An inner ear fluid circulation system includes an implantable circulation pump that has a pump inlet and a pump outlet both in fluid communication with inner ear fluid of an implanted patient. The circulation pump is configured to drive the inner ear fluid in from the pump inlet and out through the pump outlet. A pump controller is coupled to the circulation pump and one or more sensing elements for measurement of one or more fluid conditions within the inner ear of the implanted patient, and is configured to control operation of the circulation pump as a function of the measured one or more fluid conditions. Also disclosed is a cochlear implant arrangement and a vestibular implant arrangement comprising such a fluid circulation system.

A normal ear transmits sounds as shown in FIG. 1 through the outer ear 101 to the tympanic membrane 102, which moves the bones of the middle ear 103 that vibrate the oval window and round window openings of the cochlea 104. The cochlea 104 is a long narrow duct wound spirally about its axis for approximately two and a half turns. It includes an upper channel known as the scala vestibuli and a lower channel known as the scala tympani, which are connected by a central cochlear duct. The cochlea 104 forms an upright spiraling cone with a center called the modiolar where the spiral ganglion cells of the auditory nerve 113 reside. In response to received sounds transmitted by the middle ear 103, the fluid-filled cochlea 104 functions as a transducer to generate electric pulses which are transmitted to the cochlear nerve 113, and ultimately to the brain.
Hearing is impaired when there are problems in the ability to transduce external sounds into meaningful action potentials along the neural substrate of the cochlea 104. To improve impaired hearing, auditory prostheses have been developed. When the impairment is associated with the cochlea 104, a cochlear implant with an implanted electrode can electrically stimulate auditory nerve tissue with small currents delivered by multiple electrode contacts distributed along the electrode.
FIG. 1 also shows some components of a typical cochlear implant system where an external microphone provides an audio signal input to an external signal processor 111 in which various signal processing schemes can be implemented. The processed signal is then converted into a digital data format for transmission by external transmitter coil 107 into the implant device 108. Besides receiving the processed audio information, the implant device 108 also performs additional signal processing such as error correction, pulse formation, etc., and produces an electrical stimulation pattern (based on the extracted audio information) that is sent through an electrode lead 109 to an implanted electrode array 110. The electrode array 110 includes multiple electrode contacts 112 on its outer surface that provide selective stimulation of the adjacent neural tissues within the cochlea 104.
Besides developing hearing sensation, the inner ear also provides balance sensing functionality to the brain based on neural signals from the vestibular structures of the inner ear, one on each lateral side of the body. As shown in FIG. 2, each inner ear 200 comprises the cochlea 201 with the cochlear duct 214 and the vestibular system 215. The vestibular system 215 includes five sensing organs: the ampullae 208 of the three semi-circular canals—the horizontal (lateral) canal 203, the posterior canal 204, and the superior canal 205—which sense rotational movement, and the utricle 206 and the saccule 207 in the vestibule 202, which sense linear movement. Further shown are the oval window 213 and round window 212.
The inner volumes of the inner ear are formed by the interconnected cochlea 201 and vestibular system 215 and are divided into two different interior compartments: the endolymph compartment 210 filled with endolymph fluid and the perilymph compartment 209 filled with perilymph fluid. There are several places within the inner ear, in particular within the vestibular system, where endolymph fluid is generated, for example, in the endolymphatic sac 211. Generation of endolymph fluid involves transformation of cranial fluid into endolymph fluid. Similarly, there also is transfer of endolymph fluid to perilymph fluid at certain locations (e.g. along the Reissner's membrane and/or basilar membrane) as well as transfer of perilymph to cranial fluid in both the vestibular and the cochlear system of the inner ear at certain locations (e.g. in the perilymphatic duct 215). It is also assumed that the reverse processes take place. It also is well known that the endolymph fluid in the vestibular system is in fluid communication with that of the cochlear system, and the same applies for the perilymph fluid.
All those different types of inner ear fluid transfer together with the flow channels of the different types of fluids within the inner ear give rise to a slow but continuous circulation of endolymph and perilymph within the inner ear and vestibular system. Typical fluid circulation flow rates may vary over quite a large range from as little as 0.1 μm/s up to hundreds of μm/s to mm/s, varying from patient to patient and strongly depending on the patient's age. Although fluid circulation flow rates vary over a large range, the fluid circulation flow rates for a specific patient normally remains relatively stable and may deviate only during abnormal periods, such as e.g. during Menière disease attacks.
The inner ear and vestibular system can suffer from various disorders that include Menière's disease and autoimmune disease. The attacks that occur with Menière's disease are characterized by various distressing symptoms that can include tremendous dizziness, tinnitus (a continuous ringing perception), and eventually, over time, loss of natural hearing ability. The physiological origins of Menière's disease are not yet fully understood, but in part there is increased pressure in the endolymph.
Menière's disease, tinnitus vertigo, and aural pressure all may be adversely influenced by excess pressure within the inner ear. Such excess pressure may be a consequence of improper fluid circulation within the inner ear. The Meniett device from Medtronic is intended to treat Menière's disease by releasing low frequency pressure waves through the outer ear and the middle ear into the inner ear to influence the pressure in the inner ear. US 2009/0209945 and US2010/0032355 describe apparatuses for treatment of Menière's disease, but neither reference discusses controlled fluid circulation within the inner ear.

Apparatus for treatment of menière's disease


It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device in which a barrier property is improved; a compact size, a thin shape, and lightweight are achieved; and flexibility is provided. By providing a stacked body including a plurality of transistors in a space between a pair of substrates, a semiconductor device is provided, in which a harmful substance is prevented from entering and a barrier property is improved. In addition, by using a pair of substrates which are thinned by performing grinding and polishing, a semiconductor device is provided, in which a compact size, a thin shape, and lightweight are achieved. Further, a semiconductor device is provided, in which flexibility is provided and a high-added value is achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor device corresponds to a semiconductor device including a transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device including a transistor has been developed. In particular, a semiconductor device capable of transmitting and receiving data without contact has been actively developed. Such a semiconductor device is called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), an RF chip, an RF tag, an IC chip, an IC tag, an IC label, a wireless chip, a wireless tag, an electronic chip, an electronic tag, a wireless processor, a wireless memory, or the like (Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-282050, for example), and it has been already introduced into some fields.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd


A method and apparatus for spin forming a portion of a workpiece includes at least two rollers rotatable about a spin axis. Each one of the rollers is axially and radially offset from the others. An axial drive mechanism reciprocates the rollers or workpiece to causes the first roller and then the second roller to sequentially engage the workpiece. A higher reduction ratio is achieved which enables improved efficiency. The present invention reduces floor space requirements as the forming operation may be completed on a single machine.

Many processes are available for manufacturing a tubular workpiece having a circular, oval or otherwise hollow cross section with a transition portion. Applications for these components include catalytic converter housings used in automotive exhaust systems. In the prior art, these components were usually made from several pieces, such as a pair of clam shells or a tubular section and formed end pieces joined by non-sophisticated techniques, such as resistance, TIG or MIG welding. However, welding these components together is not desirable because of durability concerns.
Other known processes for forming a transition portion on a work piece include forming techniques. One such technique is a ram forming process. However, ram forming has limitations regarding diameter reduction ratios. Another known process is spin forming, one example of an apparatus for spin forming is shown in FIGS. 1–4. A spin forming apparatus 1 of the prior art includes a plurality of rollers 3 supported by a rotatable carrier 2. Each roller 3 has a tapered face 4. The rollers 3 reduce the original diameter 12 of workpiece 6 to a reduced diameter 8. A mandrel 5 provides internal support to the workpiece 6 during a spin forming operation. Although the prior art spin forming apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1–4 is effective for creating a transition portion on a workpiece, there are a number of shortcomings associated with the apparatus 1.
One shortcoming of apparatus 1 is the reduction ratio, the ratio of the original diameter to the reduced diameter, that can be achieved. Exceeding the reduction ratio limitation will collapse the reduced portion of the workpiece, resulting in scrap. The amount of reduction available for apparatus 1 is limited by the reduction ratio.
Another limitation inherent in apparatus 1 is multiple machines are required to achieve a desired reduction in diameter if multiple passes are required for additional reduction in diameter beyond the limitations of the reduction ratio for apparatus 1. Accordingly, the workpiece must be transferred from one machine to another machine that has rollers that are arranged in a smaller diameter to further reduce the diameter of a portion of a workpiece. The workpiece continues to be transferred to another machine having a smaller diameter yet, until the desired diameter is achieved. As a result, additional machines, or stations, are required as well as additional floor space. Furthermore, a significant amount of time is required to reduce a portion of the workpiece.
Other spin forming machines have rollers that are inwardly adjustable to permit multiple passes on a work piece by a single machine. This solution may eliminate the need for multiple machines to reduce the diameter of a single workpiece; however, these machines still have limitations in the reduction ratio for a single forming pass. Therefore, several passes are required to achieve a desired reduction in diameter of a workpiece. For example, 21 passes are typically required to reduce a portion of a workpiece from a 4 inch diameter to a 2 inch diameter. Although spin forming machines that have inwardly adjustable rollers respond to the concerns of floor space usage and multiple stations, these spin forming machines are still not efficient enough.
Referring now to FIG. 5, an improved spin forming apparatus 9 according to the prior art is shown. The apparatus 9 includes a plurality of rollers 11 operatively supported by a rotatably supported carrier 10. Each of the rollers 11 is radially and axially offset from the other rollers 11. The axial and radial offset of the rollers 11 allows the apparatus 9 to make multiple reductions in a single forming pass, resulting in a superior reduction ratio for a work piece. As workpiece 6 and rollers 11 are engaged, the one of the rollers 11 furthest from the carrier 10 will contact the workpiece 6 first. As the rollers 11 and workpiece 6 are further engaged, the next one of the rollers 11 closest to the carrier 10 will contact the workpiece 6, further reducing the workpiece 6. This process continues until the workpiece 6 and rollers 11 are completely engaged. Apparatus 9 provides a favorable reduction ratio and an improved forming time, however, multiple stations are still required, as apparatus 9 is limited by the number of rollers that may be mounted on the carrier 10. As an example, four stations would be required to reduce a workpiece from a 4 inch diameter to a 2 inch diameter by employing apparatus 9.
Therefore, there exists a need for a spin forming process and machine that does not require multiple stations. There further exists a need for a spin forming machine and process that has an improved efficiency.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for spin forming a workpiece that has an improved efficiency while capable of completing a forming operation on a single machine.

Method and apparatus for lean spin forming


A combined resonator-cavity filter includes a number of cavity structures designed for cooperative arrangement within a housing. The resonator cavities are constructed and arranged to pass energy in an assigned frequency band. The cavities include a first cavity structure having a corresponding cavity volume and constructed to provide a first Q, and a second cavity structure having its corresponding cavity volume and constructed to provide a second Q. The cavity volume corresponding to the second cavity structure is less than the cavity volume corresponding to the first cavity structure. Other aspects are directed to the arrangement and uses of sets of such cavity structures as part of a combined duplexer-receiver having the same housing.

Radio frequency (RF) equipment has used a variety of approaches and structures for receiving and transmitting radio waves in the selected frequency bands. The type of filtering structure used is often dependent upon the intended use and the specifications for the radio equipment. For example, dielectric filters are often used for filtering electromagnetic energy in the ultra-high frequency band, such as those used for cellular communications in the 800+ MHz frequency range. Typically, such filter structures are implemented by coupling a number of dielectric resonator structures together. Coaxial resonators in such filters are coupled together via capacitors, strip transmission lines, transformers, or by apertures in walls separating the resonator structures. The number of resonator structures used for any particular application is also dependent upon the system specifications and, typically, added performance is realized by increasing the number of intercoupled resonator structures.
There has been an increasing demand with such intercoupled resonator structures, as with almost all electric or electronic devices and equipment, to reduce both the size and cost of the equipment. Unlike electronic devices that have been significantly miniaturized due to advances in semiconductor technology, efforts to downsize and cost-reduce RF equipment have been inhibited. This is often due to the inherent size of each resonator structure used in an overall RF filter, by specification demands which dictate an increasing number of resonator structures per filter function and a zero latitude in the number of filters required in the RF systems.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a filter which overcomes the above-mentioned and other disadvantages associated with the prior art.

Cavity resonator filter structure having improved cavity arrangement


A connector includes metal shield connecting means that improves the reliability of the connection between the connector and another connector. The connector includes a connector housing having a plurality of conductive terminals mounted therein, and a projection extending from the connector housing that encircles the terminals extending from the terminals. A metal shield surrounds the projection and includes connecting means to make a required electric connection with the metal shell of a mating electric connector. The connecting means includes at least one engagement member disposed in at least one recess formed in the projection. The engagement member has one or more contact portions that extend up through apertures formed in the metal shield.

The present invention relates generally to connectors having means for engaging each other, and more particularly to input-output ("I/O") connectors having metal shields surrounding their connector bodies and means for resiliently establishing a connection between the metal shields of opposing connectors.
As is known, I/O connectors are used in establishing electrical connections between electronic devices, such as personal computers and their monitors or printers, as well as establishing connections between different electronic devices. Typically, such connectors have metal shells, or shields, that surround the contact terminals of the connectors to thereby shield the interconnection of these contact terminals to an opposing connector against electromagnetic interference.
This shielding may often not be satisfactorily assured unless a completely reliable connection is established between the metal shield of one connector and the metal shield of the opposing connector. To assure a good and reliable connection between the metal shields of engaged connectors, it is necessary to provide connecting means for the metal shields. One known connecting means utilizes a plurality of bosses formed on and projecting from the male shield of one connector that contact the female shield of an opposing connector when the male and female shields are engaged together.
Problems may arise with the use of such a connecting means in instances where either metal shield is partly bent. This bending may cause gaps that occur between the male and female shields when engaged together. These gaps prevent the establishment of a reliable connection along the lateral length of the connectors. Also, with the use of such bosses, it is likely that when the male and female shells are coupled together or uncoupled, the bosses may be exposed to large stresses that may deform them or impose wear on them, thereby causing a poor and unreliable connection to occur between the male and female shield.
The present invention is directed to an improved I/O connector that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art.

I/O connector with resilient connecting means


In a lock fitting for sliding closures a bolt-carrier includes a screwthreaded hole with its axis perpendicular to a covering plate to receive a screw for immobilizing a bolt on the bolt-carrier. The covering plate has an orifice for access to the screw and to the screwthreaded hole on the axis of the screwthreaded hole when the bolt-carrier is in its locked position. The fitting includes a plug to blank off the orifice. The plug can be retracted inside the casing to allow access to the screw and then returned to its normal position in which it blanks off the orifice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a fitting for sliding door, window or like closures including an elongate casing adapted to be inserted in an elongate slot in the inside wall of the closure, a covering plate forming an integral part of the casing and adapted to cover the elongate slot and a bolt-carrier adapted to slide in the longitudinal direction inside the casing, the bolt-carrier including at least one screwthreaded hole with its axis perpendicular to the covering plate adapted to receive a screw for immobilizing a bolt on the bolt-carrier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In some prior art fittings a plurality of holes are provided for adjusting and immobilizing the bolt on the bolt-carrier and open onto the outside face of the slider with the result that the heads of the adjustment and/or immobilizing screws can be seen from the outside. The presence of such holes is undesirable from the esthetic point of view and weakens the bolt-carrier. Blanking off these holes in the outside plate is a problem to which it is difficult to find a solution that is satisfactory from the reliability and esthetic points of view.
Other prior art fittings include an orifice in the outside plate for access to the bolt-carrier in the locked position of the latter. This orifice is used to adjust the bolt relative to the striker in the closed position of the closure and to immobilize the bolt in this closed position, which guarantees optimal adjustment of the bolt. However, the orifice in the outside plate must be blanked off by a cover that is of poor appearance and can drop off or be mislaid.
The aim of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art fittings and to propose a fitting of the above type including an orifice and means for blanking off the orifice having a satisfactory appearance and adapted to enable very easy and very reliable access to the orifice.

Fitting for sliding door, window or like closure

Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment


A system is provided for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two devices in an optical transmission network. The first device is designed to determine the propagation time following the transmission of an optical measurement signal in a propagation direction towards a second device using an optical link while passing through an intermediate device, which includes at least one amplifier and one chromatic-dispersion compensation module that introduces a delay, and following the reception an optical return signal from the second device using the same optical link in a direction opposite to the propagation direction. The measurement system is configured to extract the return signal output by the intermediate device; regenerate the extracted return signal; feed the regenerated signal into the optical link, at the input of the intermediate device; and obtain a return signal-reception time while taking account the delay introduced by said compensation module.

In order to measure a propagation time of an optical signal between two optical devices connected by two distinct links, one for each transmission direction, it is known practice to measure an outgoing and incoming propagation time. An optical link consists of a succession of optical legs. An optical leg comprises notably an optical fiber. A measurement signal is sent by an optical device initiating the measurement to the adjacent optical device via the first optical link. The latter responds to the measurement signal to the initiating optical device via the second optical link. In an optical transmission network, when the respective lengths of the links of the two directions are not identical, the value of the propagation time estimated for each of the two links is contaminated with an error that is difficult to quantify.
In point of fact, many applications require a precise knowledge of this propagation time of an optical signal from one device to another. As an example, it is possible to cite methods of reserving resources or else methods of synchronizing optical devices.
In order to determine more precisely the propagation time of an optical signal on an optical link between two devices, there are methods, such as that described in patent FR 2896644, making it possible to reflect in the adjacent optical device a measurement signal transmitted by the device initiating the measurement over the optical link, optionally by means of other optical devices. The latter then receives a return signal on the same optical link and in the direction opposite to the propagation direction of the measurement signal. The initiating device can then determine the propagation time over the optical link. However, in certain cases, for example of long-distance links, amplification devices are provided between the two devices. An amplification device is used to amplify a signal received from the initiating device and sent to the adjacent device in the propagation direction. However, such an amplification device also plays a role of an isolator for the signals received in the direction opposite to the propagation direction on this optical link. Thus, when the method of patent FR 2896644 is implemented, the return signal is not transmitted beyond the last amplification device which is situated between the two devices, that is to say the first that the return signal encounters. In order to determine a propagation time on the optical link, it is then necessary to put in place notably measurements of a propagation time for each of the optical legs linking two amplification devices. Such a method is therefore complex to implement on an optical transmission network.

System for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two optical devices using an optical link


A fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device are provided, the fusing device having a structure that ensures a stable transport of a printing medium by preventing a printing medium from deviating from a transport path between a transfer nip and a fusing nip. The fusing device includes a heating member, a pressing member to contact the heating member to form a fusing nip, and a guide member to guide a printing medium to the fusing nip. An end of the guide member is shaped such that a height of the end decreases as the end extends from a center thereof to opposite sides thereof, and disposed closer to the heating member than to the pressing member, with respect to an imaginary line extending from the fusing nip.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention are related to a fusing device to fix an image to a printing medium and an image forming apparatus having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a printing medium. Examples of such an image forming apparatus include a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a multi-function device combining functions of the disclosed apparatuses.
In an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, an electrostatic latent image may be formed on a surface of a photosensitive body charged with a predetermined electric potential by emitting light onto the photosensitive body. Toner is supplied onto the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image. The visible image formed on the photosensitive body may be directly transferred to a printing medium or transferred to the printing medium via an intermediate transfer body. The visible image transferred to the printing medium may be fixed to the printing medium while passing through the fusing device. The transfer roller contacts the photosensitive body to form a transfer nip to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive body to the printing medium, and a pressing member contacts a heating member of the fusing device to form a fusing nip to fix the visible image transferred to the printing medium.
If the printing medium fails to be smoothly transported between the transfer nip and the fusing nip and a part of the printing medium deviates from the transport path between the transfer nip and the fusing nip, the visible image transferred to the printing medium may have a defect that results in degradation of printing quality.

Fusing device including a guide member to guide a printing medium and image forming apparatus having the same


A bikini-style swimsuit having a diamond-shaped cloth pubic panel 10, and a spreader 22 which communicates with restraining pockets 20. The spreader extends the left and right extremities of the panel 10, tensing the cloth in the horizontal axis. A waistband 12 and a crotch panel 16 of typical bikini construction tense panel 10 in opposing directions in the vertical axis. An unexpected synergy of forces compels the entire periphery of the diamond-shaped panel 10 to be pulled into contact with the body of the wearer in an attractive and modest fashion.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This invention relates to clothing for the human body, and relates more narrowly to bikini-style swimwear.
Since the introduction of the modern bikini swimsuit in 1946, designers have wrestled with the problem of securing small pieces of fabric to critical areas of the female body in a socially acceptable fashion. The original designs of Jacques Heim (which he called the xe2x80x9catomexe2x80x9d) and Reard (the xe2x80x9cbikinixe2x80x9d) were considered by many to be too promiscuous for public beaches. In America, Vogue magazine did not deem the bikini acceptable until the mid-1960""s. However, public standards have evolved, bringing smaller and lighter bikinis under the rubric of xe2x80x9cdecentxe2x80x9d.
Today, Heim and Reard""s efforts seem quite conservative and perfectly functional. Their choice of essentially triangular shapes of cloth for covering three areas of the bodyxe2x80x94breasts, buttocks, and vulvaxe2x80x94was practical and efficient. Regardless of the size or proportion of a triangular panel, it is being pulled taut at each corner. When each corner of each panel is joined to another either directly or via a ribbon of fabric, a taut and stable geometry results. For both the top and bottom halves of a Heim/Reard bikini there is a band of tensed materials encircling the torso of the wearer transversely. This stability is critical to the wearer""s sense of security and modesty.
An automatic consequence of this geometry is that the vectors of tension which support a triangular panel inevitably radiate from points within the area of the triangle. (This is true of all three types of panels: breast-, buttocks-, and pubic-covering.) Because of this, even very small triangular panels produce sensations of stability for both the wearer and observers. The aesthetic of stability arises directly from the geometry of stability. This perfect union of form and function has never been successfully challenged in the realm of mass-marketed, publicly worn bikinis.
Many designers have attempted to create bikini panels which are supported on or attached to the body in atypical ways. U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,657 to Unsell (1994) discloses a bikini bottom section devoid of supporting strings or ribbons. The rear panel is supported by a hip-grasping arc of plastic, and the front panel is affixed by an adhesive strip. The absence of any visible means of support is an interesting novelty, but the means is highly impractical. Although the front panel is modest enough when first stuck on, its pressure sensitive adhesive strip tends to fail when submerged in water or when subject to moderate sweating. This is highly undesirable on a warm beach.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,482 to Crawford (1995) does not purport to be a bathing suit, but its support method deserves mention. This tanning brief is basically a pubic-covering panel suspended on a wire frame. A linear extension of the frame arcs upwards into the buttocks cleavage of the wearer. It is held in place by spring tension. Although this is a clever deviation from the bikini""s connected-triangle geometry, it is not nearly stable enough to stay put while swimming.
In 1949 the unpatented Poses was introduced by Langs (Life magazine, May 16, 1949). It was little more than a pair of cloth cones affixed to the breasts with annular strips of adhesive. This strapless arrangement was a bold departure from the popular halter top, but it was suitable for static sunbathing and little else. Both because of its inherent insecurity and resemblance to a burlesque costume, it failed to find a market.
Burlesque and exotic dancing costuming discloses a relevant area of prior art which I will refer to as the xe2x80x9cfig leafxe2x80x9d method. A fig leaf is a stiff planar element which covers the pubic area. Various stiffening materials include cardboard, wood lathes, wires, and plastics. Once covered with cloth or decorated with any number of light materials, the fig leaf is suspended from a very thin waist band. The lower edge may or may not be restrained. The horizontal extensions of a fig leaf have no visible means of support, giving an enticing and erotic appeal to both garment and wearer. These extensions, however, do not conform to the body of the wearer, making for a deliberately immodest garment. This is appropriate only to limited entertainment venues.
Another departure from the classic triangulation method of bikini construction is the shoulder-support approach. In a shoulder-support bikini there is no waistband transverse to the torso. Instead, pubic and buttocks panels have extensions which aim steeply upwards. These may spiral around or crisscross the torso in any number of ways, but support for pubic and buttocks panels ultimately comes from the shoulders of the wearer. Consequently, when the wearer bends her torso, panels may immodestly lift away from the body. This is remedied via additional connections between panel extensions and/or cords elsewhere on the torso. This complexity yields a garment which is typically clumsy and uncomforatable. Also, such a garment often produces an unwanted array of tan lines.
When the current market for bikini swimwear is examined, many disadvantages are apparent:
(a) The Heim/Reard triangulation method of construction has become redundant. Its very efficiency has led to its ubiquity. Although there have been countless variations in materials, colors, proportions, and extraneous decorations, the architecture itself is stagnant.
(b) Deviations from the triangulation geometry have only been accomplished through the use of clumsy methodologies, such as adhesives, springs, and inelegant excesses of cords or fabrics.
(c) Bikinis deviating from the triangulation geometry do not affix securely to the wearer. They often require the constant attention of the wearer to keep their panels in place. Unusual geometries are often uncomfortable to the wearer, riding up and binding unexpectedly.
(d) Various alternate geometries involving adhesives or spring tension do not hold up to immersion in water. They are unsuitable as bathing wear.
(e) Novel bikini geometries have tended to be too revealing and immodest. These deviations are generally unsuitable for public beaches, swimming pools, and water parks.
In relation to the last fifty-five years of bikini design, the present invention presents several objects and advantages:
(a) to provide a method of bikini construction which is novel in its underlying mechanics of structure.
(b) to provide a bikini with an outward appearance which differs markedly from the usual triangular outline without employing adhesives, springs, or ungainly and excessive restraint cords.
(c) to provide a novel bikini which is just as secure and stable as the classic triangulated architecture.
(d) to provide a novel bikini which reliably stays in place while swimming.
(e) to provide a novel bikini which is modest and suitable for all public swimming and sunbathing venues.
In accordance with the present invention a garment comprises a diamond-shaped area of cloth held in tension at two opposing points by a waistband and a crotch panel, and simultaneously at the two remaining points by a spreader.


An apparatus for dislodging and removing contaminants from a surface of a machine tool. The apparatus includes an arbor, a vacuum source, a tube, and a cleaning member disposed proximate a distal end of the tube. The cleaning member contacts a surface of the machine tool to dislodge contaminants. The contaminants are drawn through the tube by the vacuum source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing contaminants from a surface of a machine tool, and more particularly to a cleaning apparatus that is selectively coupled to and movable by a machine tool to dislodge and vacuum contaminants.
2. Background Art
Machine tools can perform a variety of operations to shape and finish a part. Contaminants such as chips, dust, and lubricants are dispersed onto surfaces of the machine tool when such operations are performed. These contaminants must be periodically removed to maintain the stability and quality of the machining process.
Previously, operators cleaned machine tools by spraying pressurized air or coolant against contaminated surfaces to dislodge particulates. These manual operations were messy, time consuming, labor intensive, and resulted in increased machine downtime and associated costs.
Previously, apparatuses for providing a vacuum around a cutting tool were known in the dust collector art, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,383. However, such dust collecting apparatuses did not remove contaminants from machine tool housing surfaces, did not incorporate a rotatable cleaning member, and did not incorporate a spindle-mounted vacuum source.
Before applicant's invention, there was a need for an apparatus for efficiently cleaning a machine tool surface without extensive operator involvement. In addition, there was a need for an apparatus that incorporated a moveable cleaning member for effectively dislodging contaminants as well as a vacuum source for transporting contaminants from the cleaned surface. In addition, there was a need for an apparatus having a cleaning mechanism that could be actuated by a variety of power sources to accommodate various machine tool configurations. Problems associated with the prior art as noted above and other problems are addressed by applicant's invention as summarized below.

Apparatus for dislodging and removing contaminants from a surface of a machine tool


Each of the storage devices 1, 2 is provided with transmission queues 306a, 306b with respect to each of transmission paths A and B. The storage device 1 stores identical request data in each of the transmission queues 306a and 306b, and transmits each data to the counterpart storage device 2, respectively via the transmission path A and B (S811, 812). The storage device 2, being a counterpart, stores the request data or response data arrived earlier in the receive history information table 300 (S817), and discards the request data arrived later (S903, 904). Furthermore, if the storage device 1, being a transmission source, receives at least one response data against the request data, the storage device 1 searches the transmission queues 306a, 306b, and if there remains request data in any of the transmission queue, deletes the request data (S909).

The present invention relates to a communication device which sends transmission data including an identifier to other communication device, via a plurality of different communication paths, an operating program in the communication device, and a communication method thereof.
As information technology penetrates into key business operations in corporations and organizations, both volume and importance of electronic data possessed by the corporations and organizations are on the increase. It is necessary to hold an accurate copy of the data so that the possessed data can be protected and restored immediately, in the case where a large scale disaster such as an earthquake, power outage and terrorism has occurred.
Usually, in such a process of data copying as described above, a remote copy technique is employed among a plurality of storage devices which store data, and data in one storage device is copied to the other storage device or devices. Those plurality of storage devices are respectively installed at sites, being some distance geographically away from one another (for example, hundreds of miles), so as to localize the damage of disaster. At each site, in addition to the storage device for storing data, there is installed a computer (hereinafter referred to as a "host") for accessing the storage device. A leased line, a wide area Ethernet, or a Wide Area Network (WAN), for example, the Internet, establishes connection among each site. Generally in this remote copy technique, a storage device which stores an original of data is referred to as "master storage device", a host which is connected to the master storage device is referred to as "master host", and a site where the master storage device and the master host are installed is referred to as "master site". In addition, a storage device which stores a copy of data is referred to as "remote storage device", a host which is connected to the remote storage device is referred to as "remote host", and a site where the remote storage device and the remote host are installed is referred to as "remote site".
This sort of remote copy as described above may include synchronous remote copy and asynchronous remote copy. Differences therebetween is found in a process from when the master storage device receives a write processing request from the master host until when the master storage device responds to the master host. In the synchronous remote copy, when the master storage device receives the write processing request from an application such as a database of the master host, the master storage device firstly copies the write data to the remote storage device, and then responds to the host. On the other hand, in the asynchronous remote copy, when the master storage device receives the write processing request from the master host, the master storage device saves the write data in the memory thereof, and immediately thereafter responds to the master host. Subsequently, the master storage device copies the write data thus saved in the memory to the remote storage device, and erases the saved data.
Usually, in order to prevent a loss of important data, a protocol which ensures reliability, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol), is utilized in the intersite communication in the remote copy system. The TCP/IP is described in "iSCSI: The Universal Storage Connection", authored by John L. Hufferd, published by Addison-Wesley, 2003, P.52–55, FIG. 4-3. Specifically, in the TCP/IP, a send side device holds a copy of transmission data in a memory, and repeats retransmission until the send side device receives acknowledgement of receipt from a receive side device, thereby assuring reliability.
However, in the TCP/IP communication, there is a case that the remote copy data may stagnate due to a property of congestion control of Transmission Control Protocol as described in RFC2581 (pages 3 to 7). That is, the TCP has a property that at a time when packet discarding occurs, associated with a congestion in a network or a failure in any of the devices configuring the network (switches, routers and the like configuring the LAN or WAN), a send side device drastically reduces a transmission rate, and thereafter retransmits the packet. With this property, throughput degradation due to the transmission rate reduction and response time increase by retransmitting the packet may occur at the time of congestion and/or failure. Such throughput degradation and/or response time increase as described above may cause the remote copy communications to stagnate.
When the remote copy communications stagnates, a response from the master storage device to the master host, as to a write processing request from the master host, may be delayed and there is a possibility that the application of the master host may be suspended. Specifically, in the synchronous remote copy as described above, since the master storage device responds to the master host after the remote copy is carried out, stagnation of the remote copy communication may cause a stagnation of the response to the master host.
On the other hand, in asynchronous remote copy, when the remote copy communication stagnates, data transmission amount is reduced, and the memory of the master storage device may be saturated with non erased data. As a result, the data cannot be saved in the memory any more, and responding to the master host may be stagnated. If such stagnation occurs in responding to the master host, write processing cannot be completed and timeout may occur in critical applications such as database, which are executed by the master host, and there is a possibility that those applications are suspended.
In view of the situations above, it is important to provide a technique for preventing a stagnation of remote copy communication in the intersite communications in the remote copy system, the stagnation being caused by the throughput degradation and response time increase due to a property of TCP/IP at the time of network congestion and/or failure.
A technique for handling a failure in equipment constituting a network is described, for example, in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-124964 (FIG. 1, FIG. 3), as the following. This technique comprises a method which implements redundancy in a network line, by employing a control device (for example, a device in which redundancy is implemented by use of a plurality of Ethernet lines of 10/100 Mbps, which will be referred to as "line redundant device", hereinafter), for providing an upper level layer (e.g., applications) with physically multiple network lines functioning as a logically one line. With this method, at the time of sending, failure information of the entire network lines under control is firstly referred to, and then, identical data is transmitted to all the lines where no failure has occurred. On the other hand, at the time of receiving, the upper level layer (application) is notified of one of a plurality of identical data items (generally, the earliest arriving normal data item), which are received from multiple network lines, and the other identical data items are discarded.

Storage system with method of minimizing redundant transmissions over a plurality of communication paths


An expandable apparatus may comprise a tubular body, a valve piston and a push sleeve. The tubular body may comprise a fluid passageway extending therethrough, and the valve piston may be disposed within the tubular body, the valve piston configured to move axially downward within the tubular body responsive to a pressure of drilling fluid passing through a drilling fluid flow path and configured to selectively control a flow of fluid into an annular chamber. The push sleeve may be disposed within the tubular body and coupled to at least one expandable feature, the push sleeve configured to move axially responsive to the flow of fluid into the annular chamber extending the at least one expandable feature. Additionally, the expandable apparatus may be configured to generate a signal indicating the extension of the at least one expandable feature.

Wellbores, also called boreholes, for hydrocarbon (oil and gas) production, as well as for other purposes, such as, for example, geothermal energy production, are drilled with a drill string that includes a tubular member (also referred to as a "drilling tubular") having a drilling assembly (also referred to as the "drilling assembly" or "bottomhole assembly"or "BHA"), which includes a drill bit attached to the bottom end thereof. The drill bit is rotated to shear or disintegrate material of the rock formation to drill the wellbore. The drill string often includes tools or other devices that need to be remotely activated and deactivated during drilling operations. Such tools and devices include, among other things, reamers, stabilizers or force application members used for steering the drill bit. Production wells include devices, such as valves, inflow control devices, etc., that are remotely controlled. The disclosure herein provides a novel apparatus for controlling such devices and other downhole tools or devices.
Expandable tools are typically employed in downhole operations in drilling oil, gas and geothermal wells. For example, expandable reamers are typically employed for enlarging a subterranean wellbore. In drilling oil, gas, and geothermal wells, a casing string (such term broadly including a liner string) may be installed and cemented within the wellbore to prevent the wellbore walls from caving into the wellbore while providing requisite shoring for subsequent drilling operations to achieve greater depths. Casing also may be installed to isolate different formations, to prevent cross-flow of formation fluids, and to enable control of formation fluids and pressure as the borehole is drilled. To increase the depth of a previously drilled borehole, new casing is laid within and extended below the previously installed casing. While adding additional casing allows a borehole to reach greater depths, it has the disadvantage of narrowing the borehole. Narrowing the borehole restricts the diameter of any subsequent sections of the well because the drill bit and any further casing must pass through the existing casing. As reductions in the borehole diameter are undesirable because they limit the production flow rate of oil and gas through the borehole, it is often desirable to enlarge a subterranean borehole to provide a larger borehole diameter for installing additional casing beyond previously installed casing as well as to enable better production flow rates through the wellbore.
A variety of approaches have been employed for enlarging a borehole diameter. One conventional approach used to enlarge a subterranean borehole includes using eccentric and bi-center bits. For example, an eccentric bit with a laterally extended or enlarged cutting portion is rotated about its axis to produce an enlarged wellbore diameter. A bi-center bit assembly employs two longitudinally superimposed bit sections with laterally offset longitudinal axes, which when the bit is rotated produce an enlarged wellbore diameter.
Another conventional approach used to enlarge a subterranean wellbore includes employing an extended bottom-hole assembly with a pilot drill bit at the distal end thereof and a reamer assembly some distance above. This arrangement permits the use of any standard rotary drill bit type, be it a rock bit or a drag bit, as the pilot bit, and the extended nature of the assembly permits greater flexibility when passing through tight spots in the wellbore as well as the opportunity to effectively stabilize the pilot drill bit so that the pilot hole and the following reamer will traverse the path intended for the wellbore. This aspect of an extended bottomhole assembly is particularly significant in directional drilling. One design to this end includes so-called "reamer wings," which generally comprise a tubular body having a fishing neck with a threaded connection at the top thereof and a tong die surface at the bottom thereof, also with a threaded connection. The upper mid-portion of the reamer wing tool includes one or more longitudinally extending blades projecting generally radially outwardly from the tubular body, the outer edges of the blades carrying polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements.
As mentioned above, conventional expandable reamers may be used to enlarge a subterranean wellbore and may include blades pivotably or hingedly affixed to a tubular body and actuated by way of a piston disposed therein. In addition, a conventional wellbore opener may be employed comprising a body equipped with at least two hole opening arms having cutting means that may be moved from a position of rest in the body to an active position by exposure to pressure of the drilling fluid flowing through the body. The blades in these reamers are initially retracted to permit the tool to be run through the wellbore on a drill string and once the tool has passed beyond the end of the casing, the blades are extended so the bore diameter may be increased below the casing.
The blades of some conventional expandable reamers have been sized to minimize a clearance between themselves and the tubular body in order to prevent any drilling mud and earth fragments from becoming lodged in the clearance and binding the blade against the tubular body. The blades of these conventional expandable reamers utilize pressure from inside the tool to apply force radially outward against pistons that move the blades, carrying cutting elements, laterally outward. It is felt by some that the nature of some conventional reamers allows misaligned forces to cock and jam the pistons and blades, preventing the springs from retracting the blades laterally inward. Also, designs of some conventional expandable reamer assemblies fail to help blade retraction when jammed and pulled upward against the wellbore casing. Furthermore, some conventional hydraulically actuated reamers utilize expensive seals disposed around a very complex shaped and expensive piston, or blade, carrying cutting elements. In order to prevent cocking, some conventional reamers are designed having the piston shaped oddly in order to try to avoid the supposed cocking, requiring matching and complex seal configurations. These seals are feared to possibly leak after extended usage.
Notwithstanding the various prior approaches to drill and/or ream a larger diameter wellbore below a smaller diameter wellbore, the need exists for improved apparatus and methods for doing so. For instance, bi-center and reamer wing assemblies are limited in the sense that the pass through diameter of such tools is nonadjustable and limited by the reaming diameter. Furthermore, conventional bi-center and eccentric bits may have the tendency to wobble and deviate from the path intended for the wellbore. Conventional expandable reaming assemblies, while sometimes more stable than bi-center and eccentric bits, may be subject to damage when passing through a smaller diameter wellbore or casing section, may be prematurely actuated, and may present difficulties in removal from the wellbore after actuation.
Additionally, if an operator of an expandable tool is not aware of the operating condition of the expandable tool (e.g., whether the tool is in an expanded or retracted position), damage to the tool, drill string and/or borehole may occur, and operating time and expenses may be wasted. In view of this, improved expandable apparatus and operating condition detection methods would be desirable.

Remotely controlled apparatus for downhole applications, components for such apparatus, remote status indication devices for such apparatus, and related methods


A rotational viscometer is disclosed for measuring the viscosity of a rotating fluid. The viscometer includes a measurement disk that is positioned within the rotating fluid and is interconnected via a shaft with a measurement arm mounted within a housing. A light source is mounted within the housing and emits a beam of light onto one or more light receivers. The light receivers provide an output signal that is a function of the amount of light received. An end of the measurement arm is movably disposed between the light source and the light receivers. Pivoting of the measurement arm controls the amount of light received by the light receivers. A signal processor receives the output signals from the light receivers and determines a restorative signal therefrom. The restorative signal is provided to a balance coil which is located adjacent a permanent magnet. The balance coil generates an electromagnetic field as a, function of the restorative signal. An adjustment shaft has one end engaged with the balance coil and the other end attached to the measurement arm. The generation of an electromagnetic field in the balance coil causes the adjustment shaft to translate resulting in pivoting of the measurement arm about its center of rotation in an opposite direction from its initial displacement. An output device receives the restorative signal and determines the viscosity of the fluid therefrom.

Many commercial and industrial processes require precise knowledge of the physical properties of substances being used in those processes in order to operate efficiently. For example, it is important to accurately determine the rheological properties, such as viscosity, of a liquid in food, cosmetics, paint, ink and lubricant industries. For example, controlling the viscosity of inks is very important for the proper performance of high speed printers. Also, the performance of paint sprayers and similar high speed paint application equipment requires that the paint viscosity be accurately controlled. In general, as industrial processes become more accurate and made to operate at higher speed, an accurate assessment of the viscosity of liquids used in the process is more and more important.
The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of the fluid's resistance to flow. Several commercially available conventional devices (viscometers) measure the viscosity of a fluid sample by rotating the sample within a container. A disk is suspended within the fluid sample and connected to a measurement apparatus. The viscosity of the fluid causes the suspended disk to rotate. The device calculates the viscosity of the fluid by measuring the amount that the suspended disk rotates, since the rotational force imposed on the disk by the rotating fluid is proportional to the fluid's viscosity.
In order to measure the rotation of the suspended disk, conventional viscometers incorporate mechanical components, such as a coiled spring, to determine the angular displacement of the disk. Measurements made with these types of systems, however, are subject to errors. For example, errors can result from the nonlinear characteristics of the spring caused by manufacturing imperfections, and from variations in spring tension due to temperature changes. It is common for the accuracy of these mechanical viscometers to be about one part in 100 or about 1%.
Additionally, the limited dynamic range of the spring requires that the viscometer be calibrated using a calibration standard that has a viscosity closely approximately the viscosity of the sample being measured. As is readily apparent, since the sample's viscosity is not known, the selection of the calibration standard is subject to error.
Another problem with mechanical spring-type designs is that the springs are typically designed to measure small forces. As such, these devices can be easily damaged if an excessive force is applied.
Other types of viscometers currently available operate by rotating a disk within a fluid sample in a stationary container. The drag imposed on the disk by the fluid sample is proportional to the viscosity of the fluid sample. These types of viscometers suffer similar deficiencies as with the viscometers which rotate the fluid sample.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved rotational viscometer which provides accurate viscosity measurements for a fluid sample and is easy to calibrate.

Rotational viscosity measurement apparatus


By performing a method for transmitting to a reading device data of a sensor that is allocated to an inductively heated cooking vessel, a high frequency control voltage is generated from a mains alternating voltage by means of a converter, wherein the high frequency control voltage is applied to an oscillator circuit having an induction heating coil in order to generate a high frequency magnetic alternating field for heating the cooking vessel. The method includes the steps: interrupting the applying of the high frequency control voltage to the oscillator circuit during a predefined first time region covering a zero crossing point of the mains alternating voltage in order to cause a self-resonant oscillation of the oscillator circuit; changing an impedance of an antenna that is inductively coupled to the induction heating coil, which antenna is allocated to the cooking vessel, in dependence upon the data of the sensor, which data is to be transmitted, during a second time region that lies within the first time region; and decoding the transmitted data of the sensor in the reading device, in that a resonant frequency, in particular a resonant frequency change, of the self-resonant oscillation of the oscillator circuit is evaluated.

It is frequently necessary in order to precisely control and/or regulate a cooking process to ascertain an exact as possible temperature of the food that is being cooked.
DE 10 2009 047 185 A1 discloses a method and a device that render it possible by means of evaluating specific parameters to ascertain a temperature of a base of a cooking vessel that is being heated by means of an induction heating coil. However, in particular when preparing foodstuffs that contain starch and egg white, effects that are dependent upon the nature of the food that is being cooked render it difficult to unambiguously ascertain in dependence upon the temperature of the base of the cooking vessel the temperature of the food that is being cooked.
It can therefore be necessary to provide a dedicated sensor for measuring the temperature of the food that is being cooked. The temperature data and/or the data of the sensor must then be transmitted in a suitable manner to a reading device that then evaluates said data, by way of example, and controls a cooking process automatically taking into consideration the temperature of the food that is being cooked.

Temperature measurement in a cooking vessel


A multi-function, multi-segment ac plasma erase lamp is provided to selectively erase previously charged areas of a photoconductive member. The lamp performs the conventional erase function of fixed edge erase, edge shift and patch generation, while adding the functions of variable edge erase along an edge to accommodate reduction images and changes in page size. Another feature of this erase lamp is a "dark" segment which is energized but is not light emitting. Its function is to enhance the turn on time for the light emitting segments. A still further improvement is the application of a voltage to a photoresist coating applied the the lamp surface to create a field which will repel toner and dust particles from that surface of the lamp.

This invention relates to an electrophotographic printing machine and more particularly to a multifunction erase lamp system which incorporates addressable segments for accomplishing interdocument and edge erase functions, vertical image shifts and improved turn on response.
In a typical electrophotographic printing process, a photoconductive member is charged to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charge thereon in the irradiated areas. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational area contained within the original document. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith.
In this process, certain areas of the photoconductive member are charged and not used for imaging. These charged, unused areas are subsequently developed with toner particles. Inasmuch as these toner particles are not transferred to the copy sheet, they must be cleaned from the photoconductive member prior to the next successive imaging cycle or they will degrade the copy. Alternatively, if these non-image regions are not charged, or if they are discharged before development, the non-image areas of the photoconductive member will not be developed with toner particles and there is no requirement to clean the photoconductive member. The non-image areas on the photoconductive member requiring discharge are the interdocument area and the edge areas. The interdocument areas are the non-image areas before the first electrostatic latent image, between adjacent latent images, and after the last latent image of a series of latent images recorded on the photoconductive member. The edge areas are the non-image areas adjacent the sides of the latent image recorded on the photoconductive member. If the original document is edge registered, then one edge of the latent image will always be aligned with one edge of the photoconductive member, and only one side need be erased. When the electrophotographic printing machine is capable of varying the magnification of the copy, the size of the non-image areas change. For example, if a reduced size image is made, the interdocument area and one or both of the edge areas increase in size.
In order to erase the charged interdocument area, erase lamps extending across the photoconductive member perpendicular to the path of movement are energized for a selected time period as a function of the velocity of the photoconductive member so as to illuminate the entire interdocument area. The selected time of energization varies as a function of the size of the interdocument area. Edge erase requires that the length of the erase light be adjusted to compensate for different size images.
Various prior art charge erase devices are known and an extensive listing of references is identified and summarized in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,975 (Godlove et al.), whose contents are hereby incorporated by reference. The Godlove patent discloses a multifunction plasma-erase lamp which incorporates a segmented electrode, each segment being selectively energized and associated with a specific erase function (interdocument, edge erase, formation of a test patch area). With the ever demanding customer requirement for improved copy quality and extended product life, it has become necessary to provide lamps with significantly improved light output stability, optimized spectral output and improved life characteristics. It has also become increasingly more important to utilize lamps capable of providing narrow exposure profiles necessitating narrow emitting areas and fast response times.


A DC-DC converter (100) includes a switching transistor (M0) connecting an input power terminal (VIN) to an inductor (114) that is also connected to an output power terminal (VOUT), a synchronous rectification transistor (M1) connected to a junction node (113) between the inductor (114) and the switching transistor (M0), and a synchronous rectifier control circuit (200) with an integration capacitor (226) having a voltage that is charged and discharged by first and second current sources (210, 220) to track the charging and discharging of the inductor current, thereby generating a synchronous rectifier control signal (SR) that is applied to the synchronous rectification transistor to discharge the inductor current to zero.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed in general to voltage converter and methods for operating same. In one aspect, the present invention relates to the manufacture and use of synchronous rectifier voltage converter circuits.
Description of the Related Art
DC/DC power converter circuits or devices are important in many portable battery-operated electronic devices, such as cellular phones and laptop computers, which are supplied with power from batteries. Typically, a DC/DC circuit converts DC power from one voltage to another voltage by accepting a DC input voltage and producing therefrom a DC output voltage which may have a different voltage level than the DC input voltage. For instance, a DC-to-DC converter may use a charging inductor and load capacitor to convert a relatively high input battery voltage to a lower or negative DC output voltage. In cases where the amount of energy required by the output load is small enough to be transferred in a time that is shorter than the whole commutation period, discontinuous mode DC-DC converters are provided where the current through the charging inductor falls to zero and remains at zero during part of the period so that the inductor is completely discharged at the end of the commutation cycle. Because of accuracy limitations in controlling the discharge of the inductor, discontinuous mode DC-DC converters are susceptible to reverse current events if the inductor discharging is stopped too late, causing reverse electrical current to flow to a ground terminal from an output terminal connecting to a load circuit through the inductor. When a reverse current occurs, power conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter in particular is impaired. And while solutions have been proposed for improving switching control of discontinuous mode DC/DC converters, they typically require large circuits which consume excessive power.
Accordingly, a need exists for improved DC/DC converter devices and associated methods of operation to overcome the problems in the art, such as outlined above. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional processes and technologies will become apparent to one of skill in the art after reviewing the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings and detailed description which follow.

Synchronous rectifier timer for discontinuous mode DC/DC converter


A solar energy collector system which includes n groups (13, 14) of arrayed reflectors (15) and n 1 target receiver systems (10, 11, 12) which present absorbing surfaces to solar radiation that is reflected by the reflectors (15) within the groups. The receiver systems (10, 11, 12) are elevated relative to the reflectors (15) and the reflectors are pivotally mounted to support structure (19) in a manner such that they may be positioned angularly to reflect incident radiation toward one or the other of the receiver systems (10, 11, 12). The collector system is characterized in that at least some of the reflectors (15) within each group (13, 14) are arranged to be pivoted to an extent such that they may be oriented selectively to shift the direction of reflected incident soar radiation form one to another of the receiver systems.

A collector system of the type with which the present invention is concerned is referred to as a Fresnel reflector system and, depending upon its configuration, may be considered as an analogue of a parabolic dish or a linear parabolic trough. When configured as an analogue of a parabolic trough, the collector system comprises receivers which are supported by vertical masts and which are orientated or arrayed to form a linearly extending target. The reflectors are positioned slightly above ground level and are arrayed over an area that is selected to provide reflection of the required amount of radiation toward the target receivers. The arrayed reflectors are orientated to reflect radiation toward one target, and the reflectors are pivotably mounted and coupled to provide for synchronised single-axis tracking.
The above described Fresnel reflector system permits the use of a large scale target and provides for low construction costs relative to those that would be incurred in equivalent size parabolic trough or dish collector systems. However, a problem that is inherent in the use of ground arrayed reflectors is that shading occurs as a consequence of radiation blockage. This takes two forms, one in which radiation that would fall incident on reflectors is blocked by adjacent reflectors and the other in which radiation that is reflected toward the target by some reflectors is blocked by adjacent reflectors. This problem might be avoided by spacing the reflectors in a manner to avoid shading, but this would have the two-fold effect of reducing land utilisation efficiency and expanding the distance between reflectors and associated target receivers. This in turn would have the effect of reducing circumsolar acceptance for a given geometrical concentration ratio and, in the case of a multi-target receiver system, of increasing pipe run lengths between the receiver systems.
The present invention seeks to avoid these problems, while preserving the benefit of the Fresnel reflector system, by providing for orientation of reflectors toward either one of two target receiver systems.


The invention provides a noise-maker having an injection molded single piece body, a membrane and a retaining ring. The injection molded single piece body includes a generally cylindrical central tube and a generally cylindrical pressure tube which defines a pressure chamber. The retaining ring has an inner diameter adapted to fit over the outer surface of the central tube such that the membrane is secured to and stretched across the central tube first end and the pressure tube first end. Sound is created when air or other gas is forced into pressure chamber. The air must pass through the pressure chamber around a pressure tube first end and out the discharge end of central tube. By forcing air into the pressure chamber, membrane vibrates producing a loud sound.

Organized team sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, have a significant role in modern culture, and sporting events are attended by millions of people each year. Fans who attend sporting events typically do so not just as passive observers, but as participants in the sense of cheering for and encouraging their chosen teams. In addition to verbal cheers and applause, many fans use noise making devices to express their excitement and encouragement. It is generally considered that coordinated cheers are particularly effective for encouraging the players and encouraging other fans.
Many fans wish to express their support and encourage their chosen teams with noisemakers of one form or another. While prior art devices do produce noises, the sounds are poorly projected toward the field and can typically lack aesthetic qualities.
While many noise-makers have been made in recent years, these noisemakers typically have drawbacks involving the cost of manufacture. These noisemakers are made from the combination of numerous parts, causing an increased cost thereof. Accordingly, such noisemakers have not been considered economical to manufacture.
Thus, there is a need to create an aesthetically pleasing but cost efficient noisemaker which can produce a desired level of sound.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for non-contact measurement of a dimension and/or an electrical property in an electrically conducting object to be measured by using electromagnetic induction. An electromagnetic field is brought to penetrate through the object to be measured. A transmitter coil is place on one side of the object to be measured. A receiver coil is placed on the other side of the object to be measured. A magnetic field is generated in the transmitter coil. A sudden change is generated in the magnetic field generated in the transmitter coil from one level to another. The voltage induced in the receiver coil is detected. The period of time that elapses from the time of the change of the magnetic field in the transmitter coil up to the time when a voltage starts to be induced in the receiver coil is determined. The magnitude of the induced voltage is determined. The thickness and/or electrical conductivity of the object to be measured is calculated.

Measurement of dimensions and properties of metal products is of vital importance in the metal industry of today. To be able to control the end products to the desired quality in the manufacturing processes, it is of great importance for the continuous measurement of different quantities/parameters of the product to be correct and reliable. This particularly applies to the manufacture of sheet or strip where, for example, the thickness is of vital significance. The techniques that are used today such as, for example, light-based techniques, radiation-based techniques, and techniques with mechanical contact, are often sensitive to disturbances in the surroundings and to the composition of the measured material. Therefore, known methods are not suitable to use when the highest material quality is aimed at. A new fundamental measurement technique, which does not suffer from these shortcomings, is therefore necessary to demonstrate.

Method and device for measuring the thickness and the electrical conductivity of electrically conducting sheets


A spacer for extending an image from a lens assembly of a camera comprises a hollow tube having a front engaging portion capable of being connected to the lens assembly and a rear engaging portion capable of being connected to the camera body; and a first lens installed in the tube; and a second lens installed in the tube and being spaced apart from the first lens. The tube is telescopic. This is achieved by causing that the tube has a plurality of sections or the tube has at least two sections which are threadedly engaged or a compressible and expandable snake like structure is installed between two sections of the tube so that the tube can be prolonged or compressed to adjust the whole length of the spacer. Furthermore the first lens and second lens are concave lenses or convex lenses which are symmetric or asymmetric.

A typical schematic view of a conventional camera is showing in FIG. 1. The conventional camera structure includes a lens device 10 and a camera body 20 enclosing a circuit board 21, an image sensor 22 and a receptacle portion 23 for containing the sensor 22. In this conventional configuration, the lens device 10 includes a lens tube 11 with at least one piece of lens 12 inside the lens tube 11, and the sensor 22 is mounted on the circuit board 21. At an distal end of the lens tube 11, the tube is connected with the camera body 20, and the distance between the lens 12 and the sensor 22 is in close proximity.
According to the general optical imaging theory, a reflected light from an object captured by the lens device can be focused onto an optical sensor 22, by a plurality of lenses inside the lens tube 11. An optical sensitive sensor 22 can convert the focused lights into electrical currents. As the electrical current flowing into the semiconductor devices on the circuit board 21 through electrically wired connections, the electrical signals are post-processed and converted into digital data for displaying the reconstructed image on electronic display devices or storing into memory devices.
In the prior art the shape of the lens device 10 is configured as a small circular ring as illustrated in FIG. 1, meanwhile the camera body 20 is constructed in a cubic like shape to accommodate circuit board and electronic devices. In this configuration, the lens set 10 is attached to the camera body 20 and the lenses are designed to be very close to the sensor 22 for a compact camera body design and maintaining good quality of image. The camera systems have been used in many applications in our daily life, however there are cases requiring the lenses device 10 far away from the camera body 20 due to various design constraints in space. Most of the current used and produced cameras provide lens devices with short lengths neither be able to match the design constraints nor be able to meet the required product specifications. As a result, there are demands for novel designs to overcome the design constraints to extend the image traveling length.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention would be more obviously understood as we disclose the detailed description in conjunction with the appended figures.

Optical spacer with extendable travelling length of images for camera system


A gas turbine engine system includes an airframe support, a gas turbine engine mounted to the airframe support, a nozzle exhaust mounted to the airframe support, and a flexible annular seal having a first end that is attached to the gas turbine engine and a second end that is attached to an exhaust nozzle. The flexible annular seal may include a flexible annular wall that permits relative deflection between the gas turbine engine and the exhaust nozzle to facilitate the reduction of undesirable load transfer.

This disclosure relates to the use of a flexible seal as a solution to eliminating an over constrained mounted system when specific entities of the system must be linked to one another in a particular manner that breaks the equilibrium each individual entity contained on its own. A particular example of this application is with a gas turbine engine.
Gas turbine engines are commonly known and used to propel aircraft. One or more gas turbine engines may be rigidly secured to an airframe of the aircraft.
Various aircraft conditions may result in large deflections and/or load transfers within the gas turbine engine system as well as between the engine and airframe. If the system is not in equilibrium, there is a possibility for undesirable load to be transferred between engine components, and between the engine and mounting system. These loads may induce undesirable stresses on the engine.

Flexible seal for gas turbine engine system


A housing structure that includes a transparent opening in one wall thereof, the opening being covered with a transparent material such as PLEXIGLAS®. This opening allows a user to view the interior of the structure and ascertain the welfare of any animals within or check for pests without opening the birdhouse and risk frightening or harming the animals. In addition, the housing structure may also include a light within such that a user can illuminate the interior thereof. This allows the user to inspect the interior of the structure when it is too dark to do so without the help of an artificial light source. Moreover, the structure may include a removable roof or side wall for easy access to the interior of the birdhouse for the purpose of cleaning and the like, or access ports that may be used to access the structure without opening.

This invention relates generally to a housing structure for cavity-dwelling animals and, more specifically, to a housing structure having a view-in window for viewing the interior thereof.
It is also necessary to monitor the interior of a birdhouse for the presence of rodents, snakes, insects and the like because the presence of such creatures can be harmful to the nesting birds or may deter birds from nesting in the first place. Snakes and rodents may attack and kill adult birds and nestlings. Many insects lay their eggs inside of birdhouses. It is, therefore, necessary to be able to identify the presence of such pests and eliminate them. Since one cannot generally view the interior of a birdhouse through the bird entrance, and physically opening the birdhouse disturbs the birds if the house is inhabited, it is common to lightly tap a birdhouse and then listen for the sound of birds within in order to determine the welfare of the birds. Tapping on the birdhouse will disturb the birds within and is therefore not a completely desirable method of checking on the welfare of the birds. Furthermore, while tapping on a birdhouse may allow a birdwatcher to determine whether birds are living within, it may not always be an effective method of determining the presence of pests within the birdhouse, particularly if the pests are insects.
Many birds will not nest in a birdhouse that contains old nesting. It is therefore necessary to clean the interior of the birdhouse after each brood of nestlings has fledged. Regular cleaning also reduces the occurrence of insect infestations that may be harmful to birds nesting within the birdhouse. In order to properly clean the interior of a birdhouse, it is necessary that the interior of the birdhouse be accessible to the birdwatcher.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a birdhouse that allows for easy viewing of the interior of the structure by a birdwatcher, without disturbing the birds within or risking the escape and harm of nestlings. It is also desirable to provide such a structure so that the birdwatcher can readily identify animals other than birds that may have entered the birdhouse and taken up residence inside the structure. It is further desirable to provide such a structure that is easily opened and cleaned.
In addition to the reasons provided above, there are public health and policy reasons for providing a housing structure having specific access and viewing features.
The need exists for such structures not only in relation to birds but to any cavity-dwelling animals. For example, conservation or forestry department personnel could use such housing structured to tag, monitor and protect endangered species from intruders or human tampering. In addition, DNA samples could be extracted safely from animals contained within such a structure. The Department of Homeland Security or Center for Disease Control could use such a housing structure to monitor birds or other animals that carry disease-causing organisms that might be used in a bio-terrorism attack or might otherwise threaten human health. West Nile virus, for instance, spreads through avian populations and also poses a risk to human health. There is a need for a housing structure in which birds carrying West Nile virus will dwell that also allow health officials to have safe access to the birds. In addition to bio-terrorism attacks specifically directed at human beings, a suitable housing structure could be used to monitor animals for reactions to attacks at lower points on the food chains, wherein the animals observed serve a warning function in much the same way as canaries once warned for the presence of gas in a mine. In order to address these and other concerns it is desirable to provide a housing structure for use with various cavity-dwelling animals that allows one to have safe access to the interior of the structure.

Accesible view-in housing structure for cavity dwelling animals


A heat exchanger, especially a motor vehicle radiator, comprises a bundle of finned tubes open into a header consisting of a header casing and a header plate. The ends of the tubes in the bundle are sealingly fitted in holes in the header plate, and at least one immobilizing element passes through the header plate and extends beyond the latter on the same side as the tubes, and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubes. The immobilizing element is abutted on a part of the tube bundle, in such a way as to oppose any relative displacement, in particular by pivoting or torsion of the tube bundle with respect to the header plate.

It is known from the specification of French published patent application FR2560368A to provide a heat exchanger of the above type in which the end portions of the tubes are sealingly mounted in holes formed in the header plate, on which the header casing is secured, and in which immobilising or locating means are provided for the purpose of opposing any relative displacement, in particular by pivoting or torsion, of the tube bundle with respect to the header plate. In heat exchangers of this known type, sealing between the end portions of the tubes and the edges of the holes formed through the header plate is generally obtained by means of an elastomeric or similar gasket, which overlies one face of the header plate and which is formed with collar portions engaged in the holes in the header plate, between the end portions of the tubes and the edges of these holes.
In the particular type of heat exchanger disclosed in the above mentioned French patent specification, the said immobilising means provide a rigid coupling between the bundle of tubes and the header itself. This coupling thus resists any relative movements of the bundle of tubes with respect to the header plate, which may be liable to occur when the heat exchanger is handled either before or during its fitting on a vehicle, or even after it is installed in the vehicle. Such relative movements, which are detrimental to sealing between the ends of the tubes and the edges of the holes through the header plate, tend to occur most often in the case where the tube bundle consists of a single row of aligned tubes.
Again in the heat exchanger described in the above mentioned French patent specification, the immobilising means include lugs which are engaged in slots formed in the edges of the fins of the tube bundle, or alternatively fingers which are engaged in aligned openings formed in the fins. This arrangement therefore has the disadvantage that it is necessary to provide fins of a particular or special form, so that standard fins cannot be used.

Heat exchanger of the type comprising a finned tube bundle and a header comprising a header plate and a header casing


A method for multi-path packet scheduling in a wireless communication system comprises collecting of measurements of queue state information about buffers of a plurality of transmit nodes. A rate budget is calculated based on the collected measurements of queue state information. The rate budget comprises commanded bit rates and/or data volumes for each transmit node for a subsequent sampling period. Data representative for the rate budget is provided from the packet-flow controller node over a packet scheduling interface to a packet scheduler node. Packets to be sent to each of the plurality of transmit nodes in a subsequent sampling period are scheduled depending on the received rate budget. Nodes for multi-path packet scheduling in a wireless communication system are also disclosed.

Today's wireless cellular systems have been designed to handle very efficient data transfer between a single user equipment (UE) and a single base station, denoted eNB in fourth generation cellular (4G) systems. These solutions are sufficient at today's carrier frequencies close to 1-2 GHz. In future fifth generation cellular system (5G) a shift towards higher carrier frequencies is a necessity, to be able to utilize the available spectrum, thereby achieving a higher capacity.
A consequence of the move to higher carrier frequencies is that the radio propagation is transformed from "diffuse" scattering to more beamlike propagation. This leads to sharp diffraction effects and increasingly heavy radio shadowing behind obstacles. In turn this makes it more difficult to obtain a uniform coverage from a single 5G base station (denoted eNB in case of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and (Next generation Radio) NR in case of the new access discussed for 5G at higher carrier frequencies). The implication is a need to transmit from multiple not co-located transmit points to cover a single cell. Such massive multi-point transmission is generally considered to become a cornerstone in future 5G radio access.
It should be noted that multi-point transmission is also considered for the present 4G LTE system, however the need and also the massiveness of the solutions for 4G are believed to be less than those of future 5G cellular systems.
In a massive multi-point transmission system, where data is arriving from uplink nodes, each involved transmit point needs to be given access to (portions of) this data, for transmission over the wireless interface. It is the task of the flow control functionality to perform the data transfer between different nodes and temporary storage buffers.
In many applications the data is closely related to data simultaneously being transmitted from other transmit points. This is e.g. the case for streaming video, in which case the data for a specific part of the video are needed at the same time, to within a certain pre-determined margin, in the receiving UE. It should here be noted that the different transmit points may transmit different data, or the same data for diversity gain, or a mix of these alternatives.
The radio link variations and hence the delay variations are likely to increase for higher 5G carrier frequencies, due to the increasing radio shadowing. Small timing errors between packets received are automatically handled by the protocols applied which reorder the packets to resynchronize and create the correct data sequence. However, if the asynchronism is too large, the protocols will register this as an error, and request retransmission of packets. In some protocol implementations, this may cause retransmission of out of sequence packets already received, as well as packets still in flight. This will then affect the user experience in a negative way, causing e.g. the streaming video to display erroneously.
The packet scheduler may have several tasks. It typically operates on a set of packet queues, where each packet queue may, at least sometimes, be thought of as corresponding to one bearer. These queues may be virtual and derived from one or several physical queues.
In the article "Robust 2 Stable Networked Control of Wireless Packet Queues in Delayed Internet Connections" by T. Wigren, in IEEE Transactions on control systems technology, Vol. 24, No. 2, March 2016, pp. 502-513, a networked controller for packet data queue level control between two nodes with an Internet connection is presented. The control signal is the bitrate from the transmitting node over the Internet connection in between to the receiving node in which the controlled queue is located.
In the published international patent application WO 2014/207494 A1, methods and apparatuses for recovering data packet flow control against radio base station buffer run away are disclosed.
In the published international patent application WO 2013/167647 A1, a flow control mechanism is provided that is usable for a multiflow communication. A radio network controller (RNC) sends to the Node Bs involved in the multiflow communication a target buffer delay value determined by the RNC. The Node Bs use the target buffer delay value for determining a target buffer size which is signaled to the RNC for flow control purposes.
This approach is based on a simple timing mechanism of each transmission path separately for flow control. Although giving some reduction in the amount of retransmissions, the approach is relatively insensitive to variations in conditions. The tool is based on measurement signaling between each Node B and the RNC and is thus not capable of fast adapting to a current configuration of transmission paths and a current traffic situation. Furthermore, asynchronism for packet reception in the UE cannot be addressed with high accuracy.
A problem with existing solutions in prior art is that there is no packet scheduling algorithm being responsive to the momentary wireless capacity connecting each of the transmission points to the UE. Furthermore, there is a lack of responsiveness also to asynchronism for packet reception in the UE.

Wireless-system flow control and packet scheduler interface


A building construction assembly comprises a plurality of vertical columns that cooperate with a plurality of horizontal beams to collectively define a substantially planar frame border of a building. The vertical columns are in the form of upright trusses having a first upstanding member formed with a pair of angle irons. Each of the angle irons has a first projecting leg and a second projecting leg. The first projecting legs extend inwardly relative to the border in spaced parallel relation and the second projecting legs extend in opposite directions along a common line. A support clip is attached to the first upstanding member for supporting an associated horizontal beam in such a position that the outer facing surfaces of the horizontal beam and the first upstanding member defines the substantially planar border. The support clip is defined by a plate for supporting the associated horizontal beam and a load-bearing flange for retaining the horizontal beam. A cut-out portion is formed in the support clip for receiving the laterally projecting legs of the first upstanding member for attachment. The support clip is properly oriented on the first upstanding member to support the horizontal beam in functional manner.

An early stage in the construction of a building involves erecting a framework upon which siding or sheathing is applied to form the exterior, and insulation and, in most cases, drywall is applied to create the interior.
The majority of residential structures are constructed with wooden boards known in the art by the convention detailing the thickness and width dimensions, such as 2.times.4. The boards generally form the vertical columns and horizontal beams (known to artisans as girts) of the building frame. Some smaller sized non-residential structures, such as barns, storage buildings and warehouses, are also likewise constructed.
Steel has become a popular alternative to wood as a building material. It is often used to frame commercial buildings like those mentioned above. With price of wood rising rapidly and the quality of structural lumber declining, an increasing number of steel-framed residential structures are being erected on an annual basis.
The vertical columns in a steel-framed building most often take the form of trusses. More particularly, each column is defined by two upstanding members that are connected by braces welded to and extending between the upstanding members to provide strength and support.
In present truss frame assemblies, the horizontal beams are supported by brackets on the outer facing surfaces of the upright trusses. Therefore, the true frame boundary is defined by the outer facing surfaces of the horizontal beams. It is thus recognized that the amount of siding or sheathing needed for the finished building is based on the distance between the outer facing surfaces of the horizontal beams on the opposing sidewalls and the opposing endwalls.
Considered in a different way, the upright trusses are inset on the building foundation from the exterior walls. Since the positions of each truss determines the placement of the internal walls of the structure, one can visualize the availability of an additional amount of usable interior area in the building if the trusses were not inset on the foundation.
Since building construction is an expensive undertaking, a small reduction in material requirements or, viewed alternatively, an increase in usable interior area for a given frame size, can result in significant cost savings and/or greater asset value. Thus, there is a need for a building construction assembly, and a method of building construction, that achieves the desired results.

Building construction assembly and support clip therefor and method