A stylus profilometer having a counterbalanced stylus with a motion transducer using a vane moving between parallel, spaced-apart, conductive plates which damp the motion of the vane by means of trapped air. The vane forms an electrode with the plates so that the combination is a pair of capacitors in a balanced bridge arrangement. Motion of the stylus causes an unbalance of the bridge indicative of the extent of stylus motion. A lever arm associated with the stylus has a tip influenced by a magnetic field which biases the stylus or controls force on a surface to be measured. The entire assembly has a very low moment of inertia to reduce the effects of vibration on the stylus and thereby increase resolution of the device and reduce damage to the substrate.

Profiling instruments were first developed in the 1930's for the purpose of characterizing surfaces in terms of roughness, waviness and form. In recent years, they have been refined for precise metrology in the measurement and production control of the thin film artifacts which are the building blocks of semiconductor devices. As the semiconductor industry has progressed to smaller dimensions with each new generation of product, the need for more sensitive and precise profiling instruments has grown. As artifacts become smaller, a smaller radius stylus must be used to fully resolve them. But a smaller radius produces higher contact pressure and necessitates use of lower stylus force. The use of very low stylus force renders the instrument more vulnerable to noise generation from roughness of the measured surface and also from environmental sources of vibration. The presence of noise in the output reduces the effective sensitivity of the instrument and compromises the fidelity of its traces. Fidelity is also lost whenever the ratio of stylus pressure to surface yield strength rises to the degree that plastic deformation of the surface occurs and detail of the surface variations is obliterated. Reduction of stylus force is the only solution to this problem.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,542 Wheeler et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention, disclose a counterbalanced stylus arm, pivoted about a bearing, in which stylus force may be adjusted by moving the counterbalance. Force is measured using a linear variable differential transformer having a core associated with the stylus arm and a coil, through which the core moves, supported independently of the arm. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,044 Wheeler discloses a similar stylus arm supported for linear scanning.
It is evident that operation of profilers at very low stylus force is desirable. The present state of the art in commercial profilers allows operation down to 1.0 mg. of force. However, a relatively quiet environment is necessary for good results at that force and such conditions are not always available in the users environment. What is needed is a reduced reaction of the stylus/sensor assembly to the vibration or shock energy pulses which reach it from whatever source.
An object of the invention was to devise a stylus assembly for a profilometer with improved vibration and shock insulation properties.

Profilometer stylus assembly insensitive to vibration


Systems and methods to facilitate the cleaning of arenas, such as stadiums having different seating levels. Pivotable bins can collect and funnel trash from different levels such as the concourse level. A series of tubes or chutes can be fixed to the arena structural undercarriage. Approximately 24″ diameter tubes can be used to funnel trash from the bins located on perimeter arena walkways to receptacle containers, recycling containers at ground levels, and even refuse removal trucks. The chutes and tubes can be located adjacent to walkway aisles on different levels of the arena. The chutes/tubes can be vertically oriented and/or be inclined as long as refuse can move down the chutes by gravity. Grates can be also used beneath the bins. And locks can further provide safety.

Large public arenas such as outdoor and indoor stadiums that can seat tens of thousands of fans will often generate great amounts of debris and refuse during entertainment and sports type events. Typically, refuse must be collected in fixed trash receptacles in many locations throughout these stadiums. Generally each of the many receptacles usually will have trash bags that when full must then be individually emptied, and then followed by adding new trash bags that must be individually installed into each receptacle.
The filled trash bags must then be individually transported often from the various different levels and locations in these large arenas to dumpsters and/or garbage trucks, and the like, that are located on different floors such as being on the ground level.
Clearly, the cleaning time, the costs to replace bags, and the associated labor costs from cleanup crews to constantly empty and refill individual receptacles are time consuming and very expensive.
Various patented devices and systems have been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 893,267 to Schellenberg; 1,360,569 to Off; 1,538,239 to Claudespierre; 1,583,833 to Howell; 1,719,545 to Grapp; 2,177,328 to Pender; 2,792,171 to Rosset; 3,813,128 to Ekstrom; 3,869,050 to Michel; 3,951,461 to De Feudis; 4,013,215 to Mercier; 4,589,592 to Wassdahl; 5,031,829 to Shantzis; 5,127,507 to McDermott; 5,155,976 to Okabe et al.; 5,190,165 to Garfield, Jr.; 5,213,402 to Bermal et al.; 5,551,576 to Importico; 5,678,975 to Okabe et al.; 5,695,115 to Shantzis et al.; 5,749,186 to Kaufman et al.; 5,806,759 to Axisa; 6,354,441 to Geiman; and 6,698,142 to Denny. However, none of these techniques solves all the problems that are addressed above.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.

Debris removal system and method for stadiums and arenas

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


The present disclosure relates to a method for sending cell common control reference information. In one example method, before common control information needs to be sent, a base station having M antenna ports generates the cell control reference information used to detect the common control information. The base station maps the common control information and the cell control reference information to one or more resource units (RUs) of N antenna ports. The N antenna ports are a subset of the M antenna ports. The base station uses the one or more RUs to send the common control information and the cell control reference information used to detect the common control information to a user equipment (UE) within a coverage area of the base station.

A current wireless communications technology has been developed into a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. FIG. 1 is used as an example. The existing LTE system includes a plurality of cells. Each cell includes one base station 11 and a plurality of UEs 12. The base station sends common control information and data, and a reference signal used to detect the common control information and the data to the UEs.
In existing LTE R8 to R12 systems, there are mainly three types of reference signals used for downlink channel measurement and data demodulation: a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), and a channel state information-reference signal (CRS-RS). In LTE transmission modes 1 to 6, the reference signal used for the downlink channel measurement and the data demodulation is only the CRS; that is, the CRS is used for both channel detection and coherent demodulation of broadcast, control, and data signals. In LTE transmission modes 7 and 8, pairs of DMRSs are introduced, and are used for coherent demodulation of a data signal; and the CRS is used for channel detection and coherent demodulation of common control information. In LTE transmission modes 9 and 10, the CSI-RS is further introduced. The CRS is used for coherent demodulation of control information, the DMRS is used for coherent demodulation of a data signal, and the CSI-RS is used for multi-antenna port detection/multi-point channel detection.
The CRS is initially introduced in the LTE Release (Release 8), and is a basic downlink reference signal of the LTE system. The CRS is mainly used in the following aspects: channel detection, coherent demodulation of data, and coherent demodulation of a broadcast signal and a control signal (that is, the common control information).
The CRS is generated by a pseudo-random sequence, and the pseudo-random sequence includes a Gold sequence whose length is 31. A total sequence length of the CRS is 8800 symbols. The sequence of the CRS is mapped on each downlink subframe in time domain, and is mapped on each resource block in frequency domain.
At the beginning of CRS design (the transmission modes 1 to 6), the CRS is not only responsible for coherent demodulation of broadcast and control signals, but also responsible for channel detection and coherent demodulation of data signals for each user equipment (UE). Therefore, receiving objects of the CRS are all UEs in a cell. The CRS cannot perform directional transmission for each UE. Consequently, array gains cannot be obtained in a multi-antenna port scenario. In addition, because the CRS cannot perform precoding processing, a transmission solution is only a nontransparent precoding scheme for the UE. This reduces flexibility of the precoding scheme, and increases downlink control signaling overheads, to indicate a precoding matrix used in current transmission. A percentage of total overheads is 14.3%.
To implement transparent precoding processing and higher-order multi-antenna port transmission, starting from the transmission mode 7, the DMRS is introduced in the LTE system, and is specially used for channel estimation for coherent demodulation of data signals.
Different from the CRS, two DMRSs corresponding to an antenna port share 12 same REs (resource element; Resource Element) on a pair of PRBs (physical resource block; Physical Resource Block; usually, PRB for short). The two DMRSs are mutually orthogonal by using different orthogonal cover codes (OCC). A same pseudo-random base sequence is used in two layers of data streams of a same UE, and different OCCs are used to ensure orthogonality. Different pseudo-random base sequences are used in two layers of data streams from different UEs. Different DMRSs are mapped in a code division multiplexing (CDM) manner. Extension can be easily performed to support higher order multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission. Therefore, overheads occupied by four layers of DMRSs and overheads occupied by eight layers of DMRSs are the same: their percentages are both 14.3%.
To support higher order MIMO transmission and coordinated multipoint transmission, starting from the transmission mode 9, the LTE system is further optimized, and the CSI-RS is introduced and is specially used for channel detection in a multi-antenna port scenario. A reference signal time-frequency density required in this type of channel detection is relatively low. Therefore, reference signal design with low overheads may be used. However, overall reference signal overheads are relatively high, and a percentage of total overheads of reference signals is up to 30% when 8-layer transmission is supported.
The MIMO technology mentioned herein was introduced in the industry at the end of the 20th century, and has been widely used because a system capacity can be effectively improved. Particularly, with development of a 5th Generation (5G) wireless communications system, a massive multiple-input multiple-output (M-MIMO) technology begins to draw attention. Compared with the conventional MIMO technology, the M-MIMO technology has advantages such as relatively simple radio resource allocation, no need for a rich scattering environment, and capability to provide a service for a cost effective UE with a single antenna port. Therefore, the M-MIMO attracts wide attention in the industry.
After the M-MIMO technology is introduced, an extremely narrow beam may be generated because the M-MIMO has a relatively large quantity of antenna ports (solution 1 in FIG. 2), and a transmit power is concentrated on an extremely small space to obtain relatively high array gains, so that throughput and energy efficiency are significantly improved. Because the beam is relatively narrow, interference to another UE is low, and the beam is extremely suitable for sending a UE-specific signal for a specific UE, such as UE-specific data and a UE-specific control signal. Relatively, for cell-specific signals that need to be sent to all UEs or most UEs in a cell, for example, a multicast message, a broadcast message, and a control signal, to enable all UEs within a coverage area to receive these cell-specific signals (without loss of generality, these cell-specific signals are collectively referred to as common control information in this application, and correspondingly, a channel that carries the common control information is a common control channel) and to detect reference signals of the common control information, a base station needs to generate a wide beam similar to omni-directional transmission (omni-directional transmission) by using the M-MIMO technology, or generate a wide beam whose width is 120 degrees in three-sector configuration (refer to solution 2 in FIG. 2). Unfortunately, using the wide beam may lead to loss of array gains, and consequently, a transmission distance is reduced. Therefore, a UE on an edge of the cell usually fails to receive the cell-specific signal or receives the cell-specific signal with extremely poor quality. This is a contradiction. Therefore, it is often necessary to make a compromise between the array gains (or a beam width) and the coverage area, that is, solution 3 in FIG. 2. However, solution 3 still fails to fundamentally resolve the contradiction between the array gains and the coverage area.

Method and device for sending reference signal


A box-shaped container for photographic film has an outer casing and a cover. When the cover is opened, an inner casing with a cylindrical film roll chamber can be removably inserted in the outer casing. After a trailing end of the developed photographic film is anchored to a core, the core is inserted in a lateral direction into the film roll chamber. Then, disks are fitted on both lateral ends of the core. When the inner casing is inserted into the outer casing, the core is supported rotatably by the outer casing. The developed photographic film is wound on the core completely in a roll. The disks serve to limit the diameter of the rolled developed photographic film, which enables rotation of the core to be transmitted to an outermost turn of the developed photographic film, whereby a leading end of the developed photographic film is advanced out of the outer casing through the inner casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container for containing photographic film after development.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photofinishing laboratory, exposed 35 mm photographic film is pulled out from a photographic film cassette and developed by a film processor. The developed photographic film is then sent to a photographic printer in order to obtain photoprints from original frames of the developed photographic film. After printing, the developed photographic film is cut, e.g., after every six frames, into film pieces. Each film piece is then inserted into a pocket of a film sheath. This film sheath is folded at portions between the pockets and returned to the customer together with the photoprints. Other size photographic films are processed in a similar manner.
As the film pieces in the film sheath cannot be folded, a relatively large amount of space is required for storage of the sheath. Also, it is difficult to sort and store a plurality of film sheaths in a desired order. Accordingly, the film sheaths are liable to get scattered and lost, which causes difficulty when extra prints of frames in the film pieces are desired.
In the photofinishing laboratory the use of sheaths is not efficient, since an inserting operation is necessary in addition to the cutting operation. Also, fingerprints, dust particles and scratches are often imparted to the film pieces during the inserting operation.

Container for developed photographic film


Internal suspenders having an undergarment to be worn under an outer garment that is tucked into a user's pants, the undergarment having a piece of hook and loop material at each of at least two separated positions at the front of the undergarment spanning the anticipated belt line of a user, first and second members, each also having a piece of hook and loop material fastened thereto, the piece of hook and loop material on the first member cooperating with the piece of hook and loop material on the undergarment so as to be positionable under the outer garment at the desired beltline of a user, the second member being positionable over the outer garment, the first and second members being configured to cooperatively retain the outer garment there between to resist slippage of the outer garment with respect thereto, whereby the piece of hook and loop material on the second members may be disposed at the desired belt line of a user to engage cooperatively disposed pieces of hook and loop material fastened inside of a users pants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of clothing.
2. Prior Art
The present invention is a substitute for or alternative to conventional suspenders. While conventional suspenders work well for holding pants at the desired level and in helping keep a shirt tucked in, they tend to appear old fashion, and make a fashion statement many people don't want to make. However without suspenders, people (mostly men) that are a bit overweight in the stomach have trouble keeping the front of their pants at the desired level, creating less than a desirable appearance. Pulling up the pants corrects that problem, but at the same time tends to pull the shirt bottom up also, now tending to make the shirt look sloppy.


In the circuitry of this invention, a pre-drive controls the output voltage from the driver to the load. The drive includes a resistor and an output transistor. This circuitry lowers the heat dissipation of the transistor of the output driver. Variable voltage input may supply power to the pre-driver.

FIG. 1 is a prior art circuit diagram for a lighting system of a motor vehicle. FIG. 1 shows a conventional circuit using a 12 V battery as power supply 1. Lamp 2 represents the load and driver 3 energizes lamp 2. Driver 3 provides a current to lamp 2. Control 4 controls the current to driver 3. This is a typical circuit for use in a dimmer switch of a motor vehicle. In this conventional circuit, the power loss across the driver 3 from a conventional storage battery often is 5 to 10 watts, As a result, expensive drivers with high power capability must be used.

Motor vehicle circuitry including a pre-driver control


Methods and systems for configuring on touch screen enabled devices custom gestures and custom soft buttons that are equivalent to default gestures configured on such devices allow equivalent custom gestures and soft buttons to be configured seamlessly on such devices without invoking a configuration tool or widget, enable multiple custom gestures and soft buttons equivalent to a particular default gesture to coexist on such devices and permit sets of personal equivalent custom gestures and soft buttons to be saved and loaded on such devices by particular users.

The present invention relates to configuration of custom gestures and custom soft buttons on touch screen enabled devices.
Touch screen enabled devices, such as electronic white boards, tablet computers and smart phones, are often configured to recognize certain gestures and take certain screen actions in response to these gestures. An example of such a gesture is a hand-drawn symbol that causes selected screen text to be converted to boldface type. Configuration of touch screen enabled devices to recognize certain gestures can greatly enhance the utility of such devices for collaboration, such as when giving a presentation or editing a joint document.
Gestures recognized by some touch screen enabled devices are limited to default gestures configured on the devices by the manufacturer. Limiting recognized gestures to default gestures has many shortcomings. Some users may have trouble remembering the default gestures. This problem can be particularly serious for users who use several touch screen enabled devices that support different default gestures. Moreover, some users may have difficulty drawing certain default gestures. Also, temporary users (e.g., a corporate visitor giving a presentation on an electronic white board) may be unfamiliar with the default gestures. Additionally, some users may simply be uncomfortable with drawing gestures and prefer pressing action buttons to manipulate screen data.
Some touch screen enabled devices allow users to configure replacement gestures for default gestures by invoking a configuration tool or widget. Allowing a user to configure replacement gestures can help that particular user with remembering and drawing gestures. However, when a touch screen enabled device is used by multiple users, configuration of replacement gestures by one user will hinder use of the device by other users who are unfamiliar with the replacement gestures. Moreover, the requirement on these devices to invoke a configuration tool or widget to configure replacement gestures can disrupt the train of thought, presentation or workflow of a user. Furthermore, the ability to configure replacement gestures does not help the plight of users who do not like drawing gestures and prefer using action buttons to manipulate screen data.

Equivalent gesture and soft button configuration for touch screen enabled device


Disclosed is a substrate damage detection mechanism using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag including a substrate, at least one RFID tag with a RFID chip, a RFID transmitter and at least one data input/output port and at least one conducting circuit loop arranged to cover the substrate and provided with a first end that is electrically connected to a reference voltage and a second end that is electrically connected to the data input/output port of the RFID tag. The RFID chip generates a conductive code when the conducting circuit loop is originally conducting and generates a open-circuit code when the conducting circuit loop becomes open circuit resulting from the damage of the substrate in which both the conductive code and the open-circuit code are transmitted by the RFID transmitter and received by a RFID reader to determine the damage of the substrate.

The use of passive RFID transponders, or tags, to communicate messages of product tracking substitutes that of the barcode tags, and such use of passive RFID tags include the mounting of the RFID tags in the packaging of wine bottles and corks in which the RFID tags carry anti-counterfeit and product-tracking information. Once the cork of a wine bottle is removed, the RFID tag mounted thereof is destroyed simultaneously; hence a RFID reader ceases receiving signals from the destroyed RFID tag and the counterfeit of the wine is to be recognized and prevented. Several drawbacks exist, however. Such drawbacks include the termination of the communication of product-tracking information resulting from the destroying of the RFID tag.
Patent with International Publication Number WO2006/049374 A1 discloses a ubiquitous sensor network system, including a RFID sensor for extracting a unique number of at least one RFID chip chosen according to a used state of a monitored object among at least one RFID chip set up on a monitored object according to the number of usable states of the monitored object and a controlling unit for receiving the unique number from the RFID sensor and recognizing the used state of the monitored object on the basis of meaning information of the unique number. Major drawbacks of the above system include the number of the RFID tags needed is of equivalence with the number of usable states of the monitored object, which increases the cost, and unable to realize whether the RFID tags that are unconnected to the antenna work normally or not.
At present, security systems mainly adopt wired configuration, and more particular mainly adopts vibration or acoustic waves to detect the status of desired objects under surveillance.

Substrate damage detection mechanism using RFID tag


Since the paper entry guide is disposed below and in close proximity to a fixing belt, the leading edge of recording paper can become wavy or curled when operated in a high temperature, high humidity environment or when printing on the reverse side of the paper in double-sided print mode, and this has lead to the problem that the leading edge of the recording paper after transfer is not properly inserted in the narrow spacing between the paper entry guide and the fixing belt, resulting in a recording paper jam. A fixing device comprises a fixing belt stretched around a heating roller with a heat source contained therein and a fixing roller, a pressing roller for pressing the fixing roller from below via the fixing belt, and a paper entry guide disposed below and in close proximity to the fixing belt and upstream of a nipping portion composed of the fixing belt and the pressing roller. The paper entry guide is pivotably supported on a fulcrum. A solenoid is provided at the upstream side of the paper entry guide, and a return spring is disposed above the paper entry guide. The solenoid, when in the ON state, pulls a plunger to its lowermost position against the spring force of the return spring, and thereby rotates the paper entry guide in the clockwise direction about the fulcrum to maintain spacing with respect to the fixing belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device and a fixing temperature control method for image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and various types of printers. More particularly, the invention relates to a fixing device having a paper entry guide disposed below and in close proximity to an endless fixing belt which is passed around a heating roller and a fixing roller and conveys recording paper to a nipping portion composed of the fixing roller and a pressing roller in order to achieve image fixing by sandwiching the recording paper between the fixing roller and the pressing roller via the fixing belt, and also relates to a fixing temperature control method for use with such a fixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, for an electrophotographic-type fixing device, a heat roller method has often been used wherein a pair of upper and lower rollers coated with a nonadhesive material such as a fluorine resin or silicone rubber and containing therein a heat source such as a halogen lamp are pressed together with a suitable pressure and image fixing is performed by passing toner-transferred recording paper through the nipping portion composed of the two rollers.
Since the heat roller method requires that the toner and the recording paper be rapidly heated to a fixable temperature using only the nipping portion composed of the pair of upper and lower rollers pressed together, if a fixing construction capable of a satisfactory transport speed is to be achieved it has been necessary to make the outer diameter of the heat roller large enough to provide the necessary heat capacity, and to use a considerably high fixing temperature; furthermore, to prevent the resulting high temperature offset, application of a large quantity of separation oil has been indispensable.
With this method, however, it has been difficult to shorten warm-up time or reduce power consumption, and there has also been the problem of image smearing, etc. with the separation oil.
As a technique having the potential of being able to solve the above problem, a belt-type fixing device has recently been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 6-318001.
This belt-type fixing device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.
The fixing device comprises an endless fixing belt 44 stretched around a heating roller 42 with a heat source 41 contained therein and a fixing roller 43, a pressing roller 45 for pressing the fixing roller 43 from below via the fixing belt 44, and a paper entry guide 46 formed in a substantially straight shape and disposed below and in close proximity to the fixing belt 44 and upstream of a nipping portion composed of the fixing belt 44 (fixing roller 43) and the pressing roller 45. The surface temperature of the fixing belt 44 is detected by a temperature sensing element 47 disposed in contacting relationship with the surface of the fixing belt 44 on the heating roller 42 side of the fixing belt 44, and the heat source 41 is controlled on and off using the sensor signal and a controller mounted in the main body (not shown). The fixing belt 44 is a low heat capacity belt constructed from a thin-film endless metal belt coated with a nonadhesive silicone rubber or the like.
When recording paper with an unfixed toner image formed thereon is transported :into the thus constructed fixing device, the toner and the recording paper are preheated through the fixing belt 44, and the toner begins to melt. Accordingly, temperature can be set low for the nipping portion composed of the fixing belt and the pressing roller; also, since the heat capacity of the fixing belt 44 is small, the fixing belt 44 is rapidly cooled when the recording paper passes the nipping portion, which makes it possible to reduce the temperature of the toner on the recording paper separated from the fixing belt 44 at the exit of the nipping portion, the net effect being that an offset-free good quality image can be obtained without using oil or by using a minute quantity of oil.
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the temperature of the fixing belt on the heating roller side and the temperature of the paper entry guide as a function of time during warm-up from main body power on in the prior art construction.
In the above fixing device, however, sufficient study has not been made considering the setting environment of the main body and double-sided print mode.
More specifically, since the paper entry guide is disposed below and in close proximity to the fixing belt, the leading edge of the recording paper may become wavy or curled when operating in a high temperature, high humidity environment or when printing on the reverse side of the paper in double-sided print mode, as a result of which the leading edge of the recording paper after image transfer may not be inserted into the narrow space between the paper entry guide and the fixing belt, resulting in a recording paper jam, or a recording paper jam may occur during printing operation, causing the main body to stop its operation with the jammed paper squeezed between the paper entry guide and the fixing belt. If this happens, the user has to remove the jammed paper inside the main body and has difficulty in removing the jammed paper squeezed in the narrow space between the paper entry guide and the fixing belt. This has worsened recoverability from paper jamming.
One way to solve the above problem would be to preset the spacing between the paper entry guide and the fixing belt wider, but this would defeat the purpose of preheating the paper entry guide from the fixing belt (to improve the fixing characteristic by raising the temperature of the unfixed toner on the recording paper utilizing the heat contained in the paper entry guide). Another problem is that, in the case of a large heat capacity recording paper such as a thick paper, it is difficult to obtain a good fixing temperature by preheating from the paper entry guide alone.

Fixing device and fixing temperature control method


The invention relates to a combustion engine 7 of compound type in which the exhaust gases partly drive a first turbine 3 for driving a compressor 4 for supplying and compressing combustion air, partly a second turbine 2 which, via a mechanical transmission 1 transmits the residual energy in the exhaust gases to the crankshaft 10 of the combustion engine. The exhaust gas brake 6 being placed downstream, in the exhaust gas flow direction, after the second power turbine 2 results in a greatly increased braking effect at a given limited permitted exhaust gas temperature. In corresponding conditions with regard to exhaust gas temperature and type of exhaust gas brake damper the braking effect extracted for compound engines can be improved by up to 27% compared with a conventional supercharged diesel engine.

The invention relates to a combustion engine of turbocompound type and, more particularly, to such an engine incorporating an exhaust gas brake preamble to patent claim 1.
A known means of improving the braking effect of a four-stroke combustion engine is to arrange an exhaust gas brake damper in the exhaust gas manifold outlet. Closing this exhaust gas damper will cause the engine to pump out exhaust gases during the exhaust stroke against the closed damper, thereby resulting in increased engine brake effect. In order inter alia to achieve a quicker brake effect response, endeavours have been made to place an exhaust gas brake damper as close as possible to the cylinder exhaust gas valves, preferably directly after the point where the cylinderwise exhaust gas branch ducts merge to form a common exhaust gas duct. In certain cases the damper may also be placed directly after a turbocharger where two or more separate exhaust gas manifolds lead exhaust gases to a turbine with two or more guiderails in the turbine, with the object of reducing pulsating noise on the exhaust gas side of the engine.
In connection with turbocompound engines, a number of solutions intended to increase the braking effect in turbocompound engines have been patented. For example, EP,B,272680 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,812 refer to solutions for engines with so-called Jake brakes. Such a brake provides engine braking by brief opening of exhaust gas valves at the end of the compression stroke. The known solutions mentioned use a special exhaust gas damper which is arranged between the supercharger turbine and the power turbine and closes the flow from the supercharger turbine at the same time as a throttled duct opens so that the power turbine can pump exhaust gases against a throttle at the same time as the power turbine transmission is reversed. This solution becomes technically complicated and expensive, involving a reversible gearbox with several gears. U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,633 refers to an alternative for engines with so-called Jake brakes whereby a simple bypass of the power turbine is activated as soon as engine braking is activated. Increased braking effect is thereby intended to be achieved by the power turbine driving power supplied to the crankshaft being largely disconnected because the flow through the power turbine ceases.

Combustion engine of turbocompound type with exhaust gas brake


Disclosed is a method and system for real time appending at least one electronic message in at least one video stream. The system includes a channel identification module, a signal processing module, a decision module and a message appending module. The channel identification module is configured to identify at least one channel broadcasting the at least one video stream comprising at least one video frame. The signal processing module is configured to perform signal processing analysis on the at least one video frame to detect a plurality of objects associated with at least one content. The decision module is configured to validate the presence of the at least one content by contextually correlating at least one object with at least one other object from the plurality of objects. The message appending module is then configured to append the at least one electronic message in the at least one video stream.

Distribution of media such as multimedia including audio, video, etc. through satellite television and/or cable television have evolved and gained immense popularity in the last few years. The distribution of such media is controlled through a media server located at the service provider's/broadcaster's location. The media distributed may contain objectionable content such as a smoking scene, and associated contents such as an alcoholic scene, etc. The distribution of such objectionable contents is governed by statutory rules and regulations enforced by statutory authorities. The statutory authorities may allow distribution of such objectionable contents only when these are accompanied with statutory warning messages or disclaimers conveying the drawbacks or deficiencies associated therewith.
Conventionally, the service providers or broadcasters have to manually scan the entire video feed to identify one or more video frames containing the objectionable contents. However, the conventional technique of manually identifying the objectionable contents is inefficient and onerous. Further, using the conventional technique, it is very difficult and tedious to manually scan the entire video feeds of television programs, especially tele-serials or reality shows to detect the objectionable content and then accordingly append the disclaimers at the appropriate location on the screen displaying the objectionable content. This may increase in the overall production time and thereby reduce the productivity of the broadcasting contents. Further, manual technique of appending disclaimers may not enable tracking of the number of instances of objectionable contents being broadcasted by a specific program of a specific channel.
Although the detection of smoke in a video feed has been automated and is being used in applications such as surveillance systems, however, the implementation of such automated smoke detection systems may not be useful in detecting objectionable contents in the media distributed through broadcasters/service providers. This is because the smoke detected in the media may not always be related to a smoking scene. For instance, there may be a video feed broadcasting news on fire caused in a particular area, building and forest, etc. Appending the warning disclaimers in context of such video feeds may not be appropriate. Thus, in view of the above, there is need for a system and method that enables real time detection of objectionable contents in a video feed followed by verification of the presence of the objectionable contents. Further, there is a need for a system and method for appending statutory disclaimers in the video feed only when the detection of objectionable contents is verified. Further, there is a need for a system and method for real time tracking of number of disclaimers appended in the one or more video frames of the video feed.

Automated statutory warning system to display disclaimers


The compositions and methods disclosed herein provide novel DNA molecules that encode glyphosate resistant EPSPS proteins and plants containing these new proteins. The plants that express the new EPSPS proteins are themselves tolerant to the herbicidal effects of glyphosate.

N-phosphonomethylglycine, also known as glyphosate, is a well-known herbicide that has activity on a broad spectrum of plant species. Glyphosate is the active ingredient of Roundup® (Monsanto Co., St Louis, Mo.), a herbicide having a long history of safe use and a desirably short half-life in the environment. When applied to a plant surface, glyphosate moves systemically through the plant. Glyphosate is phytotoxic due to its inhibition of the shikimic acid pathway, which provides a precursor for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. Glyphosate inhibits the class I 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) found in plants and some bacteria. Glyphosate tolerance in plants can be achieved by the expression of a modified class I EPSPS that has lower affinity for glyphosate, yet still retains its catalytic activity in the presence of glyphosate (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,535,060, and 6,040,497). "Tolerant" or "tolerance" refers to a reduced effect of an agent on the growth and development, and yield of a plant, in particular, tolerance to the phytotoxic effects of a herbicide, especially glyphosate.
Enzymes, such as, class II EPSPSs have been isolated from bacteria that are naturally resistant to glyphosate and when the enzyme is expressed as a transgene in plants provides glyphosate tolerance to the plants (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,633,435 and 5,094,945). Enzymes that degrade glyphosate in plant tissues (U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175) are also capable of conferring plant tolerance to glyphosate. DNA constructs that contain the necessary genetic elements to express the glyphosate resistant enzymes or degradative enzymes create chimeric transgenes useful in plants. Such transgenes are used for the production of transgenic crops that are tolerant to glyphosate, thereby allowing glyphosate to be used for effective weed control with minimal concern of crop damage. For example, glyphosate tolerance has been genetically engineered into corn (U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,798), wheat (Zhou et al. Plant Cell Rep. 15:159-163, 1995), soybean (WO 9200377) and canola (WO 9204449). The transgenes for glyphosate tolerance and transgenes for tolerance to other herbicides, for example the bar gene (Sh.Bar) may be included in DNA constructs for use as a selectable marker for plant transformation (present invention pMON81519; and Toki et al. Plant Physiol., 100:1503-1507, 1992; Thompson et al. EMBO J. 6:2519-2523, 1987; phosphinothricin acetyltransferase DeBlock et al. EMBO J., 6:2513-2522, 1987, glufosinate herbicide) are also useful as selectable markers or scorable markers and can provide a useful phenotype for selection of transgenic plants when the marker gene is linked with other agronomically useful traits.
Development of herbicide-tolerant crops has been a major breakthrough in agriculture biotechnology as it has provided farmers with new weed control methods. One enzyme that has been successfully engineered for resistance to its inhibitor herbicide is class I EPSPS. Variants of class I EPSPS have been isolated (Pro-Ser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061; Gly-Ala, U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,908; Gly-Ala, Gly-Asp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,667; Gly-Ala, Ala-Thr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,775) that are resistant to glyphosate. However, many EPSPS variants either do not demonstrate a sufficiently high Ki for glyphosate or have a Km for phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) too high to be effective as a glyphosate resistance enzyme for use in plants (Padgette et. al, In "Herbicide-resistant Crops", Chapter 4 pp 53-83. ed. Stephen Duke, Lewis Pub, CRC Press Boca Raton, Fla. 1996). However, one class I EPSPS variant, T102I/P106S (TIPS) that is operably linked to a heterologous promoter has been shown to provide glyphosate tolerance to transgenic maize plants (U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,497). A glyphosate tolerant EPSPS has also been isolated from the weed Eleusine indica [WO 01/66704].
There is a need in the field of plant molecular biology for a diversity of genes that can provide a positive selectable marker phenotype. In particular, glyphosate tolerance is used extensively as a positive selectable marker in plants and is a valuable phenotype for use in crop production. The stacking and combining of existing transgene traits with newly developed traits is enhanced when distinct positive selectable marker genes are used. The marker genes provide either a distinct phenotype, such as, antibiotic or herbicide tolerance, or a molecular distinction discernable by methods used for DNA detection. The transgenic plants can be screened for the stacked traits by analysis for multiple antibiotic or herbicide tolerance or for the presence of novel DNA molecules by DNA detection methods. The present invention provides DNA and protein compositions of glyphosate resistant variant class I EPSP synthases. The present invention also provides DNA constructs useful in plants and transgenic plants that exhibit glyphosate tolerance.

Glyphosate resistant class I 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS)


The opto-electronic sensor (1) for the measurement of the distance (d) to an object (9), resp., for the identification of an object (9) within a monitoring zone (90) is based on triangulation measurement. A light source (21) emits light onto the object (9) or into the monitoring zone (90). The light (35) scattered by the object (9) impinges on a receiving element (31) at an angle (xcex1), which is dependent on distance (d) to the object (9). The latter has tappings (34.1-34.5) distributed over its length, in order to by means of a corresponding selection of these bring the measuring range of the sensor (1) to the value required by a control circuit (4) and as a result of this to increase the measuring resolution correspondingly. In variable amplifiers (6.1, 6.2), two or more detector signals (I1xe2x80x2, I2xe2x80x2) are multiplied with a variable factor respectively determined by the control circuit (4) and subsequently added, resp., subtracted in an addingxe2x80x94or subtracting stage (7). In an evaluation unit (8), the common signal for the generation of an object identification signal is processed further. The sensor (1) manifests a low measuring inaccuracy caused by noise and enables a continuous adjustability of the measuring distance (d).

The invention presented here concerns an opto-electronic sensor for distance measurement and/or distance-dependent object identification and a method for the opto-electronic distance measurement and/or distance-dependent object identification, in accordance with the generic terms of the independent claims. The sensor and the method are based on triangulation measurement.
Sensors of this type on the one hand can be utilized for the measurement of the distance to an object, wherein the output signals represent continuous values or nevertheless a multitude of discrete values from an interval and represent a measure for the distance. On the other hand, sensors of this type are frequently only utilized for the determination, resp., identification of the presence of an object within a certain monitoring zone, wherein as output signals only two binary values xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cobject presentxe2x80x9d) or xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cno object presentxe2x80x9d) are possible. When in this document xe2x80x9cdistance sensorsxe2x80x9d are mentioned, then understood by it are always sensors, which are suitable for the one and/or for the other application.

Opto-electronic distance sensor and method for the opto-electronic distance measurement


A vehicle battery cable has a plurality of subsidiary or daughter cables where the subsidiary cables have the same length and gauge and exhibit closely matched resistance. The vehicle battery cable connects a plurality of batteries in parallel to a load in a way that each battery carries the same proportion of the load as every other battery.

1. Technical Field
The technical field relates to cable assemblies for connecting a plurality of batteries to a load.
2. Background Description
Most batteries installed on internal combustion engine equipped motor vehicles are designed for 12 volt direct current (DC) starter and electrical systems. Heavy duty trucks typically have three or four 12 volt batteries, connected in parallel, to support the cold cranking amperage draw of the starter motor for the vehicle's diesel engine starter. Some heavy duty trucks which use a 24 volt starter system mixed with a 12 volt electrical system in which parallel and series connections are mixed for a set of 12 volt batteries.
Batteries are conventionally connected in parallel by linking like polarity terminals of the battery set using jumper cables. Typically one battery is connected to the next in succession. Battery cables connect the positive and negative terminals of one of the batteries to the load.
A conventional motor vehicle battery for an internal combustion engine equipped vehicle is subjected to its highest loads and highest discharge rate when the vehicle's engine is cranked by a electric starter motor. Rapid discharge of a battery is the likeliest source of internal overheating of a battery, and premature failure of the battery. Experience has shown that in an assembly of parallel connected batteries, the battery having its terminals connected by the battery cables directly to the load is the most likely to fail prematurely, possibly on account of internal overheating. Overheating can stem from a battery carrying a greater part of the starting load, especially during cold cranking of the engine and/or due to more rapid recharging of the battery following starting. Overheating depletes battery cell chemistry and promotes the accumulation of sludge at the bottom of the battery cell closest to the main terminal, potentially shorting out cells within the battery. Excessively quick recharging can reduce water levels in a battery from electrolytic reduction of water into hydrogen and oxygen.
In addition, the jumper cables used to connect the batteries to one another are prone to heat damage adjacent the cable's terminating connectors.
Premature battery failure has been addressed by periodically rearranging the order of the batteries in the connection sequence and changing which battery of the group is the one connected by battery cables to the load without an intervening jumper cable. This action periodically changes which battery is subjected to the stresses imposed by being the battery directly connected to the vehicle electrical system and thus supporting the heaviest loads and seeing the fastest recharging cycles.
Pre-made cable assemblies are known where a butt splice is introduced to the starter cable and an individual cable assembly for each battery provided. The cable assemblies are cut to different discrete lengths to reach a particular battery location. This approach eliminates the use of jumper cables between batteries, however the resistance in the paths from individual batteries still differs from battery to battery stemming from the different lengths of the subsidiary cable assemblies.

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to an image reading device configured to record an image on both sides of a sheet, and particularly to an image recording device comprising a return guide configured to convey a sheet having an image recoded thereon back to a recording unit.
2. Description of Related Art
A known image recording device is configured to record an image on both sides of a sheet and comprises a sheet tray, a feed roller, and a recording unit disposed above the sheet tray. The feed roller feeds a sheet from the sheet tray toward the recording unit via a curved path extending between the sheet tray and the recording unit. In a double-sided recording mode, a sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof is switched back and returned to the sheet tray, and the feed roller feeds the sheet again toward the recording unit via the curved path. Because a path for guiding a sheet for recording one side thereof and a path for guiding a sheet for recording the other side thereof are shared, the image recording device is made compact.
However, when the feed roller feeds the sheet returned to the sheet tray, the feed roller contacts the surface of the sheet on which an image has been recorded. The feed roller may smear the image on the sheet, or a recording agent, such as ink or toner, may adhere to the feed roller which, in turn, may soil another sheet.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A gas compressor, wherein the gas compressor can be used for compressing gas, vapor, or combinations thereof. The gas compressor includes a drive power section and a dual activating compressor section. The gas compressor can be used in a system for compressing gas, vapor, or combinations thereof.

A need exists for a gas compressor that compresses well head casing gas utilizing fluid using a rack and pinion system, mechanically with a crank arm, or the like.
A need exists for a gas compressor that can capture methane and other gases from a variety of locations like offshore oil wells, stock tanks, oil tank batteries, dairy farms, waste dumps, or other locations that generate gasses needing to be compressed.
A need exists for a gas compressor that can evacuate gas from the casing of an oil and/or gas well and discharge it into a higher pressure flow or sales line that is reliable and has a dual seal system for prevention of environmental spills.
The present embodiments meet these needs.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.


The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I) for pulmonary administration. The compound of formula (I) is suitable for treating pulmonary fibrosis, such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a mammal. Furthermore the present invention concerns a method for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in a human subject.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) represents a massive worldwide health burden. It is a chronic condition of unknown etiology in which repeated acute lung injury causes progressive fibrosis resulting in destruction of lung architecture, deteriorating lung function with consequent respiratory failure and death. Although idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the archetypal and most common cause of lung fibrosis, numerous respiratory diseases can progress to pulmonary fibrosis, and this usually signifies a worse prognosis. The median time to death from diagnosis is 2.5 years and the incidence and prevalence of IPF continues to rise. It remains one of the few respiratory conditions for which there are no effective therapies, and there are no reliable biomarkers to predict disease progression. The mechanisms resulting in pulmonary fibrosis are unclear but center around aberrant wound healing as a consequence of repetitive epithelial injury from an as yet unknown cause. IPF is characterized by fibroblastic foci containing fibroblasts/myofibroblasts which show increased activation response to fibrogenic cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Given the non-responsiveness of many cases of IPF to current anti-inflammatory treatments the myofibroblasts within fibroblastic foci represent a potential novel therapeutic target. There is a big unmet need for drugs for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis is the best characterized rodent model and is the industry standard model. Bleomycin treatment causes oxidant-mediated DNA damage and induces initial lung inflammation followed by progressive fibrosis over 2-4 weeks. When administered during the later phase of the injury the anti-fibrotic potential of novel compounds can be assessed.
Galectin inhibitors, in particular Gal-3 inhibitors have been described by the some of the present inventors in earlier published patent applications. None of these galectin inhibitors have been tested in a bleomycin model. Some of the prior art galectin inhibitors have the following general formulas
as described in WO/2005/113568,and
as described in WO/2005/113569, in which RI can be a D-galactose, and
as described in WO/2010/126435.

Galactoside inhibitor of galectin-3 and its use for treating pulmonary fibrosis


Systems and methods for shifting bids and/or offers in a trading interface are provided. Using these systems and methods, a trader may access various bid and/or offer data, adjust bid and/or offer statuses, and shift a plurality of bid and/or offer prices and sizes to accommodate for changes in a trading environment. The trading interface may provide users with multiple bid and/or offer interaction. This may allow users to apply changes to a plurality of bids and/or offers simultaneously and provide time efficient bid and/or offer shifting. Furthermore, the trading interface may allow the user to access or import books from various trading applications.

This invention relates to shifting bids and/or offers. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods for shifting bids and/or offers in a trading interface.
Electronically based trading systems have gained widespread popularity in recent years. Such trading systems are frequently used for trading items ranging from financial instruments (such as stocks, bonds, currency, futures contracts, etc.) to used household goods (such as old records, antiques, etc.).
In many of these trading systems, bid/offer-hit/take processes are used to negotiate a sale of a given item. In connection with such processes, bids and/or offers for items are entered into a trading system and a hit or take is submitted in response to a bid or offer, respectively, to agree to a sale.
Many times, a trader may have multiple bids and/or offers that he or she wants to maintain in the trading system. These bids and/or offers are frequently referred to as a "book." In connection with such a book of bids and/or offers, the trader may want to act upon all simultaneously. For example, in an instance where some factor has caused the prices of every bid and/or offer that the trader has in his book to change by the same amount (either an absolute amount, e.g., $5, or a relative amount, e.g., 5%), the trader may want to shift the prices of his or her bids and/or offers by that amount. Being able to shift prices in a single step may save the trader time (in not having to make the change for each bid and/or offer individually) as well as money (in not being subject to hits and/or lifts on his bids and/or offers while he is trying to change all of his bids and/or offers).
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods for shifting bids and/or offers efficiently using a trading interface.

Systems and methods for shifting bids and offers in a trading interface


A method for controlling advancement of a drilling apparatus comprising a drill head having tools therein and at least one conveying tube is disclosed. The method utilizes changes in pressure sensed in the drill head or the conveying tube as a means for assessing forces acting on tools in the drill head. The measured pressure information is transmitted to control equipment which adjusts the driving force applied by a power unit to the apparatus to effect the drilling operation. The method thereby provides an effective means of preventing damage to the tools.

There is a known control system for a forward driven drilling apparatus, wherein the control of the driving force is dependent on the torque of the drilling apparatus. The tool in the drill head cuts the tunnel front wall through rotation. The rotary motion is transmitted to the drill head from the tunnel opening, in general, by the rotating soil-conveying tubes. The torque of the conveying tube system is monitored and, as the torque drops, the drilling apparatus is driven forward.
An applicable method is also to provide the tool in the drill head with a relatively short feed of its own, the length of which the tool moves on when drilling the tunnel. When the feed travel comes to its end, the tool reverts to start and the entire drilling apparatus is driven forward respectively. This procedure is known, for example, from the GB-publication No. 2 091 316 and the U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,289.
The disadvantage of a torque monitoring control method is the growth of torque when the tunnel drive advances. The farther the tunnel work advances the more the resistance of rotation drops, which can be caused for instance by the conveying tubes transmitting the torque. Therefore, when the tunnel drive advances, the control system becomes insensible to tool hindrances far from the tunnel opening and damage to the tool is quite possible.
In a system where the tool is provided with an individual built-in feed motion in the drill head, the mounting of the tool becomes complicated and even the control system must be of a kind that senses the qualities and variations of soil ahead.

Control method and control equipment for drilling apparatus


A duty detection circuit is provided with a main circuit unit that includes at least a first capacitor that is discharged during the time period in which the clock signal is at a high level and charged during the time period in which the clock signal is at a low level, and a second capacitor that is charged during the time period in which the clock signal is at a high level and discharged during the time period in which the clock signal is at a low level, with the main circuit unit alternately charging or discharging the first and second capacitors in synchrony with the clock signal; and a duty correction signal generator for detecting the potential difference of the first and second capacitors and outputting a duty correction signal based on the potential difference.

In DDR-SDRAM (Double Data Rate-Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit for generating an internal clock synchronized with an external clock is used in order to minimize operational lag within the memory. The external clock signal must be inputted at the correct duty ratio (ratio of the high or low level of a signal in a cycle; the correct duty ratio in this case is 50%) in order for the DLL circuit to operate properly. However, a duty error of ±5% in the external clock signal is allowed by specification, and a larger duty error occurs when jitter and the like are considered. Therefore, after the duty error of the internal clock is detected by a duty detection circuit, this error must be corrected.
FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram showing the structure of a DLL circuit.
In the DLL circuit 900 shown in FIG. 9, the external clock (CLK/CLKB) received by a clock receiver 901 is fed to a delay counter 903 through a clock controller 902, and an internal clock (RCLK/FCLK) is generated having a prescribed amount of delay. These signals are inputted to a data output unit 904 and to a duty detection circuit 906, and the duty difference is found in the duty detection circuit 906 by comparing the duty of the FLCK signal and RCLK signal. The output of a data output unit replica 905 that receives the RCLK signal is inputted to a phase comparison judgment unit 907, it is judged in the phase comparison judgment unit 907 whether the present state is ahead or delayed with respect to the external clock (CLK), and the result of this judgment is fed to a delay counter controller 908. The delay counter controller 908 controls the delay counter 903 based on the duty difference and the phase offset direction (ahead/delayed).
By this configuration, an internal clock (DQ/DQS) having no duty correction such as the one shown in FIG. 10A is outputted without modification when the DLL circuit does not have the duty detection circuit 906, but a signal in which the duty ratio is corrected to 50% (1:1) can be generated by the DLL circuit 900 having the duty detection circuit 906, as shown in FIG. 10B.
FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram showing the structure of a conventional duty detection circuit.
As shown in FIG. 11, this duty detection circuit 200 comprises a main circuit unit 210 for receiving an RCLK signal and an FCLK signal as internal clock signals generated in the DLL circuit, and generating voltage levels (DB signal and REF signal) in accordance with the duty ratio of these internal clock signals (hereinafter referred to simply as clock signals); an amplifier 220 for amplifying the output of the main circuit unit 210; a latch circuit 230 for latching the output of the amplifier 220; a pre-charge unit 240 for charging (pre-charging) a capacitor inside the main circuit unit 210; and a transfer controller 250 for allowing discharge of a capacitor inside the main circuit unit 210. The RCLK signal in this arrangement is an internal clock signal having the same phase as the external clock signal, and the FCLK signal is an internal clock signal having the opposite phase of the external clock signal. Therefore, the RCLK signal and the FCLK signal are complementary to each other, and the term "duty ratio" is defined by the ratio at which the RCLK signal is at a high level (ratio at which the FCLK signal is at a low level).
The main circuit unit 210 comprises a capacitor C21 connected to a signal line S1; a capacitor C22 connected to a signal line S2; integration transistors Tr26 and Tr27 for receiving and switching the RCLK signal and the FCLK signal; and a bias transistor Tr28 inserted between the sources of the integration transistors Tr26 and Tr27 and the ground GND. A bias signal is fed to the bias transistor Tr28. The pre-charge unit 240 is composed of pre-charge transistors Tr21 through Tr23 for pre-charging the capacitors C21 and C22. A PreB signal for initiating pre-charging of the capacitors C21 and C22 is fed to the gates of the pre-charge transistors Tr21 through Tr23. The transfer controller 250 is composed of activation transistors Tr24 and Tr25 for allowing discharge of the capacitors C21 and C22, and an ActT signal that is an activation signal for initiating an actual integration operation is fed to the gates of the activation transistors Tr24 and Tr25.
The operation of the conventional duty detection circuit 200 will next be described with reference to FIG. 12. First, as shown in FIG. 12, when the pre-charge transistors Tr21 through Tr23 are placed in the ON state by the changing of the PreB signal to low-level, a charge is fed from the power source VDD to the capacitors C21 and C22, whereby the capacitors C21 and C22 are charged to the VDD. When the activation transistors Tr24 and Tr25 are placed in the ON state by the changing of the ActT signal to active (high-level), the charges with which the capacitors C21 and C22 were charged are alternately discharged in synchrony with the RCLK signal and FCLK signal. In other words, when the RCLK signal becomes high-level, the capacitor C21 is discharged through the activation transistor Tr24, the integration transistor Tr26, and the bias transistor Tr28; and when the FCLK signal becomes high-level, the capacitor C22 is discharged through the activation transistor Tr25, the integration transistor Tr27, and the bias transistor Tr28. Since the capacitors C21 and C22 are thereby discharged during the time period in which the RCLK signal and FCLK signal are each high-level, the potentials of the DB signal and the REF signal alternately decrease in the time period (integration operation period) in which the ActT signal is at a high level, as shown in the drawing.
The final output of the main circuit unit 210 is indicated by the potential difference between the REF signal that is the potential of the signal line S1 connected to the capacitor C21, and the DB signal that is the potential of the signal line S2 connected to the capacitor C22. The difference between these potentials is amplified by the amplifier 220, whereby a DCC signal (duty correction signal) is obtained as a 1-bit digital signal, and the DCC signal is latched in the latch circuit 230. In this arrangement, a low-level (VREF>DB) logical value for the DCC signal means that the duty ratio exceeds 50%, and a high-level (VREF<DB) logical value for the DCC signal means that the duty ratio is less than 50%. The DCC signal thus generated is fed to the delay counter controller 908 of the DLL circuit 900 described above, and the delay counter controller 908 changes the duty ratio of the clock signal based on this feedback. In other words, control is performed so that the duty ratio of the clock signal is reduced when the DCC signal is at a low level, and so that the duty ratio of the clock signal is increased when the DCC signal is at a high level. The DLL circuit causes the duty ratio of the clock signal to approach 50% by continuously performing this type of control.
The above-described conventional duty detection circuit 200 has the property that the charging level of the capacitor following removal of the charge by the integration operation fluctuates considerably according to the frequency of the clock signal. Specifically, when the clock (CLK) frequency is low, the levels of the REF signal and DB signal significantly decrease, as shown in FIG. 13A. However, as shown in FIG. 13B, the levels of the REF signal and DB signal decrease only moderately when the clock frequency is high. Drawbacks therefore occur in that the structure of the judgment circuit becomes complex when an attempt is made to adapt to such a large difference in levels.
When the duty difference of two clock signals is large, as shown in FIG. 14A, the final potential difference ΔV of the DB signal and the REF signal has a certain level after the capacitors are discharged by the integration operation. However, as shown in FIG. 14B, when there is almost no duty difference in the clock signals, the final potential difference ΔV of the DB signal and REF signal becomes extremely small. Therefore, when an attempt is made to adapt to such a minute potential difference, drawbacks occur in that a high-precision judgment circuit must be used, and the structure of the judgment circuit is complicated.
The problem of dependency on the clock frequency shown in FIG. 13 can be overcome to a certain extent by reducing the common source current or increasing the capacity of the capacitors. On the other hand, however, the problem of the output potential difference shown in FIG. 14 can be overcome to a certain extent by increasing the common source current or decreasing the capacity of the capacitors. Since the methods for overcoming the two problems described above are thus mutually exclusive, and both involve a trade-off, a new method for overcoming these problems must be found in order to achieve a high level of reconciliation between these methods.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a duty detection circuit capable of correctly operating in a wide range of frequencies without regard for the size of the duty difference; and to provide a method for controlling the same.

Duty detection circuit and method for controlling the same


Systems, methods and devices for use in tracking are described, using optical modalities to detect spatial attributes or natural features of objects, such as, tools and patient anatomy. Spatial attributes or natural features may be known or may be detected by the tracking system. The system, methods and devices can further be used to verify a calibration of a tool either by a computing unit or by a user. Further, the disclosure relates to detection of spatial attributes, including depth information, of the anatomy for purposes of registration or to create a 3D surface profile of the anatomy.

In many types of surgery, systems and devices are used to provide a surgeon with real-time positional guidance to guide therapy. For example, in THA, there exist systems that provide a surgeon with positional guidance of an acetabular implant with respect to a pelvis of a patient. Positional measurements are measured using tracking systems, typically utilizing optical, electro-magnetic, inertial, ultrasonic or RF measurement modalities.
Optical tracking systems, such as the Polaris™ system, manufactured by Northern Digital Inc. (Waterloo, ON), utilize fixed multi-camera arrays located in an operating room to detect targets within a working volume of the cameras. The targets normally have optically identifiable markers that are easily identifiable in a video feed of the cameras. Examples of markers include active or reflective markers in the infra-red frequency spectrum, markers of a distinct colour, markers with distinct shapes or patterns, which are easily positively identifiable in an image (e.g. checker pattern) etc. Commonly, reflective spheres are used as markers, since their centroids are well-defined and accurate; furthermore, spheres can be viewed from multiple angles. The markers and the cameras may have matched frequencies to filter unwanted light, either in hardware or in software.
Targets are normally comprised of a plurality of markers. A single marker provides an identifiable feature to the optical tracking system in the form of positional information. A plurality of markers associated with a single target would allow the pose (position and orientation) in up to 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) to be calculated by a computing or processing unit embedded within, or in communication with the optical tracking system. Each marker provides a well-defined and accurate feature. For medical and/or surgical applications, optical tracking systems are generally used to determine the pose of targets and the objects to which targets are attached (e.g. surgical instruments or tools, a patient's anatomy, etc.). Targets (comprised of a plurality of markers) must be registered (also referred to as calibrated) to the instrument to which they are attached; furthermore, they must maintain the registration throughout use.

Devices, systems and methods for natural feature tracking of surgical tools and other objects


A saddle riding type vehicle driven by a straddling rider, comprises a wheel including a wheel member having an annular rim, and a hub formed centrally of the rim to have a through hole formed at a center of rotation, a bearing attached to an inner circumferential surface of the through hole, and a tire attached to the rim; a wheel support for rotatably supporting the wheel with an axle inserted in the through hole; a sensor rotor mounted on the hub using the inner circumferential surface of the through hole as reference; and a wheel speed sensor for detecting rotation of the sensor rotor.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a saddle riding type vehicle driven by a rider straddling the vehicle, and more particularly to a mounting structure which mounts a sensor rotor for detecting wheel speed on a wheel member.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A conventional saddle riding type vehicle of this type includes a main frame, a wheel support, a sensor rotor and a wheel speed sensor (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H7-17609 (FIGS. 5 and 6), Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-79974 (FIGS. 3-5) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-255826 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8), for example).
The sensor rotor is mounted on the front wheel, for example. The front wheel is rotatably attached to a lower portion of the wheel support which is attached to a front portion of the main frame. The sensor rotor has an annular shape, and is mounted to have an inner circumferential surface thereof located on an outer circumferential surface of a hub with an axle inserted therein. The wheel speed sensor detects outer peripheries of the sensor rotor, and outputs a signal corresponding to a rotating speed of the front wheel.
Since a wheel member on which the front wheel is mounted is generally manufactured by casting, the outer circumferential surface of the hub is rough. Therefore, in order to attach the sensor rotor on the wheel member with increased accuracy of coaxiality between the sensor rotor and the axle, the wheel member is processed to increase the accuracy of coaxially at the outer circumferential surface of the hub.
However, the conventional example with such construction has the following problems.
The conventional apparatus, which requires the outer circumferential surface of the hub of the wheel member to be processed to improve its coaxiality, has a problem of high cost due to an additional cost of the process. Since the sensor rotor is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the hub, the sensor rotor has a large diameter. This poses a problem of an increase in the weight of the sensor rotor. Further, because of the large diameter of the sensor rotor, a stay having an increased length is required for attaching the wheel speed sensor, which poses a problem of lowered strength.


A vehicle bed covering system for covering a cargo bed of a vehicle and allow adjustment of the location of the cover includes a pair of panels being pivotally coupled to the cargo bed of the vehicle. Each of the panels is pivotal over the cargo bed to cover the cargo bed. A plurality of hinge assemblies is coupled to a top face of a perimeter wall of the cargo bed. Each of the panels has a pair of the hinge assemblies coupled thereto to permit the panels to pivot with respect to the cargo bed. Each of the panels has one of a pair of rams mounted thereto. Each of the rams is mountable to a bed surface of the cargo bed. The rams push against the panels to maintain the panels in an open position when the rams are mounted to the bed surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to truck bed covers and more particularly pertains to a new truck bed cover for covering a cargo bed of a vehicle and allow adjustment of the location of the cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of truck bed covers is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features to allow the system to cover a cargo bed of a vehicle and then be repositioned to allow greater access to the cargo bed. Additionally, the system should include hinge assemblies that allow vertical adjustment of panels of the system to allow the panels to be positioned along side of the cargo bed when access to the cargo bed is required.


A method for in vitro sexual reproduction in corn plants is described. The method involves differentiation of shoot tips with N.sup.6 -benzyladenine (BA) into ears and then ovaries and pollinating the ovaries to produce kernels. The kernels are then germinated to produce the plant. The method is particularly useful for maintaining lives of corn and for genetic manipulation by using different pollens.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for in vitro sexual reproduction of corn plants. It is disclosed that the complete developmental sequence of corn from seedling shoot tips to ears with normal ovaries and kernels with viable embryos (i.e. seed to seed) can be achieved using a single set of in vitro experimental conditions. Clusters of ears can also be regenerated from in vitro cultured axillary buds of corn.
(2) Prior Art
There are reports where each stage of corn development was individually achieved in vitro. Corn plants were grown from isolated shoot meristems and flowered in the greenhouse (Irish, E. E., Nelson T. M., Development 112 891-898 (1991). Young tassels (staminate) and ears (pistillate) of corn were also grown to maturity in cultures (Bommeneni, V. R., Greyson, R. I., Am. J. Bot. 74 883-890 (1987); Polowick, P. L. and Greyson, R. I., Can. J. Bot. 63 2196-2199 (1985)). in vitro fertilization of ovaries (Sladky, Z., Havel, L., Biol. Plant. 18 469-472 (1976); Dhaliwal, S., King, P., Theor. Appl. Genet., 13 43-48 (1978)) and development of normal kernels (caryopses) with embryos have also been reported Gengenbach, B. G., Planta 134 91-93 (1977) What is needed is a method which allows the whole sequence of development of corn in vitro.
Corn shoot meristem is temporally and spatially programmed to form various organs (see e.g. McDaniel, C. N., Poethig, R. S., Planta 175 13-22 (1988)). The physiological basic of tassel and ear development in corn is not clear, although the developmental morphology of flower formation has been extensively studied for many years (Irish, E. E., and Nelson, T., Plant Cell 1 737-744 (1989)). Corn inflorescences are first hermaphrodite and later become staminate (tassel) or pistillate (ear) inflorescences by selective suppression of pistils in the terminal tassel and stamens in the axillary ear. Sex expression in plants appears to be controlled by the endogenous growth regulators. Regardless of the photoperiodic requirement, gibberellins synthesized in leaves favor male flower formation while the root-produced cytokinins enhance female flower production. Gibberellin (GA) has been indirectly implicated to female flower development in corn based on the exogenous application and by assay of gibberellins in tassel or ear mutants of corn. Exogenous application of GA did feminize potential tassels (Krishnamoorthy, H. N., and Talukdar, A. R., Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 79 91-94 (1976)). However, unequivocal proof of direct involvement of gibberellins in ear development is lacking (Irish, E. E., and Nelson, T., Plant Cell 1 737-744 (1989)).
There is a need for a method for the in vitro production of different varieties of corn plant which is relatively simple and reliable.

Method for in vitro sexual reproduction of corn plants

Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University


A cable tester is described for low frequency testing of a cable for faults. The tester allows for testing a cable beyond a point where a signal conditioner is installed, minimizing the number of connections which have to be disconnected. A magnetic pickup coil is described for detecting a test signal injected into the cable. A narrow bandpass filter is described for increasing detection of the test signal. The bandpass filter reduces noise so that a high gain amplifier provided for detecting a test signal is not completely saturate by noise. To further increase the accuracy of the cable tester, processing gain is achieved by comparing the signal from the amplifier with at least one reference signal emulating the low frequency input signal injected into the cable. Different processing techniques are described evaluating a detected signal.

The space shuttle uses dedicated signal conditioners (DSCs) for the purpose of conditioning transducer outputs and other signals to make them compatible with orbiter telemetry, displays and data processing systems. The dedicated signal conditioners are located throughout the orbiter, often in difficult to access locations in the vehicle fuselage. When troubleshooting a potential instrumentation problem, personnel frequently have to demate cables to verify that the cables are not the source of the problem. However, once a cable is demated, all dedicated signal conditioners and other systems which have a wire passing through the cable's connector have to be re-tested after the cable is re-connected. Due to their inaccessibility, the dedicated signal conditioners sometimes have to be removed in order to check them. This results in many man hours of re-validation testing on systems that were unrelated to the original problem. The cost to the shuttle program for these re-testing procedures is exorbitant. A system which allows cable continuity to be checked non-intrusively without demating the cables would therefore save many hours of testing and substantially reduce testing costs.
One known technique for non-intrusively checking cable continuity is time domain reflectometry (TDR). In time domain reflectometry, a high frequency pulse is injected into one end of the cable. A discontinuity in the cable causes a reflection of the pulse that can be detected back at the end where the pulse was injected. The location of this discontinuity can be determined by measuring the time interval between when the pulse was injected into the cable, and when the reflected pulse is detected. Also, the polarity of the reflected pulse is indicative of whether the discontinuity is a short circuit or an open circuit.
Unfortunately, time domain reflectometry is not feasible for detecting cable faults in the space shuttle. This is because time domain reflectometry uses high frequencies which are above a frequency cut-off of the dedicated signal conditioners. Further, the faults are typically only a few meters or less from the injection point, and time domain reflectometry is ineffective at these distances due to the extreme short total travel time (e.g., a few nanoseconds) of high frequency pulse.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for non-intrusive cable testing technique which provides the accuracy necessary for use in the space shuttle environment, and the like.

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


The present document relates to a method and apparatus in optical transmission systems for the estimation of the carrier phase and the degree of non-linear distortions incurred in an optical transmission channel. A plurality of signal samples are provided at succeeding time instances such that the plurality of signal samples: is associated with a modulation scheme and a carrier phase; has been transmitted over the optical transmission channel; comprises a plurality of signal phases, respectively; comprises a plurality of data phases and a plurality of residual phases, respectively; and the plurality of residual phases is associated with the carrier phase. The method comprises further canceling the plurality of data phases from the plurality of signal phases by taking into account the modulation scheme; thereby yielding the plurality of residual phases; and determining a set of autocorrelation values of the plurality of residual phases for a set of lag values, respectively.

The use of coherent optical receivers becomes a requirement for next generation optical transponders providing high spectral density 100 Gb/s (and beyond) channels over optical WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) networks based on 50 GHz-spacing grids. Indeed, coherent detection provides a good tolerance to linear fiber effects such as chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion. However, another major concern of WDM optical transmission systems is the resilience to non-linear impairments that directly impact the achievable reach and/or the achievable transmission capacity. Such non-linear fiber effects are e.g. self-phase modulation (SPM) and/or cross-phase modulation (XPM).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,794B1 describes a MLSE receiver for laser light reflected from an optical disk. Bononi A et al., "Cross-Phase Modulation Induced by OOK Channels on Higher-Rate DQPSK and Coherent QPSK Channels", Journal of Lightwave Technology, IEEE Service Center, NY, US, vol. PP, no. 18, May 9, 2009, pages 3974-3983, describes a method for estimating the performance of high datarate QPSK channels impaired by XPM.
The non-linear fiber effects distort the amplitude and the phase of the transmitted optical signal and an important element for the compensation of these distortions is the reliable and correct determination of the carrier phase of the optical signal as a phase reference. Consequently, a coherent optical receiver should comprise a carrier phase estimator for the recovery of the carrier phase before decision of the transmitted symbols. As such, an automatic optimization scheme of the carrier phase estimator depending on the non-linear effects incurred by the received optical signal in the optical transmission channel would be beneficial, in order to obtain good estimates of the carrier phase and to thereby mitigate the incurred non-linear impairments and to thereby improve the performance of the optical transmission system. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to provide a measure of the degree of non-linear effects present in an optical transmission channel.

Carrier phase estimator for non-linear impairment monitoring and mitigation in coherent optical systems


A protective housing for a battery in a motor vehicle includes two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, which together form a lateral enclosure for a battery receptacle chamber. The protective housing is fastened to at least one longitudinal girder of the vehicle in the installed state in an installation chamber of the vehicle. The transverse walls and the longitudinal walls are each formed by separate components, which are assembled into the enclosure. The installation chamber is located between two longitudinal girders of the vehicle chamber, and the enclosure is fastened to both longitudinal girders.

The invention relates to a protective housing for a battery in a motor vehicle, having two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, which together form a lateral enclosure for a battery receptacle chamber. The protective housing is fastened to at least one longitudinal girder of the vehicle in the installed state in an installation chamber of the vehicle. The invention additionally relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a protective housing of this type.
A protective housing for a battery in a motor vehicle is known from EP 1 182 093 B1, which housing has two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, which together form a lateral enclosure for a battery receptacle chamber. The protective housing is fastened to a longitudinal girder of the motor vehicle in an installation chamber of the vehicle in the installed state. The known protective housing is the installation chamber around the engine compartment in which the engine of the vehicle is located. To reduce the danger of damage to the battery in the event of a collision, a platform on which the protective housing is situated, and via which the protective housing is fastened to the longitudinal girder, is provided with two ramps which contribute to allowing the platform having the protective housing and the battery situated therein to slide off on two vehicle-side obstructions.
The present invention is concerned with the problem of providing an improved embodiment for a protective housing of the above-mentioned type, which is distinguished in particular by improved collision protection.
This problem is solved according to the invention by providing a protective housing for a battery of a motor vehicle having two transverse walls and two longitudinal walls, which together form a lateral enclosure for a battery receptacle chamber. The transverse walls and the longitudinal walls are each formed as a separate component, which are assembled into the enclosure. The installation chamber is located between two longitudinal girders of the vehicle. The enclosure is fastened to both longitudinal girders. Advantageous embodiments are described and claimed herein.
The invention is based on the general idea of selecting the installation chamber for housing the protective housing between two longitudinal girders of the vehicle and fastening the enclosure to both longitudinal girders. Furthermore, it is suggested that the enclosure be constructed from the transverse walls and the longitudinal walls together, which are each implemented as separate components for this purpose. A protective housing may be provided by this construction whose enclosure has an increased rigidity and may be fixed in the installation chamber with increased stability. In particular, the attachment of the enclosure to two longitudinal girders allows improved absorption of forces, which may arise in case of a crash.
In addition, in an advantageous embodiment, the protective housing may additionally be supported on a cross member, which connects the two longitudinal girders to one another. The support of forces in case of a crash may be significantly improved by this measure.
A further improvement of the absorption of forces arising in case of a crash may be achieved in a refinement in that a curved support girder is provided, which is fastened on its ends to the enclosure and is supported on the cross member between its ends. A curved support girder of this type acts like an arch and may absorb relatively large forces with a relatively light construction.
It is obvious that the features cited above and to be explained hereafter are usable not only in the particular specified combination, but rather also in other combinations or alone without leaving the scope of the present invention.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Protective housing for a vehicle battery

Dr. Ing. h.c.f. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


The specification discloses a printed circuit board (PCB) based ferrite core antenna. The traces of PCBs form the windings for the antenna, and various layers of the PCB hold a ferrite core for the windings in place. The specification further discloses use of such PCB based ferrite core antennas in downhole electromagnetic wave resistivity tools such that azimuthally sensitivity resistivity readings may be taken, and borehole imaging can be performed, even in oil-based drilling fluids.

1. Field of the Invention
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to downhole tools. More particularly, the preferred embodiments are directed to antennas that allow azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic wave resistivity measurements of formations surrounding a borehole, and for resistivity-based borehole imaging.
2. Background of the Invention
FIG. 1 exemplifies a related art induction-type logging tool. In particular, the tool 10 is within a borehole 13, either as a wireline device or as part of a bottomhole assembly in a measuring-while-drilling (MWD) process. Induction logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools of the related art typically comprise a transmitting antenna loop 12, which comprises a single loop extending around the circumference of the tool 10, and two or more receiving antennas 14A and 14B. The receiving antennas 14A, B are generally spaced apart from each other and from the transmitting antenna 12, and the receiving antennas comprise the same loop antenna structure as used for the transmitting antenna 12.
The loop antenna 12, and the receiving loop antennas 14A, B, used in the related art are not azimuthally sensitive. In other words, the electromagnetic wave propagating from the transmitting antenna 12 propagates in all directions simultaneously. Likewise, the receiving antennas 14A, B are not azimuthally sensitive. Thus, tools such as that shown in FIG. 1 are not suited for taking azimuthally sensitive readings, such as for borehole imaging. However, wave propagation tools such as that shown in FIG. 1, which operate using electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic wave propagation (an exemplary path of the wave propagation shown in dashed lines) are capable of operation in a borehole utilizing oil-based (non-conductive) drilling fluid, a feat not achievable by conduction-type tools.
FIG. 2 shows a related art conduction-type logging tool. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a tool 20 disposed within a borehole 22. The tool 20 could be wireline device, or a part of a bottomhole assembly of a MWD process. The conduction-type tool 20 of FIG. 2 may comprise a toroidal transmitting or source winding 24, and two secondary toroidal windings 26 and 28 displaced therefrom. Unlike the induction tool of FIG. 1, the related art conduction tool exemplified in FIG. 2 operates by inducing a current flow into the fluid within the borehole 22 and through the surrounding formation 30. Thus, this tool is operational only in environments where the fluid within the borehole 22 is sufficiently conductive, such as saline water based drilling fluids. The source 24 and measurement toroids 26 and 28 are used in combination to determine an amount of current flowing on or off of the tool 20. The source toroid 24 induces a current flow axially within the tool 20, as indicated by dashed line 31. A portion of the axial current flows on (or off) the tool below toroid 28 (exemplified by dashed line 33), a portion flows on (or off) the tool body between the toroid 26 and 28 (exemplified by dashed line 35), and further some of the current flows on (or off) the tool at particular locations, such as button electrode 32 (exemplified by dashed line 37). Thus, the tool 20 of FIG. 2 determines the resistivity of a surrounding formation by calculating an amount of current flow induced in the formation as measured by a difference in current flow between toroid 28 and 26. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the current measurement made by the toroids 26 and 28 is not azimuthally sensitive; however, for tools that include a button electrode 32, it is possible to measure current that flows onto or off the button 32, which is azimuthally sensitive.
Thus, wave propagation tools such as that shown in FIG. 1 may be used in oil-based drilling muds, but are not azimuthally sensitive. The conduction tools such as that shown in FIG. 2 are only operational in conductive environments (it is noted that the majority of wells drilled as of the writing of this application use a non-conductive drilling fluid), but may have the capability of making azimuthally sensitive resistivity measurements. While each of the wave propagation tool of FIG. 1 and conduction tool of FIG. 2 has its uses in particular circumstances, neither device is capable of performing azimuthally sensitive resistivity measurements in oil-based drilling fluids.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a system and related method to allow azimuthally sensitive measurements for borehole imaging or for formation resistivity measurements.

Ruggedized multi-layer printed circuit board based downhole antenna