An electric cord retention device includes a base, at least one cord hold-down member, and at least one lid, which together receive and retain an electric cord. The base has a top forming a cord accommodation slot and a coupling portion. Two conductor pieces are received and fixed in the cord accommodation slot and has sharp tips located in the cord accommodation slot. The coupling portion is arranged adjacent to the cord accommodation slot. The cord is positioned in the cord accommodation slot and is depressed down by the cord hold-down member that is fit into the cord accommodation slot and positioned above the cord. The lid is tightened to the coupling portion by means of threading engagement, whereby rotation of the lid with respect to the coupling portion causes the cord hold-down member to move downward and apply a force to the cord against the sharp tips, making the sharp tips piercing into the cord to establish electric connection therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for connecting and retaining an electric cord, and in particular to a device that realizes electric connection with an electric cord without additional tools/jigs and that is applicable to bulb sockets and electric controllers.
2. The Related Arts
Lighting strings are widely used in various celebrations/holidays and events/festivals/meetings, where the lighting strings are for example hung on trees or building or even transportation vehicles to enhance pleasure atmosphere by the lighting effect provided by the lighting strings.
A lighting string comprises a plurality of light bulbs or lighting elements, which each connected with an electric cord to receive electric power from an external source for lighting. The conventional ways of connecting the light bulb to the electric cord has the following general disadvantages:
(1) The bulb is directly fixed to the cord, often in a serial connection, so that when one of the bulbs of a lighting string is broken, the bulbs that are located behinds the broken bulb cannot receive electric power and cannot be lit; and in addition mounting and removing the bulb to/from the cord is difficult.
(2) The distance between adjacent bulbs is fixed and there is no way that a user may adjust the distance by himself or herself to suit for different applications.
Another known way of connecting a bulb to an electric cord is first using a jig or tool to mount a bulb socket to the electric cord and form electric connection between terminals of the socket and the cord. This known way is of the advantages of easy and efficient manufacturing and assembling, but still suffers some disadvantages:
(1) Mounting the bulb socket to the cord requires jigs/tools operated by experienced workers so that manufacturing is subjected to the limitation of site and experienced operators, thereby being less flexible in manufacturing.
(2) The bulb socket, once mounted to the electric cord, cannot be easily dismounted or dismounting may easily cause damage to the lighting string or the cord, leading to failure of operation of the lighting string.
(3) The distance between adjacent sockets is usually set fixed and a user is not allowed adjust the distance by himself/herself so that the lighting string with such bulb sockets cannot suit for different applications.
On the other hand, the lighting string is only lit in the nighttime or during the period of festivals and is not continuously lit for 24 hours a day. Thus, a controller is often employed to control the lighting of the lighting string. The controller connects the lighting string to an external power source. The controller, although operable in timely controlling lighting of the lighting string, has drawbacks:
(1) Assembling of the controller and connection of the controller with electric cords are carried out by experienced workers and special tools/jigs may be needed, both making the manufacturing time- and labor-consuming.
(2) The controller includes a circuit board carrying control circuits and the circuit board is connected to electric cords/wires by soldering, which, once again, making the manufacturing very time-consuming and reducing the passing rate of product.


A power transmission system cover for an engine has a cover portion, formed of a single piece material and adapted to be attached to a sidewall of the engine, covering at least a part of a power transmission system which transmits a rotating force of a crankshaft to a camshaft. The cover portion is integrally provided with a passage forming portion defining a flow-passage in which a fluid element to be supplied to the engine flows, and an engine mount bracket located near the passage forming portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cover for a power transmission system that transmits a rotational force of a crankshaft of an engine to a camshaft.
2. Description of the Related Art
An engine has a bracket with which it is mounted in the body of an automobile. One such bracket is described in Jpn. UM Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 3-11923 (p. 5, 2–16; p. 6, 12–p. 7, 6; FIGS. 3 and 4). This bracket is fixed to a cylinder block with bolts. In attaching the bracket to the cylinder block, the bracket must be prevented from interfering with a belt for driving accessories, intake and exhaust pipes, a cooling water passage, etc., which are arranged around the cylinder block. To avoid the interference between the cooling water passage and the bracket, the passage is formed in the bracket.
In the engine constructed in this manner, however, the cooling water passage is passed through the bracket. In order to secure necessary strength for the bracket, therefore, the bracket must be large-sized. Since a joint (engaging hole, connector, etc.) for the connection of the cooling water passage requires machining, moreover, the shape of the bracket is intricate. Further, the cooling water passage is connected after the bracket is attached to the cylinder block, so that the flexibility of engine assembling means lowers. Thus, assembly work for the engine is complicated.

Power transmission system cover for engine

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A straight knife with an interchangeable, pivoting double-ended blade. The knife includes a handle forming a blade channel in which the unused end of the blade is stored. A pivot pin and a locking pin are provided for engaging a pair of through-openings in both the handle and the blade to allow the blade to be secured in an operative position. The pivot pin and the locking pin are connected to a gripping member by a linkage. The gripping member is provided to allow the pins to be quickly and easily removed using one hand, even when wearing bulky gloves. A locking mechanism on each of the pivot pin and the locking pin engages the handle to secure the pins in the handle. The lock pin is be removed to allow rotation of the blade around the pivot pin. Both the lock pin and the pivot pin are removed to exchange one blade for another.

Knives are useful tools to have. A variety of knives exist for various purposes. Many types of knives are currently used, including folding knives designed for easy carrying and versatility, such as a pocket knife. Folding knives generally offer a variety of cutting or other tool ends each designed for a special purpose; however, folding knives offer this variety at the expense of the strength offered by a full tang knife. Conversely, straight knives are designed for strength and size. They are generally larger than folding knives and have a fixed blade with a full tang which provides excellent strength for rugged activities, such as for hunting. However, a major drawback of straight knives is the limitation of having only one singular-purpose blade.
A hunter in the field has many uses for a knife. For example, a hunter attempting to set up a tree stand may have need to remove small obstructing branches using a saw blade. Should the hunter successfully bring down a game animal, there is further need for specialized blades. Depending upon the size of the animal and its intended use, the hunter may require a drop point blade, a skinning blade, a filleting blade, or a gut hook blade. Such diverse blade requirements would require a hunter to have multiple straight knives on hand, and preferably accessible, to avoid digging through a pack. Further, carrying multiple knives adds unnecessary weight to the hunter's load and increases the chance of losing valuable equipment in the field.
Additionally, a hunter skinning and/or gutting a game animal may have need to change between two special purpose blades or to change to a secondary sharp blade after the first is dulled. This is a particular concern when the need to change blades occurs in the middle of the skinning or gutting process. Often the hunter will have one hand gripping a portion of the carcass to be cut and be reluctant to release that grip simply to rotate the blade. It is therefore desirable to have a knife in which the blade can be rotated with one hand.
Finally, hunters often wear bulky gloves for warmth and protection and, therefore, have need of a knife which can be easily manipulated by gloved hands.
Other multiple purpose straight knives have been previously disclosed. Typical of the art are those devices disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 2,343,175 Evinger, Walter J. Feb. 29, 1944 4,606,123 Wrench, Robert A. Aug. 19, 1986 4,651,419 Reed, Jr., August D. Mar. 24, 1987 ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,419 discloses a double-ended single-blade knife. The knife includes two handle sections disposed upon either side of a double-ended knife blade and held together by a pair of removable fasteners, such as screws. The first fastener passes through a pivot arm defined by the handle sections and a central through-opening of the blade while the second fastener is located rearward of the blade. A spring-lock guard sheathes the handle sections, completely enclosing the blade stored within the handle. The blade defines a pair of slots offset from the midpoint of the blade, diametrically opposed to each other, and opposite to the sharpened edge of the blade. The spring-lock guard includes a pair of internal tabs corresponding to the slots in the blade which prevent the blade from rotating.
In operation, the spring-lock guard is removed by applying pressure to an external tab to release the internal tabs from the slots of the blade and sliding the guard along the length of the handle away from the blade. Once the guard is removed, the blade is rotated and the guard replaced. However, the design of the '419 device makes one-handed rotation of the blade virtually impossible. Furthermore, the '419 is not designed for blade replacement without additional tools. Accordingly, the fasteners must be removed to permit the blade to be released from the pivot arm. This again requires two-handed operation and the availability of a removal tool, such as a screwdriver.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,123 discloses a cutlery apparatus with an interchangeable cutting tool. The '123 device provides a tri-fold knife system including a handle, a tool retention member, and a locking member which operate in conjunction to retain a pivoting blade. The U-shaped tool retention member defines an opening at the end of either arm where it pivotably connects to a tool by means of a pin. The handle forms a sleeve into which the tool retention member is nested. The handle and the tool are each pivotably joined to opposing ends of the tool retention member. This allows the tool retention member to pivot away from the handle such that the tool may be rotated within the tool retention member to expose either tool surface. Once a tool surface is selected, the tool retention member is pivoted into the nested operational position and the locking member is engaged to prevent the tool from rotating. The locking member is pivotably connected to the handle at the end where the tool retention member and the handle connect. The locking member includes a tab which engages a notch near the center of the tool. The tab and slot operate to secure the tool in the operating position. While the '123 device permits tools to be interchanged without the need for an external removal tool, the tri-fold mechanism does not allow easy, one-handed rotation of the tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,343,175 discloses a knife having two handle sections which are joined together by a permanent fastener at one end and having a first through-opening located near the end of the handle which receives a fastener that forms a pivot arm for a double-ended blade. Additionally, a second through-opening located near the midpoint of the handle receives a fastener that forms a locking arm to prevent rotation of the blade. A double-ended blade includes through-openings configured to align with the through-openings in the handle to allow the blade to pivot and to be locked into an operating position. As with the '419 device, this configuration requires two hands for changing blades and the use of a separate removal tool, such as a screwdriver. The '175 does not include spacers between the handle sections. With a compressive fastener, such as a screw, the handle sections may be pulled together thereby creating sufficient friction to prevent the easy rotation of the blade even when the locking arm is removed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a straight knife which has blades which may be rapidly interchanged without the need for a removal tool. Additionally, there is a need for a straight knife which accommodates a double-ended blade which may be rapidly pivoted to present either cutting surface for use. Furthermore, there is a need for a straight knife which has a blade which can be easily manipulated with one hand, particularly where that hand is gloved.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a straight knife having a double-ended blade member which can be pivoted to present either end in an operative position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a straight knife configured for receiving a variety of interchangeable blade members.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a straight knife which permits the blade member to be pivoted or exchanged without the need for an additional removal tool.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a straight knife which permits the blade member to be pivoted and locked into operating position using only one hand.

Straight knife with interchangeable pivoting blade


A control system for an implantable cardiac therapy device, the device defining a plurality of sensing vectors including at least one impedance sensing vector and operating under a set of a plurality of variable operating parameters that define conditions for delivery of therapy and wherein the control system evaluates signal quality from the at least one impedance sensing vector and, if the quality is sufficient to discern valvular events, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to dynamically improve cardiac performance, including synchrony with valvular events, and if the quality is insufficient to discern valvular events, but sufficient to discern peaks, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to dynamically improve cardiac performance independent of valvular events, and if the quality is insufficient to discern peaks, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to induce cardiac performance towards a defined performance goal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of implantable cardiac stimulation devices and to improved systems and methods of adjusting implantable devices for individual patients.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous patients suffer from disease conditions that affect their cardiac performance. For example, diseased myocardium reduces the mechanical pumping capabilities of the heart. Damaged valves can limit the sealing capabilities of the heart reducing capacity for complete filling and/or emptying. Impaired conduction and/or abnormalities in intrinsic activation can result in inappropriate/impaired stimulation of the cardiac tissue.
Implantable cardiac stimulation devices have been developed to provide therapy for certain patients suffering impaired cardiac function. Implantable cardiac stimulation devices generally include an implantable stimulation pulse generator and a microprocessor based controller regulating operation of the device. Implantable cardiac stimulation devices also typically include one or more implantable leads which are configured for implantation to extend adjacent the patient's heart. The implantable leads typically include one or more electrodes. The electrodes can be configured for dedicated sensing or delivery of stimulation or can be configured for combined sensing and stimulation delivery functions. The implantable devices are generally adapted to automatically sense the patient's physiologic status and automatically generate and deliver stimulation for cardiac abnormalities.
As one example, implantable cardiac stimulation devices have been designed to improve congestive heart failure (CHF) symptoms in certain cardiomyopathy patients with electromechanical dysynchrony. As such devices are adapted to provide therapy to attempt to resynchronize the patient's cardiac activity, for example, ventricle-ventricle synchrony, such devices are frequently referred to as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. Existing CRT devices do not necessarily have algorithms or capacity for adjusting or optimizing interval timing between pacing stimuli in different locations. Many physicians implant CRT devices without modification of default programmed interval timing. Thus, existing CRT devices generally pace the right ventricle (RV) and the left ventricle (LV) simultaneously or at a fixed delay therebetween.
While such CRT devices have been shown to benefit a number of CHF patients, there remain a significant proportion of patients who exhibit substantially less beneficial response to existing cardiac resynchronization therapies. Thus, it will be understood that there exists a need for improved therapies, for example, improved designs of implantable stimulation devices and improved methods of operating existing implantable cardiac therapy device designs to extend beneficial therapies to a broader range of patients.

Implantable therapeutic device control system


An electronic ballast for use with a fluorescent lamp. A pair of oppositely poled diodes connected in parallel with a transformer used to drive the switching transistors of an inverter in the ballast, ensuring operation of the transistors at zero current crossing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluorescent lamps and more particularly to an electronic ballast for use with such fluorescent lamps.
2. Background Art
Fluorescent lamps usually require a ballast circuit for producing an alternate current signal with a high voltage amplitude for effective operation of the fluorescent lamp. Ballasts of this type are typically separated into two broad categories, the first being of the electromagnetic type while the second is of a true electronic form.
The ballast is a device which performs the following functions:
(a) apply a high voltage across the lamp, in order to fire an arc in the lamp, and
(b) limit the current through the lamp, once the arc has been fired.
In the electronic ballast, a resonant element is used to provide the initial starting voltage to the lamp and also to limit the current through the lamp, once the arc has been struck.
A background art search directed to the subject matter of this application and conducted in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,246, 4,472,661, 4,553,070, 4,722,040, 5,034,660, 5,063,331.
None of the patents uncovered in the search disclosed means converting current into voltage or an included transformer therein, where depending upon direction of current, either positive or negative voltage applied across the transformer and hence associated switching elements where switch over occurs at zero current crossing.
In most self-commutating series resonating circuits, such as found in the prior art, the transformer included serves as the commutating element. It has been discovered that the transformer typically has two modes of operation. In such an arrangement, the transformer senses the zero-crossing of its primary current and hence causes the polarity of the secondary voltages to change. This then causes the associated switching transistors to switch over when current through them is zero, thus minimizing stress on the transistors.
The transformer also senses a decrease in its primary current and hence causes the polarity of the secondary voltages to change. This causes the transistor to switch over when the current through them is at maximum value. This operation then greatly increases the losses in the transistor and also increases stress on them.
While operation in the first mode is considered desirable, the actual mode of operation of the transformer is a function of the primary current depending thus on the construction of the transformer, etc. In fact, both modes of operation have been observed in the same circuit at different intervals of time.

Electronic ballast for a discharge lamp with current sensing


Specialized (iso)eugenol 4-O-methyltransferase (s-IEMT) enzymes having increased capacity for methylation of monolignols are disclosed. The s-IEMTs have unique activity favoring methylation of coniferyl alcohol versus sinapyl alcohol. Various s-IEMTs methylate ferulic acid. Means for producing the various s-IEMTs are provided. The s-IEMTs are useful for modification of lignin content and production of aromatic compounds.

Lignin, the most abundant terrestrial biopolymer after cellulose, imparts structural integrity to the plant cell wall. While it is important for plant viability it impedes efficient use of woody biomass for biofuel production. Lignification increases the difficulty and energy costs of degrading the polysaccharide in the cell wall to simple fermentable sugars, thereby thwarting efficient ethanol production. Increased understanding of lignin biosynthesis and efficiently managing plant lignification will greatly facilitate the efficient generation of feedstocks for bioenergy and chemical, production.
The small molecule phenolic compounds that impinge upon or directly participate in lignin biosynthetic pathways also possess significant biological activities that are beneficial to humans. For example, their capacity to act as antioxidants is relevant to health issues such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. These aromatic compounds are useful as flavorings in the food industry and are increasingly useful in cosmetic preparations, both as skin protectants as well as for their olfactory impacts.
Comparative structure-function analysis had revealed a detailed understanding of the basis for the regioselective O-methylation of lignin monomeric precursors and for other phenylpropanoids. A set of novel molecular tools, namely, modified (iso)eugenol-4-O-methyltransferases (m-IEMTs) (also called monolignol 4-O-methyltransferases or MOMTs) that may be effective for manipulation of lignin content and composition in plants have been generated. Particularly, m-IEMTs were created that specifically 4-O-methylate both the G- and the S-lignin precursors and modulate lignin content when expressed in transformed plants (Liu, et al., U.S. patent application publication US2012/117694A1, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference).
In efforts to further develop 4-O-methyltransferases for lignin modification as well as for their potential to generate industrially useful chemicals and chemical feedstocks, specialized (iso)eugenol-4-O-methyltransferases (s-IEMTs) (which may also be identified herein as specialized monolignol-4-O-methyltransferases: s-MOMTs) that display specific preference for the G-lignin precursor p-coniferyl alcohol are provided. Some of the specialized (iso)eugenol-4-O-methyltransferases have enhanced activity for 4-O-methylation of ferulic acid and others for generation of iso-sinapyl alcohol from 5-hydroxyl coniferyl alcohol.

Specialized (iso)eugenol-4-O-methyltransferases (s-IEMTs) and methods of making and using the same


An image scanning and printing device includes a printing unit that prints an image onto each of multiple sheets of recording papers in one printing process by a multi-up printing process and a control unit that controls to select and execute the multi-up printing process when a size of the recording paper, which is obtained based on a size of an original document and an output magnification, is less than half of a maximum recording paper size, and a number of sheets to be printed, which is obtained based on a number of original documents and a number of sets of sheets to be printed, is two sheets or more, and to select and execute a one-up printing process otherwise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image scanning and printing device, and more specifically to an image scanning and printing device which prints an image onto two sheets of recording papers or more in one printing process.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional electro-photographic typed image scanning and printing device, which prints out a color image by a 4-cycle method, uses toner of four colors, blacK (K), Cyan (C), Magenta (M) and Yellow (Y). One cycle which begins with a development of an image based on color data of each of the colors and ends with a transfer of the image onto a transfer medium, is executed respectively on the color data of each of the colors. Then, by overlapping the images one on the other on the transfer medium, the formed color image is collectively transferred onto a recording paper. Under the printing process of the color image by the 4-cycle method, the image is formed on the transfer medium for each of the four colors KCMY, and then, the color image is printed onto a recording paper. As a result, the printing process of the color image required a printing time that is approximately four times longer than a printing time of a printing process of a monochrome image. Thus, there are problems that a longer period of time is required for printing when printing a color image onto multiple sheets of recording paper.
On the contrary, there is a printing device which can carry out a two-up printing process to print an image onto each of two sheets of recording papers that are supplied continuously in one printing process, like when printing onto one sheet of recording paper, in case it is instructed to print the image onto multiple sheets of recording papers of a prescribed size or smaller. For image data of unprocessed two pages that are received oldest by a data receiving unit, the printing device determines whether each image data is color data or monochrome data. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, in case of a type number 0 in which both data are monochrome data, the image of only the K component is formed on the transfer medium, and the image is printed by a one-up monochrome printing process. In case of type numbers 1 through 3 in which the image data includes color data, the image is printed by a two-up color printing process. Further, in the one-up monochrome printing process of the type number 0, since a second sheet of the recording paper is supplied during the printing process of the image of the first page, the image of the second page is printed immediately after the first page is printed.
Therefore, when the image data of the two pages are both color data, by carrying out the two-up color printing process, the image can be printed within approximately half the time required by the one-up color printing process where the image of each page is printed one page at a time. Moreover, when the image data of the two pages are color data and monochrome data, the image can be printed in a shorter period of time than when printing by the type numbers 1 and 2 in which the image is printed by the one-up color printing process and the one-up monochrome printing process.
In the above-described printing device, it is determined and controlled whether or not to carry out the two-up color printing process based on the image data of the unprocessed two pages that are received by the data receiving unit. Therefore, it cannot be determined whether or not a two-up color printing process can be carried out until the image data of the original document is read into the data receiving unit when carrying out a printing process or the like.


A curing press for tires includes an upper cavity having a vertically separable upper housing and a top mold. A lower cavity is mounted on a base and forms an arrangement to provide mold height adjustment during curing. The base includes a bottom bolster structure and a bottom mold. An indexing lock ring is rotatably arranged with the bottom bolster structure for closing or opening of the top and bottom molds. The bolster structure includes squeeze cylinders having piston rods to provide mold height adjustment. A squeeze retract stop assembly is provided to restrict vertically downward movement of the bottom mold during a tire curing process. The press includes at least one locking lever and at least one indexing lock pin adapted to connect the at least one locking lever to lock holes in the bottom bolster structure wherein each lock hole corresponds to a particular mold height.

In a tire curing press, the green tire refers to the uncured state of tire which is placed in special molds where all pattern and tread forming and side wall labelling of the tire occurs during its curing. The molds are comprised of two pieces in tire curing presses, namely top half and bottom half which are fastened within the structures of the tire curing press.
Typically, there are two types of tire curing presses depending on the methods to maintain the pressure on the molds, namely mechanical and hydraulic. In mechanical presses, the top mold is locked onto the bottom mold mechanically by bull gear and the internal pressure is maintained. While, in hydraulic presses, the mold is kept under pressure by an individual or a plurality of hydraulic cylinder continuously.
For curing different sizes of tires (combination of different widths, outer diameters, bead widths etc.) within the same press, different molds of varying heights need to be accommodated in a tire curing press. The mold height adjustment assembly in a press, in general provides a method or an arrangement to vary the distance between the top and bottom heat plates in turn accommodating different mold heights in fully closed condition. In general, mold height adjustment assemblies have employed different mechanisms to vary or adjust the mold heights. Commonly used mold height mechanisms typically employ spacer of different heights, nut-screw mechanism, and lock plates-tie rod groove arrangement for mold height adjustment.
The conventional nut and screw mechanism uses the mentioned gearing arrangement. One of the heat plates, either the top or bottom are maintained stationary and the position of the other plate is varied by a nut and screw mechanism. Depending on the arrangement, a motor drives either the nut or the screw to achieve movement of the plates. Due to the limitations in manufacturing process, a clearance is usually associated with this arrangement which seriously compromises the positional accuracy of the mold. In addition to mentioned drawback, wearing due to metal to metal contact is a phenomenon associated with this arrangement which further increases the clearance. If precision needs to be instilled to the arrangement, complex manufacturing methods need to be adopted which significantly increases manufacturing and maintenance costs.
The existing mechanism has many drawbacks. They have more number of components and complex mechanisms are involved which in turn results in excessive time consuming. Nut and screw type mechanisms cause jamming in the long run. They also consume more power. In other existing mechanisms, two different types of squeeze cylinders in the same press is required which is a disadvantage. Further, squeeze cylinder removal is difficult for maintenance. In other mechanisms, separate mold height assembly is required.
In addition to the above, during the process of tire curing there is a possibility for the bottom mold to open when there is a loss in squeeze pressure in the hydraulic cylinders which presents an undesirable condition. Hence, there is also a need to avoid or restrict the opening of the bottom mold to eliminate the undesirable condition.
Thus, in view of the drawbacks of the existing techniques of vulcanization of tyres, it is realised that there is a need for mold height adjustment in hydraulic tire curing press wherein the mold height adjusting assembly is capable of accommodating tires of varying sizes, that overcome the prior art problems and prevent undesired movement of the bottom mold during the tire curing operation.

Hydraulic tire curing press apparatus and a method for adjusting mold height in a hydraulic tire curing press


A detection apparatus that detects a feature point of an image, comprising: a conversion unit configured to convert a first image into a second image; a setting unit configured to set a first target number indicating the number of feature points to be detected from the first image and to set a second target number indicating the number of feature points to be detected from the second image based on the first target number and the number of feature points that are detected from the first image; and a processing unit configured to perform processing for detecting a feature point from the first image based on the first target number and processing for detecting a feature point from the second image based on the second target number.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detection apparatus that detects a feature point of an image, a detection method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of computer vision, there is a process called feature point detection (or feature point extraction). Feature point detection refers to a process for detecting points on an image that is obtained by imaging an object at which points the object can be conspicuously detected as feature points. According to Yasushi Kanazawa and Kenichi Kanatani, "Detection of Feature Points for Computer Vision", The Journal of Institute of Electronics, Information, and Communication Engineers, Vol. 87, No. 12, pp. 1043-1048, 2004, there are a wide variety of feature point detection methods including the Harris operator.
Feature point detection has, for example, the following applications. Feature points are detected from successive images, and feature amounts of these feature points are calculated. Furthermore, if the feature amount of a feature point in an image has the highest similarities to the feature amount of a feature point in another image, and those feature points are associated with each other, the relative position between those feature points can be regarded as the moving amount of a feature point. From this moving amount, a movement of an object or the entire image in which this feature point is contained can be obtained. For example, if a movement caused by camera shake is contained in an image, camera shake correction processing can be performed by performing geometric conversion in such a manner that the moving amount is corrected.
Also, if feature points are detected from a stereo image that is composed of two right and left images, the depth of a feature point can be estimated using the principle of triangulation based on the relative position between feature points detected from the respective images and associated with each other. That is to say, a three-dimensional image can be created from a stereo image.
Feature point detection has various other applications including image retrieval, image recognition, etc.
When feature points are to be detected from an image, such as an image with a shallow depth of focus and a wide out-of-focus area, from which it is difficult to detect feature points, there are cases where a set target number of feature points cannot be detected. Thus, conventional configurations in which feature point detection is performed had the problem of a decrease in the performance of processing, such as shake correction processing, that is executed using the results of the obtained feature points.
The present invention provides a technology for detecting a sufficient number of feature points accurately with a small processing load.

Detection apparatus, detection method, and storage medium


Electronic ownership control systems and methods. Fractional interests in commodities are controlled, transfers initiated or executed, and management of commodities is provided.

This invention relates to electronic trading systems. More particularly, this invention relates to fractional ownership control systems and methods that provide for the electronic control of fractional ownership interests in personal property, real property and other legal interests.
Fractional property ownership is common in our society. People and corporations may co-own almost any type of personal or real property in a variety of arrangements. Each co-owner may, for example, have an undivided interest in personal or real property with the right to use the entire property at any time. This is sometimes referred to as a "tenancy in common." Condominiums and co-operative ownership (sometimes referred to as "co-ops") are additional examples of types of real property fractional ownership arrangements.
In some arrangements, co-owners may have the right to use property only during specified periods of time. Co-owners of a computer system, for example, may own a time period during which their jobs are processed. Co-owners of real property, for example, may each have an undivided interest in an entire property, but only have the right to use the property during a specified period of time. In some time-based arrangements, co-owners may own real property only during particular time periods, such as a week, during which the owners actually own and may use the property. These are sometimes referred to as "deeded weeks," and are used typically in time-share vacation ownership arrangements. In other vacation ownership arrangements, co-owners have points that they can use to obtain particular weeks of use at particular properties. Co-owners in this type of arrangement may have only a right to use the property, and not a direct ownership interest in the property. In still other vacation ownership arrangements, people own weeks of use in a network of properties, rather than any direct ownership interest in a particular property.
Fractional ownership can decrease the value and liquidity of real and personal property. Would-be purchasers must deal with each owner in order to obtain the entire interest in the property. This may increase transaction costs for the purchase, especially when co-owners are geographically diverse parties. In arrangements where people own weeks of use in a network of properties, rather than any direct ownership interest in a particular property, the value of the sum of the parts may be significantly less than the value of the whole. A purchaser of each co-owners' interest would only obtain each co-owner's right to use the property. If property were purchased from the real owner (i.e., the network), the purchaser would have to take the property subject to all of the co-owners' (i.e., users') rights.
One approach for increasing the liquidity of co-owned real property has been to provide each co-owner with drag-along rights. Drag-along rights include the right of a co-owner to require other co-owners to sell their interests in a commodity at fair market value when the co-owner wishes to sell his or her own fractional interest in the commodity. Drag-along rights may increase the liquidity of a commodity because they may ensure that a single co-owner can compel the sale of, and a purchaser can purchase, the entire interest in a commodity.
Even the use of drag-along rights, when coupled with a small number of co-owners, may not provide for the optimal value and liquidity of real property if the rights cannot be managed and transferred in an efficient manner. Each owner may, for example, need to execute necessary transfer documents (e.g., contracts of sale, deeds, etc.), and each owner may need to be compensated for his or her interest in the property. The difficulty in transferring property subject to drag-along rights may be exacerbated if co-owners are geographically disparate.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide an electronic ownership control system that separates the ownership of commodities from the management of the commodities by putting owners into direct ownership of commodities that have traditionally been right-to-use types of commodities, or that have traditionally been owned by a single party who sells the output of a commodity.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that allows geographically disparate potential co-owners to coordinate their interests and jointly acquire commodities.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides for the electronic transfer of ownership in fractionally-owned commodities.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides for the transfer of ownership in fractionally-owned commodities that are co-owned subject to drag-along rights.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides for notifying co-owners of a potential sale of another co-owner's interest in a co-owned commodity.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides for notifying co-owners of a potential sale of a co-owned commodity in which the other co-owners have drag-along rights.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic transfer ownership system that provides for allowing co-owners of a commodity to purchase the interest of a selling co-owner when the selling co-owner attempts to sell his interest in the property.
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides for notifying co-owners of an opportunity to sell their interests in a co-owned property when a co-owner attempts to sell his or her interest in the property (sometimes referred to herein as "tag-along" rights).
It would also be desirable to provide an electronic ownership control system that provides non-user co-owners with opportunities to exercise drag-along or tag-along rights.

Electronic ownership control system and method


The invention relates to a separator of solid particles for variable flow rates of discharge from dental apparatus. The separator includes a container (3) equipped with an upper cylindrical zone (3a), having an inlet hole (5) for the fluid to be separated, in which rotates the rotor (2) of a centrifugal pump which initializes the separation of the particles by centrifugation; it further includes a truncoconical zone (3b) which, functioning as a cyclone, continues the separation of the solid particles and expels the fluid, freed of the particles, from the container (3).

The invention relates to a separator of solid particles for variable discharge fluid flow rates in dental apparatus.
In dental apparatus there is a production of fluids containing water, blood, amalgam, chemical products, etc., which must be discharged to the sewers respecting the anti-pollution laws which state that certain substances, such as amalgam and the like may not be so discharged.
In particular, in dental apparatus that uses liquid ring pumps to aspirate fluid from the mouth of the patient, the production of polluting fluids that contain air, various liquids and heavy particles, is quite abundant if discontinuous. Before being discharged into the sewers, these fluids must be freed of the above-mentioned polluting fluids.
In order to effect the separation of the solid particles from the said fluids, various systems are presently in use such as for example decanting systems which employ syphons, filtering systems and centrifuge systems.
Each of these systems presents some drawbacks. Filtering systems, for example, require very frequent maintenance due to the need for filter substitution; sedimentation systems are not able to deal with large quantities of fluid and do not offer, in particular for elevated quantities of fluids, a sufficient degree of separation within acceptable times. Centrifuge systems require rather expensive and delicate apparatus, whose cost and constructional complications increase considerably when the fluid flow rates to be dealt with are high.

Separator of solid particles for variable discharge fluid flow rates in dental apparatus


A free organic acid can be produced efficiently at a low cost, by subjecting an ammonium salt of organic acid A such as a dicarboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic acid or an amino acid, to reactive crystallization with an acid B, such as a monocarboxylic acid, wherein organic acid A and acid B satisfy the following formula (1):pKa(A)≦pKa(B)  (1)where pKa(A) and pKa(B) represent ionization indices of organic acid A and acid B, respectively, provided that when they have plural values, they represent the minimum pKa among them, to separate free organic acid A in solid form.

A carboxylic acid such as succinic acid or its derivative is widely used as a material for a polymer such as a polyester or a polyamide, particularly as a material for a biodegradable polyester, or as a material for food products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Further, a tricarboxylic acid such as citric acid is widely used as a food additive, etc. In recent years, particularly succinic acid is expected to be a material for a biodegradable polymer, together with lactic acid.
Succinic acid has heretofore been industrially obtained by hydrogenation of maleic acid, and the maleic acid is a material derived from petroleum. Accordingly, as a technique to produce an organic acid such as succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid or citric acid from a material derived from a plant, a technique to utilize a fermentation operation has been studied. Further, an amino acid has already been produced by a fermentation method, but separation and purification of an amino acid have been carried out usually by isoelectric point precipitation employing sulfuric acid.
Further, such an organic acid as a dicarboxylic acid or a tricarboxylic acid has at least two carboxyl groups, or carboxyl groups and an amino group, as functional groups. Due to such hydrogen bonds, its melting point is usually high (usually at least 120° C.), and in its production process, a distillation operation as a common separation/purification method, can not be employed. Further, in the production of such an organic acid by fermentation, neutralization is usually required, since a microorganism such as fungus or mold to be used for the fermentation does not show an adequate activity usually under a low pH condition. Accordingly, an organic acid obtainable from a fermenter, is usually in the form of a salt with an alkali used for the neutralization. This is a factor which makes the separation/purification of such an organic acid more difficult.
Heretofore, a method employing electrodialysis (JP-A-2-283289) is available as a common separation/purification method for a salt of an organic acid formed by fermentation. However, the electrodialysis has a problem that since the apparatus is large in proportion to production scale, and the scale merit is small even by production on an industrial scale, and consequently the cost tends to be high.
Further, a method of employing an ion exchange resin has been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,904). However, in this method, a salt of a strong acid and strong base (such as NaCl) will be formed at the time of regenerating the ion exchange resin, and eventually, this salt is required to be disposed or to be treated by electrodialysis.
Further, a method of decomposing calcium succinate with sulfuric acid has been proposed (JP-A-3-030685). However, in this method, calcium sulfate will be formed in a large amount as a byproduct, and its treatment is problematic.
Further, as an effective method, a method of carrying out reactive crystallization by an exchange reaction of a salt by means of sulfuric acid has been proposed (JP-A-2001-514900, U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,744). Namely, this is a method for precipitating and separating an organic acid by carrying out reactive crystallization by adding sulfuric acid to an ammonium salt of an organic acid.
In this method, a soluble amount of the ammonium salt of the organic acid will remain in the crystallization mother liquor after separating the organic acid by crystallization, and ammonium sulfate will also be contained in this crystallization mother liquor. In order to increase the recovery rate of the entire process, it is necessary to recover such an ammonium salt of the organic acid remaining in the crystallization mother liquor, but even if a crystallization operation is further applied to this crystallization mother liquor, it is extremely difficult to separate ammonium sulfate in solid form, while permitting the ammonium salt of the organic acid to remain in the liquid. Otherwise, even if it is attempted to carry out separation by a gas/liquid separation operation such as distillation, the ammonium salt of the organic acid and ammonium sulfate have very high melting points, and under such a high temperature condition as to vaporize these compounds, the ammonium salt of the organic acid will undergo a dehydration reaction, and it would be impossible to recover the organic acid. Further, by this method, a special installation has been required to carry out pyrolysis of ammonium sulfate at a temperature of at least 300° C. in order to recover and reuse sulfuric acid from ammonium sulfate.
It is an object of the present invention to solve such conventional problems and to provide a novel method for producing organic acid A having a high purity by separating and purifying free organic acid A from a salt of organic acid A formed by a fermentation method by bioconversion of a carbon source in the presence of a neutralizing agent.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing organic acid A efficiently at a low cost with a low level of waste in consideration of environment, by decomposing and reusing a byproduct salt formed in the above-mentioned novel method for producing organic acid A.


In combination with a vehicle wheel aligner comprising at least one sensor for generating data indicative of the relative angular orientation of one or more wheels of a vehicle, a computer for calculating alignment values for the vehicle from the data and a video display for displaying the alignment values, the invention is the improvement comprising a digital memory for storing a plurality of vehicle attributes, a computer processor for causing two or more of the attributes to be displayed on the video display, an input device for allowing the operator to select the attributes relating to a subject vehicle, and a digital memory for storing the attributes relating to the subject vehicle which are selected by the operator, whereby a computer model of the subject vehicle is created.

The present invention relates to vehicle wheel aligners which may be adapted for use in performing alignments of non-standard or custom vehicles.
Existing wheel aligners comprise a number of sensors for generating data indicative of the relative orientations of the wheels of a vehicle, a computer for calculating alignment values from the data generated by the sensors and a video display for displaying the alignment values. Additionally, these aligners typically comprise a database of vehicle alignment specifications for a majority of vehicle makes and models. During operation, the computer calculates the alignment values for a subject vehicle and compares these values with the alignment specifications for that vehicle. The differences between the calculated alignment values and the specifications may then be displayed.


Providing high energy materials that can be placed in previously created fractures and activating them in place to extend or change an existing fracture system. Also detecting the location of fractures or permeable pathways and a means to assess the extent and efficiency of proppant emplacement.

Field of Endeavor
The present invention relates to fracturing a geological formation and more particularly to fracturing a geological formation using encapsulated microenergetic material.
State of Technology
Fracking is a technique in which typically water is mixed with sand and chemicals, and the mixture is injected at high pressure into a wellbore to create fractures, which form conduits along which fluids such as gas, petroleum, and groundwater may migrate to the well. The technique is very common in wells for shale gas, tight gas, tight oil, and coal seam gas. Fracturing in rocks at depth tends to be suppressed by the confining pressure, due to the load caused by the overlying rock strata. This is particularly so in the case of "tensile" fractures, which require the walls of the fracture to move apart, working against this confining pressure. Hydraulic fracturing occurs when the effective stress is reduced sufficiently by an increase in the pressure of fluids within the rock, such that the minimum principal stress becomes tensile and exceeds the tensile stress of the material. Fractures formed in this way will in the main be oriented in the plane perpendicular to the minimum principal stress and for this reason induced hydraulic fractures in well bores are sometimes used to determine the orientation of stresses.
It is currently difficult to detect the location, shape, and extent of an underground fracture, such as those created during natural gas extraction by hydrofracturing. It is of considerable interest to know the exact shape and orientation of the fractures and fracture network for design purposes, and to ensure that the rock volume is adequately accessed by the created fractures. Today there is no direct means to do this other than to excavate the fracture, which cannot be done except in extraordinary circumstances. Geophysical methods are used to attempt to image the contrasting properties between the fluid-filled fracture and the rock, but these methods are typically low resolution (meters) by comparison to the aspect of the fracture (millimeters) making it nearly impossible to image the fracture. An additional need is to know the emplacement depth and distribution pattern of proppant. Methods of determining this are currently lacking. The invention describes a method of locating the emplaced proppant material through acoustic emissions of emplaced encapsulated energetic microcapsules.

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A bandgap reference voltage generating circuit for providing a reference voltage is disclosed. The bandgap reference voltage generating circuit includes four-terminal current source circuit, a regulator circuit and a temperature-compensating circuit. The four-terminal current source circuit outputs a first voltage, a second voltage and a first current which are independent of variation of a first system voltage. The regulator circuit receives the first voltage and the second voltage and when the first system voltage is larger than a threshold voltage value, the regulator circuit outputs the reference voltage independent of variation of the first system voltage via voltage-difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. The temperature-compensating circuit receives the first current and compensates a temperature curve of the reference voltage outputted from the regulator circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a bandgap reference voltage generating circuit; in particular, to the bandgap reference voltage generating circuit independent of system voltage and temperature.
2. Description of Related Art
With continuous inventions and improvements in high technology, consumer electronic products are gradually becoming commonly used in daily lives of people, especially various types of electronic devices such as: cell phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDA), and Tablet PCs; the consumer electronic products are popular for their features of thinness, smallness, and portability. However, when using the portable electronic devices, there is a problem of the time durance of power supply; as for now, the common solution is to mix using Ni-MH batteries or Lithium batteries with extra respectively matched chargers.
In prior art, design for bandgap reference voltage source circuit is well known in the field, these circuits are designed to provide a voltage standard independent of temperature change. The reference voltage of the bandgap reference voltage source circuit is a function of voltage Vbe developed by base-emitter voltage of the BJT and voltage difference ΔVbe developed by difference between base-emitter voltage of another two BJTs. Base-emitter voltage Vbe of the first BJT is voltage with negative temperature coefficient; which means, when temperature increases, the base-emitter voltage Vbe decreases. Voltage difference ΔVbe of another two BJTs is a voltage with positive temperature coefficient; which means, when temperature increases, the voltage difference ΔVbe increases with that. The reference voltage independent of temperature of the bandgap reference voltage source circuit may be adjusted via adjusting a sum of the voltage difference ΔVbe and the base-emitter voltage Vbe. However, General reference voltage generating circuit typically may experience a change in the ambient temperature or variation of the system voltage so as to generate the related problems of affecting the stability of the reference voltage.

Bandgap reference voltage generating circuit and electronic system using the same


Curable fluoroelastomers comprising monomeric units formed by triazine iodinated derivative having general formula:

The present invention relates to fluoroelastomers curable with peroxides and having improved mechanical and elastomeric properties combined with improved processability and extrudability.
Various kinds of fluoroelastomers, are widely used in technical applications where products are required to have elastomeric properties combined with high thermochemical stability. A detailed description of such products is presented in xe2x80x9cUllmann""s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistryxe2x80x9d, Volume A-11, pages 417-429 (1988, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft).
Fluoroelastomer curing can be carried out by ionic- and peroxide-based methods. In the former case, fluoroelastomer curing agents such as polyhydroxylated compounds are combined with accelerating agents such as tetraalkylammonium, tetraalkylphosphonium phosphoranamine or salts thereof. For peroxide-based curing, the polymer must contain reactive groups capable of forming radicals in the presence of peroxides. Monomers containing reactive groups such as iodine and/or bromine can be introduced into the polymeric skeleton as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,035,565, 4,475,165 and EP 199,138. Chain transfer agents containing iodine and/or bromine, which generate iodinated and/or brominated end groups, can also be used in the polymerization phase (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,243,770 and 5,173,553).
A drawback of the compounds used for peroxidic curing is their difficult processability. Fluoroelastomers cured by peroxides compared with those cured by ionic compounds are reduced in their elastomeric properties, e.g., high compression set values and moldability, which results in decreased product yield.
There has been a longfelt need for peroxide-curable fluoroelastomers having improved mechanical and elastomeric properties combined with an improved extrudability.
The inventor has surprisingly and unexpectedly found new peroxide curable fluoroelastomers having improved mechanical and elastomeric properties combined with improved processability, in particular improved extrudability.
An object of the present invention is peroxide-curable fluoroelastomer having iodine atoms at the terminal ends comprising monomeric unites formed by a triazine iodinated derivative of formula:
wherein
CYxe2x80x22, CXxe2x80x22, Xxe2x80x22C and Yxe2x80x22C represent carbon atoms bound to two Yxe2x80x2 and Xxe2x80x2 substituents as defined below:
Yxe2x80x2 can independently be H, Cl, F, or CH3;
mxe2x80x2 and txe2x80x2 are 0 or 1, where mxe2x80x2+txe2x80x2=0 or 1, preferably mxe2x80x2+txe2x80x2=0;
pxe2x80x2 is 0 or 1, and is equal to 1 when txe2x80x2=1;
Xxe2x80x2 can independently be H, Cl, F, alkyl or perfluoroalkyl C1-C3, preferably F;
nxe2x80x2 is an integer in the range of 2-20, preferably 4-12, more preferably 4-8.
The preferred compounds of formula (1) are those wherein mxe2x80x2=txe2x80x2=pxe2x80x2=0; nxe2x80x2 is between 4 and 8; and Xxe2x80x2=F.
The concentration of the triazine iodinated derivatives in the polymer chain is generally in the range of 0.01-1.0 moles, preferably 0.03-0.5 moles, more preferably 0.05-0.2 moles per 100 moles of the other monomeric units forming the polymer.
The presence of a triazine iodinated derivative of formula (I) results in polymers having a very narrow molecular weight distribution as determined by GPC. The inventor has found that a narrow molecular weight distribution for the polymer is a contributing factor to the improved extrudability of the product.
The fluorelastomeric polymers described hereunder, besides having improved processability and extrudability show a combination of improved mechanical and elastomeric properties, in particular a lower compression set point.
The fluoroelastomer base structure is selected from at least one of the class of copolymers comprising two or more monomers comprising:
(1) VDF-based copolymers, wherein VDF is copolymerized with at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of:
perfluoroolefins C2-C8 such as tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) or hexafluoropropene (HFP), chloro-, bromo- or iodo-fluoroolefins C2-C8 such as chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and bromotrifluoroethylene, (per)fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF2=CFORf, wherein Rf is a (per)-fluoroalkyl C1-C6 such as trifluoromethyl, bromodifluoromethyl, or pentafluoropropyl, perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers CF2=CFOX, wherein X is a perfluoro-oxyalkyl C1-C12 having one or more ether groups such as perfluoro-2-propoxy-propyl, and non fluorinated olefins (Ol) C2-C8 such as ethylene and propylene; and
(2) TFE based copolymers, wherein TFE is copolymerized with at least one of a comonomer selected from the group consisting of:
(per) fluoroalkylvinylethers (PAVE) CF2=CFORf, wherein Rf is as above defined, perfluorooxyalkylvinylethers CF2=CFOX, wherein X is as above defined, fluoroolefins C2-C8 containing hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine atoms and non-fluorinated olefins (Ol) C2-C8.
Preferably the fluoroelastomers contain perfluorinated monomers, and more preferably, the base structure of the fluoroelastomers are selected from the copolymers of class (2), wherein TFE is polymerized with one or more perfluorinated comonomers as above indicated.
The preferred compositions of the monomers forming the fluoroelastomer base structure comprise
(a) VDF 45-85%, HFP 15-45%, TFE 0-30%;
(b) VDF 50-80%, PAVE 5-50%, TFE 0-20%;
(c) VDF 20-30%, Ol 10-30%, HFP e/o PAVE 18-27%, TFE 10-30%;
(d) TFE 50-80%, PAVE 20-50%;
(e) TFE 45-85%, Ol 20-55%, VDF 0-30%;
(f) TFE 32-60%, Ol 10-40%, PAVE 20-40%; and
(g) TFE 33-75%, PAVE 15-45%, VDF 5-30%.
Specific compositions particularly preferred are the following:
d) TFE 50-80%, PAVE 20-50%;
g) TFE 33-75%, PAVE 15-45%, VDF 5-30%.
The fluoroelastomers optionally comprise monomeric units derived from a bis-olefin of formula:
wherein
R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are equal to or different from each other, and are H or C1-C5 alkyl;
Z is an alkylenic or cycloalkylenic C1-C18 radical, linear or branched, optionally containing oxygen atoms. Preferably z is at least partially fluorinated or a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene radical.
In formula (II), Z is preferably a perfluoroalkylene C4-C12 radical, while R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are preferably hydrogen.
When Z is a (per) fluoropolyoxyalkylene radical, preferably the formula is
xe2x80x94(Q)pxe2x80x94CF2Oxe2x80x94(CF2CF2O)m(CF2O)nxe2x80x94CF2xe2x80x94(Q)pxe2x80x94xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III),
xe2x80x83wherein
Q is an alkylene or oxyalkylene C1-C10 radical;
p is 0 or 1;
m and n are integers such that the m/n ratio is in the range of 0.2-5 and the molecular weight of the (per)fluoro-polyoxyalkylene radical is in the range of 500-10,000, preferably 1,000-4,000.
Preferably Q is selected from the group consisting of xe2x80x94CH2OCH2xe2x80x94; and xe2x80x94CH2O(CH2CH2O)sCH2xe2x80x94, where s is an integer from 1 to 3.
Bis-olefins of formula (II), wherein Z is an alkylene or cycloalkylene radical can be prepared according to the methods of I. L. Knunyants et al lzv. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Ser. Khim., 1964(2), 384-6), while the bisolefins containing (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene sequences are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,874.
The concentration of the bis-olefins in the polymeric chain is generally in the range of 0.01-1.0 moles, preferably 0.03-0.5 moles, more preferably 0.05-0.2 moles per 100 moles of the other above mentioned monomeric unites forming the polymer base structure.
The fluoroelastomers of the present invention in addition to having iodinated end groups derived from the triazine derivative, can optionally contain iodine and/or bromine atoms. Iodine and/or bromine atoms can be introduced to the reaction mixture by the addition of brominated and/or iodinated cure-site comonomers such as bromo-and/or iodo-olefins having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,035,565 and 4,694,045, or iodo- and/or bromo-fluoroalkylvinylethers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,165, 5,564,662 and EP 199,138). The concentration for the cure-site comonomers in the final product is generally in the range of 0.05-2 moles per 100 moles of the other base monomeric units.
A process for preparing the fluoroelastomers is another object of the present invention. The process can be carried out by copolymerization of the monomers in aqueous emulsion in the presence of radical initiators such as alkaline or ammonium persulphates, perphosphates, perborates or percarbonates, or optionally in association with ferrous, cuprous or silver salts, or other easily oxidable metals. The reaction medium can also contain various surfactants among which are the fluorinated surfactants of formula Rf2xe2x80x94X2xe2x80x94M+, wherein Rf2 is a (per)fluoroalkyl chain C5-C16 or a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain, X2xe2x80x94 is xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94SO3xe2x88x92, and M+ is selected from the group consisting of H+, NH4+, and alkaline metal ion.
More preferably, ammonium perfluorooctanoate and (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylenes ending with one or more carboxylic groups are used as surfactants.
The amount of triazine derivative (I) added to the reaction mixture can be adjusted depending on the desired final concentration for the final product.
Upon completion of the polymerization reaction, the fluoroelastomer can be isolated by coagulation (adding electrolytes) or by cooling.
Alternatively, polymerization can be carried out in bulk or in a suspension comprising an organic liquid in the presence of a radical initiator.
The polymerization is generally carried out at temperatures in the range of 25-150xc2x0 C. under pressure up to 10 Mpa.
The preparation of the fluoroelastomers of the present invention is preferably carried out in aqueous emulsion in the presence of a perfluoropolyoxyalkylene emulsion, dispersion or microemulsion according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,478,717 and 4,864,006.
Peroxide curing of fluoroelastomers is carried out by addition of a peroxide capable of generating radicals upon heating. Among the most commonly used peroxides are dialkylperoxides such as di-terbutyl-peroxide and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(terbutylperoxy)hexane; dicumyl peroxide; dibenzoyl peroxide; diterbutyl perbenzoate; and di[1,3-dimethyl-3-(terbutylperoxy)butyl-]carbonate. Other peroxides are described in EP 136,596 and EP 410,351.
The fluoroelastomer compound may contain additives such as:
(a) curing coagents in amounts in the range of 0.5-10%, preferably 1-7%, by weight with respect to the polymer. Curing coagents commonly used are triallyl-cyanurate triallyl-isocyanurate (TAIC), tris(diallylamine)-s-triazine, triallylphosphite, N,N-diallyl-acrylamide, N,N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x2-tetraallyl-malonamide, trivinyl-isocyanurate, 2,4,6-trivinyl-methyltrisiloxane, N,Nxe2x80x2 bisallylbicyclo-oct-7-ene-disuccinimide (BOSA), bis olefin of formula (I), and triazines having formula
wherein CXxe2x80x22, Xxe2x80x2 and nxe2x80x2 are as defined in formula (I).
Preferably in formula (IV), nxe2x80x2 is from 4 to 8, and TAIC is particularly preferred;
(b) a metal compound in amounts in the range of 1-15% by weight, preferably 2-10%, with respect to the polymer. Metals are selected from the group of divalent metal oxides or hydroxides such as Mg, Zn, Ca, Pb, and optionally associated with a monovalent or bivalent metal salt of an organic or inorganic weak acid such as Ba, Na, K, Pb, Ca stearates, benzoates, carbonates, oxalates or phosphates;
(c) mineral fillers such as carbon black, barium sulphate, PTFE with a particle diameter lower than 300 nm, preferably lower than 100 nm, more preferably from 30 to 70 nm. PTFE of 30-70 nm in size is preferable. Alternatively, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or TFE plastomeric polymers such as TFE polymers modified with amounts from 0.01% to 10% by moles, preferably from 0.01 to 4% by moles of a vinylether, preferably perfluoromethylvinylether, perfluoroethylvinyl ether, perfluoropropylvinylether can be used. Preferably, plastomeric polymers are TFE modified with MVE; and
(d) other additives such as thickeners, pigments, antioxidants, stabilizers and the like.
A process for curing fluoroelastomers may also encompass a mixed system where both ionic and peroxidic compounds are used as curing agents as described in EP 136,596.
The inventive fluoroelastomers show improved extrudability as well as processability, thus allowing one to obtain a higher production yield and a reduction in the generation of processing waste materials.
With the fluoroelastomers of the present invention, it is possible to prepare manufactured articles such as fuel hoses, O-rings, shaft seals, and gaskets, preferably fuel hoses having improved compression set and a very good extruded product (Garvey rating).
The triazine derivatives of formula (I) can be prepared by the following process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,587:
a) reaction of a compound of formula:
Ixe2x80x94(CXxe2x80x22xe2x80x94CYxe2x80x22O)mxe2x80x2xe2x80x94(CXxe2x80x22)nxe2x80x2+1+mxe2x80x2xe2x80x94I,
xe2x80x83wherein CYxe2x80x22, CXxe2x80x22, Xxe2x80x2, Yxe2x80x2, mxe2x80x2 and nxe2x80x2 are as defined in
formula (I), in the presence of an oxide or a transition metal salt (e.g., HgSO4), and of oleum containing an amount of SO3 comprising between 5 to 60% by weight, preferably between 10 to 40% by weight, to obtain an omega iodoacylfluoride,
b) reacting the omega iodoacylfluoride with ammonia in an inert solvent such as methylene chloride, ethylic ether, perfluoroheptane or the like, for between 10 minutes to 2 hours to obtain the corresponding amide,
c) reacting the amide with a dehydrating agent (e.g., P2O5) to obtain the corresponding nitrile,
d) reacting the nitrile with ammonia at a temperature between xe2x88x9210 and xe2x88x92100xc2x0 C. to obtain the corresponding amidine,
e) condensing the amide at a temperature between 120 and 170xc2x0 C. to obtain the triazine (I).
The reaction temperature can vary widely, more preferably between 80 to 150xc2x0 C.
The present invention is better illustrated by the following working examples which define the purpose of the invention but are non-limiting as to the scope thereof.

Abstract: wherein Yxe2x80x2 is independently H, Cl, F, CH3, or CF3, mxe2x80x2 and txe2x80x2 are 0 or 1, and mxe2x80x2+txe2x80x2=0 or 1, preferably mxe2x80x2+txe2x80x2=0; pxe2x80x2 is an integer and is equal to 1 when txe2x80x2=1, or pxe2x80x2=0; Xxe2x80x2 is independently H, Cl, F, alkyl or perfluoroalkyl C1-C3, preferably F; nxe2x80x2 is an integer between 2 and 20, preferably between 4 and 12, more preferably between 4 and 8.


An enclosure includes a back plate and a heat dissipating device. The back plate includes a plurality of locking members extending from the back plate. The heat dissipating device attached to the back plate and includes a plurality of fixing members engaging with the locking members.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an enclosure and a heat dissipating device for use in the enclosure.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, computers are widely used in life. Some components, such as expansion cards, circuit boards, and CPU in an enclosure of a computer, produce a great deal of heat that must be dissipated. A typical method for dissipating the heat is using heat-dissipating devices such as fans, heat pipes, and blowers mounted in the enclosure. The heat dissipating device is generally fixed to the enclosure by screws. However, the assembly or removal of the heat dissipating device to or from the enclosure is complicated, and the screws tend to be lost easily.
What is needed is to provide an enclosure and a heat dissipating device which can solve the above problem.

Enclosure and heat dissipating device for the same


A polymeric foam article with a polymer matrix defining multiple cells therein has a polymer component with a first polymer that is a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane grafted polymer that has a weight-average molecular weight of two kilograms per mole or higher and 200 kilograms per mole or lower.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymeric foam containing a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane grafted polymer and a process for preparing such foam.
Introduction
Polymeric foam is a commonly used thermally insulating material. Historically, typical thermally insulating polymeric foam has an average cell size of 100-200 micrometers. However, reducing the average cell size of polymeric foam to the nanometer scale results in a material having greater thermal insulating properties. For example, reducing the average cell size from one micrometer to 300 nanometers (nm) reduces nearly in half the cell gas contribution to thermal conductivity through a foam while reducing the average cell size from one micrometer to less than 100 nm reduces that value to ⅓ of the one micrometer value. Therefore, polymeric foam having nanometer-sized cells (that is, having an average cell size that is less than one micrometer) is desirable as thermally insulating material.
Preparing polymeric foam having nanometer-sized cells at a high enough porosity to effectively serve as thermally insulating material is challenging. Highly porous foam is desirable to reduce thermal conductivity component through the polymer matrix of foam. Foam that is highly porous has more void volume and less polymer volume in the foam structure. Desirably, polymeric foam has a porosity of 70% or higher to minimize the thermal conductivity through the polymer. One method for preparing polymeric foam having nanometer-sized cells (that is, nanofoam) that has a high enough porosity to serve as a thermally insulating material uses a nanometer-sized nucleating additive during the foaming process. For example, WO2011/066060 discloses preparation of nanofoam by incorporating nano-sized nucleating additives such as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). It is difficult to disperse nano-sized nucleating additives into a polymer composition efficiently so that they can effectively serve as nucleating agents. WO2011/066060 discloses a process of providing and introducing into a polymer the nano-sized nucleating additives in a sol, wet gel, slurry or solution. Such a method requires a carrier medium distinct from the nano-sized nucleating additive.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,345 discloses grafting POSS to polymers to produce compatibilization aids for use in compounding, blending and alloying of polymers with non-reactive POSS reinforcements and other nanoscopic particulates as well as to control polymer morphology. POSS-grafted polymers offer a means for compatibilizing POSS with other materials. However, U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,345 offers only a means for creating polymer blends with the POSS-grafted polymers. Polymers grafted with POSS are larger than nano-sized particles and, while U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,345 teaches that they are useful compatibilization aids, it remains unclear if they are of any value as nucleating agents for creating nano-sized cells in polymeric foam.
It is desirable to find a way to introduce nano-sized nucleating additives into a polymer without using a distinct carrier medium, yet in a manner that allows the nano-sized nucleating additives to nucleate sufficiently to form polymeric foam having nano-sized cells, particularly such polymeric foam having a porosity high enough to serve as a thermally insulating material.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane grafted polymer in polymeric foam


A system to facilitate event management is described. The system includes a processor and a machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to select a first event including first action information indicating a first action to be performed on a first of a plurality of resources, examine the first action information to determine whether the first action matches stored pending action information associated with one or more actions to be performed on the first resource and merge the first action information with the pending action information upon a determination that the first action matches pending action information.

Computer management systems typically receive events from managed resources in order to determine a response action that needs to be taken. Such event driven systems respond to events as they are received. Each incoming event may have one or more associated actions, which get executed as a result of the event. An action typically performs a specific task, such as updating the database with data from the event, querying the resource to gather additional information, or other actions.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Systems and methods to enhance safety of computer file distribution. The system includes a computer network, a server computer connected to said computer network one or more electronic records stored in the server computer wherein each record includes information about a particular file and is indexed by a hash value computed from the particular file and at least one user terminal connected to the computer network. The user terminal is operable to verify the authenticity of a particular file including computing the hash value of the particular file and retrieving from the server computer the electronic record that contains information about the particular file including submitting the computed hash to the server computer.

In a public computing network, such as the Internet, any user can distribute files. Unfortunately, this means that malicious persons can distribute fake versions or virus infected versions of legitimate popular software programs and other types of files. Several "Trojan horse" attacks have occurred in recent years to popular programs distributed over the Internet. In addition to the distribution using the Internet, there are also many ways a file can be distributed publicly, for example, using "Shareware" CDs (compact disks). In all these cases, there is a need for the end user to make sure that a file received through a public distribution channel is authentic and safe before using it.
File safety is conventionally provided in two ways. First, an individual user can utilize conventional anti-virus software to scan received files. This solution is reactionary, in that first a virus must be identifiable by the anti-virus software. Conventional anti-virus software programs provide little or no protection against new viruses. A virus has to first be discovered, then a considerable amount of research may be required to be performed to find ways to detect and destroy the virus. Finally, the solution has to be distributed to potentially millions of anti-virus software users. This is very inefficient.
Alternatively, a digital signature can be applied to a file to ensure file authenticity. The digital signature can be verified prior to using or accessing the file. This solution is also problematic. The creator of a file has to take actions to certify their public keys and sign the file to be distributed. Digital signature generation requires a considerable amount of work and cost, and as such few files distributed over the Internet are signed by their authors. Many useful files that are distributed publicly are not signed. A malicious person can attack these unsigned files. Another problem of this approach is that the files are not generally authenticated in the real time. That is, in general the file is authenticated one time by the creator. If some virus or other defects are discovered in the file after it is signed, the creator may not be able to communicate to all the users to avoid the signed file, especially when the file has already been burned into CDs and distributed publicly.


A method includes receiving weather data of weather at least one of encountered or to be encountered by one or more vehicles in a vehicle system traveling on a trip along a route. The method also includes, based at least in part on the weather data, determining a first estimated weight of the vehicle system. The first estimated weight accounts for mass attributable to the weather. The method further includes controlling movements of the vehicle system during the trip based at least in part on the first estimated weight of the vehicle system.

Known vehicle systems include one or more propulsion-generating vehicles or units and, in certain cases, one or more non-propulsion-generating vehicles or units connected with each other to travel along a route. The propulsion-generating vehicles supply tractive force to propel the propulsion-generating vehicles and non-propulsion-generating vehicles along a route.
The tractive force required to propel the propulsion-generating vehicles and non-propulsion-generating vehicles along the route may vary due to various parameters, such as vehicle system length, vehicle system weight, grade of the route, route conditions, weather, and performance characteristics of the propulsion-generating vehicles, among others. For example, a vehicle system traveling through strong winds may require a greater tractive force than otherwise would be necessary in order to overcome the drag force on the vehicles from the wind. In another example of how weather affects required tractive forces, rain or other precipitation on rails may require more power from locomotives on a vehicle system due to less adhesion between the wheels of the locomotive and the rails. In yet another example, weather may affect required tractive forces by affecting the weight of the vehicle system, such as in the case of a gain in mass due to retention of rain water in non-propulsion-generating vehicles.
Presently, trips taken by vehicle systems may be planned with a focus on energy efficiency. To enhance efficiency, vehicle system trip planning may take into account many parameters, such as the parameters mentioned above and more. Accurate calculations of weight and other parameters are important for trip planning purposes in order to improve handling and control of the vehicle system during the trip.
When the parameters relied on during trip planning are not accurate, the vehicle system may have to undergo a trip re-plan, which is a re-adjustment. For example, the weight of a vehicle system relied on during trip planning may be the sum of the individual weights of the vehicles in the vehicle system (when empty) with the weight of cargo added. However, if the vehicle system travels through a rain storm during its trip, each vehicle may retain, for example, two extra tons of rain water. If each of the vehicles weighed 100 tons dry, then each now weighs 102 tons, which is a 2% increase in weight from the added water mass. The trip was planned for a vehicle system weighing 2% less than the vehicle system now weighs, so the vehicle system may have to undergo a trip re-plan based on the weight discrepancy. Among other things, a trip re-plan is an opportunity loss because it represents that the vehicle system was not traveling as efficiently as the vehicle system would have been with more accurate parameters in the trip planning.

Method and system for controlling a vehicle system factoring mass attributable to weather


A methodology for converting venous blood values to arterial blood values provides the advantage of obviating the need for taking arterial blood samples. The method entails (i) measuring arterial oxygenation, (ii) measuring and estimating values of venous blood acid/base status and oxygenation status of a venous blood sample, and (iii) converting the venous blood values by applying a mathematical model for deriving blood acid/base status and oxygenation status into estimated arterial blood values.

The assessment of acutely ill patients is a complex process involving evaluation of the patients numerous physiological systems, e.g. the pulmonary, metabolic, renal and circulatory systems. Much of the information necessary for this evaluation comes from analysis of the patients' blood. Blood samples can be taken from both arteries and veins. Arterial blood can be sampled either by placing an arterial catheter or cannula in the patient, or by performing an arterial puncture with a needle. Venous blood can be sampled from a cannula or a venous puncture at the periphery (peripheral venous blood); from a catheter placed in superior venal cava (central venous blood), or from a pulmonary arterial catheter placed in the pulmonary artery (mixed venous blood).
Placements of venous and arterial catheters are invasive procedures and generally restricted to high dependency departments. In addition catheterisation, cannulation or puncture of the arteries instead of the veins increases the risk of complications such as infection, hemorrhage, bleeding, thrombosis, emboli, neurological damage or pseudo-aneurysm formation. Sampling of arterial blood by arterial puncture is generally considered a more difficult procedure than sampling of venous blood through a venous puncture. Consequently, the routine sampling of arterial blood is generally restricted to high dependency environments. In other wards where patients are acutely ommited e.g. cardiology, abdominal surgery, thoracic surgery and medicine, routine sampling of peripheral venous blood is most common.
Many of the measurements taken from the blood, and used to assess the patient state, are similar in the venous and arterial blood samples. These included the electrolytes and such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), the haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and the concentration of abnormal forms of haemoglobin (e.g. carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), methylhaemoglobin (MetHb)). However, the acid-base status of arterial and venous blood is not the same, regardless of the site of sampling. The acid-base status refers, in general, to the following measurements in blood: the pH, the pressure of oxygen (pO2), the pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), the bicarbonate concentration (HCO3), the concentration of base higher than a reference condition (base excess (BE)), the concentration of bicarbonate at a reference pCO2 (standard bicarbonate SBC), the oxygen pressure (pO2) and the saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen (SO2) with pO2 and SO2 often being referred to as the oxygenation status of blood. The variation in acid-base status between arterial and venous blood is due to oxygen removal from the blood and carbon dioxide addition due to metabolism at the tissues. In addition in patients with circulatory or metabolic abnormalities, the production of strong acid at the tissues due to anaerobic metabolism may also modify the acid-base status.
The acid-base status of arterial blood is used to assess the patients' respiratory and metabolic state. It has been argued (Adrogue et al., 1989a, 1989b; Brandi et al., 1995; Radiometer 1997) and to a large extent clinically accepted that venous blood samples are not adequate for assessing the acid/base and respiratory state of patients. This is thought to be particularly true for peripheral venous samples which "are not recommended for blood gas analysis as they provide little or no information on the general status of the patient" (Radiometer 1997).
In the intensive care unit placement of arterial catheters is routine practice and an assessment of the acid-base status can be obtained from the arterial blood. In some other hospital departments e.g. pulmonary medicine, or nephrology, arterial blood gases are also measured. However in other wards admitting acutely ill patients, e.g. cardiology, abdominal surgery, thoracic surgery and medicine, arterial samples are not usually taken. Usually a peripheral venous sample is taken and analysed in a central laboratory. The sample is usually taken aerobically, i.e. no attempt is made to ensure that pO2 and pCO2 remain constant during the sample procedure. Only a small amount of information concerning the acid-base status of the patient is measured in this sample i.e. the standard bicarbonate, SBCv, and haemoglobin Hbv. Other acid base parameters pHv, carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2v), base excess (BEv), oxygen saturation (SO2v) and oxygen pressure (PO2v) are not measured, and if measured would probably not reflect the true values of venous blood at this sample site given the aerobic nature of the sample.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,065 describes a pulse oximeter providing simultaneous and non-invasive oxygen status at multiple sites of a patient. The pulse oximeter described measures both arterial and venous oxygen saturation at any specific tissue site of the patient. It is mentioned that a corresponding computation of arterial minus venous oxygen saturation is advantageous for oxygen therapy patients. However, also as mentioned, the pulse oximeter is purely noninvasive in its way of functioning limiting the values capable of being derived.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,850 describes an apparatus being an automatic blood sample analyzer for automatically measuring one or more unknown data or parameters of the blood samples.
Based on the values measured, the apparatus comprises means for calculating a number of other parameters including acid-base status of the blood sample. The analyzer may also comprise means for photo-metrically measuring the hemoglobin contents of samples of blood. There is no computation of arterial blood values based on venous blood samples.

Method, system and devices for converting venous blood values to arterial blood values


A GPS receiver embodying the invention includes a first channel that preferentially processes line-of-sight signals and a second channel that preferentially processes multipath signals. It then compares the results to determine if the multipath has degraded the results of the processing of the line-of-sight signals.

Ranging systems such as the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian Global Navigation System (GLONASS) allow a user to precisely determine his/her latitude, longitude and elevation. Receivers accomplish ranging by decoding precisely-timed ranging signals transmitted by a group of earth-orbiting satellites. These signals are modulated with a unique, high frequency pseudorandom noise (PRN) code, and the receiver uses the timing of these codes to determine the transmission time, and thus the distance, from each satellite.
In the ideal communications channel only the direct, or line-of-sight, signal is present at the receiver. The receiver correlates the line-of-sight signal with a locally generated PRN code and uses the correlation function peak to precisely determine the transmission time. In general, reflections of the transmitted signals may also be received. Specifically, the signals may also arrive at the receiver antenna after reflection from the earth's surface and from various man-made structures. These signals, known collectively as multipath, are combined with the line-of-sight signal at the receiver.
The time delay of multipath signals relative to the line-of-sight signal can result in a degradation of ranging accuracy. Specifically, it may distort the correlation function, thereby shifting the apparent peak of the function. The severity of the resulting inaccuracy is a function of the satellite and receiving antenna positions relative to the various reflecting objects. Methods have been developed to counter the effect of multipath on ranging system performance. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,499 describes a narrow correlator that reduces the effect of multipath on the range estimate, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,232 discloses an iterative curve-matching mechanism to largely eliminate the multipath contribution to the correlation function.
These methods have various limitations and restrictions in resolving the effect of multipath, however, and the user of a GPS positioning system may not be aware of the extent to which multipath interference is degrading the accuracy of the range estimates. For example, a difference in the timing and carrier phases of the line-of-sight signal and the multipath signals may exist, even when distortion of the shape of the correlation function is minimal. The difference results in a shift of the correlation peak, and an associated degradation of the ranging accuracy. This condition may occur when the multipath is produced by "near" reflectors, i.e. when the differences in the relative path lengths of the line-of-sight and multipath signals are less than a significant fraction of a PRN chip.
What is needed is a simple and low-cost system for characterizing errors in a received signal due to multipath interference, in particular, when the interference is produced by "near" reflectors. The results can be used to provide the user with an indication of received signal quality and the presence of multipath. The system should not unduly increase the cost or size of currently available receiving units.

Method and apparatus for characterizing multipath interference in circularly polarized signals