A phase shifting transformer or autotransformer for a three phase power distribution network in which selected outputs have a low zero phase sequence impedance. At least one low zero phase sequence impedance output is fed by a plurality of windings distributed amongst the three core legs such that the number of turns of windings generating a flux in the positive direction is substantially equal to the number of turns of windings generating a flux in the negative direction. Thus, according to the invention, the transformer may be provided with any necessary phase shifting angles between different harmonic sources, with some or all outputs having a low zero phase sequence impedance to reduce voltage distortion created by zero phase sequence harmonics.

Three-phase electrical distribution networks, for example distributing an electrical power supply through a building, are subject to harmonic currents generated by non-linear loads such as electronic equipment and equipment that uses different kinds of arc processes. Such equipment can generate excessive harmonic currents in the distribution network, including zero phase sequence (triplen) harmonics (3rd, 9th etc.) and conventional harmonics (5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 19th etc.).
Zero phase sequence harmonics, together with unbalanced portions of the fundamental and other harmonic currents, are additive in the neutral conductor, which can result in cumulative currents well in excess of the anticipated phase currents and overload the neutral conductor, which is not protected. In addition to the possibility of overload, these harmonics result in high common-mode noise level (neutral to ground voltage), increased total harmonic distortion level, voltage imbalance, increased power losses and other problems which are well known.
Different kinds of L-C filters can be used in low voltage systems, tuned to different harmonic frequencies. These devices present problems which are well known.
In a three-phase distribution network, zero phase sequence harmonics are conventionally controlled using zero phase sequence filters. Such filters, for example so-called "zig-zag" reactors, have a low impedance to zero phase sequence currents and as such serve to attract these currents and effectively divert them from the distribution network. Because the two windings on each core leg have opposite polarities the zero phase sequence current fluxes generated by the windings on any particular core leg are opposite and therefore cancel. However, such filters do not reduce levels of conventional harmonics.
Different kinds of phase shifters are available which allow the creation of quasi-multiphase systems, reducing certain harmonic levels. Cancellation of certain harmonic currents generated by different loads depends upon the degree of phase shifting. However, these devices have a relatively high zero phase sequence impedance, and accordingly do not reduce voltage distortion levels created by zero phase sequence harmonic currents.
Combined zero phase sequence filters have recently become available, which reduce zero phase sequence harmonics and, by virtue of a 30.degree. phase shift between the line and load sides of the filter, cancel or reduce 5th, 7th, 17th, 19th etc. harmonics. However, such devices do not reduce levels of 11th, 13th etc. harmonics. Moreover, this type of filter is directional, in that it has different impedances on different outputs; while this feature may be advantageous in some applications, in general it is preferable to have the lowest possible zero phase sequence impedance on all outputs.
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a three-phase phase shifting transformer or autotransformer with low zero phase sequence impedance. This is accomplished by interconnecting multiple windings in a secondary winding such that for each output having reduced zero phase sequence impedance the number of ampere-turns of windings creating fluxes in the positive direction is substantially equal to the number of ampere-turns of windings creating fluxes in the negative direction.
For at least one output having reduced zero phase sequence impedance the windings are distributed amongst all three core legs, one winding being oriented in one direction on the core and the other two windings being oriented in the other direction on the core, such that the total number of turns of the other two windings substantially equals the number of turns of the one winding. Thus, the present invention is able to create any necessary phase shifting angles between different harmonic sources, with some or all outputs each having a very low zero phase sequence impedance, so that the invention also acts as a zero phase sequence current filter. This significantly decreases power losses, partly because the cancellation of zero phase sequence fluxes in the core substantially reduces induced zero phase sequence harmonic currents in the primary, which reduces energy usage, avoids overheating and decreases voltage distortion.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the description of the invention which follows.
The present invention thus provides a phase shifting transformer or autotransformer for a three-phase power distribution network, comprising three core legs, and for each phase, a secondary winding comprising a plurality of windings electrically connected in series and distributed amongst the core legs, each secondary winding having at least two outputs for connection to one phase of the power distribution network, such that for at least one output each core leg is provided with at least one winding associated with said at least one output, wherein the number of turns of the windings and their placement and orientation on each core leg is such that, for each said at least one output, the total number of turns generating zero phase sequence flux in the positive direction substantially equals the total number of turns generating zero phase sequence flux in the negative direction.
The present invention further provides a phase shifting transformer or autotransformer for a three-phase power distribution network, comprising three core legs, and a secondary winding having at least two outputs for connection to each phase of the power distribution network, the secondary winding comprising a plurality of windings electrically connected in series and distributed amongst the core legs such that for at least one output each core leg is provided with at least one winding associated with said at least one output, wherein the number of turns of the windings associated with said at least one output and their orientation on the core is such that the total number of turns of windings associated with said at least one output generating zero phase sequence flux in the positive direction substantially equals the total number of turns of windings associated with said at least one output generating zero phase sequence flux in the negative direction.
The present invention further provides a phase shifting transformer or autotransformer for a three-phase power distribution network, comprising three core legs, and for each phase, a secondary winding comprising a plurality of windings electrically connected and distributed amongst the core legs, the secondary winding associated with at least one phase having at least two outputs for connection to one phase of the power distribution network, said at least two outputs having a phase shift no greater than 30 degrees, such that for at least one of said at least two outputs each core leg is provided with at least one winding associated with said at least one output, wherein the number of turns of the windings and their placement and orientation on each core leg is such that, for said at least one output, the total number of turns generating zero phase sequence flux in the positive direction substantially equals the total number of turns generating zero phase sequence flux in the negative direction.

Phase shifting transformer with low zero phase sequence impedance


A method for in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signal generation is disclosed. The method may include a first stage receiving a differential input signal. The first stage may also generate first differential in-phase and quadrature output signals, which may be sent by the first stage to a second stage. The second stage may generate second differential in-phase and quadrature output signals, which may have amplitude and phase mismatches less than an amplitude and phase mismatches of the first differential output signals. The second stage may then output the second differential I/Q output signals.

In the last few decades, radio frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave (mm-wave) systems have become popular for imaging, radiometry, automotive radar, and recently for fifth-generation (5G) cellular communications. In these systems, highly balanced in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) local oscillator (LO) signal generation plays a key role for achieving high data rates and high image rejection ratios (IRRs). FQ signals, also called quadrature signals, are conventionally generated with resistor-capacitor polyphase filters (PPFs), which are lossy, narrowband, and sensitive to process variations. To improve the phase and amplitude matching, PPFs should be cascaded, but this approach may be less attractive at mm-wave frequencies due to the increased insertion loss. Similarly, highly-coupled transformer-based networks can be cascaded to generate low-loss and wideband quadrature signals, but the self-resonance frequency of these transformers are usually in the lower-end of mm-wave frequency range and these transformers cannot be used for high-frequency systems.
Furthermore, as networks continue to require even higher data rates (multi-Gb/s) for next generation mobile communications, highly accurate in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) signals are needed at mm-wave frequencies. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and devices for generating highly accurate I/Q signals.

Methods and devices for in-phase and quadrature signal generation


The present invention provides an apparatus for separating components of a fluid having an outer housing containing a core wherein three separate fluid pathways are provided to allow continuous separation of biological fluids.

With the advance of medical sciences, it has become possible to treat a patient's blood in closed-loop processes, returning the patient's own treated blood back to him in one medical treatment. An example of such processes include external treatment methods for diseases in which there is a pathological increase of lymphocytes, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or other diseases affecting white blood cells. In such methods, the patient's blood is irradiated with ultraviolet light in the presence of a chemical or an antibody. Ultraviolet light affects the bonding between the lymphocytes and the chemical or antibody that inhibits the metabolic processes of the lymphocytes.
During one of these medical treatments, a centrifuge bowl, such as, for example, a Latham bowl, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,193, expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, separates blood into red blood cells ("RBCs") and buffy coat. The Latham bowl is a blood component separator that has been used for some time in the medical apheresis market as well as in innovative medical therapies such as extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). PCT Applications WO 97/36581 and WO 97/36634, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,321,919; 4,398,906; 4,428,744; and 4,464,166 provide descriptions of extracorporeal photopheresis, and are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The Latham bowl efficiency is often measured by the white blood cell ("WBC") "yield," which is typically about 50%. Yield is defined as the percentage of cells collected versus the number processed. When compared to other types of whole blood separators, this high yield enables the Latham bowl separator to collect much larger volumes of WBCs while processing much less whole blood from the donor patient. However, a major drawback to the Latham bowl separator is that the separation process must be repeatedly stopped to remove the packed RBCs and plasma once they fill the inside of the bowl, creating a "batch-type" process. Although the Latham bowl separator has a high volume yield, the constant filling and emptying of this bowl wastes time; thus, the process is considered less efficient with respect to time. Additionally, the Latham bowl requires a rotating seal, which is expensive and difficult to manufacture.
An additional drawback of centrifugal processing apparatus has been their high cost of manufacture due to strict tolerances, rotating seals, and extensive manufacturing processes.

Apparatus for the continuous separation of biological fluids into components and method of using same


Techniques for peer-to-peer Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) storage transfers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing peer-to-peer storage transfers between PCIe devices including providing, in memory of a first PCIe device, a queue for data communicated between the first PCIe device and a target PCIe device, receiving, at the first PCIe device, queue memory allocation information transmitted from a host device communicatively coupled to the first PCIe device and the target PCIe device, and generating, using a computer processor of the first PCIe device, a storage command.

The Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) Specification is a specification for accessing solid-state devices (SSDs) and other target devices attached through a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) bus. The Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) Specification defines a command interface based on a single set of administrative command and completion queues and many sets of operational Input/Output (I/O) command and completion queues. Administrative queues are used for tasks such as queue creation and deletion, device status interrogation and feature configuration, while I/O queues are used for all storage-related transfers, such as block reads and writes. However, the NVMe specification relies on the host resources for command and control to a degree which can present a bottleneck or chokepoint in system performance.
According to the NVMe specification, only a system's host CPU is capable of sending storage commands to an NVMe Controller. Additionally PCI-Express system architecture faces two typical performance constraints. First, typical PCI-Express fabrics with high device fan-out (such as an enterprise storage backplane) have lower total upstream bandwidth (from a PCI-Express Switch upstream to the host) than downstream bandwidth (from the same PCI-Express Switch downstream to all connected storage controllers). This represents bandwidth overprovisioning downstream of the switch, which cannot be fully utilized when the only permitted traffic flows between host and endpoint NVMe Controller. Second, in a system that only permits the host to generate storage traffic to all controllers, the host's resources (especially computation power/CPU and storage/Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM)) are a bottleneck to overall system performance. The overall latency and throughput of the system are bound by the capabilities of the host. The latency problem is especially detrimental for applications like a High Performance Compute platform, where a computation device such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) desires access to a large quantity of data on a storage medium, but cannot access it without the host acting as an intermediary to initiate the storage transfers from the drive to host DRAM and then further memory transfers from host DRAM down to the GPU.
Earlier attempts at resolving such issues include vendor-unique and proprietary solutions that do not resolve the problem of accessing an off-the-shelf NVM Controller. However, this does not enable devices not compatible with such vendor-unique or proprietary solutions to generate such traffic, and further is not compatible with the NVM Express protocol, since NVM Express only allows the system host to generate traffic.
In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with current technologies for peer-to-peer PCIe storage transfers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for peer-to-peer PCIe storage transfers


The invention is a water well surge block for agitation of particles in water wells. The surge block utilizes a novel one way valve comprising a shaft in connection with a rigid perforated cylinder having an upper and lower surface and a flexible membrane that overlies the upper surface of the membrane. As the surge block moves downward in the well or wellbore the membrane flexes away from said cylinder during downward movement of the block in order to permit the one way flow of fluid upward. The membrane closes against the cylinder to prevent the flow of water as the block moves upward.

Water well surge blocks are used in the field of underground wells and whose purpose is to agitate or otherwise loosen dirt, mud, silt, sand, etc. for dispersing into the water or other liquid. The particles move upward from the bottom of wells going above the surge block where the water containing the loosened particles is cleaned by filtering and removing the particles. The cleaning process may be performed by machines in the wellbore or above ground. Surge blocks find particular use in water wells and ground water monitoring but the principle of agitating the solution remains the same for oil wells, etc. Typically, such plungers use one way valves that permit the one way flow of water upward towards the cleaning means which may be in the well or above ground. The applicant's invention uses a flexible membrane that overlies a perforated cylinder as the one way valve means. The membrane flexes in one direction to allow the water to flow upward and then flexes against the cylinder to prevent water flow in the other direction, thus trapping the sediments above the surge block.

Water and ground water monitoring well surge block


A high voltage semiconductor device includes a source region of a first conductivity type having an elongated projection with two sides and a rounded tip in a semiconductor substrate. A drain region of the first conductivity type is laterally spaced from the source region in the semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode extends along the projection of the source region on the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions. Top floating regions of a second conductivity type are disposed between the source and drain regions in the shape of arched stripes extending along the rounded tip of the projection of the source region. The top floating regions are laterally spaced from one another by regions of the first conductivity type to thereby form alternating P-N regions along the lateral dimension.

The present invention relates to a high voltage semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a lateral double doped metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor capable of reducing electric field concentration in a source region.
High voltage lateral double doped metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors have been widely used as switching devices for control, logic and electric power. The LDMOS transistor is typically designed to have a high breakdown voltage and a low on-resistance so that the LDMOS transistor can sustain high voltages, conduct high currents, have low power consumption, and improved switching characteristics. In a high-voltage semiconductor device, the curvature radius of a source or drain region has a close relation with the breakdown voltage characteristic of a device. Particularly, in some LDMOS transistors, the electric field is typically high at the tip portion of a source region having a relatively small curvature radius, which can result in reduced breakdown voltage.
FIGS. 1A through 1C show simulation results of the electric field concentration around the source tip 10t of a source portion 10 for three devices having source tips 10t with different radius of curvatures r, r′ and r″. FIG. 1D shows an Id-Vd graph where the I-V curve marked as "A" corresponds to the curvature radius r of 8.5 μm (FIG. 1A), the I-V curve marked as "B" corresponds to the curvature radius r′ of 18.5 μm (FIG. 1B), and the I-V curve marked as "C" correspond to the curvature radius r″ of 28.5 μm (FIG. 1C) As can be seen, as the radius of the tip 10t of the source portion 10 is reduced, the electric field concentration at the tip portion 10t is increased, and thus the breakdown voltage of the device is reduced.
Thus, in order to obtain a high breakdown voltage due to the high electric field concentration at the tip 10t of the source portion 10, the curvature radius of the tip 10t of the source portion 10 needs to be increased. However, increasing the curvature radius of the tip 10t of the source portion 10 disadvantageously increases the die size.
Thus there is a need for a technique which, among other advantages and features, enables reducing the curvature radius of the tip of the source without adversely impacting the device breakdown voltage.

High voltage semiconductor device with floating regions for reducing electric field concentration


An improved method and system for automatically continuously replacing an engine's used lubricating oil with fresh lubricating oil throughout operation based on engine operating conditions is disclosed. The present system includes an lube oil replacement pump system operable in a replacement mode for injecting small amounts of used lube oil into the engine's fuel system and directing controlled quantities of fresh oil into the engine's lube oil system to replace the removed oil. The process periodically determines an engine operating severity value, i.e. fuel consumption value, for an interval of engine operation and calculates a base line quantity of oil for injection based on the current fuel consumption of the engine during the current interval. The lube oil replacement pump may also be operated in a makeup mode for adding quantities of fresh oil to the engine lube oil sump to compensate for oil consumed by the engine. The system adjusts the quantity of used oil to be removed and injected based on the quantity of fresh oil supplied during the makeup mode to prevent overreplacement of the lube oil. The lube oil pump system may be in the form of a compact, unitized lube oil replacement pump assembly integrating the various components of the system. The system maintains the quality of the engine lube oil at a level necessary to provide optimal engine protection at all engine operating conditions while also maintaining the oil concentration in the engine's fuel at an acceptable level.

It is highly desirable to be able to minimize the amount of service required for internal combustion engines to thereby minimize the interruption in the use of the vehicle/equipment. Degradation and contamination of engine lubricating oil during engine use requires oil changing procedures which account for a significant portion of the maintenance and associated engine "down time". Conventional periodic oil changes generate an accumulation of waste lubricating oil which must be disposed of and/or processed resulting in undesirable costs. Therefore, extending oil drain intervals and reducing waste disposal are of great value to vehicle/equipment operators.
Consequently, systems have been developed for automatically changing internal combustion engine crankcase oil during engine operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,636 discloses a system for automatically changing engine oil while the engine is operating. The system operates to drain substantially all of the used oil from the engine immediately prior to introducing fresh oil into the engine from a reservoir. The single operation process results in a complete change of the substantially the entire engine oil volume. However, draining the engine prior to refilling with fresh oil necessarily creates a risk that an inadequate supply of lube oil exists in the engine for an interim time period possibly resulting in damage or excessive wear to engine components from insufficient lubrication. Moreover, this system undesirably results in a quantity of waste oil.
Other systems have been developed which automatically change engine lube oil during engine operation while avoiding a waste quantity of oil by directing the used lube oil into the fuel system for burning with the fuel in the engine. These systems periodically drain a small amount of the used oil from the engine lube oil system, and replace the drained quantity with fresh lubricant from an auxiliary tank. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,869,346 and 5,390,762 to Nelson disclose an automatic crankcase oil change and makeup system including a displacement unit having a piston with a predetermined stroke set to deliver identical, predetermined amounts of fresh oil during each stroke at the same flow rate and volume as the extraction of used oil. The pressure of the used lubricating oil is used to cause the periodic addition of the fresh oil to the crankcase. The frequency of the pressure strokes is set by a timer in an electronic controller, and is adjustably set to stroke at fixed time intervals to provide a cumulative quantity of fresh oil to the crankcase according to the regular recommended oil change period for the particular engine. A pair of dials on the controller enable the frequency of the pressure strokes to be adjusted. However, during certain engine operating conditions, e.g. idle conditions, the engine lube oil supply pressure may too low to overcome the biasing force of the piston spring, an outlet check valve biasing pressure and any frictional counterforces. As a result, the piston may not be moved through its makeup stroke during certain engine operating conditions, thereby preventing oil replacement and makeup during these low pressure conditions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,078; 4,495,909; and 5,431,138 to Hurner disclose similar systems for oil changing and making up during engine operation which include a control module having an adjustable impulse timer set to periodically cycle an air pressure operated oil extractor pump at a fixed time intervals to direct a predetermined amount of engine oil out of the oil pan and into the fuel tank. Fresh makeup oil is pumped from an oil reservoir to the crankcase, also by air pressure, in response to a low level signal from a dipstick sensor. However, the oil changing portion of each of these systems is formed as a separate assembly from the make-up portion of the system. Also, these systems require the use of pressurized air to actuate the oil changing/removing device. As a result, this system may be difficult and expensive to integrate into an engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,561 to Yasuhara discloses an automatic oil changing and disposing apparatus wherein used crankcase oil is periodically directed to a fuel tank via a valve controlled by an odometer switch, and fresh oil is gravity fed from a fresh oil tank to the crankcase via a control valve controlled by a crankcase oil level switch. The quantity of each increment of used oil removed from the crankcase, and each increment of fresh oil supplied, is controlled by respective timers having variable on-time duration to effect variable control of engine oil extraction and addition. Alternatively, a float type valve arrangement can be used to control the delivery of the fresh oil to the crankcase. However, in the systems disclosed in the Hurner references and Yasuhara, fresh oil may be delivered to the crankcase during engine operation after significant amounts of used oil have been removed and only when the fresh oil tank level drops a predetermined low level. This undesirable delay in supplying fresh oil to the engine results in a significant decrease in the quantity of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil system of the engine thus creating the possibility that too little oil will be available to the engine. Moreover, the repeated extraction of used oil without periodic, corresponding additions of fresh oil, fails to adequately maintain the quality of the lubricating oil in the engine at a sufficient level to ensure optimum engine lubrication and cooling.
Although capable of automatically changing lube oil during engine operation, the automatic oil changing systems discussed hereinabove are incapable of accurately varying and controlling oil changing in response to the actual needs of the engine that vary based on the engine operating conditions, such as fuel consumption. The amount of oil drained from the crankcase and injected into the fuel system is often either less than the necessary replacement rate when the engine is being used more heavily than expected, or more than the optimum amount when the engine is being used less heavily than expected. Injecting too little used oil from the oil sump into the fuel system will disadvantageously result in engine damage from over-used oil incapable of adequately lubricating and cooling engine components. On the other hand, injecting too much oil results in excessive concentrations of used oil in the fuel resulting in engine performance degradation, increased emissions, shortened fuel filter life and wasted oil. In addition, if the engine is a recent emission emission non-compliance and possibly a fine. Although Yasuhara '561 suggests variable control of engine oil extraction and addition, this reference does not suggest means for accomplishing such variable control nor the engine operating parameters to be considered. The Nelson '346 and '762 references only suggest varying the amount of oil extracted and added to the engine crankcase by manually adjusting timers to vary the frequency of oil additions and extractions.
Also, the systems discussed hereinabove fail to adjust the quantity of oil to be injected from the lube oil system into the fuel system based on the amount of additional fresh oil added to the oil sump beyond the quantity extracted. For example, the systems disclosed in the Nelson patents operate to deliver an amount of fresh oil, during each stroke of the displacement unit, to replace the amount of used oil removed. The Nelson system also operates to deliver additional amounts of fresh oil when the oil sump level decreases below a predetermined level due to, for example, oil leakage or burning in the engine. However, the Nelson system continues to remove and replace oil at a predetermined frequency. As a result, these systems replace more oil than is necessary to maintain cooling and lubricant qualities of the oil at the desired level, resulting in wasted oil and increased costs.
Therefore, there is a need for a continuous engine lube oil replacement system capable of more effectively controlling the quantity of used lube oil burned in the engine based on varying engine operating conditions.

Electronically controlled continuous lubricating oil replacement system


A technique for the secure exchange of data between multiple entities that use compatible business management systems utilizes serializable data transfer objects to transfer business data over a secure communication path. These serializable data transfer objects are used to share business data over a secure communication path, eliminating the need for an active user connection between entities wishing to exchange data. The data contained within the transfer objects can be used by any participating entity to update existing records related to the transaction, or to create new records relating to the transaction. Serializable objects link all data relating to a given business transaction. An interface allows users to view data contained in or referenced by an object, and to create or modify transaction records based on the data.

Electronic data interchange (EDI) between businesses has become so common that it is easy to forget about the many small businesses that cannot afford to implement it. The road to data integration for small businesses is full of obstacles, any of which can derail efforts at data integration. One is the cost of conversion software, conversion services, or both. Additionally, the purchase of new software can require the company to update or replace some or all of its hardware. Another obstacle to data integration for small businesses is that many small businesses do not have dedicated IT employees with the knowledge or expertise to handle a data integration project. Another obstacle is the preparation and training for the new technology, which can be so disruptive to the daily operations of a small business that current revenue and customer relationships can be adversely affected. Obstacles like these as well as others, even if only perceived, can make small business owners very reluctant to undertake data conversion projects, regardless of how affordable or seamless their implementation might actually be.
Many small businesses use popular "off-the-shelf" business management systems because they are affordable and relatively easy to use. Ironically, businesses that use the same business management system still have to undergo the process of data conversion if they want to exchange data with each other, even though the programming structure of their respective business management systems is nearly identical.
There is a need to facilitate the secure exchange of electronic data between businesses that have compatible business management systems.


A method for ordering one or more consumables for a device includes selecting one or more of the consumables used in the device to order using the device and submitting the order for the selected consumables using the device to one or more suppliers. A device for ordering one or more consumables for the device includes an ordering system in the device and a communication system in the device. The ordering system providing a menu of one or more of the consumables to select to place an order. The communication system submits the order for the selected consumables when completed.

With devices, such as printers, copy machines, or facsimile machines, consumables, such as dry ink, a feed roll cartridge, a fuser module, a fuser web, or staples, will eventually run low or run out. When this occurs, an individual typically will either call a supply center and place an order, fill out and send an order form to the supply center, or travel to the supply center to place the order for the needed consumables. The order for the consumables is then filled and returned by or to the individual for use in the device as needed.
Unfortunately, there are several drawbacks to this process for supply or resupplying the device with consumables. For example, the process is very time consuming because typically an individual will have to travel to several different stores to check whether the stores even carry the particular consumable and if they do at what price and in what quantities. Additionally, with this process there is a chance that the operator may purchase the wrong type of consumable or consumables for the device. Further, the original manufacturer and original retailer have no influence on the operator's selection of a supplier or suppliers for the consumable or consumables. As a result, these sales may end up going to a competitor of the original manufacturer of the device.

Method and system for ordering a consumable for a device


High velocity gas injection system wherein high velocity and low velocity gases are injected into a cavity in a defined relationship such that the low velocity gas forms a protective barrier from combustion zone damage due to the flow dynamics caused by the high velocity gas.

Recent advances in combustion technology have employed the use of high velocity gas injection into a combustion zone to carry out combustion with reduced nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) generation. Nozzles with relatively small diameters are employed in order to achieve the high velocities. The high gas velocities cause furnace gases to be aspirated or entrained into the high velocity gas which has a dampening effect on NO.sub.x generation.
A problem with high velocity gas injection into a combustion zone is that the furnace gases, which may comprise particulate matter and condensible vapors, cause the nozzles, which have small openings to begin with, to foul or corrode easily as the furnace gases are aspirated or entrained into the high velocity gas exiting the nozzle. The furnace gases also tend to be quite hot, on the order of 1000.degree. F. or more, which exacerbates the fouling and corrosion problem.
One way of dealing with this problem has been to provide a large amount of water cooling to the nozzle so as to prevent high temperature corrosion or melting. However, a water cooling system is complex to operate and does not address the fouling problem where the furnace atmosphere has a high particulate content. Moreover, water cooling can escalate the corrosion and fouling problems when the furnace atmosphere contains condensible vapors.
Ceramic nozzles have been proposed as a solution to the fouling problem in high velocity gas injection. However, presently available ceramic nozzles are not suitable for industrial scale operations because of corrosion and cracking due to thermal and other stresses.
It is desirable therefore to have a high velocity gas injection system which will enable one to carry out combustion in a combustion zone without generating a high level of NO.sub.x while reducing the fouling experienced with presently available systems.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a method for injecting high velocity gas into a combustion zone while avoiding the high level of nozzle fouling experienced with the use of presently available methods.
It is another object of this invention to provide a high velocity gas injection apparatus which can inject high velocity gas into a combustion zone without extensive nozzle fouling.


The hair cleansing composition contains from 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of a dimethylsiloxanelmethyl-3-mercapto-propylsiloxane/isobutylmethacrylate copolymer and from 3 to 50 percent by weight of at least one detergent surfactant. The composition can also contain dimethylsiloxane glycol copolymers and/or polydimethylsiloxanes with or without hydroxy terminal groups. This composition has a definite fixing effect as well as satisfactory hair cleaning action. The film formed on the hair after washing and drying the hair does not significantly load the hair or leave an appreciable residue.

The subject matter of the present invention is a hair cleansing composition containing at least one nonionic, water-insoluble vinyl/silicone copolymer with a backbone chain of siloxane polymer units and side chains of vinyl polymer units and at least one detergent surfactant.
Hair cleansing or cleaning compositions usually contain hair care additives besides the surfactant having the cleansing or detergent action, which should guarantee that the hair can be combed in both the wet and the dry states, carries a reduced static charge and has a soft, natural feel. While the amphoteric or anionic detergent surfactants of a shampoo permit satisfactory hair cleaning, it is however generally difficult to impart a pleasing permanently shaped form to the hair style after washing, without using additional compositions. In order to guarantee a satisfactory stylability of the hair and to make the hair style as permanent as possible after washing the hair, usually a hair fixing composition is applied after the hair washing with a shampoo in the form of an aqueous-alcoholic polymer solution, a gel, a foam or a hair spray, which are not washed out. This method is comparatively costly and time consuming for the user, since two compositions, a hair cleansing or cleaning composition and a hair fixing composition, are required and they must be used in two processes.
Hair cleansing compositions are known, which contain water-soluble cationic, anionic, amphoteric or nonionic polymers. Only a comparatively very weak fixing effect however is attained with these compositions, since the charges on the polymers facilitate a rinsing out of the fixing substances from the hair. The water-soluble polymers in these compositions primarily have a care effect.
Efforts were made to increase the fixing effect by adding fixing ingredients which were not soluble in the hair treatment composition. The disadvantage of these fixing agents was that they loaded the hair with a residue which results from multiple applications.
Another approach uses acrylate/silcone copolymers. Hydrophilic vinyl polymer backbone chains carrying hydrophobic side chains are known. The fixing obtained with this type of polymers is generally also comparatively weak, because they contain either anionic ethylenic unsaturated monomers (e.g. acrylic acid) or hydrophilic ethylenic unsaturated monomers (e.g. dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) as disclosed in European Patent Documents EP-OS 412 704, EP-OS 412 707. This allows these polymers of course to be incorporated into shampoo formulations, but increases at the same time their solubility in water and thus their rinsiblity. The use of acrylate/silicone copolymers, which have hydrophilic vinyl polymer backbone chains and silicone side chains, for providing care properties in shampoos is described in WO 93/23009 and WO 95/03776. Fixing properties of these polymers in shampoo formulations were neither disclosed in WO 93/23009 nor in WO 95/03776.
WO 93/23009 and WO 95/03776 describe, among other things, the making of polymers, which have, in contrast to all the other above-described polymer types, a silicone backbone chain with acrylate side chains. Films of these polymers provide care properties because of their silicone backbone chain. The use of these nonionic hydrophobic polymers to obtain a hair care effect in largely water-free cosmetic formulations, such as lip stick, eye shadow pencil, antiperspirant sprays or in W/O emulsions, in which the hydrophobic polymer is dissolved in an oil phase, is described. Use of these polymers in shampoo formulations or a fixing action in combination with surfactant compounds was not described.

Hair cleansing composition with fixing properties


A member mounting arrangement mounts a proximity mounting member to a proximity object at a predetermined position relative thereto. The arrangement includes an intermediate fixing member attached to a fixing frame supporting the proximity object, the intermediate fixing member being adjustable in position in a direction to/from the proximity object, a fixing connecting portion attached to the intermediate fixing member while supporting the proximity mounting member, the fixing connecting portion being adjustable in position in the same direction as above, a regulating portion for regulating a separating distance between the proximity mounting member and the proximity object to a predetermined range, a first fixing portion for fixing the intermediate fixing member in position relative to the fixing frame, and a second fixing portion for fixing the fixing connecting portion in position relative to the intermediate fixing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement for mounting a proximity mounting member relative to a "proximity" object with a predetermined distance therebetween.
2. Description of Related Art
As known, an electronic photographic image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a telefax, includes an image fixing section having a fixing roller incorporating an electric driven fixing heater and a thermostat operable to stop power supply to the fixing heater upon detection of abnormal heat-up of this roller, the thermostat having a temperature detecting portion for detecting the fixing roller temperature. The temperature detecting portion of the thermostat is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller for a predetermined distance so as not to damage this roller. The thermostat per se is mounted to e.g. a supporting frame of the fixing roller. With this arrangement, the thermostat can detect a temperature of atmosphere adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller as the fixing roller temperature, in a non-contact manner.
Next, as an example of "member mounting arrangement" to which the invention pertains, there will be described the arrangement provided in the fixing section of the image forming apparatus described above for mounting the thermostat, as an example of "proximity mounting member", to the fixing roller, as an example of "proximity object" in such a manner that the temperature detecting portion of the former may be spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller for a predetermined distance.
With the image forming apparatus, it is desired that a rise time required for the temperature of the fixing roller to rise from the normal (room) temperature to the image fixing temperature be as short as possible. It is also desired that the thermostat be mounted in close proximity of the fixing roller so as to allow the detection of the fixing roller temperature to be made with good responsiveness in a short period to the rise time.
With the conventional thermostat mounting arrangement in general, there is provided a housing having a cylindrical receiving portion for accommodating the thermostat therein and the thermostat is screw-fixed, with opposed terminal portions provided at the right and left extreme ends of the thermostat being placed in contact with the top face of the cylindrical receiving portion. Further, the housing for the thermostat is screw-fixed to the machine (apparatus) body so as to keep the temperature detecting portion of the thermostat away from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller for a predetermined distance (see e.g. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-15463).
Accordingly, in order to allow speedy and highly responsive detection of the fixing roller temperature by minimizing the predetermined separating distance from the temperature detecting portion to the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller, it is necessary to mount the thermostat with considerable degree of precision. Otherwise, i.e. if the mounting precision of the fixing roller is not so high, it becomes difficult to mount the thermostat, with maintaining the predetermined distance from the temperature detecting portion from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing roller. Then, the thermostat can sometimes contact the fixing roller inadvertently, due to displacement and/or vibration associated with the rotation of the fixing roller.


This disclosure relates to a package forming first and second enclosures for first and second articles. The package comprises a box having a bottom and at least first and second side walls forming the first enclosure, a first lid hingedly connected to the first side wall and foldable to a closed position to cover said first enclosure, the first lid and the side walls including supports for engaging and holding the first article in place in the first enclosure. A second lid is hingedly connected to the second side wall and is foldable over the first lid to a closed position, the first lid and the second lid forming the second enclosure therebetween for the second article. Engaging surfaces on the box and on the lids hold the lids in the closed positions. The package is especially useful for holding a printed circuit board and documents relating thereto, and is made of a clear plastic having static dissipative properties.

This invention relates to a container or package, and more particularly to a package for a fragile article such as a printed circuit board.
Packaging a fragile and expensive article such as an electronic printed circuit board (PCB) has posed special problems. Such a container should, of course, be sufficiently sturdy to protect the article and, in the instance of a PCB, to prevent damage to the electronic components due to static electricity.
Regarding the prior art, a container for a PCB or glass plates is described in the J. R. Puente U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,975. The container includes a box and a removable lid made of a plastic material such as polyethylene, the edges of the article being clamped between the box and the lid. This container, however, does not provide for the storage in the container of documents that normally accompany articles of this nature.
According to an article that appeared in the December-January 1990-1991 issue of EOS/ESD Technology, a company in Irvine, California named Western Digital Corp. has designed a package for a PCB. The package is of the clamshell type and is made of a clear molded plastic. Apparently a PCB is placed in one-half of the package and the other half is folded over the PCB. It appears from the article that, for shipping, a separate box is required, and the package plus documents are placed in the box.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,836 to L. S. Regis describes a mailing package for spectacles, including a box, an interior flap and an outer cover. The spectacles are loosely placed in the box and a mailing card is placed between the flap and the cover, the cover having an opening so that the mailing card may be read.
While the foregoing containers appear to work satisfactorily for their intended purposes, there remains a need for an improved package for a fragile article such as a printed circuit board and documents relating to the board.


There is disclosed a plasma display panel that is adaptive for improving yield and mass productivity and a fabricating method thereof. A plasma display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate with a discharge space therebetween; a sealing layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a buffer layer formed between the first substrate and the sealing layer to compensate the thermal stress of the first substrate and the sealing layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly to a plasma display panel that is adaptive for improving yield and mass productivity and a fabricating method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A plasma display panel (hereinafter 'PDP') has light emission of phosphorus caused by ultraviolet rays of 147 nm that is generated upon discharge of inert mixed gas such as He+Xe, Ne+Xe, He+Xe+Ne, thereby displaying a picture including characters or graphics. Such a PDP is easy to be made into a thin-film and large-dimension type of it. Moreover, the PDP provides a very improved picture quality owing to recent technical development.
Referring to FIG. 1, a discharge cell oaf three-electrode AC surface discharge type PDP includes a sustain electrode pair 4 formed on an upper substrate 16 and an address electrode 2 formed on a lower substrate 14.
Each of the sustain electrode pair 4 includes a transparent electrode 4A of indium tin oxide ITO and a metal bus electrode 4B formed at one side of the edge of the transparent electrode 4A. An upper dielectric layer 12 and a protective film 10 are deposited on the upper substrate 16 where the sustain electrode pair 4 has been formed. Wall charges generated upon plasma discharge are accumulated in the upper dielectric layer 12. The protective film 10 prevents the upper dielectric layer 12 and the sustain electrode pair 4 from being damaged due to sputtering generated upon plasma discharge, and in addition, it increases the emission efficiency of secondary electron. The protective film 10 is normally magnesium oxide MgO.
A lower dielectric layer 18 and barrier ribs 8 are formed on the lower substrate 14 where address electrode 2 has been formed, and a phosphorus 6 is formed on the surface of the lower dielectric layer 18 and the barrier ribs 8. The address electrode 2 is orthogonal to the sustain electrode pair 4. The barrier ribs 8 are formed along the address electrode 2 to prevent the ultraviolet ray and visible ray generated by discharge from leaking out to adjacent discharge cells. The phosphorus 6 is excited by the vacuum ultraviolet ray generated upon plasma discharge to generate any one of red, green or blue visible ray.
Inert mixed gas such as He+Xe, Ne+Xe, He+Xe+Ne is injected for discharge into a discharge space of the discharge cell provided between the upper/lower substrate 16, 14 and the barrier ribs 8.
On the other hand, the lower substrate 14 where the address electrode 2 has been formed is joined with the upper substrate 16 where the sustain electrode pair 4Y, 4Z has been formed, as shown in FIG. 2, by a sealing layer 50.
FIGS. 3A to 3D are sectional diagrams representing a sealing process of PDP of prior art.
Firstly, the sustain electrode pair 4Y, 4Z and the upper dielectric layer 12 are formed on the upper substrate 16, as shown in FIG. 3A.
The sealing layer 50, as shown in FIG. 3B, is formed on the upper substrate 16 where the upper dielectric layer 12 has been formed. The sealing layer 50 is formed by spreading sealing-paste in use of a screen printing or a dispenser, wherein the sealing-paste is formed by mixing glass powder, solvent and binder together.
Subsequently, under the environment of 200˜300° C., the protective film 10 is formed on the upper substrate 16 in use of E-beam deposition or sputtering methods, as shown in FIG. 3C.
Subsequently, the upper substrate 16 is aligned with the lower substrate 14 while the upper substrate 16 where the sealing layer 50 has been formed is pressed against and joined with the lower substrate 14. The aligned upper substrate 16 and lower substrate 14 are fired to remove a large amount of solvent and organic material which are contained within the sealing layer 50, thereby joining the upper/lower substrate 16, 14, as shown in FIG. 3D.
However, after the protective film 10 is formed under the environment of 200-300° C., there occurs a crack in the area of the upper substrate 16 contacted with the sealing layer 50 due to the difference of thermal expansion coefficient between the upper substrate 16 and the sealing layer 50 in the course that it cools down to normal temperature. The difference of such thermal expansion coefficients generates partial thermal stress on a part where the upper substrate 16 is in contact with the sealing layer 50. There is generated a thermal stress which is relatively bigger in the upper substrate 16 than in the sealing layer 50, wherein the upper substrate 16 has relatively bigger thermal expansion coefficient than the sealing layer 50, and the thermal stress causes the crack to be generated in the upper substrate 16.
Accordingly, there is a problem that the yield and mass productivity of PDP is decreased.

Plasma display panel having a sealing layer and method of fabricating the same


In magnetic levitation vehicles, supporting and driving forces are generated by a long stator on the track and permanent magnets on the vehicle. The underside of a rail provides the attachment of the long stator; the rail further has two oppositely disposed horizontal running surfaces for pairs of spacer rollers on the vehicle and a vertical running surface for lateral guide rollers on the vehicle. For a particularly simple and inexpensive production of the rail it is proposed to make the one end section of the railhead of the rail the horizontal running surfaces and a lateral guide profile fastened to the underside of the railhead the vertical running surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a rail employed for a rail system and in particular to a rail for a maglev commuter train system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Maglev commuter train systems employ primarily elevated tracks which are composed of individual prefabricated track elements. These track elements are configured as single field carriers or as multiple field carriers. The vehicles of this commuter train system travel over this track without the danger of derailment and are based on the following operational principle. Namely, the vehicle weight is dissipated substantially as a load distributed over the surface area through the rails to the supporting structure of the track by way of permanent magnets fastened to height adjustable magnet carrier strips on both longitudinal sides of a rectangular vehicle undercarriage frame. In order to stabilize the unstable state between magnets and rails and to avoid a complete interruption of the magnetic attraction forces while maintaining a minimum air gap, a residual load of the vehicle weight is transferred by way of guide and spacer rollers running on the rails. The distance, that is, the air gap between the surfaces of the permanent magnets of the vehicle undercarriage and the rails and the surfaces of the long stator fastened to the rail, is regulated as a function of the respective vehicle weight (static and dynamic loads). The vehicle is driven by the cooperation of the permanent magnets of the vehicle undercarriage with the traveling electrical field of the long stator on the track (linear motor drive).
As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of the track of a prior art commuter traffic system shown in FIG. 1, the track elements are composed of two mutually parallel track carriers 11 which are connected with one another by way of transverse connectors 12. The transverse connectors 12 are structurally arranged at such a depth that an upwardly open trough appears as the cross section of the track. On both sides of the track carriers, rails 13 are fastened in the longitudinal direction. Rails 13 form a functional component of the track and serve to support, guide and drive the magnetic levitation vehicles. As is further evident from FIG. 1, the track is configured as a completely welded structure in which a railhead 131 is welded at a right angle to the ends of each track carrier 11, with a specially developed and fastened supporting and guide angle rail 132 being welded to the end faces of the railhead. For reasons of its supporting and driving function, riding comfort and wear of the guide and spacer rollers, high tolerance demands must be placed on the supporting structure which is connected with high and expensive manufacturing efforts. For example, the railheads 131, particularly if the track curves, must be burnt with great accuracy out of steel plates. Additionally, the angle rails 132 are relatively thin and thus bendably soft so that their ends give way under the vehicle load which results in uncomfortable jolts and a reduced service life of the guide and spacer rollers.


This invention relates to the field of olefin polymerization catalyst compositions, and methods for the polymerization and copolymerization of olefins, including polymerization methods using a catalyst composition. One aspect of this invention is the formation and use of a catalyst composition comprising a transition metal compound and an activator for olefin polymerization processes.

The chemical industry continually develops new olefin polymerization catalysts, catalyst activation processes, and methods of making and using catalysts that will provide enhanced catalytic activities and produce polymeric materials tailored to specific end uses.
One type of catalyst system comprises so-called single site organometal compounds, particularly metallocene compounds and transition metal compounds. Metallocenes have been well explored, but less is known about the polymerization behavior of transition metal compounds. It is believed that transition metal compounds, those compounds that do not have a cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted indenyl, or substituted fluorenyl group bound to the metal atom and are thus not metallocenes, may offer the potential to produce polymers with improved properties, as well as lower cost. Also of interest is the development of transition metal compound-based catalytic systems that can be activated with a variety of activating agents without requiring the use of relatively expensive aluminoxane or borate co-catalysts, yet still provide relatively high polymerization activities.
Therefore, new catalyst compositions and methods of making the catalyst compositions are needed to afford high polymerization activities, and to allow polymer properties to be designed within the specification ranges for the desired end-use application.


A device and a method for accurately laying out the bases of an infield, said device comprising marking pieces that attach to one another to form a single integrated unit. Base marking pieces forming the integrated unit may mark the positions of the bases of an infield. The marking pieces may be connected, which connecting means may assist in measuring distances between marking pieces, which measured distances may determine proper positions of the base marking pieces. After bases are laid out and an infield set up, the marking pieces may re-attach to again form the integrated unit.

Baseball is played on a field comprised of an outfield and an infield, with most of the action taking place on the infield. The infield is in the shape of a diamond, with first base, second base, third base, and home plate located in sequence at each point of the diamond. A player must progress counterclockwise from base to base to score a run. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins. There is an equal distance between each adjacent base, but this distance varies depending on baseball league. For major league and most male adult baseball leagues, distance between adjacent bases is 90 feet. For "little league," the distance between adjacent bases may be about 60 feet, with some other leagues also having varying sizes between 60-90 feet between adjacent bases.
Although baseball is a favorite pastime of many people, baseball's popularity combined with a finite number of permanent baseball fields can result in an unmet demand for full-sized baseball fields, where, for example, two or more baseball teams may have to share one baseball field for practice purposes. An insufficient number of fields may, among other negative results, limit practice time and thereby inhibit team progress and player development. To try and ameliorate this problem, when a playing surface exists with sufficient open space, coaches and/or players may set up makeshift infields using items on hand such as branches, coats, etc., as bases, or may use a portable set of bases. The accuracy of the layout of such infields, however, often depends to a large degree on fallible human judgment. The resulting inaccurate and imprecise measurements of such makeshift diamonds can lead to team practices that fail to sufficiently replicate real-game conditions, thus negatively impacting the judgments and expectations of players, and also lead to poor playing habits.
To attempt to achieve greater accuracy of base positions, some coaches, parents, and/or players may use string or tape to measure out the distance to each base one at a time—an often time-consuming process. Moreover, such string may become entangled with itself, other objects, and even players, as the string in some cases remains on the playing surface during play. In addition, such string must be removed from the playing surface by manual means, such as winding up the string on a reel by hand, which can be burdensome. Furthermore, some prior art devices attempting to set up an infield using strings or measuring tapes, whether requiring hand-reeling or not, may require substantial concentration and time. In addition some such devices may require the purchase of a "measuring ball base," if not a whole new set of bases.
Thus there exists a need for an infield measuring and aligning device that may function quickly, conveniently, and accurately, thereby maximizing quality practice time for players and for coaches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, accuracy may be increased by utilizing a center reference point marked by a center marking piece. The center marking piece may be connected to some base marking pieces, and in one embodiment the base marking pieces may attach to the center marking piece and together form the integrated unit.


A roof tile tie down clip for securing a roof tile to the surface of a roof. The roof tile tie down clip includes a base portion configured to rest against the surface of a roof, body portion extending away from the base portion such that a joint is formed between the base portion and the body portion, and a clip portion configured to engage the top surface of a roof tile and extending away from the body portion distal of the joint. Two claws extend outward from a tip of the base portion for securing the roof tile tie down clip to the surface of a roof in an upright position prior to inserting a nail through the clip. A gusset is formed at the joint between the base portion and body portion of the roof tile tie down clip. The gusset functions to reinforce the joint against bending or warping.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roof tile clip, and in particular, relates to a roof tile tie down clip for securing a tile to a roof where the clip is easily mounted to the surface of the roof and is resistant to deformation from excessive winds.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roof tiles are commonly used to cover the roof of a structure. The tiles provide protection to the roof from storms and other harsh weather conditions and also provide an attractive appearance to the roof. For a typical installation of tiles on a roof, a plurality of tiles are distributed over the roof so that the roof is entirely covered by the tiles. The tiles are positioned in overlapping fashion on the roof so that a first portion of one tile fits over a second portion of an adjacent tile, with a decorative portion of the tile remaining open to view. The weight of a tile thereby partially secures an adjacent tile to the surface of the roof. In this fashion, a multitude of tiles may be arranged over the entire roof.
During installation of roof tiles, tile clips are often used to secure the tiles in place on top of the roof so that the tiles do not fall off. The clips are designed to secure the exposed end of the tile from being lifted off of the roof during high winds. Tile roofs are increasingly used in such places as the Gulf Coast, Florida and other locations throughout the United States where there are occasionally weather conditions that result in high winds. Consequently, in these locations, the tile roofs are often exposed to winds that exceed 100 miles per hour. Without the tile clips, the wind can rip the exposed end of the tile in a row of tiles free from the roof. As the tiles overlap, this can result in a chain reaction wherein all of the tiles in the row are torn from the roof. These tiles can become dangerous projectiles in windstorms and can also leave the roof exposed to water damage resulting from the weather.
A typical roof tile clip includes a flat base portion that is secured to the surface of the roof with nails or screws. A body portion of the clip extends upward at an angle from the base portion and forms into hook or clip that engages the upper surface of a tile, thereby securing the tile in place. The clip portion typically conforms to the shape of the tile so that the clip portion may be placed in alignment over the tile to secure the tile in place. An exemplary tile clip is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,952.
Unfortunately, prior tile clips suffer from some disadvantages. One disadvantage relates to the manner in which a roof tile clip is installed over a roof tile. In order to install the roof tile clip, the clip must first be positioned in the correct orientation with respect to a roof tile. Specifically, the tile clip is balanced on its base so that it stands in an upright position with the hook portion of the clip engaging the upper surface of the tile. With the clip balanced in an upright position, the installer's hands are free to use a hammer to install a nail through the base portion and into the roof surface and thereby secure the clip and tile to the roof. However, the tile clip often topples over before an installer can insert the nail through the clip. The installer must then re-orient the tile clip in the correct upright position and attempt to hammer the nail again which results in inefficiencies in mounting the tiles.
Further, it is desirable for the clip portion of the tile clip to flushly mate with the upper surface of the roof tile so that the tile clip provides a secure hold on the tile. However, with previous tile clips there is a high likelihood that the tile clip will slide on the roof while the installer is driving the nail to secure the hook in the desired position. Hence, the tile clip may end up being positioned such that the clip portion of the clip is not correctly aligned over the tile so that the clip does not have a secure hold on the tile. It will be appreciated that exact placement of the tile clip with respect to the tile may be the difference between keeping the roof tiles on the roof and having the tiles blown off the roof during high winds.
Another disadvantage associated with prior roof tile clips relates to the ability of such clips to retain their shape during high winds. Prior tile clips have a tendency to bend or warp when exposed to high-velocity winds. Particularly, the tile clips bend or snap apart at the bend where the base portion of the tile clip is connected to the body portion of the tile clip, causing the clip to lose its grip on the roof tile. This is highly undesirable, as the tile may eventually fall off the roof and become damaged or cause damage to objects below the roof. This problem is exacerbated during intense winds, where there is a higher risk that a tile may be blown off a roof and cause damage to other structures or cause injury to humans. Moreover, as roof tiles are generally expensive to replace, there is also a monetary loss associated with the loss of a roof tile. The monetary loss to a homeowner may be considerable if numerous tiles become lost due to tile clips snapping or deforming during high winds.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages associated with prior roof tile clips, there is a need for a roof tile clip that may be easily and securely mounted in an upright position prior to installation so that an installer will not have to use his hand to hold the tile clip in place while inserting a nail through the clip. Moreover, there is also a need for a roof tile clip that is sufficiently strong to resist warping or bending when the clip is exposed to extreme wind conditions


A follow focus for cameras, in particular film cameras, comprising a bevel gear having a first rotary axis (11) and a second rotary axis (13) arranged at an angle, in particular a right angle, to one another, a first transmission mechanism (26, 27) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes (11) onto the other axis (13) by means of a positive locking connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes, and a second transmission mechanism (28, 30) for transmitting the rotation of one of the axes (11) onto the other axis (13) by means of a frictional connection acting in the direction of rotation of the axes, wherein the rotation of the one axis (11) can be transmitted to the other axis (13) by means of the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism (28, 30) until the frictional connection of the second transmission mechanism (28, 30) is overpowered and after the frictional connection has been overpowered it can be transmitted primarily by the positive locking connection of the first transmission mechanism (26, 27).

Follow focus devices allow the constant and precise adjustment of the focus, which is indispensable for the definition of the image when the distance of the camera to the object to be photographed changes during an exposure.
The use of such a follow focus makes it possible for the camera assistant responsible for image definition to easily rotate the focus adjustment ring without having to directly take hold of the lens.
Existing follow focus devices, such as those known, for example, from CA 26 63 343 A1 or DE 94 15 170 U1, comprise a bevel gear with which the rotation generated by the camera assistant is transmitted via intermeshing gear wheels from a first axis to a second axis. However, such gear wheels comprise a certain backlash, and therefore with manual rotation, particularly when the direction of rotation is changed, the backlash must first of all be overcome. In order to minimize this backlash, the gear wheels are often produced with a high degree of precision and low tolerances. This results in high costs of production. Moreover, even with precision manufacturing it is not possible to completely eliminate the backlash. Yet even a small degree of backlash can disturb or distract the camera assistant from his work. The work of a camera assistant has to be carried out with a high level of concentration and backlash results in the operation of the mechanism feeling imprecise. This occurs particularly in the case of slow focus operations and changes in the direction of rotation.
In order to counter this negative feeling, grease dampers were provided in the state of the art, which were supposed to convey the feeling to the camera assistant that there was no backlash. However, these systems did not overcome the disadvantage that the rotation by the camera assistant did not immediately lead to a rotation of the focus adjustment ring but only after the backlash had been overcome.


An assembly of chromatograph components which operate at a uniform elevated or reduced temperature and perform the functions of sample injection, precolumn backflush, analytical column selection, detection in a reduced mass and volume, and with a reduced surface area for reduced power consumption in accordance with use in a portable gas chromatograph is disclosed. Parts of the assembly including a switching valve assembly, a column plate, a thermal cover and a detector block are thermally-linked and those parts of the assembly which contact the sample including the gas chromatograph columns are maintained at a controlled temperature using, for example, an efficient axial heater, a Peltier cooler or a heat pipe and temperature sensors, thereby increasing analytical confidence.

In a gas chromatograph, a sample is introduced onto the head of a gas chromatograph column and is carried towards the detector by a carrier gas. The sample components become separated from one another as they travel the length of the column by virtue of differences in their rates of interaction with the sorptive material coating the inside walls of the column or coated onto a substantially inert support material packed into the column. The different sample components are therefore retained for different lengths of time within the column, and arrive at the detector at characteristic times. These "retention times" are used to identify the particular sample components, and are a function of the type and amount of sorptive material in the column, the column length and diameter, the carrier gas type and flowrate, and of the column temperature. In order to have repeatable retention times, the column temperature must also be repeatable. Because a gas chromatograph must operate in a range of ambient temperatures, the gas chromatograph must be controllably heated to a temperature greater than the highest expected ambient temperature in order to achieve repeatable retention times.
The gas chromatograph analysis is complete once all the sample components have traversed the column length and have flowed through the detector. The analysis time is therefore determined by the retention time of the most-retained sample component.
If a second sample is introduced onto a gas chromatograph column before the first analysis is completed, the potential exists for little-retained components from the second sample to flow through the detector concurrently with more-retained components from the first sample. This situation leads to difficulty in interpreting the detector output signal. To avoid this situation a technique known as "precolumn backflushing" is used. Two gas chromatograph columns, typically a shorter precolumn and a longer analytical column, are joined in series with a tee between the columns. Initially, the branch of the tee is closed to flow and carrier gas is directed along the precolumn and analytical column in series. A sample is introduced onto the head of the precolumn and carried along the precolumn towards the analytical column. After an interval, and using suitable carrier gas switching valves, vents and control timing, the carrier gas is introduced at the branch of the tee between the two columns. Sample components which have already passed the tee continue to be carried towards the detector along the analytical column. Those which are still in the precolumn are flushed backwards along the precolumn and vented from the head of the precolumn. Backflushing of the precolumn to clean it for the next sample occurs concurrently with analysis on the analytical column. Once all components have eluted from both columns, the carrier gas is switched to flow through both columns in series and the system is ready to accept the next sample.
Precolumn backflushing beneficially reduces total analysis time because it is not necessary to wait for the more retained components which are not required to be analyzed to traverse the analytical column. Hence, the analytical confidence is increased by reducing the possibility of coelution.
In a gas chromatograph, the types of sample components which can be separated from one another prior to detection are determined by the type of gas chromatograph column used. Some column types are suited to light gases, others to heavier vapors, and yet others to polar vapors. For flexibility in types of chemical components which can be analyzed in a gas chromatograph, it is beneficial to have several different types of columns available for installation so that the optimum column can be selected for the particular analysis desired.
When a large volume of a sample exists, as in ambient air sampling, a sample can be introduced automatically into a gas chromatograph by means of a gas sampling loop. A suction pump draws the sample through a defined volume. With appropriate valving and controls, the carrier gas is momentarily diverted through this volume to deliver the entire sample, or a defined aliquot of it, onto the head of the column for analysis. Where only a small volume of sample exists, as in a vessel of a sample collected from a process or from a remote location, an aliquot of the sample can be introduced manually onto the head of the gas chromatograph column using a hypodermic type syringe. An appropriate syringe injection port with resealable septum is fitted at the column head. For flexibility in analyzing samples from both types of sources, it is beneficial for a gas chromatograph to provide for both types of sample introduction.
In a gas chromatograph it is beneficial for all parts which contact the sample to be chemically-inert, non-sorptive and also to be maintained at an elevated temperature. The quality of the analysis is preserved by reducing sample degradation through chemical reaction of sample components with and adsorption of sample components onto gas chromatograph parts. Minimizing the sample flow path further reduces the possibility of sample degradation by contact.
In a hand-carried, battery-powered portable gas chromatograph it is desirable to have a low mass for ease of portability, and also to have a long operating time so that the user need not carry extra batteries or return frequently to a battery-charging station. Lightweight and low-power electronic components are available for instrumentation amplifiers, displays, indicators, and controls so that most of the power consumed by a gas chromatograph is used in elevating the temperature of the gas chromatograph's parts and in maintaining the parts at elevated temperature.


A digital camera docking system user interface provides, on the display of the digital camera, information regarding the operation of the digital camera docking system. The user interface may guide the user in the initiation of interactions between the digital camera and external devices such as television monitors, personal computers, and printers and may also provide feedback regarding the progress of these interactions.

Digital camera users frequently need to recharge the camera, upload images to a personal computer (PC), or print images stored in the camera. These tasks are facilitated by a docking station that serves as both a battery charger and a connection point for other external devices such as televisions, PCs, and printers. One variety of docking station provides a connection between a digital camera and a PC only. A multi-function docking station, on the other hand, may provide connections between the digital camera and multiple external devices. For example, the docking station may be connected to both a television monitor and a PC or printer at the same time. Unfortunately, it is not always clear to the user how to initiate and control an interaction between the digital camera and an external device using the docking station.
It is thus apparent that there is a need in the art for an improved digital camera docking system user interface method and apparatus.

Digital docking system user interface method and apparatus

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An extender for a bed of a truck, wherein the extender comprises a frame that has front end, a rear end and sides. At least one, and preferably two, spaced apart connector brackets extend outwardly away from the rear end of the frame. The connector brackets are designed to rest upon an end portion of the truck bed when the truck's tailgate has been removed. The connector brackets are preferably bolted into the truck bed, but may be frictionally engaged therewith. A strut extends downwardly from the frame and is connected to a rearwardly extending longitudinal support. The support is secured to the truck's trailer hitch. The extender is therefore supported by both the connector brackets and the hitch. The length of the strut is vertically adjustable to allow the extender to be secured to any type of truck. The longitudinal support is also slidably adjustable onto the trailer hitch to provide for the extender to be secured to any type of truck. The frame preferably is formed with a pair of spaced-apart wheel wells so as to receive a pair of wheels of a vehicle loaded onto the truck bed. The frame may be provided with a pair of ramps to assist in loading of the truck and with an extended hitch to allow a trailer to be connected to the truck.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to automotive vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to an extender for a truck bed. Specifically, the invention relates to an extender that is secured to both the truck bed and to a hitch mounted on the truck and that is capable of supporting a heavy weight thereon, such as a six-wheeled all terrain vehicle.
2. Background Information
There are many new mid-size to large trucks where the cab is extended to accommodate an extra row of seats. This design change in the vehicles tends to take up some of the exterior space in the truck bed and thereby restricts the load that can be carried on the bed. If the truck is used to transport small vehicles such as small all terrain vehicles or snowmobiles, then the tailgate of the truck can be left open. The open tailgate provides a few extra feet of truck bed support for these smaller vehicles. However, heavier and longer vehicles, such as six-wheeled all terrain vehicles are common on farms and are often used for hunting trips. These larger vehicles are much heavier and because of the increased weight can potentially damage the truck's tailgate as they are loaded onto the bed. The weight of the larger vehicles can also damage the tailgate during transportation.
There is therefore a need in the art for a truck bed extender that allows for the loading and transportation of heavy vehicles.


The invention provides a prosthesis structure for anchorage to the joint end of an articulatory part of a joint in a human or animal body which comprises an engagement element which presents a flat or a substantially flat engagement surface for engaging with a complementary joint end surface provided at the joint end and an elongate fixture connected to and spaced from the engagement surface for insertion into a complementary bore provided at the joint end at a distance from the joint end surface. The invention further provides that the elongate fixture forms an acute angle with the engagement surface.

Prosthesis structures of the type defined are known for use in human knee-joint replacement surgery from prior patent application publications FR-A-2630639 (Le Beguec) and WO93/22990 (Astra AB) with the prosthesis structures made known therein being for anchorage in the knee-joint end of a human tibia or femur respectively. In the prosthesis structures of FR-A-2630639 and WO93/22990 the longitudinal axis of the fixture is oriented parallel to the engagement surface. WO93/22990, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, further discloses orienting the fixture at an angle to the main articulation plane of the knee-joint which extends between the extension or anterior side of the joint and the flexion or posterior side of the joint.
The aim of the present invention is to adapt the relation between the elongate fixture and the engagement surface of a prosthesis of the type defined for improving the anchorability of the prosthesis structure.

Method of anchoring a prosthesis structure