A system for, and a method of, configuring an electro-optical reader as a keyboard device having a selected keyboard layout containing keyboard layout data, encode each of a plurality of configuration symbols with a symbol sequence number, a total number of the configuration symbols, and a fractional amount of the keyboard layout data. During a configuration procedure, all the configuration symbols are electro-optically scanned and decoded, and the symbol sequence number, the total number of the configuration symbols, and the fractional amount of the keyboard layout data are extracted for each configuration symbol. The keyboard layout data for all the configuration symbols are linked in a sequence determined by each symbol sequence number and the total number of the configuration symbols. All the keyboard layout data is processed to configure the reader during the configuration procedure.

Moving laser beam readers or laser scanners, as well as solid-state imaging systems or imaging readers, have both been used, in both handheld and hands-free modes of operation, to electro-optically read targets, such as one- or two-dimensional bar code symbols to be decoded. The bar code symbols have different bar and space patterns that are used to represent different characters, such as alpha-numeric characters on a keyboard. Sets of these patterns are grouped together to form a symbology. There are many types of bar code symbologies, each having their own special characteristics and features. Most symbologies are designed to meet the needs of a specific application or industry.
The known moving laser beam reader generally includes a housing, a window supported by the housing, and a data capture assembly or laser scan engine in the housing for electro-optically capturing data from a target. The data capture assembly includes a laser for emitting a laser beam through the window, a focusing lens assembly for focusing the laser beam to form a beam spot having a certain size at a focal plane in a range of working distances relative to the window, a scan component for repetitively scanning the beam spot across the target in a scan pattern, for example, a scan line, across the target multiple times per second, e.g., forty times per second, a photodetector for detecting return light reflected and/or scattered from the target and for converting the detected light into an analog electrical signal, and signal processing circuitry including a digitizer for digitizing the analog signal, and a microprocessor or controller for decoding the digitized signal based upon a specific symbology used for the target to identify the target, and for transmitting the decoded signal, either via a wireless or wired link, to a remote host for further processing, e.g., price retrieval from a price database to obtain a price for the identified target.
The known imaging reader also generally includes a housing, a window supported by the housing, and a data capture assembly or imaging scan engine in the housing. The data capture assembly includes a solid-state imager (or image sensor) with a sensor array of photocells or light sensors (also known as pixels), and an imaging lens assembly for capturing return light scattered and/or reflected from the target being imaged through the window over an imaging field of view, and for projecting the return light onto the image sensor to initiate capture of an image of the target over a range of working distances in which the target can be read. Such an image sensor may include a one-dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and associated circuits for producing and processing electrical signals corresponding to a one-dimensional array of pixel data over the imaging field of view. These electrical signals are decoded and/or processed by a programmed microprocessor or controller into information related to the target being read, e.g., decoded data identifying the target. The controller is operative for transmitting the decoded data, either via a wireless or wired link, to a remote host for further processing, e.g., price retrieval from a price database to obtain a price for the identified target.
Each host is typically supported by a keyboard operatively connected to the host, which is typically a server or a computer running an operating system. The keyboard typically includes a typewriter-style arrangement of keys to which letters, numbers, signs, and commands are assigned, and is used for manually entering information for the host. Such information could include system control/command/update information, as well as the decoded data of the target. Sometimes, a target cannot be read by the reader, and it is therefore at such times necessary for a user to manually enter the decoded data by keyboard entry to enable the target to be identified, and the transaction to be completed.
Just as the keyboard is an input device for the host, both types of readers are also input devices for the host, and it is desired that each reader be configured as a keyboard device having a keyboard layout, which is the same as for the keyboard. However, one concern relates to the many different keyboard layouts that exist internationally, and to the multitude of keyboard layout data that exists in each keyboard layout. At present, there are over eighty international keyboard layouts. Each country has at least one, and sometimes, more than one, keyboard layout. Each keyboard layout can contain hundreds of bytes of keyboard layout data.
To configure a reader as a keyboard device having a particular keyboard layout, it is possible to hard-code the keyboard layout into firmware, e.g., an internal microprocessor of the reader. Yet, the requirement for extra memory storage in the microprocessor is an undesirable cost burden, especially in the case where it is required to make the reader as inexpensive and as compact as possible. It is also known to configure a reader by having the reader read a single configuration symbol during a configuration procedure prior to reading the targets. Yet, in the context of making an imaging reader as inexpensive and as compact as possible, it is desirable for the sensor array to be one-dimensional, in which case, the configuration symbol may have to also be one-dimensional. It is possible, for certain specially designed readers, for the configuration symbol to be a PDF417 symbol, but even this symbol is essentially a stacked one-dimensional symbol. However, a single one-dimensional configuration symbol cannot contain all the hundreds of bytes of keyboard layout data in the keyboard layout to be uploaded.
It is still further known to configure a reader by having the reader read a plurality of one-dimensional configuration symbols during the configuration procedure. Yet, this has also not proven to be entirely effective in all cases, because sometimes the user misses one or more of the configuration symbols, thereby causing the keyboard layout to be incomplete.
Accordingly, there is a need to reliably configure a reader, especially a miniaturized, highly compact, and inexpensive reader for electro-optically reading one-dimensional targets, as a keyboard device having a selected keyboard layout.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and locations of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

System for, and method of, configuring electro-optical reader as a keyboard device having a selected keyboard layout


A method, system and computer program product are provided for creating software that can be used to reformat incoming insurance-related data into a format that conforms to the requirements or preferences of the receiving party. In particular, the software generated is capable of causing a particular action to be taken which will result in the transfer of the received data from one format to another in response to certain conditions being met. These conditions are defined by a decision table, from which the software is automatically generated. A means is further provided for using the received data, which has been reformatted where necessary, to create a user-friendly table that defines the rules and parameters of a particular insurance policy. The table is capable of being easily understood by those unfamiliar with the intricacies of insurance claim processing and programming code, and is further capable of being read by a claims processing engine when processing an insurance claim.

In many cases, insurance providers will contract with other companies to process the numerous insurance claims submitted by customers of the insurance provider. These companies, referred to as "insurance processors," will receive policy information from the various insurance providers and then use this information to process the incoming claims. The policy information received may include, for example, information relating to one or more authorized providers (e.g., specific medical doctors or facilities, psychiatrists, etc.), the different benefits provided, and/or various eligibility requirements for each of the respective insurance policies offered by the insurance provider.
Because the insurance processor receives policy information from multiple sources (e.g., different insurance providers), it is often the case that the insurance processor will receive information in many different formats; each source, for example, having a different format for the policy information provided. For example, one insurance provider may designate the authorized providers using a five-digit numeric code. By contrast, another may use a seven-digit alphanumeric code. In addition, various insurance providers may have different ways of describing the fee schedule or method of calculating the benefit.
When an insurance processor receives policy information from various sources in various formats, it would be beneficial, and perhaps may even be necessary, for the insurance processor to be able to put all of the received information into a consistent format. The insurance processor may select a format that is used by a majority of the insurance providers, if such a format exists, or the insurance processor may have a particular format that is preferred or even necessary for use with the insurance processor's system.
A need, therefore, exists for enabling the insurance processor to efficiently and consistently reformat received insurance-related data into a consistent format that can be used when processing incoming insurance claims.
In addition, the policy information received by an insurance processor, such as the list of authorized providers and/or the various benefits and eligibility requirements, will often be in the form of, or in addition to, a set of complex rules and parameters to be used when processing the submitted insurance claims. These rules and parameters may be used to determine, for example, if the service on the claim is covered by the policy for the particular recipient, if there is a copay, coinsurance or other penalty, if the service is in or out of network, and/or which pricing methodology/fee schedule should be used to compute the allowed charges.
In a typical scenario, each parameter or rule of each insurance policy for each insurance provider would need to be translated into its own coding structure, or set of computer programming instructions. This can be very time consuming. Processing an insurance claim would then require running each set of computer programming instructions sequentially. In addition to being time consuming, this process may prevent a person who is unfamiliar with programming languages to ascertain whether or not the rule or parameter has been accurately translated. It further makes it difficult for the various rules or parameters to be changed at a later point in time, since this would likely require retranslating the entire rule or parameter into a new set of computer programming instructions.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved process of receiving incoming insurance policy information and converting the information, if necessary, into a format that can be easily understood and, if necessary, changed, yet still capable of being used by a claims processing engine when processing a submitted insurance claim.

Method, system and computer program code for automatically generating software for reformatting incoming data


Embodiments described herein relate to maintaining a tiled arrangement of application windows as a user inserts application windows into a managed display region. A tiled arrangement is an arrangement where windows do not overlap each other and substantially maximize window occupation of the display region. Generally, when a user inserts an application window the tiled arrangement is maintained by resizing any previously present application windows. Where to insert a window, which displayed windows to resize and to what extent can be determined based on factors such as user input, any prior manual adjustment of the tiled arrangement, and/or minimum window sizes. Whether tile arranging is performed in a managed or curated fashion (e.g., by sharing space equally among windows) or in a semi-curated fashion may be determined by taking into account any of the aforementioned factors.

Computer windowing systems have long been in use. Such windowing systems can have many designs, for instance free-form window manipulation by users. Features of such windowing systems are well known and documented elsewhere. Typically, windowing systems have graphic windows for respective processes running on a computer. A user interacts with the windowing system to manipulate and manage the windows. Most windowing systems have functionality to allow applications (assumed to have respective windows) to be opened, closed, moved, hidden, displayed, resized, customized, and so forth.
While various schemes for windowing systems have been used, the increasing size of displays (including projectors and 3D displays) as well as the popularity of tablet computing devices and touch input has renewed interest in tiled windowing systems. In such windowing systems application windows may be manipulated by a user to maximize window sizes while keeping windows from occluding each other, even when application windows are added. In general, tiled windowing systems may benefit from improved techniques for automatically managing the insertion by a user of windows to a display where one or more other windows are already displayed. Such techniques and related approaches are discussed below.

Smart insertion of applications into layouts


A digital clamping circuit and a digital clamping method are provided which can effectively use the dynamic range of an output signal in black-level correction. When subtracting a black level serving as a reference value from an output signal of an analog front end circuit, a digital clamp circuit permits the production of a negative value, amplifies the dynamic range including the-negative value to increase the dynamic range, adds a predetermined value to the resulting signal, and performs clipping. As a result, the dynamic range of the digital clamp circuit is increased, so that the dynamic range of an output signal can be effectively utilized. Thus, processing that makes good use of a wider dynamic range can be performed in image processing at a subsequent stage, so that image quality can be improved.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital clamping circuit and a digital clamping method for correcting the black level of an imaging signal in an electronic camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, electronic cameras that capture an image of an object with image-capturing elements or the like have been used, and such electronic cameras perform black-level correction to determine brightness for a captured image.
DC components of an output signal vary due to variations in power-supply voltage or temperature of image-capturing elements or an analog front-end (AFE) circuit. Thus, with respect to the variation of the DC components, the black-level correction is a process for invariably making the black level (DC components) constant.
Techniques described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications Nos. 62-117480 and 5-153428 are known as being relevant to a black-level correction method.
A typical black-level correction method which has been conventionally used will be described below.
First, a sensor including a group of image-capturing elements is shielded against light so that no light enters peripheral portions thereof. Then, an average value of sensor outputs from the regions (light-shielding regions) in which light-shielding is provided is determined so as to serve as a reference value, and a sensor-output value of a region (light-receiving region) in which no light-shielding is provided is compared with the reference value to determine the brightness of the light-receiving regions.
At this point, since the sensor outputs of the light shielding regions vary due to a power-supply voltage, temperature, or the like, a correction device (a black-level correction device) for performing correction (black-level correction) on the sensor outputs of the light shielding regions are generally used.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a known black-level correction device 100 that is provided in an electronic camera. Referring to FIG. 5, the black-level correction device 100 includes an OB clamping circuit (optical black clamping circuit) 101, a PGA (programmable gain amplifier) 102, an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) 103, an LPF (low-pass filter) 104, a black-level correction unit 105, a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) 106, and a digital clamping circuit 107.
In FIG. 5, a section that is constituted by the OB clamping circuit 101, the PGA 102, the ADC 103, and the DAC 106 will be called an analog front-end circuit (hereinafter referred to as an "AFE circuit") 100a. A section that is constituted by the LPF 104 and the black-level correction unit 105 will be called an OB clamping controller 100b.
An output signal from a sensor is input to the black-level correction device 100 shown in FIG. 5, and the OB clamping circuit 101 adds the sensor output to a correction value input from the DAC 106. This correction value is determined to have a value such that an output signal from the PGA 102 can effectively utilize the dynamic range of the ADC 103.
The PGA 102 then amplifies an output signal of the OB clamping circuit 101 in accordance with a predetermined gain and the ADC 103 converts the amplified signal into a digital signal. This digital signal is fed back to correct the black level.
The fed-back digital signal is input to the LPF 104, and, when a digital signal corresponding to a sensor output of a light-shielding region is input, the LPF 104 averages the digital signal.
The black-level correction unit 105 determines the difference between a digital signal output from the LPF 104 and a black-level target value (hereinafter referred to as an "OB target value") and outputs a correction value in accordance with the determined difference. Herein, the OB target value is a pre-set constant value or is appropriately determined by a microcomputer or the like.
Further, the correction value is input to the DAC 106 and the DAC 106 converts the correction value into an analog signal and outputs the signal to the OB clamping circuit 101.
The digital clamping circuit 107 also subtracts the correction value from the digital signal output from the ADC 103 and outputs the resulting signal as an output signal of the black-level correction device 100. Herein, the correction value that is subtracted may be externally given or may be internally determined. When the value is internally determined, it equals the average value (i.e., black level) of an output signal of the light-shielding region.
In the known black-level correction device 100, however, the black level in the AFE circuit 100a may be offset too high for the convenience of processing at the AFE circuit 100a. For example, for the purpose of using a region in which the linearity is favorable (a linear region) in the input/output characteristic of the PGA 102 in the AFE circuit 100a, the processing may be performed with the black level being increased by a predetermined value.
In this case, the offset amount of black level is subtracted by the digital clamping circuit 107 and a value less than the offset amount is clipped to "0" and is caused to serve as an output signal.
In such a case, since the dynamic range of a video signal is reduced by the offset amount of the black level, there is a problem in that a dynamic range that is inherently provided in the device cannot be effectively used.
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital clamping circuit and a digital clamping method which can effectively use the dynamic range of an output signal in black-level correction.

Digital clamping circuit and digital clamping method


A permanently flame-retardant and anti-microbial air-textured yarn is formed of a plurality of substantially longitudinally extending, permanently flame-retardant filaments defining a core, and a plurality of substantially randomly extending, permanently anti-microbial filaments disposed at least about the core, the anti-microbial filaments at least partially defining a boucle-like sheath about the core. A knit or woven fabric formed with the yarn and having at lease 5% by weight of the anti-microbial filaments is characterized by an ability to pass, both after one commercial laundering and after 100 commercial launderings, both National Fire Protection Agency vertical flame retardancy test NFPA 701-1989 and at least the 85% reduction level of gram positive and gram negative bacteria of anti-microbial test NYS 63.

The present invention relates to a permanently anti-microbial and flame-retardant yarn and fabric made therefrom, and more particularly to such a yarn having a unique construction.
There are few situations in which it would not be considered advantageous for a yarn to be flame-retardant. Similarly, there are few situations in which it would not also be considered desirable for such a flame-retardant fabric to also be anti-microbial (i.e., anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mildew, anti-mold, etc.). Among the many situations where it is important that a fabric exhibit both flame-retardant and anti-microbial characteristics are cubicle fabrics (that is, the privacy curtains used in hospital cubicles to separate one patient from another), shower curtains (where the anti-microbial feature retards the growth of mildew), draperies, bedspreads, etc. Perhaps the most difficult application of all is the cubicle fabric which must be capable of maintaining the desired flame-retardant and anti-microbial characteristics even after being subjected to numerous commercial launderings.
Among the most stringent and well-known tests for these characteristics are the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) vertical flame-retardancy test NFPA 701 (an 1989 version) and the anti-microbial test of NYS 63 for a percentage reduction level in the gram negative and gram positive bacteria. The vertical flame-retardancy test is specified by governmental authorities or contractors for many applications, and a fabric either passes the test or it does not. Typically, in order to meet the requirement, as a flame is brought close to a fabric, the fabric must undergo only a limited amount of burning. The anti-microbial test merely sets forth the test procedure to be used, allowing the manufacturer to specify the reduction level which is provided by a given fabric. A fabric which is to be used as a bandage, in actual contact with a wound, might require a very high bacteria reduction level of 99% or so (because it might be in contact with an open wound), while a cubicle fabric or shower curtain (which is not intended to be in contact with an open wound) may require only an 85% reduction level, or even less.
It is known both to produce a permanently flame-retardant yarn and to produce a permanently anti-microbial yarn. Nonetheless, the production of a yarn which is both permanently flame-retardant and permanently anti-microbial is not a simple matter. In order to produce the desired anti-microbial effect on bacteria (both gram positive and gram negative), fungus, mildew and the like, it is necessary that the anti-microbial material be present in at least a certain minimum local concentration. In other words, the dispersion of the anti-microbial material throughout a fabric may be ineffectual to fight microbes, while the disposition of the same quantity of anti-microbial material in or about a relatively small area of the fabric may be effective to provide an anti-microbial effect in at least that area. On the other hand, as one increases the amount of anti-microbial material, the effectiveness of the flame-retardant material is diminished. After a certain point, where the applicable flame-retardant test cannot be meet, this is simply unacceptable. In any case, the anti-microbial material is typically about three times as expensive as the flame-retardant material so that it is economically desirable to use the minimum amount of the anti-microbial material effective for a given application.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a permanently flame-retardant and anti-microbial yarn.
Another object is to provide such a yarn wherein, in one preferred embodiment, the anti-microbial filaments thereof are disposed so as to maximize the anti-microbial effect therefrom while minimizing both the cost thereof and the negative effect thereof on the flame-retardant filaments thereof.
A further object is to provide a knit or woven fabric formed with such a yarn.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a knit or woven fabric which, in one preferred embodiment, is characterized by an ability to pass, both after one commercial laundering and after 100 commercial launderings, both National Fire Protection Agency vertical flame-retardancy test NFPA 701-1989 (the 1989 version) and at least the 85% reduction level of gram positive and gram negative bacteria of anti-microbial test NYS 63.

Permanently anti-microbial and flame-retardant yarn and fabric made therefrom


The combined speed shifter and brake handle assembly is for a multispeed bicycle. The assembly comprises a handlebar bracket to secure the assembly on a bicycle handlebar, a rotative speed shifter mechanism for pulling and releasing a speed control cable, and a brake bracket projecting from the handlebar bracket, to pivotally receive an end of a brake lever at a predetermined distance from the bicycle handlebar. The speed shifter mechanism has a shifter lever with an annular member rotatably mounted on a rim member fixed to the handlebar bracket, for rotation about the bicycle handlebar, and held in place thereon by a cap member. Friction elements provide a predetermined frictional contact that opposes against rotation of the annular member relative to the cap member and the rim. The speed control cable is guided toward the speed shifter lever, to which it is fastened.

The bicycle industry is constantly searching for new ways to reduce the costs of manufacturing bicycles in order to remain competitive with respect to other products, especially since the arrival of roller blades on the market.
Known in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,372 (PATTERSON et al.) which describes a bicycle gear shifting system having a rotative speed shifter integrated in the grip of the handlebar so that the cyclist does not have to remove his hands from the grip to change the speeds. The rotative speed shifter has a lobed cam mechanism that pulls or releases the speed control cable, thereby causing speed shifts. Although the grip is a part of the speed shifter, the manufacturing costs thereof remain high in view of the complexity of the mechanism.

Combined speed shifter and brake handle assembly


There are provided multi-track recording/reproducing apparatus and method and a multi-track recording/reproducing program, which enable flexible setting of the number of reproducing tracks and that of recording tracks and also facilitates the setting. At least one track for recording is designated from a plurality of tracks, as desired. The number of tracks that can be reproduced is determined in response to the designation of the at least one track for recording. The number of tracks for reproduction is limited to the number of tracks that can be reproduced, by automatically muting at least predetermined one of tracks designated for reproduction, when the number of tracks designated for reproduction is larger than the number of tracks that can be reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multi-track recording/reproducing apparatus and method and a multi-track recording/reproducing program which are capable of recording digital audio data on an external storage device, such as a hard disk device, by using multiple tracks, and reproducing the same.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, there is known a digital mixer which converts input audio data in the form of an analog signal to digital data, or inputs digital audio data directly, then mixes the digital data, and outputs the mixed data. In this digital mixer, each input terminal is fixedly connected to a corresponding one of mixer channels. Audio data in a plurality of predetermined mixer channels are mixed according to the user's designation and then delivered to a single output bus. Each of output buses is fixedly connected to a corresponding one of output terminals, from which the mixed output is taken out.
Further, a digital recorder is conventionally known, which records digital audio data on an external storage device, such as a hard disk device, and reproduces the same. This digital recorder includes a multi-track type which is capable of assigning a plurality of series of audio data to a plurality of tracks, respectively, and then recording the audio data in the respective tracks.
Recently, there is also known a combination type which is a combination of the above-mentioned digital mixer and digital recorder.
This combination type includes a type which is capable of selecting either a compression mode or a non-compression mode in advance. For example, in the compression mode, it is possible to perform 8-track recording and 16-track reproduction, whereas in the non-compression mode, it is possible to perform 8-track recording and 8-track reproduction. The combination type includes another type which is capable of selecting either a 16-bit mode or a 24-bit mode in advance. For example, in the 16-bit mode, it is possible to perform 8-track recording and 16-track reproduction, whereas in the 24-bit mode, it is possible to perform 8-track recording and 8-track reproduction.
In the conventional digital mixer, since each input terminal is fixedly connected to a corresponding one of the mixer channels, when the user wants to change the input source, it is required to physically or mechanically change connections between the terminals and the mixer channels. However, if the degree of freedom is increased in changing connections between the terminals and the mixer channels, the relationship between the terminals and the mixer channels may become too complicated for the user to grasp. Further, since each output terminal is fixedly connected to a corresponding one of the mixing buses, when the user wants to change the output source, an output terminal connected to a desired output source has to be selected as one for connection.
Further, in the conventional apparatus of the combination type, input of a signal reproduced by the recorder to the mixer is equivalent to input of a signal from an external device (such as an electric guitar or a synthesizer) to the mixer, and output of data from the mixer to the recorder for recording is equivalent to output of data from the mixer to an external device (such as an effector or an amplifier). Therefore, the conventional apparatus of the combination type suffers from the same inconvenience as the above described convenience with the conventional digital mixer, and hence input to and output from the mixer cannot be changed flexibly.
On the other hand, it can be also considered that the apparatus can permit freely setting the connections between the input terminals and the mixer channels and between the output terminals and the mixing buses, e.g. freely assigning mixer channels to input terminals and mixing buses to output terminals. This, however, takes much time in carrying out the settings, and degrades the usability of the apparatus.
Further, since the number of recording tracks is fixed in each mode, it is impossible to flexibly meet users' demand for an increase in the number of the recording tracks at the cost of a decrease in the number of reproducing tracks. Especially in a live recording, since there is no need to use any tracks for simultaneous recording and reproduction, it is desired that as many tracks as possible are used for recording.

Multi-track digital recording/reproducing apparatus and method, multi-track digital recording/reproducing program


A scale dissolver composition and method for using the composition is provided. Broadly, the dissolver compositions are formed by adding a base such as ammonium hydroxide to a mixture comprising a salt of a chelating agent, a carbonate, and a component selected from the group consisting of organophosphorus compounds, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. The preferred organophosphorus compound is aminotrismethylidine diphosphonic acid while the preferred chelating agent salt is EDTA tetrasodium salt. In use, the dissolver composition is preferably heated to a temperature of from about 100-170xc2x0 F. and then contacted with the target scale. The compositions are particularly useful for removing barium sulfate and calcium sulfate scales from gas and oil well and pipeline equipment in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with compositions for dissolving scales (and particularly metal sulfate scales) and methods of using the same. More particularly, the scale dissolver compositions of the invention comprise an aqueous dispersion which includes a salt of a chelating agent, a carbonate, a base, and a component selected from the group consisting of organophosphorus compounds, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. In use, the dissolver compositions are contacted with the target scale, preferably after first heating the composition. The compositions are particularly useful for removing calcium sulfate and barium sulfate scales from gas and oil well equipment, boilers, and pipes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many waters contain alkaline earth metal cations such as barium, strontium, calcium, and magnesium, and anions such as sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphate, and fluoride. When combinations of these anions and cations are present in concentrations which exceed the solubility product of the various species which may potentially be formed, precipitates form until the respective solubility products are no longer exceeded. For example, when concentrations of barium and sulfate ions exceed the solubility product of barium sulfate, a solid phase of barium sulfate will form as a precipitate. The formation of solubility products are affected by several factors including pH, temperature, pressure, and the presence of a seed crystal. When these solubility products form, they precipitate on the surface of water-carrying or water-containing systems and form adherent deposits or scales which cause serious problems. For example, during gas and oil production, scale plugging of surface and subsurface equipment, tubings, and perforations often lead to severe productivity declines and difficult operating conditions. Of the sulfate scales, barium sulfate is particularly troublesome because of its extreme insolubility.
Previous methods have been attempted to dissolve sulfate scales. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,112 to Paul et al. discloses a method for dissolving calcium sulfate wherein a scale-removing solvent comprising a chelating agent and the anions of a monocarboxylic acid, oxalates, or thiosulfates is injected into a well followed by sparging of the solvent with air or an inert gas. However, sparging with air or gas is a difficult and messy process, and is quite messy.
Prior art attempts at dissolving barium sulfate include utilizing boiling sulfuric acid. This is impractical and dangerous for dissolving downhole barium sulfate. Another method for removing barium sulfate is to fracture (xe2x80x9cfracxe2x80x9d) it with extremely high pressure. However, this process is quite costly in that it requires special equipment and extra manpower, and results in lengthy well downtimes. Another prior art process for removing barium sulfate is to perforate the scale. This is also not very effective. In some instances, when scales present too much of a problem, the well is simply abandoned and a new well is drilled when scales present too much of a problem. Obviously, this is a very costly solution.
The present invention overcomes the prior art problems by providing an effective, inexpensive scale dissolver that is particularly effective at dissolving sulfate scales such as alkaline earth metal sulfate scales. Furthermore, the dissolver compositions of the invention are relatively easy to use.
The scale dissolver compositions comprise an aqueous dispersion which includes a salt of a chelating agent, a carbonate, a base, and a component selected from the group consisting of organophosphorus compounds, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof The chelating agent is preferably a salt of EDTA (or mixture of EDTA salts) such as EDTA tetrasodium salt (sold under the tradename VERSENE 100), trisodium EDTA, or the edetates. The chelating agent should be present in: the composition at a level of from about 10-70% by weight, and preferably from about 30-50% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
Suitable carbonates for use in the instant invention include all alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonates, with sodium bicarbonate being particularly-preferred. Preferably, the carbonate is present in the composition at a level of from about 0.1-10% by weight, and more preferably from about 2-6% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight
While most bases are suitable for use with the dissolver compositions, it is preferred that the base comprise an OH group. Preferred bases include ammonium hydroxide (preferably at a solution concentration of from about 28-30%) and pure NH3 gas. The base should be present in the composition at a level of from about 0.1-10% by weight, and more preferably from about 2-6% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
When the scale to be dissolved comprises barium sulfate, it is preferred that an organophosphorus compound, such as an organophosphonic acid, be utilized in the dissolver compositions of the invention. A particularly preferred organophosphonic acid is aminotrismethylidine diphosphonic acid sold under the tradenames PHOS-2, DEQUEST 2000, and UNIHIB 305. The organophosphorus compound is preferably present in the composition at a level of from about 0.1-10% by weight, and more preferably from about 2-6% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
When the scale to be dissolved comprises calcium sulfate, it ispreferred that a carboxylic acid (preferably one having from 2-6 carbon atoms) be included in the dissolver composition. A particularly preferred carboxylic acid for use in the instant invention is hydroxyacetic acid. The carboxylic acid should be present in the composition at a level of from about 0.1-10% by weight, and more preferably from about 2-6% by weight, based upon the total weight of the composition taken as 100% by weight.
The compositions of the invention are formed by preparing a mixture comprising the chelating agent salt, the carbonate, and the component selected from the group consisting of organophosphorus compounds, carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. The desired base is then added to this mixture approximately 10-15 minutes after the mixture is formed. It is important to wait this amount of time in order to prevent the carbonate from falling out of solution. The final mixture should have a pH of from about 7-8.5, preferably from about 7.2-8.0, and more preferably about 7.5. If necessary, the pH should be adjusted to this range by utilizing small quantities of the base, the carbonate, and/or organophosphorus compound as necessary to reach the desired pH.
In use, the dissolver compositions are simply contacted with the scale to be dissolved or removed. The quantity of dissolver composition required is generally from about 0.5-5 gallons of composition, and preferably from about 1-3 gallons of compositon, per 2.65 lbs of scale. It is preferred, that the composition be heated to a temperature of from about 100-170xc2x0 F., and more preferably from about 120-150xc2x0 F., prior to the contacting step in order to more efficiently remove/dissolve the scale. Advantageously, after about 0.5-3 hours at least about 75% of the scale, and preferably at least about 100% of the scale, is dissolved or removed from the contaminated surface.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the instant compositions are particularly useful for removing downhole scale in oil and gas wells thus providing an effective alternative to the prior art methods. When treating oil and gas wells or pipelines with the dissolver compositions, the composition is simply injected into the well or pipeline so that it contacts the target scale as described above. Again, it is preferred that the composition first be heated to the above-described temperatures prior to injection. After injection, hot oil or hot wateris preferably flushed into the well or through the pipeline.

Method of removing metal sulfates from surfaces


An electrical connector and method includes a connector and a conforming element proximate to or in contact with the mating end of the connector so as to prevent distortion of a matable end. The matable end of the connector may be of a female or male type and may be of a post, tube, blade, pin, or other configuration. An element made of conforming material, for example, an elastomer, epoxy or rubber type material, is configured and positioned in contact with the matable end of the connector, providing support during assembly to prevent distortion of the matable end. The conforming element may be rectangular, wedge, cylindrical, conical, annular, or of another configuration as required to provide support to the connector pin. The conforming element may be fastened with an adhesive to the matable end to further prevent distortion.

Electrical connectors of varying configurations may be used where blind mate insertion is required, for example in space constrained environments such as robot arms or fingers. During blind mate insertion, or insertion without visual assistance, distortion of the connector pins may occur from misalignment of the pins of one connector with the pins of the mating connector, and with the resulting physical interference preventing a successful electrical connection. This distortion may include bending of mating ends of the connector pin, bending of a portion of the connector pin from its central axis, collapse of the mating pin end or distortion of a flexible element of the pin mating end.
In applications which require numerous connections and disconnections of the connector, distortion of the connector pins may be cumulative, causing decreasing function and failure over time. In some applications, distortion may occur after assembly if the connectors are subject to certain detrimental conditions of use. Detrimental conditions of use may include, by example, excessive vibration, physical loading, thermal stressing, repetitive stressing, as in a push-pull or repetitive motion environment, for example as in a robot arm or manipulator, improper assembly, assembly without jack screws, or assembly with incomplete connection of other connector retention features.
Distortion of connector pins may render the connector unusable, resulting in, for example, unacceptable connector life, repair and replacement costs, loss of operating capability, decreased reliability and compromised integrity of the electrical connection. Existing solutions to prevent connector pin distortion are not adaptable to all operating environments. For example, alignment features added to the connector housing, or retention features such as secondary clips and tangs, may not be feasible in some applications where space constraints prohibit the larger housing size required for incorporating these features. An alternative solution to prevent distortion that is integral to or incorporated into the connector pin is advantageous to improving connector reliability in space constrained applications.


There is provided an apparatus for protection against over voltages and/or under voltages. The apparatus includes a pass transistor through which an input voltage is applied, the input voltage varying between a low voltage and a high voltage, and means for selectively varying the gate voltage of the pass transistor when the input voltage is transitioning from the low voltage to the high voltage or from the high voltage to the low voltage. The pass transistor may include an NMOS or a PMOS transistor.

It is conventional to include an input buffer between an input pad and the components of an electronic circuit. It is desirable to include some form of protection to ensure that the input voltage to the input buffer is not outside the range of voltages for which the input buffer is designed. If the voltage applied to the input buffer is outside the voltage range for which the input buffer is designed, there is a risk that the transistors forming the input buffer circuitry will be stressed.
Typically, over voltage protection is achieved by the use of an NMOS pass transistor which is connected between the input pad and the input buffer. The gate of the NMOS pass transistor is connected to a normal signal voltage. If the voltage applied to the pad is greater that the maximum input voltage, the voltage applied to the input of the input buffer is limited by the threshold drop of the transistor. However, the use of an NMOS pass transistor means that there is a reduction in the input voltage applied to the input buffer even when the voltage is within a normal range. Therefore, when the input voltage corresponds to a high logic, the voltage applied to the input buffer will be less than the normal maximum input voltage. This can result in duty cycle distortion.
Furthermore, the use of a pass transistor is not able to compensate for under voltages. Indeed, when the voltage is below a normal lower signal level, the gate oxide of the pass transistor itself will be stressed.
It would be advantageous to be able to provide a voltage protection circuit which is able to protect an input buffer from under voltages and over voltages in the transmission line without unduly compromising the performance of the device, for example, in terms of duty cycle and operation speed, and without unduly stressing the transistors of the protection circuit or of the input buffer.

Over-voltage and under voltage protection circuit


A vehicle headlamp is provided with semiconductor-type light sources, lenses, a reflector, light shading members, prism members, and a switching device. When the light shading members are positioned in a first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern LP for low beam, having one or more cutoff lines, is illuminated. In addition, when the prism members are positioned in the first location by means of the switching device, a light distribution pattern HP for high beam is illuminated. As a result, the vehicle headlamp can achieve downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp employing a semiconductor-type light source to illuminate light to a forward direction of a vehicle by switching a light distribution pattern having one or more cutoff lines (light distribution pattern for low beam, light distribution pattern for passing) and a light distribution pattern for high beam (light distribution pattern for cruising).
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicle headlamp of this type is conventionally known (Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No 2007-109493, for example). Hereinafter, a conventional vehicle headlamp will be described. The conventional vehicle headlamp is made up of: a first light source unit forming a light distribution pattern for low beam; and a second light source unit forming a light distribution pattern for high beam. The first light source unit is a projector-type lamp unit, and is provided with: a light source; an elliptical (convergent) reflector; a shade; and a projecting lens. In addition, the second light source unit is a projector-type lamp unit, and is provided with: a light source; an elliptical (convergent) reflector; and a projecting lens. Hereinafter, functions of the conventional headlamp will be described. When the light source of the first light source unit is lit, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by means of the reflector; a part of the reflected light is cut off by means of the shade; a light distribution pattern having an oblique cutoff line and a horizontal cutoff line, i.e., a light distribution pattern for low beam is formed; and the light distribution pattern for low beam is longitudinally and transversely inverted from the projecting lens, and illuminated (projected) to a forward direction of a vehicle. In addition, when the light source of the second light source unit is lit, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by means of the reflector, and the reflected light, as a light distribution pattern for high beam, is longitudinally and transversely inverted from the projecting lens, and is illuminated (projected) toward the forward direction of the vehicle.
Again, the conventional vehicle headlamp is made of: the first light source unit having the light source, the reflector, a shade, and the projector lens; and the second light source unit having the light source, the reflector, and the projector lens. Thus, the conventional vehicle headlamp requires a large number of components and the second light source unit for a light distribution pattern for high beam, and entails problems concerning downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction, accordingly.
The present invention has been made to solve problems concerning downsizing, weight reduction, power saving, and cost reduction, which could arise due to the fact that the conventional vehicle headlamp requires the second light source unit for a light distribution pattern for high beam.


The present invention comprises a misting system for dispenses a fluid in the form of a mist to facilitate evaporative cooling of a localized area. The misting system comprises a pressurizable fluid container with a fluid control valve, and a first end of a hose member attached to the fluid control valve. A pump selectively pressurizes the container. A plurality of nozzle members is fluidly coupled together by a plurality of conduits. A first connector fluidly couples one of the conduits to a second end of the hose member. Actuating the pump pressurizes the container, forcing fluid within the container to flow out through the fluid control valve, through the hose member, into the conduits, and out of the nozzle members to produce a fine mist to facilitate the cooling of the localized area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to misting devices and more particularly pertains to a new misting device for the facilitation of evaporative cooling of a localized area.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of misting devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,120 describes a portable automated misting device for automatically dispersing a mist for the cooling of a small area such as that for a single person. Another type of misting device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,388 having a fan propelled misting apparatus requiring power to be applied continuously. Another type of misting device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,805 which utilizes a pressurizing device which keeps a fluid tank pressurized by means of the use of a compressor requiring continuous power to operate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,857 describes a cooing apparatus configured for and integrally designed into a golf cart to keep the occupants cool.
While these device fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that is capable of covering a large area so that an entire group of people is cooled, while still remaining highly portable.


An apparatus and method for providing a Bluetooth infrastructure. A master of a network for providing the Bluetooth infrastructure connects with at least one device via bidirectional Bluetooth communication. A hub of the network connects between the at least one device and the master via the bidirectional Bluetooth communication.

The electrical grid is a network providing last mile connectivity between electricity suppliers and the consumers. A smart grid is an example of an electrical grid. A smart grid generally refers to a class of technology used to bring utility electricity delivery systems into the 21st century, using computer-based remote control and automation. These modernized power networks are promoted by many governments across the globe as a way to address issues like global warming, emergency resilience, and so on. These systems are made possible by two-way communication technology and computer processing that has been used for decades in other industries. They are beginning to be used on electricity networks, from the power plants and wind farms all the way to the consumers of electricity in homes and businesses. Smart grids offer many benefits to utilities and consumers mostly seen in big improvements in energy efficiency on the electricity grid and in the energy users' homes and offices. These smart grids rely on a low-cost, low-power, wireless mesh network standard. Smart grids deliver electricity from supplier to consumers using two-way digital technology. This two way digital technology allow control of appliances at consumer homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability.
Equally emerging wireless, inexpensive, low power, automatic technology is the Bluetooth which takes small-area networking to the next level by removing the need for user intervention, allowing faster data transfer. Wireless technology is a key component in the battle to improve the smart grid. Typical Bluetooth devices have a maximum range of only 10 to 100 meters, which currently restricts direct use of Bluetooth technology into smart grids. One possible way to overcome this issue is to increase Bluetooth radio power to extend the range, but it has the disadvantage of increased power consumption. Introducing Bluetooth technology into smart grids requires much less power consumption of the device and should have enough range to spread over grid area. Lower power consumption is possible with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) technology, but obtaining the span of area which a grid spreads is quite difficult. Range could be extended by increasing the radio power which shall increase the power consumption.
Due to above mentioned reasons, it is evident that the existing system employing Bluetooth technology in an electricity grid may result in increased power consumption. Further, these systems enable the network connection spread only across a short range.

Network, master, hub and method for providing a bluetooth infrastructure


Techniques for reducing unwanted acoustic feedback in a space are carried out by an adaptive notch filter algorithm that adjusts a notch to a plurality of different notch values in order to locate feedback. The results obtained by performing the algorithm at various notch values are compared. Based on the comparison, the parameters for the algorithm are adjusted for processing of the input signals to reduce the feedback.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to techniques for reducing acoustic feedback, and more particularly relates to such techniques in which a digital notch filter algorithm is employed.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital notch filters have been used in the past in an attempt to reduce acoustic feedback in sound amplification systems, including public address systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,236 (Chen, issued May 23, 1978) describes an analog notch filter for an audio signal to suppress acoustical feedback. The apparatus receives an audio signal which is substantially non-periodic in the absence of acoustical feedback and substantially periodic with an instantaneous dominant frequency in the presence of such feedback. The duration of successive periods are monitored and compared by an up/down counter to determine whether the audio input signal is substantially periodic and to determine the instantaneous dominant frequency of the audio signal. Upon detection of an audio signal which is substantially periodic, the notch filter is tuned to the instantaneous dominant frequency so as to suppress the acoustical feedback.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,192 (Beex, issued Nov. 4, 1980) describes an integrator/detector (FIG. 9) which determines when an audio signal has exceeded a threshold for a selected number of cycles. If the threshold is exceeded for the selected number of cycles, a sampler circuit samples a voltage corresponding to the frequency that has exceeded the threshold. The sampled voltage is used by a voltage frequency converter in order to adjust the notch of a notch filter implemented in hardware.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,665 (Lewis et al., issued Sep. 14, 1993) describes a device for suppressing feedback in which a Fast Fourier Transform is conducted on samples of digitized signals to produce corresponding frequency spectrums. The magnitudes of the spectrum at various frequencies are analyzed to determine one or more peak frequencies which are 33 decibels greater than harmonics or sub-harmonics of the frequency in an attempt to detect resonating feedback frequencies. Two processors are required. A primary processor periodically collects a series of the passing digital signals and conducts a Fast Fourier Transform on each collected series of digital signals. The frequency spectrums produced by the Fast Fourier Transform are examined by the primary processor to discover the presence of any resonating feedback frequency. Filter control signals are passed by the primary processor, along with the digital sound signals, to a secondary processor which operates a digital filtering algorithm in accordance with the filter control signals to attenuate resonating feedback frequencies in the stream of digital signals.

Acoustic feedback elimination using adaptive notch filter algorithm


A sliding door locking system includes: a plurality of latch mechanisms including a front latch mechanism mounted on a front part of the sliding door; an outside handle mechanism disposed outwardly of a windowpane of the sliding door; and a remote control mechanism provided in the sliding door inwardly of the windowpane so as to exert on each of the latch mechanisms an operating force from the outside handle mechanism. A first transmission cable for transmitting the operating force from the outside handle mechanism extends to the front latch mechanism side while bypassing the windowpane. The first transmission cable and a second transmission which is cable for transmitting to the remote control mechanism an operating force transmitted from the first transmission cable to a relay lever, are coupled to the relay lever. The relay lever is pivotably supported in a casing of the front latch mechanism and positioned inwardly of the windowpane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sliding door locking system that includes: a plurality of latch mechanisms including a front latch mechanism in which a latch capable of maintaining a sliding door in a closed state by engaging with a striker on a vehicle body is pivotably supported in a casing mounted on a front part of the sliding door; an outside handle mechanism disposed outwardly of a windowpane of the sliding door so as to enable handle operation outside the sliding door; and a remote control mechanism provided in the sliding door inwardly of the windowpane so as to exert on each of the latch mechanisms an operating force according to the handle operation of the outside handle mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a locking system is already known from, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-97121.
In such a sliding door locking system, it is necessary to transmit an operating force from the outside handle mechanism which is on the outward side of the windowpane, to the remote control mechanism side which is inward of the windowpane. In this conventional arrangement, a pivoting shaft is pivotably disposed in a front part of the sliding door at a position corresponding to the outside handle mechanism, an outside handle of the outside handle mechanism is coupled to an outer end of the pivoting shaft via a swinging link, and the remote control mechanism is coupled to an inner end of the pivoting shaft via a transmission link.
In this conventional arrangement, since it is necessary to employ a component for pivotably supporting the pivoting shaft in the sliding door, the number of components is relatively large, and since it is necessary to assemble the pivoting shaft to the sliding door, the number of assembly steps increases.


A circuit for measuring capacitor properties under high DC bias voltage. A apacitor is subject to a high DC bias by a high voltage supply having low AC impedance. A triangle wave voltage is applied to the capacitor at the terminal opposite the high bias voltage. A current is thereby induced due to the voltage difference across the capacitor generated by the triangle wave. The induced current is measured and properties of the capacitor calculated therefrom. The measuring circuitry is isolated from the high DC bias voltage applied to the capacitor. Therefore, the biasing voltage applied to the capacitor is limited only by the breakdown voltage of the capacitor under test.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of measuring properties of a capacitor, and more particularly to a circuit capable of measuring capacitance when the capacitor is biased with a high voltage, limited only to the breakdown voltage of the capacitor.
2. Background of the Invention
There are many different circuits used for measuring capacitance of a capacitor. However, these circuits are usually limited in the biasing voltage that can be applied to the capacitor being tested. This biasing limit is generally the breakdown voltage of the measuring circuit. The breakdown voltage of the measuring circuit is usually much less than the breakdown voltage of the capacitor being measured. Therefore, it is not possible to measure the capacitor near the breakdown voltage of the capacitor. Accordingly, there is a need for a circuit that is capable of measuring a capacitor near the breakdown voltage of the capacitor.

Circuit for measuring capacitance at high DC bias voltage

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A back-pressure chamber of a tank internal pressure regulating valve and a canister are connected to each other by a communicating passage. During purging, since the negative pressure in an evaporative purge system is introduced into the back-pressure chamber, the valve opening pressure setting of the tank internal pressure regulating valve is lowered. As purge-cutting is started, the internal pressure of the canister instantly rises to the valve opening pressure of an air intake valve, thereby increasing the pressure introduced into the back-pressure chamber. Consequently, the valve opening pressure setting of the tank internal pressure regulating valve rises, thereby suppressing the valve opening operation. Thus, diagnosis is prevented from becoming erroneous as the pressure regulating valve in the evaporative purge system opens during the failure diagnosis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a failure diagnosis apparatus for evaporative purge system which diagnoses failures in an evaporative purge system extending from a fuel tank to a purge passage by way of a canister.
2. Related Background Art
Conventional failure diagnosis apparatus for evaporative purge system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-180099. FIG. 20 shows such an apparatus for evaporative purge system.
First, in the diagnosis operation in this apparatus, a second control valve 101 serving as an air release valve is closed so as to shut an air opening of a canister 102, while a first control valve 103 is opened. Consequently, a negative pressure of an intake passage 104 is introduced into an evaporative purge system extending from a purge passage 105 to a fuel tank 107 by way of the canister 102 and an vapor passage 106. Thereafter, under a predetermined condition, the first control valve 103 is closed so as to temporarily cut the purge and, during this period, the pressure behavior within the system extending from the first control valve 103 to the fuel tank 107 is measured. After purge-cutting, the pressure behavior within this system, measured as the canister internal pressure, gradually increases toward the atmospheric pressure. When leakage occurs within the system due to perforation therein, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, pressure change .DELTA.P.sub.1 per predetermined time t is greater than pressure change .DELTA.P.sub.0 in the case where no leakage occurs. By utilizing this phenomenon, the apparatus measures the pressure behavior after the purge-cutting, thereby diagnosing the failure within the subject system.

Failure diagnosis apparatus for evaporative purge system


For regulating the lateral buckling of a section of pipe, at least one device permanently applies a force to a point on the section of pipe. The force is preferably applied substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. Preferably, two of the devices that apply equal and opposing forces are positioned at a distance from each other along the section of a pipe. Each device comprises a clamp, a cable, a return device and a buoy or a weight.

The invention relates to a device for regulating (controlling) the buckling of a rigid underwater pipe, particularly one for carrying fluids such as hydrocarbons, of the rigid single or double-wall ("pipe-in-pipe") type, with or without thermal insulation.
The problem to be overcome is that of the buckling of the rigid hydrocarbon pipes, under the effect of the axial compressive loads arising from the combined effect of the temperature and pressure of the fluid flowing in the pipe, and the hydrostatic pressure.
Above a certain threshold, these loads can cause the buckling of the rigid pipe.
Two forms of buckling are generally distinguished:                upheaval buckling, in which the pipe becomes detached from the ground and buckles upwards.        lateral buckling, in which the pipe remains on the ground and buckles to the side.
It is important to prevent damage due to the buckling of a rigid pipe which has to undergo large variations of temperature and pressure. It is also important to prevent the buckling or expansion of the pipe from causing damage to the equipment connected to its ends, such as manifolds or crossings.
There are known devices intended to stop the propagation of buckling along an underwater pipe, the said buckling being possibly initiated during the laying of the pipe because of excessive loads in the length of catenary pipe linking the seabed to the laying ship. U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,598, U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,039, GB 1564621, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,441 and EP 0100099 describe such devices. These devices do not resolve the problem which has arisen.
One known solution consists in burying the pipe in a trench excavated in the ground. This makes lateral buckling impossible, since the pipe is blocked on both sides by the trench. Vertical buckling is still possible, but it can be prevented if the weight of the fill is sufficient. This solution is also uneconomical and is difficult to implement in deep seas (1000 m or deeper).
Another solution consists in the use of expansion elements (flexible pipe links called "jumpers") positioned along the pipe and intended to absorb the axial loads.
GB 2287297 describes a solution consisting in the deliberate deformation of the pipe during laying in such a way as to create regular alternating small bends (in the form of waves) along the length of the pipe. The pipe thus offers less resistance to bending and to small lateral displacements, enabling the compressive loads to be released in a uniform way along the length of the pipe, and preventing buckling and concentrations of loads. This solution is also costly because of the wavelike deformation which has to be created on the laying ship with the aid of special tools.
Other solutions, intended to control (regulate) buckling to ensure that its effects are acceptable, have been the subject of conferences reported in the following publications:
OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) 2003—King Flowlines—Thermal Expansion Design and Implementation.
OMAE (Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering Conference) 1989—Thermal buckling of pipelines close to restraints.
The basic idea common to these solutions is that of carefully distributing a plurality of lateral buckling areas along the pipe, so as to effectively release the axial compressive loads, while ensuring that this buckling remains acceptable. In practice, these solutions use various devices for initiating lateral buckling, permanently installed at the desired positions. Since buckling is more easily initiated in straight sections, it has been envisaged that the pipe could be deliberately bent in the areas in which the development of buckling is desired.
Another solution consists in the local reduction of the weight of the pipe, using permanently fitted buoys: the buoys can be in the form of clamps installed during laying. These buoys reduce the apparent weight of the pipe and thus the lateral friction with the ground. Additionally, the increase in diameter at the positions of the buoys creates a discontinuity of the bending inertia, which in itself is sufficient to promote buckling.
Another known solution for initiating lateral buckling by reducing the lateral friction between the pipe and the ground consists in placing between the sea bed and the pipe transverse sliding beams or cross-members on which the pipe can easily slide laterally.
These beams are generally formed from large-diameter metal tubes. The reduction in lateral friction is partly due to the detachment of the pipeline at its intersection with the beam (absence of ground contact) and partly due to the low coefficient of friction between the pipe and the beam.
These solutions intended to initiate and control lateral buckling do not satisfactorily resolve the problem which has been stated. On the one hand, the initiation of buckling is not totally reliable. On the other hand, these solutions do not make it possible to control the shape (the mode) and amplitude of the buckling and consequently the mechanical stresses in the pipe. Finally, they cannot ensure the reproducibility of the buckling, in respect of its shape and position, throughout the temperature and pressure cycles applied to the pipe.
Lastly, in spite of the large number of proposed solutions, it is found that the problem of effectively regulating the buckling of a pipe laid on a sea bed is still unresolved.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,466,881 discloses a collar limiting the horizontal or vertical displacements of a pipe within the collar. U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,599 discloses a device for imparting a localized curvature to a pipe.
Document WO 03 012327 discloses a device limiting the bending of a flexible pipe.

Device for regulating the buckling of underwater pipes


A method of determining expected fatigue life of machined bearing races or other components wherein a hardened surface of each bearing race is machined to provide a machined surface including the steps of determining hardness distribution and residual stress distribution along a depth into the machined surface as a function of cutting parameters, determining a relationship of expected fatigue life of the machined bearing races as a function of the hardness distribution and the residual stress distribution using a fracture mechanics model, and determining expected fatigue life from the relationship using actual cutting parameters employed in machining the hardened surface of the bearing races. Cutting conditions to optimize fatigue life can be selected based on the expected fatigue life.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,496 describes a method of manufacturing a component by superfinish hard machining wherein the component is formed, hardened by heat treatment, and then hard machined to achieve a surface finish that is comparable to abrasive-based superfinishing operations such as finish grinding, honing, lapping, polishing, electropolishing, and superfinishing while imparting residual stress to the hard machined component in a manner to optimize its service life, such as fatigue life of a hardened bearing race. The hard machining method of the patent involves machining the pre-hardened surface of the component by turning or other cutting operation to achieve the desired surface finish. For example, hard turning typically can achieve a surface finish of 32, preferably 16, microinches average surface roughness (Ra) or less on a hardened bearing steel component having a Rockwell hardness of Rc of 35 and higher, such as Rc of 60 or more while imparting a residual stress thereto that optimizes fatigue life. As described in the patent, practice of such hard machining eliminates the need for separately performed machining steps or operations that include rough machining prior to hardening and multiple grinding operations and abrasive-based superfinishing subsequent to hardening in manufacture of a bearing race.
The patent involves modeling the component by actual physical testing and/or computer software modeling thereof, applying in-service loading conditions to the model to determine the level and location of in-service stresses on the component, determining a critical in-service stress that affects service life, determining particular hard machining parameters to impart a particular residual stress to counter the critical in-service stress and a particular surface finish to the pre-hardened component, and then hard machining the pre-hardened surface of the component using the determined hard machining parameters to impart the particular residual stress and surface finish thereto to optimize service life of the machined component and reduce the number of machining operations needed to manufacture the component.
The determination of particular hard machining parameters is made by determining interelationships of machining parameters to residual stress and to surface finish. Such determinations are made by fabrication of a number of specimens using different combinations of machining parameters (e.g. cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut) and then modeling the interrelationship of the machining parameters with separate equations for surface finish and integrity to achieve residual stress. For example, an interrelationship of surface finish and machining parameters is determined using equation A of the patent, while an interrelationship of residual stress distribution and machining parameters is determined using equations B(1) and B(2) of the patent.
In the past in the manufacture of bearing races, each bearing race is formed and then annealed in preparation for rough turning in the relatively soft condition of the bearing material. The rough turned bearing race then is hardened by heat treatment and/or case hardening followed by double disk grinding, cylindrical grinding, centerless grinding and finally abrasive-based superfinishing. The expected fatigue life of bearing races made this way has been determined by industry by destructive testing under anticipated service loading conditions. Such destructive testing requires expensive equipment and labor, and extended testing time to determine fatigue life of such bearing races.

Determining expected fatigue life of hard machined components


A method of producing analgesia and treating antiinflammatory disease in a human subject while avoiding proteinuria by administering 6-chloro-5-fluoro-3-(2-thenoyl)-2-oxindole-1-carboxamide or a pharmaceutically-acceptable base salt thereof.

Kadin in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,672 describes certain 2-oxindole-1-carboxamide compounds with acyl substituents at the 3-position which are inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase (CO) and lipoxygenase (LO) enzymes. These compounds are useful as analgesic agents in mammals and are useful in ameliorating or eliminating pain, such as pain experienced by patients recovering from surgery or trauma. These compounds are also useful for chronic administration to mammals to alleviate the symptoms of chronic diseases such as the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Kadin specifically claims a method of eliciting an analgesic response, and also a method of treating an inflammatory disease, in a mammalian subject, which comprises treating said mammalian subject with an effective amount of member selected from a genus of 2-oxindole-1-carboxamides. This genus includes the chemical compound 6-chloro-5-fluoro-3-(2-thenoyl)-2-oxindole-1-carboxamide. However, use of this latter compound is not specifically identified. The 2-oxindole-1-carboxamides of Kadin are highly effective analgesics and antiinflammatories; but 5-chloro-3-(2-thenoyl)-2-oxindole-1-carboxamide in this group of compounds has been found to induce non-progressive, reversible proteinuria in some patients. 6-Chloro-5-fluoro-3-(2-thenoyl)-2-oxindole-1-carboxamide does not induce proteinuria.

6-chloro-5-fluoro-3-(2-thenoyl)-2-oxindole-1-carboxamide as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent while maintaining a normal urine protein/creatinine ratio


A system and process for determining the location of a captured image from a larger image is described. A non-repeating sequence may be folded into a non-repeating array in which the array is unique for every sub window of a given size. The image of the sub window may be captured and its location determined within the non-repeating array.

Computer users are accustomed to using a mouse and keyboard as a way of interacting with a personal computer. While personal computers provide a number of advantages over written documents, most users continue to perform certain functions using printed paper. Some of these functions include reading and annotating written documents. In the case of annotations, the printed document assumes a greater significance because of the annotations placed on it by the user. One of the difficulties, however, with having a printed document with annotations is the later need to have the annotations entered back into the electronic form of the document. This requires the original user or another user to wade through the annotations and enter them into a personal computer. In some cases, a user will scan in the annotations and the original text, thereby creating a new document. These multiple steps make the interaction between the printed document and the electronic version of the document difficult to handle on a repeated basis. Further, scanned-in images are frequently non-modifiable. There may be no way to separate the annotations from the original text. This makes using the annotations difficult. Accordingly, an improved way of handling annotations is needed.
One technique of capturing handwritten information is by using a pen whose location may be determined during writing. One pen that provides this capability is the Anoto pen by Anoto Inc. This pen functions by using a camera to capture an image of paper encoded with a predefined pattern. An example of the image pattern is shown in FIG. 11. This pattern is used by the Anoto pen (by Anoto Inc.) to determine a location of a pen on a piece of paper. However, it is unclear how efficient the determination of the location is with the system used by the Anoto pen. To provide efficient determination of the location of the captured image, a system is needed that provides efficient decoding of the captured image.

Decoding and error correction in 2-D arrays


As means for solving a problem of a positional shift of a land and a hole which is caused by an alignment in the formation of an etching resist layer and a plated resist layer in a method of manufacturing a circuit board, there are provided a method of manufacturing a circuit board including the steps of forming a first resin layer on a surface of an insulating substrate having a conductive layer on the surface and an internal wall of a through hole or/and a non-through hole, forming a second resin layer which is insoluble or slightly soluble in a developing solution for the first resin layer on the first resin layer provided on the surface conductive layer, and removing the first resin layer provided over the hole with the developing solution for the first resin layer, and a method of manufacturing a circuit board including the step of uniformly charging a surface of the first resin layer to induce a potential difference to the first resin layer provided over the hole and the first resin layer provided on the surface conductive layer before forming the second resin layer. Moreover, there is provided a circuit board having a hole with a small positional shift and high precision.

Referring to a recent trend for a down-sized or multifunctional electronic equipment, high-density or fine technology of the wiring pattern have been pursued for a circuit board. One of known means for achieving such condition is to form a circuit board in a multilayer. As shown in FIGS. 98(a) and 98(b), in the circuit board formed by stacking a plurality of wiring layers, generally, the conduction is made between the respective layers through a small hole such as a through hole or a non-through hole (below, a hole) of which inner wall is covered or filled with a conductive layer, and which is referred to as a through hole 31, a via hole 32, or an interstitial via hole 33.
FIG. 99 is a schematic view of the hole as seen from the top. In the periphery of the hole 17, a conductive layer referred to as a land 18 is formed. There are various kinds of the land shape such as angular, circular, elliptical, and deformed shape. However, the circular land is frequently used because of the occupied area thereof or the simple use of a circuit design. In order to cope with the trend for the high density, a landless, or narrow land width hole are required.
A method of manufacturing a circuit board includes a subtractive method, an additive method and a semiadditive method. In the subtractive method, an etching resist layer is provided over a circuit portion of an insulating substrate having a conductive layer formed on its surface, and a conductive layer over a non-circuit portion which is exposed is removed by etching so as to form a circuit. In the additive method, a plated resist layer is formed on a non-circuit portion of a surface of an insulting substrate and a conductive layer is formed in a portion corresponding to a circuit portion by a nonelectrolytic plating processing. In the semiadditive method, a plated resist layer is formed on a non-circuit portion of an insulating substrate having a thin conductive layer on its surface, while a conductive layer is formed on a portion corresponding to a circuit portion by an electrolytic plating processing. Thereafter, the plated resist layer on the non-circuit portion is removed and the thin conductive layer on the non-circuit portion is then removed so as to form a circuit by a flash etching processing.
The etching resist layer and the plated resist layer are formed by the methods such as a screen printing method, a photofabrication method, having an exposing and developing step using a photosensitive material, or an ink jet method. In the case in which a landless hole or a hole having a small land width is to be formed, it is important to carry out an alignment in a process of a perforation processing, the screen printing method, the exposing step or the ink jet method. Especially, in the case of forming the landless hole or the hole having a small land width, which are required for a high density circuit board, it is necessary to realize very high precision in an alignment. As shown in FIG. 99, the most desirable alignment for a land should have such a shape as to have a uniform width in all directions of the hole. In other words, the desirable manner is such that the hole and the land make the concentric circles. However, there is a problem in that the hole and the land are not the concentric circles as shown in FIG. 100 when the alignment is not accurate.
FIGS. 100(a) and 100(b) show the schematic plan views, each illustrating a positional shift between the hole and the land in the case. The positional shift at a distance X is generated each in the hole having a small land width in FIG. 100(a), and in the hole having a large land width in FIG. 100(b). Although the land is formed around the hole in the hole having the large land width in FIG. 100(b), the land is cut away by the hole portion in the hole having the small land width in FIG. 100(a), resulting in a problem of impossibility to form a hole having a small land around a whole outer periphery of the hole. Under the conventional circumstance, the precision in the alignment has a limit due to precision in the perforation processing, the expansion of a substrate or a change in a dimension of a photomask for an exposure. Moreover, the hole to be formed on the high density circuit board has a large number of diameters and the number of the holes is very large. For these reasons, it has been very difficult to accurately carry out the alignment with respect to all the holes. As described in JP-A-3-236956 and JP-A-7-7265, accordingly, the circuit design has a problem for employing a large land width regardless of the requirement of a landless hole or a hole having a small land width for the high density circuit board.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a circuit board such as in a subtractive method, an additive method or a semiadditive method, which solves the problem of the positional shift between a land and a hole, being caused by an alignment in the formation of an etching resist layer and a plated resist layer. Such a method can be employed for a landless hole or a hole having a small land width, which is required for a high-density circuit board.

Circuit board manufacturing method and circuit board


An embodiment includes a method to reduce background noise in a spectrum. A further embodiment includes a method to reduce, by at least about two orders of magnitude, background noise in an experimental absorbance spectrum. Further, an embodiment includes a machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a machine, reduce background noise in a spectrum. Further, an embodiment includes a machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a machine, reduce, by at least two orders of magnitude, background noise in an experimental absorbance spectrum.

The value of spectroscopy as an analytical tool is limited by its accuracy and reliability. Although spectroscopy can be used to identify and quantify substances in many environments and applications, different types of interferences can detrimentally influence the extraction of useful information from a spectrum. One type of interference, characterized as etalon noise, behaves chaotically and can disguise or distort accurate data. Etalons are patterns of light caused by reflections in the optical path of the source used in the spectroscopic technique. The etalons can cause constructive and destructive interference with the signal at certain wavelengths of light.
Traditionally, efforts to reduce etalon noise have focused either on the physical design of the spectroscopic device or on mathematical modeling. Both areas have seen repeated failures. Etalons could, theoretically, be minimized by creating the optimal instrument design, but progress in this area has stalled for a number of years. In addition, attempts have been made to derive a mathematical formula describing the behavior of the etalons. Unfortunately, the etalons can instantaneously change configurations to give multiple allowable solutions to a formula.
Regardless of which traditional approach is used to characterize etalon noise, they are inaccurate and slow. In a specific application, such as oil drilling, spectroscopy is used to detect subterranean gases in real-time. The previous methods do not allow for computation at speeds needed for real time measurements. Calibration of the instrument takes too long and as the instrument may be located hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth in a hole, it would be inaccessible for calibration and adjustment. A solution is needed that reduces the etalon noise in a spectrum in a quick, reliable way.

Method to reduce background noise in a spectrum


A device and method for mitigating the frequency of lost testicles during castration by stopping the testicles from ascending into the body. The device includes a compressing pair of elongated members attached to a handle. The method includes applying the device to the spermatic cord above the testicles immediately before castration.

Young male livestock are the most valued by producers and meat packers when the testicles are removed, through a procedure called castration. There are several different methods of castration.
One difficulty in performing almost any type of castration is having the hands free to carry out the actual process of castration, whether it be via banding, clamping, or surgically. A physical reflex to touch or handling called the cremasteric reflex causes the testicles to be drawn back up towards the main body of the animal making it more difficult to properly carry out an effective castration. The cremasteric reflex occurs when an area near the testicles is touched or disturbed and the cremaster muscles which run vertically along the spermatic cords contract and cause the testicles to draw up closer or even up in to the body cavity.
The testicle may be withdrawn up into the body for multiple days at a time. The potential for missed testicles is high and can be costly.
In elastic band castration, an elastomer tool is used to expand rubber rings, which while expanded, are placed over the testicles and released onto the neck of the scrotum, which houses the spermatic cords and blood supply to the testicles. The rubber band constricts and stops the blood flow to the testicles and after a period of time, the testicles will fall off. The use of elastic band castration is normally performed when the animal is fairly young.
Another method for castration of male livestock is use of the Burdizzo clamp. The Burdizzo clamp is places above the testes on the spermatic cord with the jaws of the Burdizzo clamp being brought together to crush the spermatic cord. While the spermatic cord and vessels are being held by the jaws of the Burdizzo clamp, the cord is rocked back and forth to ensure it is crushed. This procedure is repeated for the spermatic cord of the other testicle.
If surgical castration is being performed on the male animal, it is critical that the testicle be extended down in the scrotum and not withdrawn up into the body of the animal. While the testicles are extended, they are surgically removed with a knife. An emasculator may be used to crush and cut blood vessels in the spermatic cord at the same time. The emasculator lessens the risk of bleeding.
Each of the techniques just described requires that the testicles of the male livestock be retained in the scrotum and prevented from being withdrawn up into the body of the male animal.
In order to prevent the testicles from ascending up into the body, typically one hand is needed to hold the spermatic cord above the testicles themselves. The present device and method disclosed hold and place pressure on the spermatic cords to prevent the testicles from ascending into the body, freeing up the hands of the handler to enable them to perform an effective castration procedure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to mitigate a male livestock from withdrawing testicles up into his body during castration.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a spring-loaded device that can be placed above the testicles of a male livestock and compress the spermatic cords and connective tissue during the process of castration to prevent the testicles from being withdrawn up into the male's body.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an opposing spring-loaded device where opposing spring jaws can be placed over the spermatic cord of a young male livestock to prevent the testicles from being withdrawn into the body during castration.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide opposing spring-loaded jaws on one end and a handle on the other end, which opposing spring jaws may be placed around the spermatic cord of a young male livestock to prevent withdrawing of the testicles into the male's body during castration.

Device and method for mitigating the ascension of testicles during castration of livestock