intensity of the transmitted light decreases.
In the above-described method, the measurement is made in a range where the molar concentration of the antibody is greater than that of the antigen and a range where they are almost equivalent, more specifically, in prozone A through B (hereinafter may be referred to as A-B range) and zone of equivalence C (hereinafter may be referred to as C range) as shown in FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, the turbidity increases as the concentration of the antigen increases in the A-B range whereas the variation of the turbidity with the concentration of the antigen is small in the C range. In the postzone D, the turbidity decreases as the concentration of the antigen is increased, which is called prozone phenomenon. Accordingly, in the above method, the concentration of the antigen is determined by creating a calibration line in the A-B range of FIG. 17 and calculating it from a measured turbidity level based on the calibration curve.
As described above, the concentration of the antigen should be in the prozone A-B or the zone of equivalence C in order for the measurement to be made, and therefore the antibody concentration is required to be increased. In such case, sensitivity in a low concentration range is sometimes sacrificed. Moreover, in order to check that the concentration of the antigen is actually not in the postzone D (i.e. D range of FIG. 17), a step of diluting the sample solution or a step of adding additional amount of antibody has to be done. In the case of using a sample solution whose antigen concentration may be in the D range, two concentrations are obtained from measured turbidity levels. For this reason, it is necessary to check that the concentration of the antigen is not in the D range (see US2003-219910 A1 and US2003-100128 A1).

Turbidimetric immunoassay and an apparatus therefor

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus includes a processor, a graphics processing unit and a memory. The memory stores computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions include a motion estimation kernel which when executed by the graphics processing unit performs motion estimation on a current frame using a reference frame. The current frame and the reference frame are stored in a globally shared memory of the graphics processing unit.

In order to conserve storage space and transmission bandwidth, video streams are encoded (or compressed). Existing compression standards for encoding video streams include H.264 or MPEG-4 Part 10 (defined in ISO-IEC 14496-10). H.264 compression uses an enormous amount of computations to create a quality encoding of an input video stream. Many of these computations can be carried out in parallel, and some must be carried out in series.
It would be desirable to implement a system that performs computations quickly to accomplish high definition video encoding in real-time.


A dumbbell assembly includes at least one bar and a disk is fixedly connected to the at least one bar. The disk has a reception portion. A rotatable unit is engaged with the reception portion of the disk. An arm has an insertion which is connected to the rotatable unit and a disk is connected to the arm. At least one weight member is connected to the wing. The user holds the at least one bar and operates the dumbbell assembly, the wing together with the weight member are rotated about the at least one bar to generate centrifugal forces which exercise the user's muscles.

A conventional dumbbell assembly 60 is shown in FIG. 8 and generally includes a bar 61 and multiple disk-like weight members 62 connected to two ends of the bar 61. The bar 61 includes two threaded ends 611 and the weight members 62 are mounted to the two threaded ends 611 and two nuts 612 are respectively and threadedly connected to the two threaded ends 611 to fix the weight members 62.
The conventional dumbbell can be used to exercise the muscles by the assembly of the bar and the weight members, however, the dumbbell assembly can only be used to lift it up and down, which is so boring and the users easily give up.
The present invention intends to provide a dumbbell assembly which includes two disks rotatably connected to two ends of the bar and each disk is optionally connected to at least one weight member. The weight members are eccentrically connected to the disks so that when using the dumbbell assembly, the wings rotate to apply centrifugal forces to the user's muscles.

Dumbbell assembly with rotatable weight members


A shaft assembly for use with a turbine engine includes a shaft and a magnetic mode control unit. The shaft extends along an axis and is configured to rotate about the axis. The magnetic mode control unit is configured to control deflection of the shaft as the shaft rotates about the axis.

Gas turbine engines are used to power aircraft, watercraft, power generators, and the like. Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses air drawn into the engine and delivers high-pressure air to the combustor. In the combustor, fuel is mixed with the high-pressure air and is ignited. Products of the combustion reaction in the combustor are directed into the turbine where work is extracted to drive the compressor and, sometimes, an output shaft. Left-over products of the combustion are exhausted out of the turbine and may provide thrust in some applications.
The fan and compressor may be interconnected to the turbine with rotating shafts that transfer power and torque produced by the turbine to the fan and compressor. The rotating shafts are supported by bearings and have unsupported regions along the shaft that vibrate at varying frequencies associated with the rotational speed of the shafts. It may be desired to develop systems to dampen such vibrations.

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.