Systems and methods for determining optimal water capacity or distribution for each of a plurality of sections of a field to be irrigated by an ancillary span of an irrigation system are provided. A path is determined for a steering tower of the ancillary span that is comprised of a plurality of position-based coordinates. The position of the ancillary span steering tower (and thus the position of the ancillary span) relative to the determined path is always known and, accordingly, the optimal water capacity or distribution for the needs of its location can be readily determined based upon a calculated area factor percentage.

The following discussion of the background of the disclosure is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the referenced material was published, known, or part of the common general knowledge as of the priority date of the application. Some embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to irrigation equipment, machines and/or systems. However, it will be understood and appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to irrigation system applications and may be used in other applications where optimizing liquid distribution within a bounded area would be beneficial.
Mechanized irrigation systems provide the ability to manage water resources and, in some instances, other liquids. For example, mechanized irrigation systems can enable application of an optimal amount of water at critical times during a crop's life cycle, fortifying crop health and maximizing yield potential. While there are many components that make up mechanized irrigation systems, in a general sense, such systems include a mechanical structure, a drivetrain, and a control system. One common type of mechanized irrigation system is a center pivot arrangement that includes a central pivot point about which the system rotates, swivels, or revolves. The central pivot point generally includes a rotational swivel and bearing assembly that supports a substantially horizontal, primary, irrigation pipeline having one or more spans. A "span," as the term is used herein, is a structural assembly comprised of at least a portion of the substantially horizontal, primary, irrigation pipeline, struts and braces, and a truss rod connection system. A span travels in a fixed circular operation in relation to the central pivot point. The path of travel is determined by the span's radial position with respect to the central pivot point. Hence, the particular area capable of being irrigated by a span can be ascertained through standard mathematical calculations known to those having ordinary skill in the art. This, in turn, permits optimal water capacity or distribution to be determined.
Although central-pivot-type irrigation systems function satisfactorily for the most part, they are capable of watering only circular areas. Most plots of land, however, are not circular in shape, but are of some other shape, the most common of which is rectangular. A basic central pivot machine is not able to irrigate the corner areas of rectangular fields or other areas outside of the circle covered by the machine. Accordingly, various types of attachments have been proposed to more adequately cover the sizeable land area represented by field corners. One successful type of corner irrigation system incorporates an ancillary span or swing arm which is added onto an outermost end of a primary irrigation pipeline. (It will be understood throughout this patent that reference to the term "ancillary span" is intended to incorporate not only ancillary spans but wrap spans and the like as well.)
An ancillary span is generally similar in construction to the spans of the primary irrigation pipeline, except that it has a hinge connection with the outermost end (relative to the central pivot point) of the primary irrigation pipeline and is supported by a tower having steerable wheels (i.e., a steering tower or S-tower). As the primary irrigation pipeline turns about the central pivot point, the steering tower is able to pivot the ancillary span out into the corners of the field and to retract the ancillary span back behind (or in front) of the primary irrigation pipeline as the system departs from a corner. In this manner, the ancillary span provides controllable and moveable extension to the primary irrigation pipeline which is able to cover a substantial portion of each corner of the field.
Determining optimal water capacity for irrigation systems incorporating ancillary spans is much more complex than performing the standard mathematical calculations for determining optimal water capacity for a circular area covered by a primary irrigation pipeline. This is due in part to the ability of the ancillary span to maneuver at different extension and retraction velocities independent of the primary irrigation pipeline. Thus, many prior-proposed and/or existing irrigation systems incorporating an ancillary span fail to apply water in a uniform manner to the corners of the field. As the ancillary span extends out into a field corner, it travels faster than the primary irrigation pipeline; thus, under-watering can occur in the area covered by the ancillary span during its extension. Conversely, the ancillary span moves relatively slowly as it retracts out of the field corners; thus, over-watering can occur in the areas covered by the ancillary span as it folds back behind the primary irrigation pipeline. The overall result is that some areas near the field corners may be under-watered and other areas may be over-watered, and the effectiveness of the irrigation suffers accordingly.
Another issue that makes determining optimal water capacity for ancillary spans more complex when compared to a primary irrigation pipeline is that the orientation of the ancillary span as it passes over the area to be irrigated is not constant. The uniformity of the water distribution accordingly suffers due to the changes that occur in the effective overall length of the irrigation system as the ancillary span extends out and then retracts back in. Stated differently, when the ancillary span is in its most retracted orientation with respect to the primary irrigation pipeline, a substantial length of the ancillary span may pass over the same point on the ground below the ancillary span. Conversely, when the ancillary span is at its most extended orientation, only the width of the pipeline may pass over a point on the ground. Accordingly, in order to distribute water evenly, it is necessary to supply water to the machine at varying rates (because more water is required when the machine is operating at its maximum length than when it is at minimum length) or to activate and deactivate select sprinklers to control the amount of water being distributed from particular portions of the primary irrigation pipeline and/or the ancillary span at various times throughout the irrigation cycle.
Various solutions designed to improve the uniformity and optimal distribution of water resources have been proposed. One such solution adjusts water distribution via one or more mechanical switches, known as a cam switches, which allow for a set of sprinkler groupings to activate during phases of the irrigation cycle when the ancillary span is extending or extended and a separate set of sprinkler groupings to activate during phases of the irrigation cycle when the ancillary span is retracting or retracted. This solution does not predict the maneuvers (e.g., extension, retraction and/or velocity) of an ancillary span but rather reacts to the ancillary span maneuvers through a hinge mechanism such that when the ancillary span is at a particular extension angle relative to the primary irrigation pipeline, a switch is activated or deactivated and, based on the configuration it controls, the corresponding grouping of sprinklers is likewise activated or deactivated.
Other solutions designed to improve the uniformity and optimal distribution of water resources using the extension angle of the ancillary span relative to the primary irrigation pipeline as a means of controlling activation and deactivation of sprinkler groupings utilize a programmable logic controller (PLC). A PLC is used in lieu of a cam switch but has a similar effect. An irrigation system incorporating a PLC is able to control many more sprinkler groupings than a mechanical cam switch through the use of a programmable routine.
Yet other solutions designed to improve the uniformity and optimal distribution of water resources utilize time-based activation and deactivation of groupings of sprinklers. These solutions effectively divide the operation of an irrigation system incorporating an ancillary span into successive, time-based operating cycles. Groupings of sprinklers are then activated or deactivated in accordance with the position of the ancillary span at each operating cycle. Still other solutions provide for the operation of various sprinkler groupings based upon the size of the surface area traversed during operation of the irrigation system.

Path-based water capacity determination for ancillary spans


A user-friendly reverse circulation float equipment tool and process permit the application of reverse circulation cementing in shallow or deeper wells, without having to use an inner string. The reverse circulation float equipment tool can have: an upper section with a ball-activated upper valve, a lower section with a ball-activated lower valve, and an intermediate ball chamber between the upper and lower sections to contain the ball in a reverse mode. The reverse circulation float equipment tool and process allow circulation in the normal and reverse circulation modes while running the casing and during hole conditioning. After the reverse circulation job, the convenient reverse circulation float equipment tool and process allow closing of the bottom of the casing to prevent U-tubing of the cement slurry. This will also facilitate having the casing in radial compression during the time required to set the cement in the annulus, between the casing and wall of the well bore, to minimize the formation of a micro-annulus during cement curing.

This invention pertains to cementing of oil and gas well and, more particularly, to a reverse circulation equipment tool and process.
In the construction of oil and gas wells, a well bore is drilled into one or more subterranean formations or zones containing oil and/or gas to be produced. The well bore is typically drilled utilizing a drilling rig which has a rotary table on its floor to rotate a pipe string during drilling and other operations. The drilling rig may also have a top drive mechanism for rotating the pipe string which is integral with the traveling block of the rig in addition to or instead of a rotary table.
During a well bore drilling operation, drilling fluid, also referred to as drilling mud, is circulated through nozzles on the drill bit and upwardly back to the surface through the annulus between the walls of the well bore and the drill string. The drilling mud is typically either water-base or oil-base and contains a variety of components. The primary functions of the drilling mud are to lubricate the drill bit, to transport rock cuttings to the surface and to maintain a hydrostatic pressure in the well-bore sufficient to prevent the intrusion of formation fluids and thereby prevent blowouts.
Following drilling, a casing or pipe is cemented in the well-bore to prevent caving in of the hole and to segregate the formations penetrated. Typically, after a well for the production of oil and/or gas has been drilled, a casing will be lowered into and cemented in the well. The weight of the casing, particularly with deep wells, creates a tremendous amount of stress and strain on the equipment used to lower the casing into the well. In order to minimize that stress, floating equipment, such as float shoes and/or float collars can be used in the casing string.
The float equipment typically has a valve affixed to the casing which allows fluid to flow down through the casing, but prevents flow in the opposite direction. Because upward flow is obstructed, a portion of the weight of the casing will float or ride on the well fluid to reduce the amount of weight carried by the equipment lowering the casing into the well. Once the casing is in position, cement is pumped down through the inner diameter of the casing, through the valve and into the annular space between the outer diameter of the casing and the well bore. After the cement job is complete, the valve keeps the cement below and behind the casing string.
The float equipment is typically fabricated with a check valve in an outer sleeve which is screwed into a casing string. The valve can be affixed by filling the annulus between the valve housing and the outer sleeve with a high compressive strength cement to form a cement body portion.
As discussed above, in running a string of well casing in a well bore, it is often the practice to cause the well fluid to sustain a portion of the weight of the casing string by floating the string in the well fluid. The well fluid is ordinarily prevented from entering the casing string by an upwardly closing check valve, which later prevents back flow of the cement slurry, pumped down and around the casing string by conventional cementing.
A shoe on the lower end of a string of casing can be provided in order to guide the casing through the well bore and protect the casing from damage by contact with the wall of the well bore. Sometimes the openings on the sides of the shoe help jet the well bore walls for improved cleanings. In some circumstances, it has been the practice to use a type of shoe with a valve which either totally excludes well fluid from the interior of the casing string or which permits a limited amount of fluid to enter the string. Shoes of this type are often referred to as float shoes and differential flat shoes, respectively.
It is the usual practice to cement the casing in place to prevent migration or channeling of water or other fluids along the outer side thereof. Before cementing, annular space between the outside of the casing and the wall of the borehole is the conditioned for cementing by pumping conditioning fluid down the casing. The conditioning fluid flows radially outwardly from the bottom of the casing and passes-upwardly through the annular space where it entrains and carries rock cuttings and other to the surface. The conditioning fluid usually comprises drilling mud followed by thinner drilling mud of lesser viscosity which can more easily be displaced during cementing.
Conventional cementing techniques involve displacing cement slurry down through the bore of the casing and out a shoe on the bottom thereof so that the cement fills the annulus between the casing and the well-bore wall. A sufficient volume of slurry is displaced so that the top of the cement in the annulus extends inside the previously cemented string of casing. The casing is made up of a number of cylindrical sections or joints which are passed down the hole in sequence and which are screwed together end-to-end. As one moves down to lower depths the diameter of the casing is reduced. It often is the practice to run a number of lengths of casing of constant diameter into the hole, then to pump cement down the casing, out of the end of the casing and upwardly into the gap between the borehole wall and the outer wall of the casing in order to seal the casing and hold it in place. When the cementing operation is completed, further cylindrical sections of casing of reduced diameter can be passed downwardly through the first casing section. The casing sections (joints) are screwed together so that they extend downwardly from the first section. These procedural steps can be repeated with reducing diameter casing sections. A shoe or float can be placed at the bottom end of the leading casing section. Furthermore, an internal collar can be secured part-way down the length of the leading casing sections.
In conventional primary cementing, cement is forced down the bore of the casing, through an aperture in the guide shoe at the bottom of the casing and up the annulus between the casing and the well-bore to the desired level. One or more float valves are installed in the casing to prevent back flow of the cement into the casing from the annulus if pressure in the casing is reduced and because the density of the cement slurry is normally higher than the density of the displacing mud in the casing. A float valve may be in the form of a collar or as an integral part of the guide shoe. The closed float valve or valves seal the bottom of the casing and prevent fluids in the well-bore from filling it when the casing is lowered into the well-bore. The casing float provides buoyancy in the casing and can reduce total weight supported by the derrick.
After the casing is in place in the well-bore, a bottom cement plug can be pumped before the cement in order to displace any fluid in the casing. The bottom plug can be pumped downwardly through the casing to seat above the uppermost float valve. Thereafter, the pressure is increased in the casing, a diaphragm in the bottom plug is ruptured, and cement flows through the bottom plug, opening the float valve or valves by overcoming the biasing mechanism of the valve. The cement travels to the well-bore annulus. A solid top plug follows the cement and is pumped down by through the casing bore to seat on the bottom plug, at which point the back pressure from the cement in the casing below the float valve, and in the well-bore annulus is supposed to close the valve. When the top plug lands on the bottom plug, the surface pressure increase indicates the end of the cement job.
In conventional cementing, the bottom plug with a rupture disc or the like is usually run ahead of the cement column in the casing. A displacement plug or top plug can be run at the upper end of the column to separate the cement and the displacement fluids. When the bottom plug reaches the shoe at the bottom end of the casing, pressure is used to rupture the disc so that cement slurry can be pumped out of the casing and upwardly into the lower end of the annulus. When the top or displacement plug reaches the shoe, most all of the cement slurry will have been pumped into the annulus. Once the cement has set up or hardened, perforations are shot at one or more intervals in the casing in order to communicate hydrocarbon-bearing formations with the bore of the casing so that the well can be placed on production.
Although the conventional cementing technique has been used for many years, it has a number of shortcomings. The process is time consuming because the cement must be pumped all the way to the bottom of the casing and then back up into the annulus. Expensive chemicals often are used to retard setting of the cement. These factors make conventional cementing a very high cost process which adds considerably to the total completion costs of a well.
One problem which arises when carrying out conventional cementing, is the problem of "free falling" of the cement which occurs during the initial pumping of the cement slurry down the casing. Particularly with larger size casings, the cement slurry falls freely out of control.
There are other drawbacks to conventional cementing which have long plagued oil and gas well production. Prominent among these is that in pumping the cement downwardly to the bottom of the casing and then upwardly into the bore hole annulus to the desired height for the cement column, a considerable period of time is involved. This often results in the use of large concentrations of cement retarder. These conditions can be aggravated by the relatively high temperatures in the bore hole and the water loss from the cement to the formation. In extreme cases, the cement may even set before reaching its destination.
Another drawback in conventional cementing is the weight of the cement, which is heavier than the drilling mud. As the cement travels downwardly in the casing, considerable weight is placed on the casing string. A further problem in conventional cementing, is in pumping the cement upwardly through the annulus from the bottom of the casing or from discharge ports in the side of the casing. In conventional cementing, the pump pressure must be sufficient not only to overcome the resistance to flow of the fluid cement, but also to overcome the weight differential between the cement outside of the casing and the mud inside. These excessive pressures in many cases contribute to the failure in obtaining an annular cement column of adequate height because under high pumping pressures the well walls often fracture, causing loss of the cement to the formation before the cement has sufficiently set.
It is important for the cement to form a strong, continuous annular wall or sheath which bonds the casing to the wall of the well bore. The cement should completely surround the circumference of the casing and should extend uniformly through the vertical length of the annular interval cemented. If the cement is weak, or if any voids are left therein, several undesirable consequences can result. A poor cementing job will not effectively segregate the formations penetrated by the well-bore, and unwanted communication between the formations may occur, sometimes resulting in the production of unwanted fluids. Also, production fluid from a petroleum bearing formation may flow through channels in the cement and into another formation, where it is lost. This is especially disadvantageous when the other formation contains an aquifer. Contamination of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation itself can also occur, such as when salt water channels through the cement and flows into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Also, an unsatisfactory cementing job can cause the loss of treatment fluids which are pumped down the well to stimulate production of oil or gas.
In reverse circulation cementing, cement is pumped downwardly into the annulus between the casing and wall of the well bore, without pumping the cement downwardly through the interior of the casing. This has been accomplished by different techniques.
Following the running of the casing, drilling mud is circulated by the mud pump in the conventional manner to pass downwardly through the casing where the mud is discharged through the float shoe. During this initial circulation, the casing can be reciprocated and/or rotated to abrade the wall of the bore hole as well as to remove any accumulated mud cake, which will be carried out along with cuttings and debris by the circulating drilling mud. When an inspection of the rotary mud at the pit indicates that the well is substantially clean, the circulation of mud is then reversed. Once the reverse circulation cycle has been established, the well is ready for cementing. The mud pump is stopped, a spacer fluid is pumped, and a cement slurry is pumped from the cement trucks into the annulus driving the mud ahead of it so that the mud continues to be discharged from the upper end of the casing back to the mud pit.
The reverse cementing operation is continued until such time as the cement has entered the shoe and has begun to flow upwardly into the casing. The moment when this occurs can be determined by observation of the reduction in volume and velocity of mud returns measured at the surface, as well as the variations in pressure registered on pressure gauge. This measurement can be facilitated by providing in or near the shoe a restricted orifice which will cause a more pronounced flow change to appear at the time the cement enters the pipe if the cement is of greater viscosity than the mud. Also, a conventional weight indicator which displays the approximate weight of the pipe and its contents may be used in the suspension system for the casing, in which case the entry of the cement will be reflected by the change in weight of the casing. In the situation where only a partial cementing is contemplated, i.e., where the cement column will be localized somewhere between the top and the bottom of the bore hole, the amount of cement is theoretically calculated in advance in the same manner as is done conventional cementing practices.
The following alternative mode of operation can also be used in reverse cementing some wells. After the initial mud circulation downwardly in the casing and upwardly in the annulus has been established and it appears from examination of the mud being discharged into the mud pit through the line, that the well is substantially clean, the mud pump is stopped and the mud valve is closed. Conditioned mud valve now is opened permitting the conditioned mud to be pumped through the feed line into the upper end of the casing in place of the heavier drilling mud previously circulated. The amount of conditioned mud can vary as desired, depending upon the condition of the well walls, the bottom hole pressure encountered, etc. It often is desirable to pump drilling mud until the reverse circulation is well established and then to shut off the mud pump and begin reverse cementing. The cement slurry preceded by the spacer fluid can immediately be pumped from the cement trucks into the annulus.
The weight differential between the column of fluid inside the casing and that outside assists in initiating and maintaining reverse cement circulation so that less pumping pressure is required and the bottom hole pressure is less than conventional cementing. Additionally, the friction pressure at the bottom of the hole during reverse cementing is much lower then conventional cementing. The cement can be mixed and fed faster, with less pumping power. Because of the lower pressures in reverse cementing, there also is less tendency for the mud or cement to be forced laterally of the bore hole into weak or unconsolidated formation zones near the bottom of the hole. Furthermore, in the event difficulty is encountered due to loss of circulation as sometimes happens in practice, reverse cementing greatly facilitates re-establishment of circulation.
When the walls of the bore hole to be cemented are relatively clean to begin with, or are relatively easy to clean, it is possible to eliminate the preparatory step of circulating conditioning fluid comprising drilling mud downwardly into the upper end of the casing to establish circulation downwardly in the casing and then upwardly in the annulus for the purpose of removing rock cuttings, mud cake, and other debris. When cleaning of the bore hole is completed or not required cementing operation with the circulation of the mud in the reverse direction, can commence by pumping downwardly in the annulus and thereafter upwardly in the casing as has been described. After circulation in this direction has been established, the pump supplying the mud through the line is stopped and the calculated amount of cement slurry is fed after the spacer fluid into the annulus so that the cement travels downwardly to the desired destination. The casing can be reciprocated during the placing of the slurry to abrade cement cake from the walls and maintain an open path for the slurry.
One reverse cementing system has a cementing shoe on the lower end of the casing with a normally closed valve element that can be locked open, when the casing string is run. A check valve is positioned in the casing several joints above the cementing shoe and has a normally open flow ports with downward facing valve seats. Well conditioning fluids comprising drilling mud are pumped down the casing, through the check valve and the cement shoe, and into the annulus so that the annulus can be cleaned up prior to cementing. Then a blowout preventer is closed at the surface and cement slurry is pumped through a line into the annulus. The column of cement can be preceded by a fluid spacer which separates the slurry from the well conditioning fluids, and an injector is used to place a plurality of balls or ball discs in the annulus at the front of the cement column or at the top of the mud spacer. The spacer and slurry pass downward into the annulus between the casing and the borehole wall and then over the lower end of the casing via the locked-open valve in the cement shoe. When the balls or discs reach the valve seats in the check valve, they lodge in the valve seats to prevent upward flow therethrough. When this occurs a positive indication is given at the surface in the form of a pump pressure increase and/or cessation of mud flow. The cementing job is then complete, and the pressure can be bled off at the surface. It has been suggested to drop a test ball down the casing on an upwardly facing valve seat on the check valve so that internal pressure can be applied to the casing string to test for leaks.
Reverse circulation cementing is currently being used in the field almost exclusively in relatively shallow wells. In these applications, cementing is performed by taking returns through an inner string run inside the casing after getting the casing to bottom. The inner string stings into a tool at the bottom of the casing. The valve in the tool closes after the inner string is un-stung from the tool after the end of the cement job.
Some prior reverse float equipment in shallow well applications have used a retainer at the bottom of the casing, in conjunction with the use of an inner string. Returns are taken during the job through the inner string. At the end of the job, the inner string is pulled from the tool to close the valve at the bottom of the casing, allowing the cement to set without having to apply pressure to the casing. For deeper applications, running an inner string is not operationally easy and in many cases undesirable. Therefore, new float equipment is needed to be able to use reverse circulation cementing for deeper applications without the use of an inner spring and without the application of pressure to the casing after the end of the cement job.
It is therefore, desirable to provide an improved reverse circulation float equipment tool and process, which overcomes most, if not all, of the preceding problems.

Reverse circulation float equipment tool and process


This RBDS receiver comprises a database having broadcasting station related information. The receiver is provided with a read-only database memory in which broadcasting station related data have been stored respectively in association with geographical positional information, the broadcasting station related data including broadcasting station identification data, program type identification data and receptiond frequency data; a demodulator system for demodulating the RBDS data from received broadcast waves; a randomly accessible database supplementary memory; and a control system for comparing the RBDS data with the broadcasting station related data and the data stored in the supplementary memory to perform write control for writing the RBDS data into the supplementary memory if a broadcasting station indicated by the RBDS data is not coincident with any of broadcasting stations indicated by the broadcasting station related data and the data stored in the supplementary memory. According to the present invention, the database can be supplemented immediately and accurately in response to updates and revisions of the contents of actually broadcast programs. Also, the control for display and so on can be appropriately performed in accordance with the contents of actually broadcast programs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver for receiving broadcast waves, and more particularly to a receiver, which is provided with a database having broadcasting station related information for identifying broadcasting stations, the type of broadcast programs and so on, for receiving RBDS (Radio Broadcasting Data System) broadcast waves in which a main information signal such as an audio signal and an information data signal related to a broadcasting station transmitting the main information signal are multiplexed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The RBDS in the United States is similar to the RDS (Radio Data System) practically used in Europe. Specifically, on the transmitter side, additional control signals such as a PI (Program Identification) code for identifying a broadcasting station, a PTY (Program Type) code for identifying or classifying a broadcast program, and so on are frequency-division-multiplexed on an audio signal constituting a main information signal to generate transmission waves (broadcast waves). Then, on the receiver side, these codes are read from received broadcast waves, so that a variety of controls can be carried out in accordance with the contents of the read codes. Other than such receivers relying upon the RBDS broadcast waves, there is also a database type receiver which has a previously prepared database including identification data for identifying broadcasting stations, the type of broadcast programs, and so on, respectively expected to be received. In detail the identification data is stored in a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read-Only Memory) as the broadcasting station related information in association with reception frequencies and reception areas (for example, individual areas defined by dividing the entire territory of the United States at intervals of 0.5 degrees both on the latitude and on the longitude. The divided area is called "grid") to form the database. In the database type receiver, the memory is accessed, upon actually receiving broadcast waves, to read out information indicative of a grid corresponding to a reception position of the receiver, broadcasting station corresponding to a preset reception frequency and the type of a received broadcast program. On the basis of the read information, displaying is performed with respect to the name of the broadcasting station (for example, a call sign) and the type of the received broadcast program (for example, a rock program, a jazz program, a news program and so on. The information indicative of the program type is called "format"). The receiver furthermore performs to select a broadcasting station emitting a type of a broadcast program desired by a user. Such a type of receiver is described, for example, in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 1-117529(1989).
In recent years, there have been further proposed a database type RBDS receiver which utilizes dedicated update data available from RBDS broadcast waves. According to this receiver, the stored data of a database memory is supplemented such that broadcasting station related information can be acquired in accordance with an actual receiving condition or receiving environment. More specifically, supplementary broadcasting station related information supplied from update data is stored into a database supplementary memory such as a RAM provided in the receiver separately from the database memory, such that a variety of proper controls are carried out using integrated data information including supplementary data stored in the supplementary memory and original data stored in the database memory. This proposal has been made, for example, in "UNITED STATES RBDS STANDARD FOR BROADCAST DATA SYSTEMS, DRAFT NO. 1.4 NRSC DOCUMENT, Jan. 10, 1992," and particularly, "22.214.171.124 Type 5 groups: Transparent data channels" from page 22 in the document treats the above-mentioned configuration.
In the receiver which supplements the database using the update data as mentioned above, the database supplementary memory is controlled for writing data only when RBDS broadcast waves having update data are received by the receiver. However, it can be thought that the update data is emitted from an associated broadcasting station later than the time the contents of broadcast programs are actually updated, in which case, the receiver is forced to use an old version of broadcasting station related information for control, so that the receiver is obliged to perform improper control not adapted to the recent broadcast contents.

RBDS receiver provided with a database having broadcasting station related information


Systems and methods for dynamic trusted execution environment (TEE) hardware configuration are provided. A key update message including key update information is received and authenticated for a key stored in the TEE of a mobile computing device. The stored key may define access to hardware resources of the mobile computing device. The hardware configuration for the stored key in the TEE may be changed based upon the key update information.

The Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) is a secure portion of a processor of a mobile device that ensures that sensitive data is processed in a protected and trusted environment. The TEE may offer safe execution of trusted applications and end-to-end security of access to data, software and hardware resources. The TEE is part of the security framework of a mobile device. FIG. 1 shows a security framework 100 with the Rich Operating System (Rich OS) or Rich Execution Environment (REE) 102, the TEE 104 and the Secure Element (SE) 106. The Rich OS 102 executes applications available from third parties. The SE 106 includes software and tamper resistant hardware for high levels of security for proximity payment applications, electronic signatures and PIN numbers.
The TEE 104 helps to control access rights and offers protection against software attacks that may originate from the Rich OS 102 environment. For example, the TEE 104 provides the environment for high-definition (HD) video providers to keep their premium content secure so that it cannot be duplicated or shared.
However, the configuration of hardware resources available for keys stored in the TEE 104 is static and hardcoded by the manufacturer. Any change to the TEE use of hardware resources for a key requires all the software of the TEE 104 to be flashed or overwritten. It is rather expensive to change the configuration of stored keys in order to add new use cases or modify old use cases for usage of the hardware resources.

Dynamic configuration of trusted executed environment resources


A surface acoustic wave device comprising a substrate having a piezoelectric function on a surface thereof, and an electrode film having a four-layer structure comprising, from underneath, a first layer comprising Ti, a second layer comprising Al or an Al alloy, a third layer comprising an intermetallic compound, a silicide or a CuAl2, and a fourth layer comprising Al or an Al alloy on the substrate.

This application is related to Japanese application No. 2000-380577 filed on Dec. 14, 2000, whose priority is claimed under 35 USC xc2xa7119, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. More particularly, the invention relates to a SAW device having been improved in electric power resistance. The SAW device of the invention can be preferably used, for example, as a SAW device (such as a resonator, an interstage filter and a duplexer) for a mobile communication terminal, such as a car telephone and a mobile phone.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, development of a mobile communication terminal, such as a car telephone and a mobile phone, of a small size and a light weight has been quickly advanced. According to the development, parts used in the mobile communication terminal are demanded to have a small size and high performance. Demands of a SAW device (such as a resonator, an interstage filter and a duplexer) contributing to the reduction of the size of a radio frequency (RF) section of the mobile communication terminal is therefore quickly extended.
An antenna duplexer, as one kind of the duplexer, is positioned at a front-end of the RF section and is required to have high electric power resistance. However, a dielectric device has been used therefore because the conventional SAW device has insufficient electric power resistance. Owing to the large size of the dielectric device, the RF section is inhibited from reduction in size.
In general, the SAW device has such a structure that contains a piezoelectric single crystal substrate, such as LiNbO3, LiTaO3 and quartz, having formed thereon interdigitated electrodes. As the interdigitated electrodes, Al (aluminum) or an Al alloy is widely used since they have excellent characteristics, i.e., a low resistance, a light weight and good property for microfabrication. When a high radio frequency signal of high electric power is applied to the SAW device, electric migration due to the radio frequency electric current and mechanical migration due to displacement of the SAW are liable to occur in Al constituting the interdigitated electrodes. It has been known that, as a result of the deterioration of the interdigitated electrodes thus caused, the characteristics of the SAW device are also deteriorated.
In order to improve the electric power resistance of the SAW device, various investigations have been conducted for the constitution of the electrodes. Among these, a technique using a Ti layer as the lowermost layer is receiving attention (described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 5(1993)-90268, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10(1998)-93368 and International Patent Publication No. WO99/16168). According to the technique, it has been stated that the orientation of the Al or Al alloy layer is increased to suppress grain boundary diffusion of Al, and thus the migration resistance is improved, whereby the electric power resistance of the electrode film can be improved.
However, the above-mentioned technique in question has such a problem that the orientation of the Al or Al alloy layer is partially disturbed to cause scattering in electric, power resistance of the SAW devices. The grain boundary diffusion is liable to occur in the part where the orientation is disturbed, and the migration occurs from that part as the starting point. When the migration once occurs, the resistance of the part of migration is increased, and Joule""s heat is caused at that part, whereby there finally arises a possibility of meltdown of the electrode film.
The invention relates to a SAW device comprising a substrate having a piezoelectric function on a surface thereof, and an electrode film having a four-layer structure comprising, from underneath, a first layer comprising Ti, a second layer comprising Al or an Al alloy, a third layer comprising an intermetallic compound, a silicide or a CuAl2, and a fourth layer comprising Al or an Al alloy on the substrate.
These and other objects of the present application will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for constructing a prosthetic limb socket. The method involves the steps of: a) creating a positive cast of a patient's residual limb; b) positioning a mechanical press on a distal end of the positive cast; c) molding a prosthetic socket component over the positive cast and over the mechanical press; and d) activating the mechanical press such that the prosthetic socket component is pushed apart from the distal end of the positive cast. Preferably, the mechanical press includes a spacer component adapted to abut a distal surface of the positive cast, a pusher component adapted to abut a proximate surface of a socket component formed over the positive cast, and an actuator for moving the pusher component from the spacer component. Thus, the method preferably also involves the step of activating the actuator to move the pusher component from the spacer component.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for constructing a prosthetic limb socket, and more particularly, to an efficient and consistent method and apparatus for removing a positive cast of a patient's residual limb from within a molded prosthetic limb socket interface after the socket has been molded or laminated over the positive cast.
A prosthesis is often used to replace an amputated portion of a limb and to help restore the amputee's ability to use that limb. A prosthesis for a lower extremity amputation will often include an artificial foot connected to an upright assembly (pylon, tube or shaft) which is in turn connected to a custom fitted socket assembly. If the amputation is above the knee, the upright assembly will commonly also include an artificial knee joint.
The socket assembly of an above the knee prosthesis typically requires two inter-laying sockets: (a) an inner socket consisting of a flexible, thermoplastic or silicone material; and (b) a stronger, less flexible outer socket which is typically formed from a hard thermoplastic or PVC material. The two inter-laying sockets are attached to the upright assembly of the prosthesis. The inner socket is typically designed to interface with and cushion the amputee's residual limb, to protect the amputee's residual limb from the inter-connection components which attach the socket assembly to the upright assembly, and to provide an air tight seal between the residual limb and outer socket. The outer socket is adapted to be coupled to the upright assembly, and provides support to for the patient's residual limb.
The outer sockets are typically created by heating a thermoplastic "preform" cone until it is sufficiently soft and flexible, stretching the heated cone over a positive cast of the amputee's residual limb, and then vacuum forming the cone in place over the positive cast. Alternatively, the outer socket can be fabricated by heating an extruded sheet of thermoplastic material and wrapping the sheet over the positive cast; or by a laminating process using a fiber reinforced, thermal set plastic. It may be desirable to also permanently mold inter-connection components for coupling the outer socket to the upright assembly of the prosthesis into the outer socket during the vacuum forming operation. The inner sockets may also be created by heating a conventional preform cone and by stretching the preform cone over the positive cast of the amputee's residual limb.
Preform cones are typically formed from a clear thermoplastic material, a polypropylene polymer material, a polypropylene homopolymer material, or a flexible thermoplastic material, and are commercially available through Prosthetic Design, Inc., of Clayton, Ohio. Further, a socket manufacturing unit ("SMU"), which is also commercially available through Prosthetic Design, Inc., can be used to heat and mold the preform cones over the positive cast of the residual limb.
Positive casts of the amputee's residual limb are traditionally constructed by taking an impression or negative wrap of the amputee's residual limb, filling the negative impression with a mixture of plaster of Paris, corn starch, vermiculite and water. Once cured, the negative is stripped away and a positive model replica of the patient's residual limb remains. The positive cast is then modified to provide an optimal fit of what will become the prosthetic socket. By adding material or plaster in certain regions of the positive cast a void will be created in the socket which will act to relieve pressure in that area of the patient's residual limb. Likewise, by removing plaster in certain regions of the positive cast, more pressure will be applied to the patients residual limb in that area of the socket interface.
Once the socket material is cured over the positive cast as described above, the positive cast must be removed from the socket interface. Traditionally, the positive cast is chiseled or chipped out using screwdrivers, impact hammers, chisels, etc., until only the socket interface remains. The inter-connection components, the upright assembly and artificial foot are then attached, the prosthesis is aligned unique to each patient, and a prosthetic limb is the result.
Recently, the creation of the positive cast of a patient's residual limb has been performed using computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) equipment and software. Such a process usually consists of digitizing a negative impression of the amputee's residual limb, modifying the digitized model of the amputee's residual limb using a CAD software package and then milling the positive cast of the modified digital model on a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine (otherwise known as milling machines or carvers).
The CNC machine carves the modified positive cast from a "blank" of positive cast material which is commercially available in various materials, sizes and shapes. The majority of present day prosthesis facilities which utilize a CAD/CAM utilize blanks constructed from a formulation of plaster of Paris, corn starch, bleach, water and vermiculite to create their own blanks. Other facilities who utilize a CAD/CAM operation use blanks formulated from a urethane foam formulation.
The positive casts milled from a urethane blank must also be removed from the molded sockets or sleeves. Typically, it is known to remove the urethane positive casts from the sockets by chiseling out the positive cast using screwdrivers, impact hammers, rubber mallets, and chisels (similar to the tools used to remove the plaster casts). It is known to grind the foam casts out using a motorized grinding tool. However, these extraction method tend to be extremely messy and the fine material that is ground or chiseled from the positive casts tends to irritate the skin and respiratory system. Furthermore, the grinding tools have the propensity to scar the inside surface of the socket. It is also known to force the foam casts out utilizing a compressed air method. The compressed air method is preformed by first drilling a small hole in the distal end of the socket and inserting a tube into the hole and forcing compressed air through the tube and into the hole in an effort to force the foam blank out of the socket. A disadvantage with this removal method is if the plastic of the socket is still warm, it will deform to allow the foam blank to be pushed out, therefore the final plastic will not truly represent the positive model. An additional drawback is that the pressure being exerted may be extremely high and dangerous.
Accordingly, a need exists for constructing a prosthetic socket component which facilitates an efficient and consistent method for removing the positive cast of the wearer's residual limb from the socket component after the socket component has been molded over the positive cast.

Method for constructing a prosthetic limb socket


A system may include an engine, an exhaust passage, a carbon dioxide capture system, and a dosing valve. The engine includes a combustion chamber. The exhaust passage receives exhaust gas from the engine. The carbon dioxide capture system receives exhaust gas from the exhaust passage and may include a separation device, a pump and a first tank. The separation device removes carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas. The pump pumps the removed carbon dioxide to the first tank. A second tank may receive and store carbon dioxide from the first tank. The dosing valve may be in fluid communication with and disposed downstream of the second tank. The dosing valve may regulate a flow of carbon dioxide from the second tank to the engine.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
Many modern combustion engines include an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. Exhaust gas recirculation is an emission control technology allowing significant NOx emission reductions from diesel engines. EGR is also used in gasoline engines in order to eliminate fuel enrichment at high loads to increase engine efficiency. In both cases, the EGR takes effect by reducing combustion temperature, primarily through dilution effects (lowering the oxygen concentration in the combustion chamber), thermal effects (heat absorption) and chemical effects of CO2 and water in the EGR. The present disclosure uses CO2 separated from exhaust gas and uses it as EGR working fluid. CO2 effects in EGR gas have been illustrated by Ladommatos et al. (Ladommatos, N., S M. Abdelhalim, H. Zhao, Z. Hu, 1996. "The Dilution, Chemical, and Thermal Effects of Exhaust Gas Recirculation on Diesel Engine Emissions—Part 2: Effects of Carbon Dioxide", SAE Technical Paper 961167, doi:10.4271/961167), herein incorporated by reference. In addition, EGR is also used on gasoline engines at part loads to reduce pumping work. CO2 separated from exhaust gas can also be used for that purpose. It can also be used as EGR replacement on any internal combustion engines. Such EGR systems may include one or more EGR conduits and one or more EGR valves that recirculate filtered or unfiltered exhaust gas back to the engine to be mixed with intake air and fuel for combustion in the engine. While such EGR systems have generally performed adequately for their intended purposes, there remains a need in the art for continuous improvements in engine performance and cleaner engine emissions.

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.


A method for collecting ground coat and cover coat overspray material generated during the enameling of sanitary ware. The collected overspray material is blended with a fine powder, water is added to the overspray-powder blend to form a slurry, the rheology is adjusted and the resulting slurry is ready for application to the sanitary ware.

The present invention is directed to a process for recovering overspray material resulting from the porcelain enameling process of sanitary ware, and more particularly to a recycling process which reuses the collected material in the ground coat enameling operation of sanitary ware.
The porcelain enameling process of sanitary ware such as water closets, sinks, tubs and the like, generally includes a spray coating operation followed by a firing operation. A typical enameling process includes a ground coat application, a drying cycle, a firing cycle, and a cover coat application followed by another drying and firing cycle. During the ground coat and cover coat applications, only a portion of the finely sprayed powder is deposited on the ware. The portion not reaching the ware is called overspray. Depending on the form of the target object and the type of spray coating system, the overspray share of the total consumption of enamel material amounts to about 25 to about 30%.
The collection of overspray material takes place simultaneously with the enameling process. The overspray material is typically collected in dust collection units and includes both ground coat and cover coat material in random ratios. This resulting overspray material is not functional as usable material in the enameling operation because of the undesired mixture of ground coat and cover coat material. Moreover, it is not practical or advantageous to collect the overspray material separately from the dust collection units after each ground coat spray operation and cover coat spray operation. This would be time consuming and very expensive. Therefore, since the overspray material is not usable in its collected state, it must be disposed of or sent back to the enamel supplier. Both of these options include transport and disposal costs which are very expensive. Unfortunately, the disposal of overspray material places a heavy burden on the environment.
The prior art shows several systems for the collection and recycling of overspray paint in an electrostatic painting environment. A number of these systems provide a conduit for returning unused paint powder to the paint supply hopper. Others treat the collected paint with various materials to alter the characteristics of the collected overspray paint. U.S. Pat. Nos. to Coxon et al. (4,044,175) and Vohringer et al. (4,354,451) both teach systems whereby dry overspray paint is collected in a hopper and recycled back into a dry paint supply hopper. The recycled paint may be recycled to the top coat sprayer if only one color is used, or alternatively may be fed back to the undercoat sprayer if nonhomogeneous paint is collected. The paint remains dry throughout the process and is not modified with any additives.
U.S. Pat. Nos. to Richter (4,607,592), Johnson et al. (4,980,030), and Schlumpf et al. (5,292,547), each teach systems whereby the overspray paint is collected from the painting system through the use of water in the spray chamber. This slurry of excess paint and water is then treated with a variety of chemicals to improve the characteristics of the paint. This process includes the addition of chemicals, mixing of the slurry, and concentration of the solution by removing water from the slurry. All of these systems which add chemicals to control the characteristics of the overspray paint collect the paint with water. Therefore, the chemicals are being added to an aqueous solution. All are organic chemical based systems used in paints. None of the prior art processes teach the addition of dry powder to dry collected overspray dust. None of the prior art processes teach a recycling process involving the enameling of sanitary ware.
It is desirable to reduce costs involved in the handling of overspray material collected from the enameling operation of sanitary ware. It is preferable to obviate disposal of the overspray material altogether. It is desirable to utilize inorganic materials as the basic components of a recycling process. It is important to provide a process for recycling the collected overspray material from the enameling operation that is cost-effective and beneficial to the sanitary ware manufacturer.


Apparatus and methods for controlling electrostrictive transducer sensitivity in a pulse-echo medical ultrasound system. Certain characteristics of each transducer element are tested after manufacture and recorded on a storage medium. The stored data is then used, along with certain model relations, for monitoring certain operational parameters of the transducer during use, and feedback compensation applied for maintaining the transducer sensitivity substantially constant. The parameters to be monitored may include the temperature, acoustic pressure, input power, and a figure of merit determined from the dielectric constant and coupling coefficient.

In the medical diagnostic field, transducers are typically arranged into arrays for use in an ultrasonic imaging system. For example, FIG. 1 shows an ultrasonic imaging system 100 in which an electrical stimulus 102, such as a pulse, is provided to an array of transducers 101, causing the transducers to transmit an ultrasonic acoustical wave 103. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted into the human body and eventually at least partially reflected by an object in the body, for example the heart 115. The reflected wave ("echo") is received by the transducer array 101 which produces an electrical current 104 that is indicative of the echo. Various properties of signal 104, such as its amplitude and phase, are then analyzed by signal processing to determine information about the object, such as its size, location, and velocity. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,651 entitled "Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus."
More specifically, FIG. 1 shows a microprocessor 108 for controlling each of a transmitter 107, preamplifier 109, beam former 106, and digital scan converter 111. The echo signal 104 from transducer array 101 is sent to the preamplifier 109 and then in series to beam former 106, signal processor 105, A/D converter 110, and digital scan converter 111. The z-component of the echo signal is sent to post processor 112, and the resulting z-intensity is displayed on CRT screen 114. The x-y component is sent via x-y raster 113 and displayed on CRT screen 114. Any number of different transmitting and imaging processing system may be used.
Acoustic imaging transducers are generally made of piezoelectric materials, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic. They may also be formed of "composites", in which a piezoelectric ceramic and a polymer are combined for an improved range of properties.
Acoustic imaging transducers have also been made of electrostrictive materials, which are highly polarizable by the application of a DC bias voltage. Lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) is one example of an electrostrictive ceramic.
Both piezoelectric and electrostrictive transducer elements may be characterized by their pulse/echo response sensitivity. "Sensitivity," generally refers to how efficiently energy is transmitted (output) for a given input. "Pulse/echo response" refers to the transducer's capability of converting electrical energy into acoustical energy, and emitted acoustic energy back to electrical energy; it thus combines both the transmit and receive efficiencies. It is defined by the electrical pulse stimulus as an input, and acoustical energy as an output.
The pulse/echo response sensitivity of an electrostrictive transducer depends on various material properties, such as the relative dielectric constant K and the coupling coefficient k.sub.t. These properties are a non-linear function of the operating temperature, the DC bias voltage, and the frequency of operation. See, for example Takeuchi et al., "Relaxor Ferroelectric Transducers," Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (1991). In addition, these properties may vary because of inherent variances in the starting material and/or the processing conditions. As such, the sensitivity may fluctuate for various reasons, some of which may be difficult to control.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the amount of acoustic energy that may be transmitted into a human body. If the sensitivity of a transducer varies, an excessive amount of energy may be transmitted. Moreover, systems which allow their input/output relationship to vary substantially are often perceived in the marketplace as being of inferior quality.
To date, the prior art has driven acoustic piezoelectric transducers with an open control loop. Thus, the prior art system would electrically stimulate the transducer, but not monitor the sensitivity to detect variations in sensitivity.
In summary, there is a need for apparatus and methods for controlling the sensitivity of transducer elements.

Apparatus for controlling the sensitivity of transducer elements of an array


A rock bolt anchor includes a top portion permanently fixed to a bottom portion. The top portion carries a package of resin. A spring-loaded mechanism pressurizes the package and forces the resin out when the package is lanced. The bottom portion main body carries a pair of opposed outer shells in a dovetail joint on opposed tapers. The annulus adjacent to the rock bolt anchor is sealed by top and bottom bulkheads. The bottom portion is threaded onto a rock bolt. A hollow and ported lance is threaded onto the exposed end of the rock bolt. The combination is inserted into a drilled hole and the rock bolt rotated. The lance rises and pierces the package releasing into the sealed annulus. Continued rotation of the rock bolt, forces the main body down and the outer shells up the tapers compressing them against the wall of the drilled hole.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rock stabilizing apparatus for anchoring unstable rock formations in underground mines and construction sites and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method that concurrently employs both chemical and mechanical anchor means to anchor a rock bolt within an unstable rock formation.
2. Background of the Invention
It is well known in mining and construction operations to reinforce roofs, sides and floors of tunnels and shafts using rock bolting. The rock bolts are inserted into a drilled hole and are anchored in place chemically by either a quick curing resin-based adhesive material or mechanically by such devices as expanding anchors adapted to frictionally engage the wall of a drilled hole. Examples of both methods are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,055, 6,698,980 5,344,257 and 5,219,248.
Using a concurrent combination of mechanical and chemical anchors to anchor a rock bolt in a drilled hole is also known in the art and has the combined advantages associated with each individual method. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,835 "Resin-Mixing Article for Mine Roof Anchor" issued to Wright on Jun. 29, 1993. However, Wright does not teach an integrated chemical-mechanical anchor, but rather describes a device where the resin package is placed in the drilled hole in advance of the rock bolt and then the rock bolt is inserted to pierce the package and permit the resin to flow around a portion of the rock bolt. Mechanical anchoring means in the form of a conventional expanding anchor assembly is then used to anchor the rock bolt. The Wright invention discloses a number of weaknesses in combined chemical-mechanical rock bolt anchoring systems. First of all, the Wright invention does not keep the resin material within a predefined portion of the annulus between the rock bolt and the wall of the drilled hole. The resin is permitted to flow around the rock bolt in an uncontrolled manner and back down the drilled hole until such a time as the resin has sufficiently cured to prevent flow. This can have the result of creating voids within the resin material and wasting resin adhesive that may flow down the drilled hole and merely coat the wall of the drilled hole rather than anchor the rock bolt to the wall of the drilled hole. The effect is that the total adhesive capability of the resin is not achieved. Secondly, the resin package is inserted into the drilled hole in advance of the rock bolt. This means that the resin package could be damaged during insertion and tamping to the top of the hole. Resin leakage will again result in the reduction of resin adhesive capability.
Therefore there is a requirement to provide an apparatus that integrates both chemical and mechanical bonding means into rock bolt anchor, takes full advantage of the total adhesive capabilities of the adhesive material and protects the resin package from damage before it needs to be ruptured. There is also a further need to provide for a mechanical anchoring means that can be adapted with an integral chemical anchoring means for use in fragmented rock formations.

Rock bolt anchor having concurrent chemical and mechanical anchoring means and method for using the same


The present invention teaches a boat trailer ladder which may be easily secured to and moved along the trailer rails. A hook is dimensioned and configured to engage standard boat trailer rails. An A-frame ladder provides steps from an approximately the level of the trailer rails, or in alternative embodiments from approximately ground level, up for a distance above the trailer rails. The extra elevation gained by a user of ordinary size standing on an upper step is sufficient to allow them to reach the top surfaces of the boat.

Trailered boats present problems of scale for human beings. While there is art, discussed below, directed towards the goal of providing access to boat cockpits and raft decks either trailered or afloat, there are relatively few items directed to allowing human access to the exterior of a trailered boat. Such access is necessary for cleaning, for repairs and so on.
U.S. patent Publication No. 2003/0145432 issued Aug. 7, 2003 to Figura et al for HANDLE EXTENSION FOR CLEANING HARD TO REACH PLACES is a currently pending application which shows the extent of the problem faced by boat owners: it is hard to reach the top of a trailered boat. As a reaching device rather than a ladder, it is far from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,822 issued Sep. 23, 2003 to Langhoff et al for BUNK LADDER teaches a ladder designed for the interior of a long haul truck., not the exterior of a boat trailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,666 issued Jun. 17, 2003 to Miller for PORTABLE SAFETY LADDER ASSEMBLY FOR A TRUCK TRAILER teaches another cargo trailer device. While it shows a ladder with hooks, the ladder is straight, the hooks are dimensioned and configured for a cargo trailer and located at the top of the ladder and various other differences remove this item from consideration.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,575 issued Apr. 22, 2003 to Spencer et al for UTILITY PERCH AND TRAILER teaches a sport trailer which itself converts to a platform or hunting blind.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,708 issued Jan. 14, 2003 to LaBrash for LADDER MOUNTING SYSTEM teaches another cargo trailer ladder with some form of hooks at the top.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,318 issued May 14, 2002 to Smith for J. C. LIFE LADDER is an example of another type of boat related ladder which is used to get from water to dock and is otherwise unrelated to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,846 issued Feb. 25, 2003 to Bennett et al for TRAILER PLATFORM may be relevant to the present invention. It teaches a step of expanded metal which may be attached to a boat trailer in order to provide a step at the level of the trailer rails. It does not teach any form of ladder, is not easily movable and does not have similar attachments.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,794 issued Oct. 31, 2000 to Staal for PORTABLE SELF-ADJUSTING LADDER is an example of an A-frame ladder with feet adapted to use on flat ground and thus arguing away from use with a trailer rail.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,946 issued Apr. 27, 1999 to Brackett for BOARDING LADDER AND WINCH MOUNT SYSTEM FOR BOAT TRAILERS AND THE LIKE is an interesting design which shows a ladder with a circular section and a bracket on the foot, allowing easy access (the device is a boarding ladder) to a boat on a trailer. The device has a bracket which does not allow easy moving of the ladder and is not of a size and shape to allow it to be used along the trailer or to reach the top of a boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,961 issued Sep. 1, 1998 to Schmeets for QUICK-ATTACHABLE TRAILER STEP teaches a device rather like the '846 patent above, however, it teaches a bracket which may allow easier repositioning along trailer rails.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,070 issued Mar. 10, 1998 to Eldred for TRAILER-BASED SUPPORT FRAME FOR USE IN VERTICALLY TRANSFERRING PERSONS AND EQUIPMENT teaches a ladder for descending into a man hole.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,782 issued May 19, 1992 to McCarty for Boat Boarding Ladder teaches a device for boarding a boat from water: it has a top dimensioned and configured to engage the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,119 issued Aug. 13, 1991 to Baughman for RETRACTABLE STAIRS FOR VEHICLES and U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,850 issued Apr. 9, 1991 to Baughman for Retractable stairs for vehicles both teach stairs which may be permanently mounted on a bumper and retractable into a box.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,076 issued Jul. 24, 1990 to Tripke for SAFETY TRAILER STEP is a possibly relevant step having a bracket for mounting on a trailer rail, but not easily moved and not provided with any A-frame ladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,303 issued Jul. 11, 1989 to Cooper et al for TWO-POSITION LADDER is another device for boat boarding from the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,056,270 issued Nov. 1, 1977 to Greenfield to DEMOUNTABLE BOAT TRAILER STEP is another potentially relevant step also lacking easy methods of moving along the rails and lacking a step ladder for access to the top of the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,719 issued Dec. 12, 1967 to S. E. McCrea for REMOVABLE STEP FOR A TRUCK CAMPER teaches yet another step, this one dimensioned and configured to attach to a bumper.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,280 issued Jul. 6, 1937 to A. J. Matter for SUPPORT shows an unrelated technology with a bracket.
U.S. Pat. No. D456,747 issued May 7, 2002 to Louie for BOAT TRAILER STEP is yet another step lacking easy traverse means, an A-frame ladder and so on.
U.S. Pat. No. D448,335 issued Sep. 25, 2001 to Ehnes for TIRE STEP ASSEMBLY teaches an interesting step which teaches towards attachment to a tire, and obviously cannot be moved freely along the length of a trailer.
U.S. Pat. No. D371,336 issued Jul. 2, 1996 to Wilson for STEP FOR BOAT TRAILER teaches a possibly relevant step which may be moved along a trailer rail but sill lacks an A-frame ladder.
It would be desirable to provide a ladder allowing access to the exterior of the boat, even the topsides exterior, when it is trailered.
It would further be desirable to provide such access to human beings of normal scale, by providing steps or standing surfaces substantially above ground level.


A method and system for transmitting/receiving a signal in a wireless communication system are provided, in which an mobile station determines a sequence number of a first protocol data unit being a last received protocol data unit, transmits the SN of the first protocol data unit to a serving base station, and allocates a virtual SDU sequence number to a service data unit including a second protocol data unit following the first protocol data unit.

Handover is a significant study issue in a wireless communication system. In general, when a mobile station (MS) decides to perform a handover, it transmits a handover request message to a base station (BS) and the base station replies with a handover response message. Upon receipt of the handover response message, the mobile station finally selects a target base station and transmits a handover indication message to the target base station, notifying of the handover. In this manner, the mobile station performs the handover.
A handover procedure in a broadband wireless access (BWA) communication system, for example, will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a handover procedure in a conventional BWA communication system.
Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile station (MS) 100 receives a Mobile Neighbor Advertisement (MO_NBR-ADV) message from a serving base station (BS) 120 in step 101 and scans the serving BS 120 and first and second neighbor base stations 140 and 160 by measuring their signal strengths in step 103. After the scanning, the MS 100 transmits a Mobile Mobile Station Handover Request (MOB_MSHO-REQ) message to the serving BS 120 in step 105.
The serving BS 120 transmits Handover notification (HO_notification) messages to the first and second neighbor base stations 140 and 160, notifying that the MS 100 may perform a handover to them in steps 107 and 109. The HO_notification messages include information about the service level of an on-going service for the MS 100.
The first and second neighbor base stations 140 and 160 transmit a response message for the HO_notification messages to the serving. BS 120 in steps 111 and 113. The response messages include information about service levels supported by the neighbor base stations 140 and 160.
In step 115, the serving BS 120 transmits a Mobile Base Station Handover Response (MOB_BSHO-RSP) message including the information about the service levels supported by the neighbor base stations 140 and 160 to the MS 100.
The MS 100 transmits a Mobile Handover Indication (MOB_HO-IND) message to the serving BS 120, notifying that it will perform a handover to the second neighbor BS 160 in step 117. The MS 100 decides on the target base station to which it will perform the handover, taking into account the service levels supported by the neighbor base stations.
The serving BS 120 transmits a Handover confirm (HO_confirm) message indicating the handover of the MS 100 to the second neighbor BS 160 in step 119.
Meanwhile, when the mobile station transmits the MOB_HO-IND message to the serving base station, the serving base station takes time to process the MON_HO-IND message. Even during the processing time, the serving base station transmits a control signal or data to the mobile station.
FIG. 2 illustrates a time delay involved in processing the MOB_HO-IND message in the conventional BWA communication system.
Referring to FIG. 2, a serving BS Modulator-Demodulator (MODEM) 220 receives a Bandwidth Request (BR) code for transmission of the MOB_HO-IND message from a mobile station (MS) 200 in frame n in step 201. The serving BS MODEM 220 processes the BR code and allocates resources for the transmission of the MOB_HO-IND message in frame n+4 in step 203.
The MS 200 transmits the MOB_HO-IND message including information about a target BS 260 to the serving BS MODEM 220 using the allocated resources in step 205.
In step 209, the serving BS MODEM 220 transmits the MOB_HO-IND message to a BS 240 after processing the MOB_HO-IND message. The BS 240 includes a signal processor.
Meanwhile, the MS 200 performs a handover to the target BS 260 after transmitting the MOB_HO-IND message to the serving BS MODEM 220 in step 207.
The serving BS 240 transmits an HO-confirm message to the target BS 260 in step 211.
As described above, a time delay occurs from the time when the MS 200 decodes on the handover and transmits the BR code for transmission of the MOB_HO-IND message to the time when the serving BS MODEM 220 discontinues data transmission.
From the perspective of the mobile station, the mobile station may fail to receive data from the serving base station wholly or partially during the time between the decision on the handover and the transmission of the MOB_HO-IND message.
From the perspective of the serving BS, the serving BS has no idea whether the MS has received data successfully or not during the time between reception of the MOB_HO-IND message and interpretation of the MOB_HO-IND message. Therefore, the serving BS transmits information about data next to data that is considered to have normally been received at the MS to the target BS so that the target BS transmits data to the MS based on the received data information.
To prevent this unnecessary resource consumption and time delay, the MS can notify the target BS of the sequence number (SN) of the last service data unit (SDU) or Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) block successfully received from the serving BS by an SN report header, after network reentry to the target BS.
The target BS transmits an SDU or ARQ block with the SN following the SDU SN included in the SN report header to the MS. Table 1 below illustrates the format of the SN report header.
TABLE 1HT = 1(1)EC = 0(1)Type(3) = 0b110Last(1)SDUSDU SN2SN1(6)MSB(4)SDU SN2 LSB(2)SDU SN3(6)CID MSB(8)CID LSB(8)HCS(8)
In Table 1, numerals in the brackets denote the number of bits in the respective items. SDU SN1 to SDU SN3 are fields indicating the SDU SNs of three connections, when up to three connections are established between the MS and the BS.
The issue is that the current BWA communication system does not label a Medium Access Control (MAC) SDU with an SN. In other words, there is no specified method for indicating an SN of the MAC SDU by an SN report header between the BS and the MS.
The MS may transmit an SN report header including the SN of an ARQ block to the target BS, but the target BS can start data transmission successfully only when the target BS uses the same ARQ scheme and associated variables as used between the MS and the serving BS. Accordingly, there exists a need for a method for allocating an SN to an SDU so that the MS can efficiently start a data transmission/reception procedure with the target BS.

Method and system for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless communication system


According to an embodiment, a slider of a head comprises a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on an inflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on an outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a leading pad provided on an end portion of the leading step portion on the negative-pressure cavity side, and a plurality of recesses formed on the inflow side of the leading pad and individually opening in the inflow-side end face. The leading step portion includes a main step portion which is situated beside the inflow side of the leading pad and extends in a second direction, and at least one extended step portion extending transversely to the second direction from the main step portion toward the inflow side and situated between the recesses.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a head used in a disk device such as a magnetic disk device, a head suspension assembly provided with the head, and a disk device provided with the head suspension assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk device, e.g., a magnetic disk device, includes a magnetic disk, spindle motor, magnetic head, and carriage assembly. The magnetic disk is arranged in a case. The spindle motor supports and rotates the disk. The magnetic head writes and reads information to and from the disk. The carriage assembly supports the head for movement with respect to the disk. The carriage assembly includes a rockably supported arm and a suspension extending from the arm. The magnetic head is supported on an extended end of the suspension. The head includes a slider attached to the suspension and a head portion on the slider. The head portion is constructed including a reproducing element for reading and a recording element for writing.
As modern magnetic disk devices have become smaller and smaller, their application to mobile equipment has spread more widely. The magnetic disk devices for mobile application require operation shock resistance and high height security. The slider has a facing surface (air bearing surface (ABS)) that is opposed to a recording surface of the magnetic disk. A predetermined head load directed to a magnetic recording layer of the disk is applied to the slider by the suspension.
When the magnetic disk device operates, air-flows are produced between the disk in rotation and the slider. Based on the principle of aerodynamic lubrication, a force (positive pressure) to fly the slider above the recording surface of the disk acts on the facing surface of the slider. By deliberately shaping the facing surface of the slider to balance this flying force with the head load, the slider can be flown stably with an infinitesimal gap of about 10 nm above the recording surface of the disk without contacting the disk surface. Thus, high-density recording, high-speed data access, and high reliability are achieved by the magnetic head.
The design of the facing surface of the slider is essential to the attainment of the operation shock resistance and height security of the magnetic head described above. The "height security" implies prevention of a reduction in the flying height of the slider under a reduced-pressure environment, and it will hereinafter be referred to as reduced-pressure performance. In order to improve the operation shock resistance and the reduced-pressure performance, it is important to make the slider hard to be separated from the disk surface when jolted and to prevent the flying height from being reduced during decompression.
As described in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-123422, there is a known disk device in which a negative-pressure cavity or a dynamic-pressure producing groove is formed near the center of a facing surface of a slider in order to prevent variation of the flying height of the slider. Specifically, the slider includes a negative-pressure groove formed at the central part of an ABS, a leading step provided on the inflow-end side of the slider, and a trailing step on the outflow-end side of the slider, and a magnetic head is provided on the trailing step.
The leading step is provided with a leading pad for use as a pressure producing pad. The leading pad is formed narrow so that the negative-pressure cavity is as large as possible on the inflow side of the slider. In order to increase a pressure produced by the leading pad, moreover, step portions of different depths are formed on the inflow side of the leading pad. Gaps between the disk surface and the step portions gradually narrow toward the leading pad.
Although the operation shock resistance and the reduced-pressure performance can be improved by deliberately shaping the facing surface of the slider in the aforesaid manner, a higher pressure should preferably be produced by trapping more air. If the slider is skewed, moreover, the pressure that is produced by the leading pad to act on air-flows cannot be enhanced.

Head, head suspension assembly, and disk device provided with the same


Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions having a portion of aspirin for intraoral release and another aspirin for gastrointestinal release. The compositions can further include niacin. Methods of using such compositions to treat diseases or conditions suitably treated by niacin are also provided which result in reduced flushing.

Niacin (also known as vitamin B3, nicotinic acid and vitamin PP) is one of five vitamins associated with a pandemic deficiency disease: niacin deficiency (pellagra), vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), thiamin deficiency (beriberi), vitamin D deficiency (rickets), vitamin A deficiency (night blindness and other symptoms). Niacin has also been used to increase levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood, decrease levels of triglycerides in the blood, decrease levels of LDL in the blood, slow progression and, at times, cause regression of atherosclerotic plaque in arteries, and has been found to modestly decrease the risk of cardiovascular events and/or decrease cause of death in a number of controlled human trials.
Niacin administration, however, results in patients experiencing several side effects that have limited its widespread use. Most notably, the immediate release form of niacin (niacin IR) stimulates prostaglandin-mediated flushing of the face and trunk. The flush is usually felt within minutes (e.g., 15-20 minutes) after administration, but can stay for a period of days. In addition, the extended and sustained release (SR) forms cause the flushing reaction, although not to as great an extent. Patients experiencing the flushing side effect experience a diminution of symptoms over time and eventually develop a partial tolerance to the flushing, but not against the lipid-modifying effects. However, the level of discomfort is such that many patients stop therapy in the early period of treatment and never reach the tolerant stage. In addition, the typical dosing of niacin IR was three times per day, a factor that also contributed to low patient compliance.
Attempts have been made to mitigate the side effects of niacin IR, which is completely absorbed in 1-2 hours, with a sustained release form of niacin, i.e., niacin SR. The niacin SR, which requires a period of at least 12 hours for complete absorption, has met only modest success. It was observed that niacin SR was significantly less effective in modifying lipids than the IR form, and also was associated with an increased incidence of hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal intolerance.
More recently, an intermediate or extended release form of niacin, niacin ER, has been developed that has an absorption rate in the 8-12 hour range. Niacin ER lowers the rate of flushing observed with niacin IR, and lowers the hepatotoxicity incidence seen with niacin SR. However niacin ER still has more hepatotoxicity and may have less efficacy than niacin IR.
It is known in the art that administering a non-steroidal anti-inflammation drug (NSAID), e.g., aspirin, from about 30 minutes to about 120 minutes prior to administering niacin IR can lower the flushing side effect. The dosing regimen of niacin IR, however, requires that it be taken three times per day, thereby requiring that a patient also take NSAID three times a day at specific time points. The need to take the medication six or more different time points is likely a major contributor to low compliance to niacin IR therapy.
Therefore, there is still a need to develop formulations that are effective in reducing or even eradicating the flushing side effect of niacin and at the same time helping patients to comply with the dosing requirements of the therapy.


An article of illuminated jewelry includes at least one light source, preferably comprising an LED, a housing preferably in a circumferential shape, and having a hollow core for placing at least one wire for supplying power from a battery to the light source for illuminating a decorative object. The housing also includes a battery compartment positioned at a predetermined distance from said light source for enclosing the battery. The invention relates generally to jewelry and more particularly to illuminated jewelry, including but not limited to rings, necklaces and bracelets. The article of illuminated jewelry may include, for example, the use of multiple batteries of different types, different placements and sizes of batteries (for brighter or longer illumination) as well as various alternative switch mechanisms. The one or more light sources can also generate different colors of light.

Jewelry with an illuminating light to enhance the appearance of a decorative object, such as a precious stone or the like, have been created in various shapes, forms, and styles, but in the past such jewelry has been mostly targeted to a consumer market comprising costume or low-cost jewelry. This is primarily because the energy source for the lights is usually provided by one or more batteries which are bulky and not easy to incorporate into a jewelry piece.
One challenge in designing aesthetically attractive illuminated jewelry is the placement of the battery. In one conventional design, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,965 a necklace is formed from a loop of insulated wire having a battery positioned at a fixed location within a first discontinuity of the wire and a light source located at a second discontinuity. In another conventional design, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,109, a battery cell is mounted in a threaded cap housing that is screwed on to an ornament housing that contains the light emitting diode. These prior illuminated jewelry designs tend to be bulky or place significant restrictions on the structure of the jewelry design.
Contemporary fashion designers are constantly seeking for ways to accentuate the beauty and brightness of jewelry or otherwise make stones such as quartz more visually appealing. As fashion trends continue to evolve rapidly from year to year, the fashion industry must be creative to come up with new and fresh jewelry designs, colors, and shapes in order to provide new jewelry products. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need to create new and different structural designs of illuminated jewelry. Decorative objects contemplated as being mounted on the jewelry housing include diamonds, semi-precious stones such as quartz, and pearls. There is a further need for jewelry targeted to a higher end market wherein key structural constraints and limitations of prior art generally aimed at low end and costume jewelry have been eliminated.

Jewelry with battery powered illumination


An orthopedic plate assembly for supporting a bone can include a y-shaped first plate and a second plate separate from the first plate. The first plate can be attached to the bone and have a center line. The first plate can include an elongate body attachable to a first portion of the bone and extending along the center line and first and second arms transversely extending from an end of the body. The first and second arms can define an aperture in the first plate. The second plate can be attached to the bone. The second plate can have a first end and a second end opposite the first end configured to be disposed on and engaged with the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The second plate can be configured to span the aperture transverse to the center line when engaged with the first and second arms.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Bones can become fractured due to high impact or stress, or as a result of a medical condition that weakens the bones, such as osteoporosis. For example, the force of a fall on an outstretched hand can result in a distal radius fracture. Incomplete fractures are fractures in which bone fragments are still partially joined, while complete fractures are fractures in which the bone fragments are completely separated. Depending on the severity, treatment of fractured bones can include aligning the bone fragments to their natural positions, called reduction, and maintaining the natural positions while the bones heal, called immobilization.
Immobilization can be achieved using non-operative procedures and/or surgical procedures. In non-operative procedures, casts, splints, or other external fixation devices can maintain the natural positions by immobilizing joints above and below the fractured bone. When treated through surgery, orthopedic nails, screws, plates, and wires can hold the bone fragments together more directly. Orthopedic plates approximating the contour of the fractured bone can attach to the bone fragments and fix the bone fragments in their natural positions. However, due to variation in the contour of bones and variation in fracture patterns, orthopedic plates having improved contouring capability are desired. Through improved contouring, the bone fragments can be fixed in positions more closely matching their natural positions.

Orthopedic plate assembly for a distal radius having re-contouring features and method for using same


There is provided a wiring board including a stiffener bonded to a circuit board, and a laminate formed by laminating a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of wiring layers on a face of the stiffener opposite to a face bonded to the circuit board. On both faces of the laminate in a laminating direction, terminal connection parts connected to the wiring layers and connected to a terminal part of an electronic component are formed. Further, a component disposition hole, in which the terminal connection parts formed on one of the faces of the laminate are positioned and the electronic component is disposed, and a through hole for connection to the circuit board are formed in the stiffener.

The present technology relates to the technical field of a wiring board and a manufacturing method of the wiring board. Specifically, the present technology relates to the technical field of achieving miniaturization of a wiring board and reduction of manufacturing cost thereof by forming a laminate on a stiffener in which a component disposition hole in which an electronic component is disposed and a through hole for connection to a circuit board are formed.
Along with the recent speed-up and high performance of electronic components (Integrated Circuit chips, IC chips) used as microprocessors, or the like of a computer, the number of terminals tends to increase and pitches between terminals tend to be narrow. Generally, a large number of terminal parts are provided on the bottom of an IC chip in an array form.
Such terminal parts of an IC chip have a large difference in pitch with respect to connection terminals formed on a circuit board that is called a mother board, and thus it is difficult to mount the IC chip on the mother board.
Thus, in order to connect the IC chip to the mother board, a wiring board that is called a semiconductor package is formed, the IC chip is mounted on (connected to) the wiring board, then the wiring board is mounted on (connected to) the mother board, and thereby the IC chip is connected to the mother board via the wiring board.
As such a wiring board, for example, there is a wiring board that is a so-called cavity substrate that is formed by bonding a main body part formed by laminating a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of wiring layers using a build-up method on both faces of a core board to a frame-like frame part having component disposition holes in which electronic components are disposed using soldering (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-176020 and No. 2011-151348).
In such a cavity substrate, electronic components are disposed in the component disposition holes so as to be mounted on the main body part, more electronic components are mounted on both faces of the main body part, and thereby, the substrate can be miniaturized in the direction orthogonal to the laminating direction.

Wiring board formed by a laminate on a stiffener