A saw assembly for a floor installer to use in undercutting baseboards, doors, and the like includes an electric motor subassembly having an electric motor and a spindle rotatably powered by the electric motor, a circular blade mounted on the spindle, and a blade guard subassembly. The blade guard assembly includes a moveable component adapted for movement to a retracted position that exposes more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the circular blade in order to facilitate the undercutting of a ninety degree inside corner. One embodiment uses a conventional handheld 11,000 rpm high speed grinder motor assembly with a right angle drive to power a high speed 4-inch blade in place of a grinder wheel. Carrying the undercut saw with a grinder wheel, sanding wheel, and a tile cutting blade adds functionality.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to power tools, and more particularly to a portable, multifunction, electrically powered undercut saw.
2. Description of Related Art
To install tile, wood, marble, granite, and other floor coverings, an installer often must undercut the baseboards and doors about 0.25 inch to 1.75 inches. He does so to provide sufficient space for the floor covering to fit underneath for a clean, professional installation. The tool he uses is referred to as a flush-cutting saw or undercut saw.
An existing undercut saw may take the form of the saw available under the trademark CRAIN No. 800 SUPER SAW from Crain Cutter Co., Inc. of Milpitas, Calif. It includes a flat socket set screw for mounting a 6.5-inch diameter blade on a 21/3 horsepower, 5300 rpm electric motor. With a blade guard, height adjuster, depth gauge, and associated components, the total assembly appears something like a skill saw on its side, weighs in at about 9.0 pounds, with the blade guard and depth gauge limiting blade exposure to something less than 180 degrees.
To use the existing undercut saw, the installer mounts the blade. Next, he adjusts the height adjuster for a desired height above the floor and the depth gauge to a desired depth of cut. Then, he grasps the saw with two hands, retracts the blade guard to expose the blade, and proceeds to move the undercut saw along the floor adjacent the baseboard while switching the power on and off to make the desire undercuts.
But there are some problems. The saw is relatively heavy, big, bulky, and somewhat expensive. In addition, the 6.5 inch blade tends to get very hot and warp. Furthermore, the 6.5 inch blade and bulk of the unit makes undercutting an inside ninety-degree corner somewhat awkward because the depth gauge abuts the wall either side of the corner before the corner can be undercut. The 6.5-inch diameter blade cannot reach the corner.
The depth gauge is an adjustable flat fence type of structure that extends along a chord of the blade in order to expose up to about 13/4 inches of the blade measured radially, perpendicular to the fence. In that position, the depth gauge subtends an arc of less than 180 degrees and it gets in the way. It abuts the wall before the corner is undercut. Even if the depth gauge is omitted, the size of the 6.5-inch diameter blade results in a cut greater than one-inch deep a few inches either side of the corner in order to make just a quarter inch deep cut right at the corner. Thus, floor covering installers and other users need an improved undercut saw.


In a vehicle seat lock, a striker is mounted to a vehicle body and a hook member is mounted to the seat back. The striker comprises the first and second engagement portions which selectively engage in first and second engagement grooves of the hook member to hold the seat back in two kinds of standing positions. The hook member is pivotally secured on a pivot to open and molded with synthetic resin to buffer impacting of the striker.

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat lock to hold the seat back in a standing position, the seat back being capable of standing up and falling down.
In JP2003-146126A, a vehicle seat lock comprises a striker fixed to a vehicle body and having the first and second engagement portions and a locking assembly mounted to the seat back. The locking assembly comprises a hook member which selectively engages with the first or second engagement portion to hold the seat back in the first standing position and in the second standing position further inclined from the first standing position. The hook member comprises the first engagement groove and the second engagement groove along a direction of invasion of the first and second engagement portions.
When the seat back is held in the first standing position, the first engagement portion of the striker engages in the first engagement groove, and when the seat back is held in the second standing position, the second engagement portion engages in the first engagement groove and the first engagement portion engages in the second engagement groove.
However, in the known vehicle seat lock, when the seat back is moved to the second standing position, the first engagement portion of the striker engages in the second engagement groove of the hook member to contact the front edge to allow the striker to stop. Thus, when the first engagement portion contacts the front edge of the second engagement groove, metal sound generates to cause deterioration of the quality.
Also, when the seat back is held in the second standing position, great load acts to the seat back via a seat belt connected to the seat back. So if the second engagement portion which engages in the first engagement groove is deformed, the first engagement portion only engages in the second engagement groove with play. Thus, the first engagement portion does not contribute locking strength for holding the seat back in the standing position.
JP2001-341558A discloses a vehicle seat lock in which a hook member which is engagable with a striker of a vehicle body is pivotally secured to the seat back supported on the vehicle body to fall down. An engagement groove of the hook member engages with a striker to hold the seat back in a standing position.
In the vehicle seat lock, metal part is exposed in the hook member and striker as well. When the engagement groove of the hook member engages with the striker, metal sound is generated to cause deterioration of the quality.


A landscape advertising light, box type miniaturized substation, belonging to the field of substations. The landscape advertising light box type miniaturized substation includes a box body; the box body is internally provided with a ring main unit, a transformer and an integrated low-voltage cabinet; the integrated low-voltage cabinet includes an incoming switch, a capacitor switch, a capacitor and an outgoing switch which are electrically connected in sequence; an output end of the ring main unit is electrically connected with an input end of the transformer, and an output end of the transformer is electrically connected with an input end of the incoming switch; a display screen is disposed outside the box body.

As the demand of urban residents for electricity consumption continues to grow rapidly, residents' expectations for power supply reliability are increasing, the demand for upgrading and optimization of power distribution facilities is increasing, and problems of traditional European-style box type transformers as one of urban infrastructures are becoming more and more obvious during operation. European-style box type transformers are generally disposed in main roads of cities. Currently, as shown in FIG. 6, they are generally composed of a high-voltage chamber, a transformer chamber and a low-voltage chamber which are combined; the high-voltage chamber is provided with a high-voltage incoming cabinet and high-voltage outgoing cabinet; the transformer chamber is provided with a transformer; an input end of the transformer is provided with a copper bar, and the transformer uses a plurality of heat sinks to dissipate heat; the low-voltage chamber is provided with a low-voltage incoming cabinet, a capacitor cabinet and a low-voltage outgoing cabinet; an output end of the high-voltage incoming cabinet is electrically connected with an input end of the high-voltage outgoing cabinet; an output end of the high-voltage outgoing cabinet is electrically connected with the copper bar at the input end of the transformer; an output end of the transformer is electrically connected with the input end of the low-voltage incoming cabinet; an output end of the low-voltage incoming cabinet is electrically connected with an input end of the capacitor cabinet; an output end of the capacitor cabinet is electrically connected with an input end of the low-voltage outgoing cabinet. Restricted by the size of various components, the European-style box type transformers have a large overall size and are not easy to transport; instead, they are easy to become a carrier of small advertisements, and become a visual pollution that affects the urban environment and is incompatible with the beautiful urban environment. Therefore, the traditional European-style box type transformers have not adapted to the needs of social development and urban environmental construction in city construction.

Landscape advertising light box type miniaturized substation

Jiangsu Huafu Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits associated with analyzing, enriching, and/or isolating a biomarker or analyte in a biological sample. In one aspect, for example, a method for determining a concentration of a biomarker in a biological sample can include binding any unbound biomarker with an antibody specific for the biomarker to form antibody-bound biomarker, enriching the antibody-bound biomarker and any endogenous autoantibody-bound biomarker to form an enriched fraction, identifying the biomarker in the enriched fraction, and determining the concentration of the biomarker in the biological sample. In one aspect, the concentration of the biomarker is derived from initially unbound biomarker and autoantibody-bound biomarker in the biological sample.

The presence or absence of specific biomarkers can be predictive in the diagnosis and/or determination of a variety of conditions in an individual. As such, the accuracy of detection and quantification of a particular biomarker can be important for the correct diagnosis and treatment of an associated condition. In those cases where a biomarker is incorrectly identified in or its concentration is incorrectly determined in a biological sample, the individual can be improperly treated for a condition that is not present or can be left untreated for a condition that is present.
A variety of situations can make the detection of a biomarker problematic, both for the presence or absence of the biomarker, as well as the concentration level of the biomarker in the individual. One such situation can occur for individuals expressing autoantibodies to a biomarker in question. In such cases, the autoantibodies (AAb) can adversely affect the assay used to detect the biomarker. As one example, the measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) is commonly used for the follow-up of patients treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (TC). Because thyroid tissue is the only source of Tg, total thyroidectomy and radioactive ablation should decrease serum concentrations of Tg to very low or undetectable levels. A rise of serum concentration of Tg in post-treatment patients is thus indicative of the recurrence of the TC. In a retrospective study on assessment of the utility of multiple potential biomarkers of the recurrence of TC, post-treatment Tg concentration was found to be the strongest independent predictor of the recurrence. One difficulty in using Tg as a biomarker is related to the presence of anti-Tg autoantibodies (Tg-AAb) in the blood of certain individuals. Tg antibodies were first described by Stokinger and Heidelberger in 1937, and subsequent research to date has not generated an effective commercial technique to overcome interference of Tg-AAb in testing for Tg. Current protocols to assess reliability of Tg measurements with immunoassays (IA) commonly test every specimen analyzed for Tg also for the presence of Tg-AAb.
Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that there might be a pathological and causative link between thyroid cancer coexistence and thyroid autoimmunity. Approximately 25% of patients with TC and up to 10% of individuals without TC are positive for Tg-AAb, and thus the presence of autoantibodies in samples tested for Tg by IA could cause false-negative results when epitopes used by the capture or detection antibody are occupied by the Tg-AAb. This can potentially cause misdiagnosis of the recurrence of TC.

Methods for analysis of free and autoantibody-bound biomarkers and associated compositions, devices, and systems


A coiled tubing injector assembly having an arch for guiding coiled tubing into the injector and, including an injector selectively engageable with coiled tubing for forcing the coiled tubing through the injector in an upward or downward direction. There is also an injector mount and the injector is interconnected to the mount via a plurality of load cells, such that any forces exerted on the injector by flexing or twisting of the arch and/or coiled tubing guided by the arch are detected by the load cells.

The use of coiled tubing injectors for drilling oil and gas well has risen dramatically in recent years. More particularly, the use of coiled tubing injectors in the use of directional drilling has gained widespread acceptance.
In the drilling of vertical, directional, or horizontal wells, there is a need for accurately controlling the weight on the drill bit (WOB). Accurate control of WOB is particularly critical when either directional or horizontal wells are being drilled. In directional or horizontal wells, the weight on the drill bit affects the angular deviation of the drill hole away from the vertical. By obtaining an accurate time measurement of the duration of travel of the rotary bit within the well bore, together with providing a way of accurately limiting the loads that are placed on the drill bit, it is possible to execute delicate and sophisticated drilling operations while minimizing downhole tool failures and maximizing the life of the drill bits.
U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0296013 ('013 Publication), incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, discloses a top mounted injector for coiled tubing injection comprising an injector supported from a mounting component in a support system e.g. a mast, the mounting component including a carrier which is engageable with the mast for transferring to the mast the forces exerted on the mounting component from the injector component during the injection and withdrawal of tubing by the injector component. The '013 Publication discloses a strain gauge deployed between the injector and the mounting component for providing continuing indication of the forces developed in injecting or withdrawing the tubing from the borehole and consequently the force transferred between the injector to the mast through the mounting component. However, in the arrangement shown in the '013 Publication, vis-à-vis determining accurate WOB, the arrangement in the '013 Publication suffers from the fact that the injector is suspended via one strain gauge and a hinge.


A semiconductor device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a main substrate and one or more sub substrates, and the semiconductor device includes first heat generating devices mounted on the sub substrates, sub-substrate heatsinks mounted to the first heat generating devices, and a main-substrate heatsink mounted to the main substrate, wherein the sub-substrate heatsinks and the main-substrate heatsink are secured to each other, such that there is a predetermined positional relationship between the sub substrates and the main substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including two or more substrates.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large numbers of electronic components are used in semiconductor devices which have been developed in recent years, in order to realize higher performance. The numbers of substrates for use in mounting such electronic components tend to be increased, although the mounting densities of respective substrates have been increased. On the other hand, there are requirements for reduction of the sizes of semiconductor devices. To cope with these requirements, substrates have been stereoscopically assembled, in order to increase the mounting densities.
In cases where substrates are stereoscopically assembled, it is necessary that, to a substrate forming a base (hereinafter, referred to as a "main substrate"), other substrates (hereinafter, substrates secured to the "main substrate" will be referred to as "sub substrates") are secured.
However, in order to stabilize the position and the attitude of the sub substrates relative to the main substrate in assembling them, there is a need for dedicated jigs. In cases of assembling using dedicated jigs, there is induced inconvenience of increase of the number of assembling processes. Further, it is also possible to employ a method which uses additional securing members, but such a method induces the problem of increase of assembling processes due to the increase of the number of components and, further, induces the problem of increase of the material cost by an amount corresponding to the additional components.
The present invention was made in view of the aforementioned circumstances and aims at providing a semiconductor device which can be assembled through an assembling method capable of assembling for securing sub substrates to a main substrate without increasing the number of components and the number of processes.

Semiconductor device including main substrate and sub substrates


An arc fault detector which includes a filter which receives an input signal and filters the input signal, an amplifier which amplifies a signal output from the filter, an analog-to-digital converter disposed to receive the amplified signal from the amplifier and convert the amplified signal into a digital signal, and a processing unit responsive to computer executable instructions when executed thereon that receives samples of data associated with the digital signal and performs an arc detection algorithm on the data using fuzzy logic.

This invention relates to arc fault detection in electric power systems. More particular, this invention relates to arc fault detection using fuzzy logic.
Arcing is a luminous discharge of electricity across an insulating medium. There are two types of arcing faults in AC electrical systems, which include parallel arcing faults or series arcing faults. Series arcing faults may exist when arcing occurs across a break in the line or neutral conductors or at a loose terminal in a branch circuit of a distribution network. The conductors are carrying current to a load derived from the line voltage. Since the current through the series arcing fault is limited by the impedance of the load itself and the fault is in series with the load, the fault is known as a series arcing fault. Parallel arcing faults occur when there is an unintentional conducting path between two conductors of opposite polarity, such as between a line conductor and ground. Parallel arcing faults generally involve relatively high currents, and are limited primarily by the available fault current of the circuit.
Many conventional arc fault detection methods analyze waveforms or captured data based on probability, frequency content, or amplitude. These methods can be very complex and processor intensive to determine whether arcing is present. Therefore, it is desired to provide an arc fault detection method utilizing fuzzy logic to more efficiently and detect arc faults.


A lens device includes a lens barrel, a lens, a guiding unit, and a positioning unit. The lens barrel has a barrel axis. The lens has a lens axis and is disposed between the lens barrel and the positioning unit. The guiding unit includes guiding studs and guiding slots formed on the lens barrel and the lens, wherein the guiding slots receive the guiding studs respectively therein and have dimensions larger than those of the guiding studs. The positioning unit has outer and inner ring sections. The outer ring section has a ring axis and is sleeved on the lens barrel. The inner ring section engages the lens such that the lens axis forms a radial offset with the ring axis, wherein the lens is positioned relative to the barrel axis by the inner ring section according to angular orientation of the inner ring section relative to the ring axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lens device, more particularly to a lens device provided with a positioning unit that facilitates axis correction of a lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a lens device 10 includes a lens barrel 11, and fixed lenses 12, 13 and a primary lens 14 disposed in the lens barrel 11. Since the primary lens 14 has the most sensitive optical characteristics, it is disposed in an outermost end of the lens barrel 11 to facilitate correcting of the position of the primary lens 14 for achieving optimum optical characteristics for the lens device 10. This process is referred to as "axis correction."
To perform axis correction, the lens device 10 is first mounted on a standard lens device 20 having a plurality of standard lenses 21. When light rays 22 pass through the fixed lenses 12, 13 and the primary lens 14 of the lens device 10, as well as the standard lenses 21 of the standard lens device 20, an image is formed on an imaging region 23. Next, a plurality of lens-adjusting claws 30 are inserted between the lens barrel 11 and the primary lens 14 to move the primary lens 14 in radial directions until the image formed on the imaging surface 23 is clearest. When the axis correction is completed, an adhesive 16 is injected into the gap 15 between the lens barrel 11 and the primary lens 14 to fix the primary lens 14 in the lens barrel 11.
Although axis correction can be performed for the aforesaid lens device 10, the following shortcomings are encountered:
1. A larger conventional lens device 10 presents no difficulty when using the lens-adjusting claws 30 to perform axis correction. However, as required dimensions for lens devices become smaller due to advancements in technology, the alignment-adjusting claws 30 become difficult to operate, thereby resulting in inefficient and inaccurate axis correction.
2. Due to pressure differences, the adhesive 16 can easily flow onto an effective area of the primary lens 14, thus resulting in adverse effects on the optical characteristics of the lens device 10. When the adhesive 16 flows onto the effective area of the primary lens 14, not only do the lens barrel 11 and the primary lens 14 require cleaning, but the axis correction also needs to be restarted, thereby resulting in inefficient axis correction.
3. Due to the gap 15 present between the lens barrel 11 and the primary lens 14, the primary lens 14 can easily dislocate from its corrected position due to the fluidity of the adhesive 16. When dislocation of the primary lens 14 occurs, the axis correction needs to be restarted, thereby making the axis correction process inefficient.


A three-dimensional memory device includes alternating stacks of insulating strips and electrically conductive strips located over a substrate, generally extending along a first horizontal direction, and laterally spaced apart from each other along a second horizontal direction by width-modulated line trenches, memory films located on a respective sidewall of the alternating stacks, generally extending along the first horizontal direction, and laterally undulating along the second horizontal direction, and a plurality of discrete vertical semiconductor channels located on a sidewall of a respective one of the memory films.

A configuration of a three-dimensional NAND memory device employs flat memory cells in which tunneling dielectrics have flat vertical surfaces. Such flat memory devices are described in an article by Hang-Ting Lue et al., titled "A 128 Gb (MLC)/192 Gb (TLC) Single-gate Vertical Channel (SGVC) Architecture 3D NAND using only 16 Layers with Robust Read Disturb, Long-Retention and Excellent Scaling Capability," IEDM Proceedings (2017) page 461.

Three-dimensional flat NAND memory device including wavy word lines and method of making the same


The two housing parts are used as springing means which are mounted behind each other, thereby extending the full spring path. Despite the soft springs obtained by the housing, the individual housing parts can be manufactured from a stable material so that they remain dimensionally stable over a long-term period even when subjected to heavy stress by virtue of the fact that they are arranged between a vehicle seat and the chassis of the vehicle, thereby meeting the high quality standards required by the vehicle industry. Complex successive positioning of the springs inside the housing is avoided. As a result, it is possible to produce a force measuring device which is particularly compact, stable and economical. A coil with a core is used as an inductive deflection sensor.

In the field of occupant protection for motor vehicles it has become more and more important in the last several years to adjust the triggering of occupant retention means, for example front airbags, side airbags, knee airbags, curtain airbags, etc., to the vehicle occupants in the deployment area of the said occupant retention means or even to suppress said triggering in order, on the one hand, to save on subsequent repair costs following an unnecessary deployment, for example in the case of an unoccupied seat, not to trigger an occupant retention means from the outset, and, on the other hand, in order not to put certain groups of persons, for example children or very small adults, at additional risk due to an unsuitable triggering behavior of the occupant retention means. It is therefore important not only to detect the presence of a person on the motor vehicle seat, but in addition even to determine classifying characteristics of said person, for example the body weight. Deserving of mention in this context is the crash standard FMVSS 208, compliance with which is increasingly required by vehicle manufacturers and which stipulates a classification of a person according to his or her weight in order, in the event of a collision, to adjust the activation of an occupant retention means if necessary in a suitable manner to the person detected.
Various devices are known for detecting the weight or the weight distribution of a person on a motor vehicle seat, for example pressure-sensitive sensor seat mats as described in the unexamined published German specification DE 101 60 121 A1, or force measuring devices which are mounted between the vehicle seat and the vehicle floor and in this way register the weight of a vehicle occupant. The sensors used in this case are, for example, capacitive sensors, illustrated for example in the unexamined published German specification DE 199 25 877 A1, column 7, line 30, and FIG. 1 in that document. However, use is also made of inductive sensors, such as described, for example, in the US patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,168 or the unpublished German patent application 10303706.3.
In the last-cited US patent specification the force measuring device comprises a housing (50) which is composed of a deflectable housing portion (56) and a rigid housing portion (52), as can be derived from the abstract pertaining thereto and also from FIG. 3. The displacement of the movable housing part (50) is registered by an inductive deflection sensor (52).
In particular in the preferred area of application of such a force measuring device, namely for occupant weight detection in vehicles, it has however been shown in companies' in-house development activities that when sufficiently and lastingly dimensionally stable housing materials are used, the spring constant of just one spring means in the last-cited form of just one housing portion is not sufficient to be able at the same time to apply measurement technology for registering the very large measurement range of between 0 and up to 1.2 t that is typically required by the vehicle manufacturers. For this reason, in the last-cited, not prior-published German patent application 10303706.3, a plurality of spring means (1; 1a; 1b; 31) are connected one behind the other inside the housing of the force measuring device within a particularly compact, stable and consequently particularly suitable rotationally symmetric force measuring device in order to lengthen the spring path and thereby reduce the spring constant, which is to say the spring hardness. This means, however, that a substantial amount of additional outlay is required during manufacture and for introducing the sequentially connected springs into the housing, as a result of which the manufactured product may become more expensive and therefore less attractive for a vehicle manufacturer.

(Seat) force measuring device with a spring housing, inductive sensor and stops


In an embodiment, a machine-readable volatile or non-volatile storage medium stores one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform monitoring a plurality of video conference locations, each of the locations comprising one or more video conference rooms, resulting in creating and storing monitored data; generating service level view data which when displayed on a video display unit concurrently comprises graphical representations of all the locations and all the rooms, and graphical representations of faults associated with each of the rooms. Rooms can include coder-decoders (codecs), cameras, video monitors, and network packet data routing or switching elements. Embodiments provide a holistic view of all video conference rooms in a deployment, with aggregated call usage, quality and fault data, with highly useful graphical management displays.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Contemporary video conference systems that use packet-switched networks and protocols may consist of cameras, video monitors, microphones, loudspeakers, coder-decoders (codecs), and high-performance network packet routing and switching equipment. These video conference systems can provide a high-quality end-user experience if correct configuration and provisioning is achieved for the network elements involved in the audio/video path, and if fault conditions are monitored so that problems can be corrected. Users and administrators are also interested in knowing whether network elements are adhering to service level agreements (SLAs) that require particular levels of bandwidth, throughput or quality.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Service level view of audiovisual conference systems


An optical wavelength switch having a planar wave guide formed on a substrate is disclosed that comprises a wave-guide-type diffraction grating which includes an input/output wave guide having an under-clad layer on a sacrificial layer formed on the substrate, a core layer formed on the under-clad layer and an over-clad layer formed on the core layer, a first slab wave guide connected with the input/output wave guide, an array wave guide whose one side is connected with the first slab wave guide, and a second slab wave guide with which the other side of the array wave guide is connected; and a movable girder whose one end is firmly secured to the substrate, the movable girder having the same under-clad layer, core layer and over-clad layer as those of the wave-guide-type diffraction grating, wherein the optical wavelength switch has a reflecting mirror at the tip of the movable girder, the reflecting mirror facing an end face of the second slab waveguide, with the position of the reflecting mirror being set displaceable along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical wavelength switch having a planar lightwave circuit structure for use in optical communication, etc.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In recent years, communication capacity has explosively increased and construction of a photonic network having a large capacity using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) for coping with the increase has made progress. For an efficient composition of the WDM photonic network, wavelength switches are indispensable which realize Optic Add-Drop Modules (OAD) or optical cross-connect modules disposed in optical transmission paths.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an optical add-drop module 10 and this module 10 inputs an input optical beam having been wavelength-multiplexed from a previous-stage node into an input port 11 and inputs an insert (Add) optical beam having a specific wavelength at the node into an insert port 12. Furthermore, a part of the input optical beam 11 and the insertion optical beam 12 are outputted unprocessed passing through (Through) to an output-side port 13 and a part of the input optical beam 11 having a specific wavelength is branched (Drop) to a branch port 14.
The functions of insertion (Add), passing through (Through) and branching (Drop) of an optical signal at the optical add-drop module 10 are realized by a wavelength switch. For a conventional wavelength switch having such functions, a composition as shown in FIG. 2 is known (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,133).
A composition shown in FIG. 2 comprises a combination of a diffraction grating (spectral function) 101, a MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical System) mirror 102 having a switching function and a focus lens 103.
The input optical beam (IN) and the insertion optical beam (ADD) are divided by the diffraction granting 101 into optical beams for each wavelength and inputted into the MEMS mirror 102 through the focus lens 103. At the MEMS mirror 102, it is possible to switch an optical beam to either an output (OUT) port or a branch (DROP) port by controlling the angle of the mirror.
Here, in order to downsize a WDM transmission system and reduce the cost on it, it is desired to realize the functions of the optical add-drop module 10 described referring to FIG. 1 using planar lightwave circuit (PLC) type functional integrated circuits capable of being mass-produced using a batch process.
However, for a combination of a diffraction grating 101 and an MEMS mirror 102 having a composition of a conventional example shown in FIG. 2, a high-precision alignment is necessary for the focus lens 103 and the MEMS mirror 102 in order to focus optical beam emitted from the diffraction grating 101, on the MEMS mirror 102.
To this end, there are problems that the number of assembly steps becomes great many and that cost reduction is difficult. Furthermore, it is very difficult to downsize and reduce the thickness of the switch because optical beams are propagated in a three (3)-dimensional space.

Optical wavelength switch having planar lightwave circuit structure


A biocompatible titanium implant with a modified exterior surface having a covering layer that comprises a hydrated titania gel. The exterior surface of the titanium implant is processed by a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution that contains metal ions which not only promotes a reaction between the titanium implant and the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution but also provides a high apatite formation ability to the hydrated titania gel on the surface of the implant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to biocompatible titanium implant for use in dental and orthopedic surgery.
2. Prior Art
Titanium and titanium alloys are lightweight and have superior corrosive resistant properties when exposed to body tissues and body fluids. In addition, titanium and titanium alloys are ideal for use as artificial bones or implant materials (thus called "titanium implant material" in this specification) because they cause less inflammation, hypersensitivity, and allergic reaction when they come in contact with body tissues and body fluids. Titanium and titanium alloys are used for clinical materials for an artificial hip joint, knee joint, osteosynthesis and artificial tooth roots. However, titanium and titanium alloys lack the property to adhere to human bone or coalesce to bone tissue. Therefore, when the titanium and titanium alloy implants are implanted in the body for a long period of time, the metal implant can become detached itself and slip off of the bone.
On the other hand, inorganic materials such as bioactivated glass and hydroxyapatite are known to coalesce with bone tissue in the body. In particular, bioactivated glass is an ideal clinical material needed to bond materials to body tissues. Bioactivated glass has the property to form an apatite layer on its surface in the body or simulated body fluids that contain calcium and phosphoryl ion, and the apatite layer enables bioactivated glass to coalesce to body tissues. However, in many cases, bioactivated glass has lacked sufficient dynamic mechanical properties like toughness. Rather, the titanium and titanium alloys can fulfill these dynamic mechanical properties. Therefore, development of a material has been pursued that has not only the dynamic mechanical properties of metal materials but the bioactivity as of inorganic substance.
For this purpose, titanium implant materials that are spray-coated or sintered with a surface layer of calcium phosphoryl ceramics such as bioactive glass or hydroxyapatite have been proposed. However, the surface layer of the bioactivated material adheres poorly to the titanium implant, and complex production processes are needed to improve adhesion.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-275766 discloses a solution of such problems and provides an improvement in adhesion of a metallic material to the bioactive layer. The production process in this prior art includes: a step of adding a super fine powder of hydroxyapatite to a hydrolysis solution of alkylsilicate to make a sol, a step of applying the thus obtained sol to the surface of the metal with a dry coating of a titanium alkoxyde solution, and a step of drying the coating of the sol and bake it at a proper temperature. Thus, this process is complicated.
A method for making the surface of a titanium or titanium alloys into a hygroscopic gel has been recognized. This method, however, uses a high concentration alkaline aqueous solution and a heat treatment conducted at a temperature as high as 600.degree. C., making the process very complex. Furthermore, during the high temperature heating process, there exists the possibility that the mechanical properties of titanium and titanium alloy are damaged.
Another method for making the surface of titanium or titanium alloy into a hygroscopic gel is reported by B. Walivaara, I. Lundstrom and P. Tengvall in Clinical Materials (Vol. 12, pages 141-148). However, the thickness of the apatite layer, which is formed on the surface of a test sample after 72 hours of processing, is 12 nm, extremely thin; and a sufficient improvement of affinity to the body is not obtained.


A warning system for buildings has evaluation units embodied as freely-programmable control units, and the evaluation units have at least one first interface with a building security bus, the evaluation units also have second interfaces for furnishing a high data transmission rate, and a data connection between a building management system and a first evaluation units is made by a series connection to at least one further evaluation unit via the second interfaces.

The invention relates to a warning system for buildings, with evaluation units embodied as freely-programmable control units.
From Published German Patent Disclosure DE 101 05 189 A1, a universally usable monitoring device for retrofitted installation in a warning system is known. This monitoring device has an interface with a building security bus. It is also known from DE 101 05 189 A1 that the monitoring device furnishes a serial interface that makes the connection of autonomous devices possible.

Warning system for a building with evaluation units


A testing device is provided to position connection parts easily and precisely with respect to probes. A box (1a) of an electrical connection box (1) is restrained from twisting by rods (15). Connecting parts T of the electrical connection box (1) then are engaged with probes of a testing device (10). Preferably, one holder (22) is provided for each block. The holder (22) holds the probe so that the probe is displaceable with respect to a retainer (11). The holder (22) is provided with projections used for the positioning.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connection box, a positioning method and a testing device for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A complicated electrical wiring system, such as a wiring harness, may be used with relay boxes, fuse boxes and/or electrical connection boxes. The prior art boxes include casings that have integral or unitarily formed connector portions. Connection circuits that have a multi-layer construction are in the casing and are used to collect and arrange relays, blade type fuses, and/or connectors of the electrical wiring system in one location.
For example, a prior art relay box is formed from resin and has a connector mount portion for a connector of a wiring harness. A fuse connecting portion to be connected with a blade type fuse and a relay connecting portion to be connected with a relay also may be formed on the prior art relay box to conform to the requirements of the wiring harness to be produced. The relay box is assembled into its final mode by connecting the connector with the connector mount portion and the blade type fuse with the fuse connecting portion.
The wiring harness production process includes an electrical conduction test for testing the wiring and the connection. A test for checking whether the connector is present and whether or not the connector is properly connected also are made to assure quality. If a relay box is connected, an electrical conduction test for the relay box is made.
The aforementioned prior art electrical connection box has a multitude of blocks, including the connector mount portion, the fuse connecting portion and the relay connecting portion that are integrated in a complicated layout. As a result, connection parts mounted in the individual blocks cannot be positioned easily with respect to testing parts (e.g. probe pins) for testing the connection parts. This results in poor operability and makes testing errors likely.
Moreover, a corresponding number of testing units need to be prepared for connection parts (terminals of connectors, etc.) to be mounted in the individual connecting portions. Thus, the respective testing units cannot be integrated because the maintenance of the individual testing units is, otherwise, too cumbersome.
As a result, the respective testing units are separated and the electrical conduction test for the electrical connection box is made in each testing unit. This requires time and labor for the testing.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an integral electrical connection box which can be positioned easily and precisely, and a positioning method and a testing device for such an electrical connection box, wherein the testing device can particularly be easily maintained.
According to the invention, there is provided a method for positioning an electrical connection box with respect to a testing device when the electrical connection box is tested. The electrical connection box has blocks accommodating connection parts that are integrated in a box. The method is characterized by engaging the connection parts of the electrical connection box with probes of the testing device after restraining the box from twisting by a restraining or correcting member. Accordingly, the orientation of the box and a strain thereof during the molding can be corrected in a specified manner by the correcting member. As a result, the connection parts of the electrical connection box can be engaged with the probes easily and precisely.
According to the invention, there is further provided a device for testing an electrical connection box in which blocks accommodating connection parts are integrated in a box. The testing device comprises one or more probes for testing the connection parts of the blocks. At least one retainer is provided for retaining the probes, and at least one restraining or correcting member provided on the retainer for restraining the box from twisting. Accordingly, the orientation of the box and a strain thereof during the molding can be corrected in a specified manner by the correcting member. As a result, the connection parts of the electrical connection box can be engaged easily and precisely with the probes.
Preferably, the correcting member comprises three rods insertable through the box. Accordingly, since the rods are inserted through the box to correct the orientation of the box, the correction can be securely made by a very simple construction.
According to the invention, there is further provided a testing device for testing an electrical connection box in which blocks accommodating connection parts are integrated in a box. The testing device comprises, one or more probes for testing the connection parts of the blocks, one or more holders provided at least one for each block for holding the corresponding probes, and a retainer for individually detachably retaining the respective holders such that the probes are arranged in a layout corresponding to the blocks. Accordingly, since the probes corresponding to the blocks accommodating the connection parts are retained by the retainer via the holders when the connection parts of the electrical connection box are tested, the holders can be mounted detachably on the retainer. As a result, maintenance can be made individually for the respective probes by mounting and detaching the holder on and from the retainer for each probe, and the testing device capable of testing a plurality of connection parts at once can be constructed.
Preferably, each holder comprises at least one fixed portion to be fixed to the retainer, at least one movable portion displaceable with respect to the fixed portion, and at least one coupling portion for elastically coupling the fixed portion with the movable portion. The probe is provided on the movable portion. Accordingly, the fixed portion to be fixed to the retainer and the movable portion displaceable with respect to the fixed portion are elastically coupled by the coupling portion to make the holder detachably mountable on the retainer. Accordingly, the movable portion can hold the probe while being elastically displaceable. As a result, the probes can elastically take up displacements and dimensional variations when being connected with the connection parts of the electrical connection box.
Further preferably, each holder is formed with an opening portion for opening connecting portions of the lead wires of the probes. Accordingly, the connection of the lead wires of the probes and the mounting of armoring parts on the lead wires can be performed through the opening portion.
Preferably, the coupling portion is a coil spring into which the lead wires are introduced. Accordingly, the lead wires of the probes are free from entanglement and loosening since they are introduced into the coil spring.
According to a further preferred embodiment, there is provided a device for testing an electrical connection box in which blocks accommodating connection parts are integrated in a box. The device comprises probes for testing the connection parts of the blocks. Holders are provided, one for each block, for holding the corresponding probes. A retainer is provided for retaining the respective holders such that the probes are arranged in a layout corresponding to the blocks. Each holder comprises a fixed portion to be fixed to the retainer, a movable portion displaceable with respect to the fixed portion and having the corresponding probe mounted thereon, and a coupling portion for elastically coupling the fixed portion with the movable portion. The coupling portion preferably urges or biases the movable and fixed portions away from each other.
Accordingly, since each holder comprises the fixed portion to be fixed to the retainer, the movable portion displaceable with respect to the fixed portion and having the corresponding probe mounted thereon, and the coupling portion for elastically coupling or connecting the fixed portion with the movable portion, the movable portion can elastically and displaceably hold the probe. As a result, the probes can elastically take up displacements when being connected with the connection parts of the electrical connection box.
Preferably, the movable portion of each holder holds a plurality of probes such that the probes are individually relatively displaceable. Accordingly, the probes are individually displaceably held when the plurality of probes are mounted on the movable portion in accordance with the arrangement of the connection parts. Therefore, displacements can be taken up more minutely.
More preferably, each movable portion further comprises at least one guide projection for guiding the probe to the corresponding connection part by being brought into sliding contact with an outer wall of the corresponding block. Accordingly, since the block and the movable portion are positioned by the guide projection, the probes and the connection parts can be more easily and precisely positioned.
Further preferably, there are provided one or more checking projections which are provided integrally with the probes held by the movable portion to check whether locking portions satisfactorily lock the corresponding connection parts. Each coupling portion couples the corresponding movable portion such that the movable portion can be retracted with respect to the retainer in a direction opposite from the locking portion when the corresponding checking projection is in contact with the locking portion experiencing a locking error. Accordingly, the locking state of the locking portion for the connection part can also be checked when the connection part is tested by the probe.
Most preferably, the movable portion and/or the holders are retained or retainable in the block with a clearance or play so as to be slightly movable in a lateral direction thereof and/or to be slightly rotatable along a longitudinal axis thereof.
According to the invention, there is still further provided an electrical connection box, comprising a plurality of blocks accommodating connection parts, a box in which the respective blocks are integrated in a predetermined layout, and at least one hollow portion formed in the box for permitting a correcting member for correcting the twist of the box to be inserted therethrough. Accordingly, the strain and orientation of the box can be properly corrected during the testing by inserting the correcting member of the testing device through the hollow portion.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Electrical connection box, a positioning method and a testing device for the same


A method of establishing a cooperative ad hoc network of phone extensions is implemented by the cellular devices within the ad hoc network. First, a first cellular device receiving an incoming call or placing an outgoing call is designated as the master of the ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network. Second, each cellular device is operated to facilitate a multi-party connection to the incoming call or outgoing call, the multi-party connection including the master and one or more slaves.

Currently, a cordless phone within a home offers freedom of movements for a user by being physically unattached to a phone jack. Multiple cordless phones and associated base stations can be strategically positioned throughout a home as along as the base stations are plugged into wire-line jacks that serve the home. This provides the convenience of having multiple phone extensions corresponding to a single phone number whereby a call can be answered in one of various locations within the home and multiple users can share in on an answered call in progress. However, with families or roommates within a home having a single phone number, each cordless phone can only be part of an incoming call that is answered or an outgoing call that is placed.
The present invention advances the art by providing a method for establishing a cooperative ad hoc network of cellular devices to form a multi-party connection for sharing conversation and call control.

Cellular ad hoc phone extension system and method


A transceiver board for use in a cellular radiotelephone base station comprises a first cellular radio transceiver including a first controller that controls the operation of the first transceiver, a second cellular radio transceiver including a second controller that controls the operation of the second transceiver, common local oscillator that generates a tuning signal used by the first and second transceivers for tuning a radio signal, and an arbitrator that is connected to the first and second controllers and that determines which of the first and second controllers communicates with the common local oscillator. Preferably, the arbitrator is implemented by a programmable device such as a programmable logic device (PLD) that monitors the first and second controllers to determine which controller attempts to communicate with the common local oscillator first so that that controller is allowed to communicate with a common local oscillator to the exclusion of the other controller. Alternatively, the arbitrator can be implemented by a programmable device that monitors the first and second controller and a tristate buffer that is connected to the programmable device and that connects either the first or second controller to the common local oscillator as controlled by the programmable device.

Cellular communications systems are commonly employed to provide voice and data communications to a plurality of mobile units or subscribers. Analog cellular systems, such as those designated AMPS, ETACS, NMT-450, and NMT-900, have been deployed successfully throughout the world. More recently, digital cellular systems such as those designated IS-54B in North America and the Pan-European GSM system have been introduced and deployed. These systems and other systems are described, for example, in the book entitled Cellular Radio Systems by Balston, et al., published by Artech House, Norwood, ME, 993.
Frequency reuse is commonly employed in cellular technology wherein groups of frequencies are allocated for use in regions of limited geographic coverage known as cells. Cells containing equivalent groups of frequencies are geographically separated to allow mobile units in different cells to simultaneously use the same frequency without interfering with each other. By doing so, many thousands of subscribers may be served by a system with only several hundred frequencies. In the United States, for example, Federal authorities have allocated to cellular communications a block of the UHF frequency spectrum that is further subdivided into pairs of narrow frequency bands called channels. Channel pairing results from the frequency duplex arrangement wherein the transmit and receive frequencies in each pair are offset by 45 megahertz (MHz). At present, there are 832, 30-KHz wide, radio channels allocated to cellular mobile communications in the United States. To address the capacity limitations of this analog system, a digital transmission standard designated IS-54B has been provided, wherein those frequency channels are further subdivided into three time slots.
In addition, capacity limitations have been addressed by using microcells, that is, low power cellular transmissions that provide coverage over a smaller area. The smaller microcelis allow more cells to exist within a predefined geographic area, thereby increasing the number of users that can be serviced within that geographic area. A particular application of microcell technology is indoor cellular radiotelephone services.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an indoor cellular communication system 20 as in the prior art includes one or more mobile stations or units 22, one or more wall mounted base stations 24, a radio control interface 26, and a mobile switching center (MSC) 28. Although only one cell 30 is shown in FIG. 1, a typical indoor cellular network may have several cells 30, each cell usually being serviced by one or more wall mounted base stations 24. The number of wall mounted base stations 24 depends on the channel capacity of the cell 30. Each wall mounted base station typically supports anywhere from 4-12 channels, depending upon its site. The cell 30 typically has one or more control channels and one or more voice/data (hereafter referred to as "traffic") channels allocated to it. The control channel typically is a dedicated channel used for transmitting cell identification and paging information.
Each wall mounted base station 24 is connected to the radio control interface 26 by a radio interface link 32. The radio control interface 26 exchanges signals between the wall mounted base stations 24 and the mobile switching center 28. Specifically, the radio control interface 26 converts the traffic and control information from the format received over the radio interface links 32 into a format suitable for transmission over a dedicated transmission link 34 interconnecting the radio control interface (RCI) 26 to the MSC 28. In the reverse direction, the RCI 26 converts the traffic and control information received over transmission link 34 into a format suitable for transmission over radio interface links 32 to the respective base stations 24.
The MSC 28 is the central coordinating element of the overall cellular network 20. It typically includes a cellular processor 36 and a cellular switch 38, and provides an interface to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 40. Through the cellular network 20, a duplex radio communication link 42 may be effected between two mobile units 22 and a landline telephone user 44. The function of the base stations 24 is commonly to handle the radio communications with the mobile units 22. In this capacity, the base stations 24 also supervise the quality of the link 42 and monitor the received signal strength from the mobile units 22.
A typical wall mounted base station 24 as in the prior art is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The base station 24 includes a radio link interface 50, a power supply 52, and one or more communication channel transceiver boards 54. In addition, the base station includes an antenna 56 associated with each of the communication channel transceiver boards 54. The radio link interface 50 provides an interface between the radio control interface 26 and the communication channel transceiver boards 54. In essence, the radio link interface 50 multiplexes/demultiplexes the signals to/from the radio control interface 26 for use by the communication channel transceiver boards 54. The power supply 52 provides power to the other components of the base station 24.
Further, the base station 24 includes a number N of communication channel transceiver boards 54 for effectuating radio communications with mobile units 22. Power for each of the communication channel transceiver boards is supplied by the power supply 52. Traffic and control signals are exchanged between the communication channel transceiver boards 54 and the radio link interface 50 over respective lines 58. In addition, the communication channel transceiver boards 54 are interconnected with one another by links 60 so that the transceiver boards 54 can receive traffic signals from more than one antenna 56 for reception diversity.
Each communication channel transceiver board 54 typically comprises a circuit board 66 having a single transceiver 68, for example, a radiotelephone, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The transceiver 68 includes a controller 70, a receive local oscillator (RXLO) 72, a transmit local oscillator (TXLO) 74, a frequency generator (FG) 76, a duplexer 78, an antenna 79, mixers 80 in the receive signal path, and mixers 81 in the transmit signal path. The controller 70 communicates with the RXLO 72, TXLO 74, and FG 76 to control the conversion of received radio frequency (RF) signals down to a baseband frequency for processing, and for the conversion of transmit signals to a radio frequency (RF) signal for transmission over the communication link 42. Further, the controller 70 exchanges traffic and control signals with the mobile switching center 28 via the radio link interface 50 and the radio control interface 26.
The RXLO 72, TXLO 74 and FG 76 are each configured to receive tuning information such as a division ratio from the controller 70 for generating a stable frequency signal used in performing conversion of the traffic signal in the receive signal path via mixer 80 and in the transmit signal path via mixer 81.
For example, in the receive signal path, the RF signal may be converted down to a receive intermediate frequency by subtracting the FG 76 signal from the RF signal at the mixer 80 associated with the FG 76. In general, the two signals are added by the mixer 80 and filtering is used to 30 isolate the resulting term that represents the difference of the two signals. The division ratio or tuning information is sent by the controller 70 to the FG 76 at power up or activation of the transceiver 68. This first conversion of of the received signal is referred to as the first down conversion stage in the received signal path. Next, the RXLO 72 further converts the received signal from the receive intermediate frequency to a base band frequency by further mixing the signal with a second frequency signal generated by the RXLO 72 at the mixer 80 associated with the RXLO 72. Filtering is then used to isolate the term that represents the difference of the two signals. The division ratio for the second frequency signal is also sent by the controller 70 to the RXLO 72 at power up. This is referred to as the second down conversion stage in the received signal path. At the base band frequency, the received traffic signal can then be processed by the digital control logic of the transceiver 68. In a like manner, traffic signals in the transmit signal path are initially converted from a baseband frequency to a transmit intermediate frequency in the first up conversion stage at the mixer 81 associated with the TXLO 74 using a division ratio provided to the TXLO 74 by the controller 70. The traffic signal is then converted up from the transmit intermediate frequency to a radio frequency in the second up conversion stage at the mixer 81 associated with a FG 76.
Note that the transmit intermediate frequency generally is mixed with the same local oscillator frequency used in the first down conversion in the received signal path. Therefore, if the same local oscillator frequency is used in both the first down conversion stage in the received signal path and the second up conversion stage in the transmit signal path, then only one FG 76 would be needed for transceiver 68. However, since the transmit and receive intermediate frequencies differ, a separate local oscillator may be necessary for each of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path so that the frequencies may be converted to/from the baseband frequency.
The RXLO 72, TXLO 74, and FG 76 can be programmed with respective division ratios in the following manner. During each power up or activation of the transceiver 68, the controller 70 sends several commands over a serial bus 84 which interconnects the controller 70 with the RXLO 72, the TXLO 74, and the FC 76. Each command sent over the serial bus 84 is addressed to a separate one of the RXLO 72, TXLO 74 and FG 76. The commands typically comprise a clock signal sent over one line of the bus, a M-bit data word sent over another line of the bus, and a select signal sent over one of the remaining lines of the serial bus, wherein each of the remaining bus lines is dedicated to one of the RXLO 72, TXLO 74 or FG 76. Each of the RXLO 72, TXLO 74 and FG 76 has a register that receives the data word sent over the serial bus, though the data is only read into the device if a select signal designating that device is also received. Otherwise, the data word is merely shifted out of the register and the data word associated with the next select signal is shifted in with the next command. Thus, when the controller 70 writes to the RXLO 72, all three devices receive the data word but only the RXLO 72 actually reads because it is the only device that receives a select signal that identifies the RXLO 72.
Indoor cellular systems such as the one described above have become widely popular for several reasons. First, a cellular customer can use the same telephone everywhere he/she goes. Second, the cellular telephone of the customer does not need additional circuitry to allow for indoor use as do some cellular telephones that operate as cordless telephones indoors. Third, indoor cellular systems provide larger coverage areas indoors than do typical cellular telephones operating in a cordless mode indoors. Fourth, the capacity of an indoor cell can be increased easily by adding additional wall mounted base stations.
However, a limitation of indoor cellular systems is the size and cost of the wall mounted base stations 24. The size of a wall mounted base station 24 can easily become obtrusive when designed to include more circuit boards 66 so as to increase channel capacity. Thus, endlessly adding more circuit boards to increase the number of channels is usually not a viable option. Therefore, additional wall mounted base stations must be added at a sizeable cost. Therefore, a need exists in the market for smaller and less obtrusive wall mounted base stations that cost less and service more channels.

Bus arbitrators for common local oscillators in cellular radiotelephone base stations


An umbrella includes a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally and detachably connected with the fixed ring, and a plurality of spreaders each pivotally and detachably connected with the movable ring. Thus, each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed from the movable ring and the fixed ring respectively for replacement or maintenance, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an umbrella and, more particularly, to a umbrella to provide a shading effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional umbrella comprises a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the upper end of the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a base mounted on the lower end of the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally mounted on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each pivotally mounted on the movable ring and each pivotally connected with a respective one of the ribs, and a canopy mounted on the ribs. However, the ribs are secured on the fixed ring, and the spreaders are secured on the movable ring, so that the spreaders and the ribs cannot be detached from the fixed ring and the movable ring for replacement. Thus, when one of the spreaders or the ribs is broken or worn out, the umbrella is inoperative and has to be thrown away, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the umbrella.


A data input system useful in a data base such as an address data management system. This data input system can reduce the number of key operation and the possibility of erroneously inputting data. This system comprises: a display for displaying input data; a first memory for storing data displayed on the display, a second memory for temporarily storing the displayed data; and a control unit for displaying the data stored in the second memory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data input system, and more particularly to a data input system which is useful in a data management system such as an address data management system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A data management system such as an address data management system has been widely employed. In an address data management system for a business purpose, for example, data on each person contain many items such as his or her name, name of company, section, post, address of the company, telephone number, etc. Hereinafter, such a set of data on one person is referred as "a personal data set". A personal data set is usually input by using a display means such as a CRT on which a format containing blank columns is displayed. These blank columns correspond respectively to each of the items in the personal data set and are arranged in a predetermined layout pattern. The contents of each item of the data set are written in a column corresponding to the item, by operating a keyboard. When all items of the personal data set have been input, a quit command is input to cease the data input operation, thereby the input data are stored in predetermined locations of a memory and the display is cleared.
In such an address data management system, it is often that a plurality of personal data sets contain the same data. For example, when inputting data on persons who work in the same company, the name and address of the company must be input for each person. In other words, the same contents must be repeatedly input for each personal data set. Hence, a prior art data input system often requires cumbersome repeated key operations, causing the possibility of erroneously inputting data to increase.
Telefacsimile (telefax) apparatus (telecopiers) are widely used today. In most address data management systems, therefore, a telefax number is also input in addition to a telephone number. Usually, the out-of-town exchange number of a telefax number is same as that of the telephone. In such an address data management system, however, the out-of-town exchange number of a telefax number must be input even when the same number has been input as a part of the telephone number. In this way, a conventional data input system has a drawback in that the same data must be input many times.

Data input system with automatic duplication of repetitive data to a database


Disclosed herein is an apparatus for on-line detection of leaky valve seals wherein the apparatus includes an isolation valve having at least one upstream seal, at least one downstream seal, a fluid flow diverter; an inner cavity isolated from a fluid flow path by the seals; a vent port disposed in fluid communication with the inner cavity; a vent valve disposed in fluid communication with the vent port; and a differential pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with both the vent port and the fluid flow path. Also disclosed is a method of on-line detection of leaky valve seals wherein the method includes disposing at least one upstream seal, at least one downstream seal, a fluid flow path, and a fluid flow diverter in mutual fluid communication; isolating an inner cavity from the fluid flow path by means of the seals; disposing a vent port in fluid communication with the inner cavity; disposing a vent valve in fluid communication with the vent port; and disposing a differential pressure sensor in fluid communication with both the vent port and the fluid flow path. The method can also be used to detect the presence of a defective fluid flow diverter while an associated fluid transport system remains on-line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to isolation valves disposed in commercial and industrial fluid transport systems, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for simply and economically detecting leaky valve seals and defective fluid flow diverters without interrupting fluid transport system operations.
2. Background of the Invention
In many commercial and industrial fluid transport systems, isolation valves are employed as a defense against the development and escalation of hazardous operating conditions. As a result of their simple design, isolation valves are generally maintained in either an open or closed position for the majority of their operational lives; the particular operational position is primarily dependant upon the process environment in which the valves are employed. Unlike more sophisticated modulating control valves, which can be monitored and diagnosed for fluid leakage by periodically comparing the valve position and a fluid path flow rate, isolation valves have primarily been monitored and diagnosed in the past using one of the following previously known methods.
First, high frequency acoustical systems can be used to identify leaky valves under certain conditions. For example, valve leaks can be detected using high frequency acoustics when a monitored isolation valve is set in a closed position and a significant pressure gradient exists within the valve along the directional axis of the flow path. One or more pressure sensors are then used to "listen" for high frequency noise created by valve leakage.
One drawback to such a configuration is that, since the valve must first be completely closed in order to monitor or diagnose fluid leakage, the entire system must be taken off-line for monitoring and diagnosis activities. Moreover, since a significant pressure gradient must exist across the valve in order for a leak to be detected by the sensors, minor leaks may go undetected for a period and only later become apparent, perhaps after a significant escalation of a hazardous process condition has already occurred, or even after the valve seals have completely failed. Also, since valves in which only one of several seals has failed will not generally exhibit a significant pressure gradient along the flow path, partially leaky valves can also go undetected for some time. Finally, such tests can fail to detect whether the valve's fluid flow diversion means is functioning properly, since most valves are permanently disposed in only a single operational position during operations (i.e., either open or closed). In cases where the test is carried out on a valve that is operated in a continuously closed position, there is no way to discern whether the fluid diverter could in fact be opened during an emergency situation.
As seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,946 to Leon et al., detection of leaky valve seals may also be accomplished using a system in which a series of pulsations caused by fluid vibrations within the transport system are compared to pulsations occurring within a valve's inner cavity as a function of time. Such configurations require at least two pressure sensors, one located within the system's flow path either upstream or downstream relative to the valve, and another disposed within the valve's inner cavity. The pulsations measured by the sensors can then be used to determine whether the pulsations detected within the transport system are being passed into the valve's inner cavity, thereby revealing the presence of leaky seals within the valve.
However, since the system of Leon et al. also requires, at minimum, a plurality of transducers, an analyzer to perform pulsation comparisons, and an appropriate transport system process connection disposed relatively close to the valve in order to function effectively, those of ordinary skill in the art have found the configuration to be unnecessarily cumbersome and expensive, and of limited application in transport systems having a complex geometry.
Finally, leaky valves may be detected when applying an external pressure source directly to the isolation valve's inner cavity by measuring the rate at which fluid leaks into the valve, and then comparing the results to a table of predetermined parameters and assessing the integrity of the seals. Those of skill in the art have also found this approach dissatisfactory, however, because the fluid transport system must first be taken off-line to perform testing and maintenance (since internal process pressures on the valve must be interrupted to determine whether the seals are allowing fluid to leak back into the valve), and both an external source of pressure and additional operational personnel are required.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent there is a widespread need for a method and apparatus for simply and economically detecting leaky valve seals and defective flow diverters while an associated fluid transport system continues to operate on-line.

Apparatus and method for on-line detection of leaky valve seals and defective flow diverters


A system and method for processing a tubular member for producing a medical device, wherein the tubular member is oriented in a longitudinally vertical position during processing.

A stent is a radially expandable endoprosthesis which is adapted to be implanted in a body lumen. Stents are typically used in the treatment of atherosclerotic stenosis in blood vessels and the like to reinforce body vessels and to prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. They have also been implanted in urinary tracts, bile ducts and other bodily lumen. They may be self-expanding or expanded by an internal radial force, such as when mounted on a balloon.
Delivery and implantation of a stent is accomplished by disposing the stent about a distal portion of the catheter, percutaneously inserting the distal portion of the catheter in a bodily vessel, advancing the catheter in the bodily lumen to a desired location, expanding the stent and removing the catheter from the lumen. In the case of a balloon expandable stent, the stent is mounted about a balloon disposed on the catheter and expanded by inflating the balloon. The balloon may then be deflated and the catheter withdrawn. In the case of a self-expanding stent, the stent may be held in place on the catheter via a retractable sheath. When the stent is in a desired bodily location, the sheath may be withdrawn allowing the stent to self-expand.
In the past, stents have been generally tubular but have been composed of many configurations and have been made of many materials, including metals and plastic. Ordinary metals such as stainless steel have been used as have shape memory metals such as Nitinol and the like. Stents have also been made of bio-absorbable plastic materials. Stents have been formed from wire, tube stock, etc. Stents have also been made from sheets of material which are rolled.
A number of techniques have been suggested for the fabrication of stents from sheets and tubes. One such technique involves laser cutting a pattern into a sheet of material and rolling the sheet into a tube or directly laser cutting the desired pattern into a tube. Other techniques involve cutting a desired pattern into a sheet or a tube via chemical etching or electrical discharge machining.
Laser cutting of stents has been described in a number of publications including U.S. Pat. No. 5,780,807 to Saunders, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,005 to Richter and U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,759 to Richter. Other references wherein laser cutting of stents is described include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,514,154, 5,759,192, 6,131,266 and 6,197,048.
An example of a conventional laser for cutting a stent is a highly focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser which has a pulse duration in the range of approximately 0.1 to 20 milliseconds. This is a long pulse time for cutting and characteristically produces a relatively large melt zone and heat affected zone (HAZ) on the metal. The conventional laser cutting process typically results in the formation of melt dross on the inside edge of the cut tube. This dross must be cleaned off in subsequent processes.
Past laser cutting systems typically mount the tube to be cut from a spindle shaft in a horizontal orientation wherein the laser is mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube in a downward looking configuration. Such a horizontal orientation of the stent tube has many drawbacks.
For example, as the tube is being cut, dross and other debris may accumulate in the tube interior. This requires a stream of water to flush the tube to wash away the debris. The horizontal orientation of the tube additionally exacerbates the problem of ridding debris from the tube as debris must be actively driven out the open end of the tube. This necessitates the flushing stream be applied with significant pressure to ensure that debris does not clog the tube end.
Another more serious drawback is that in some cases, particularly in longer tubes, the tube may tend to bow as a result of gravity. Such bowing may interfere with the precise nature of the stent cutting process, resulting in cutting errors or more significant damage to the tube/stent. In addition, as the tube is rotated during cutting, any bowing of the tube will cause the unsecured end of the tube to oscillate resulting in excess strain being placed on the tube, and potentially leading to improper cutting and/or the formation of cutting imperfections.
In light of the above a need exists to provide a laser cutting/processing system wherein the potential for tube bowing and tube oscillation is minimized or removed completely, and where cutting debris such as melt dross is more easily and consistently removed from the tube during processing.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.


The invention concerns a method and apparatus for limiting a ray beam, especially in connection with an x-ray imaging equipment. The invention comprises a collimator construction in which a primary blade element (4) is moved directly by means of an actuator (3) and where at least one secondary element (5, 20) is movable in connection with the primary element (4), but does not move dependent on the movements of it when the distance between the said elements (4, 5, 20) is within at least one certain operating range concerning them.

The invention is applicable for use e.g. in mammography and especially in dental radiography, in which it is possible to distinguish e.g. so-called intraoral imaging, which typically means imaging individual or a few teeth, so-called panoramic imaging, which means producing a layer image, i.e. a tomogram of the dental arch, and so-called cephalometric imaging, which typically means producing a transillumination image of the entire skull area. Often the same dental imaging apparatus is used for taking both panoramic and cephalometric images, and today increasingly also for producing various special images of different parts of the dental arch.
In dental panoramic imaging and cephalometric imaging of the skull area as mentioned above, for example, it is necessary to provide for different purposes apertures of various shapes and sizes between the radiation source and the film or equivalent, in order to be able limit the x-ray beam to apply it to the object to be radiographed according to the imaging requirements in each case. For producing different ray beams, solutions are known whereby the beam is limited by means of various blades, i.e. collimators. Typically, one or more blades having a number of different apertures or shapes for forming different apertures are used. Generally, one aperture is used at a tine, and when the imaging apparatus is to be used in a different mode, the ray beam is limited correspondingly by using a different aperture. However, this type of arrangements have the drawback that the user can only apply those forms of ray beam that are provided in the blades. On the other hand, the space available in the imaging apparatus imposes certain restrictions as to the number of different blades, and the arrangements needed to allow replacement of blades also involves certain problems regarding the convenience of use of the apparatus and the need to store the blades.
Another prior-art solution is to use e.g. a so-called four-blade-type collimator for limiting the ray beam. In such a collimator solution, each one of the four blades is driven by a separate actuator, so this type of solutions are implemented using e.g. four different actuators to move two of the blade vertically and two horizontally, thus allowing a desired aperture size to be provided for the ray beam. A drawback with this type of solutions is the large number of actuators, which also leads to complex electronics for the control of the actuators. Moreover, having a large number of actuators increases the cost of the construction. A further problem is that a relatively large space is needed for the actuators.
A prior-art blade mechanism is disclosed in Finnish patent application no. 894310, corresponding Japanese utility model no. 63-119939. This mechanism comprises two blade elements, which are provided with holes of different sizes and can be driven individually relative to each other in the horizontal direction. The limiting of the ray beam is controlled via interlaced disposition of the holes, and one of the blade elements is provided with a wedge-shaped soft tissue filter for use in certain imaging modes. One of the drawbacks of this solution is that, though the ray beam can be limited in a stepless manner in the horizontal direction, stepless limiting is not possible in the vertical direction since limiting of the beam is implemented using apertures that are provided with notches to allow an appropriate aperture height to be achieved. This solution thus provides only a certain preselected number of aperture heights. A further drawback is an expensive and complicated structure.

Method and apparatus for limiting a ray beam


It is an object of the present invention to provide a printed circuit board and an inspection method therefor capable of electrically inspecting misregistration of a solder resist and a display by silk printing with respect to a wiring pattern on a printed circuit board. The present invention provides a printed circuit board provided with a conductive layer for electromagnetic shielding including at least two targets 11, 12 formed as conductive patterns of the same shape on the printed circuit board, insulating layers 21, 22, 23, 4 greater than the targets and analogous to the targets provided in such a way as to be overlaid on the targets and an electromagnetic shielding layer 3 provided on the insulating layers, and an inspection method using the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board and an inspection method therefor, and more particularly, to a structure suitable for a misregistration inspection of each layer formed on a printed circuit board and an inspection method using the structure.
2. Related Art
A solder resist layer is generally formed on a printed circuit board for the purpose of protecting an outside wiring pattern. Moreover, display printing is applied to the solder resist layer for the purpose of identifying mounting parts.
Both the formation of the solder resist and display printing are performed using a silk screen printing method and printing is performed after conducting registration relative to an NC hole or a circuit pattern formed by etching. A solder resist is often formed by printing photosensitive resin ink, exposing the ink to light through a photomask and developing it.
In this case, misregistration of the solder resist and display printing with respect to a wiring pattern is inspected by observing misregistration check marks using a microscope (e.g., Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 60-78156, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2926922).
Examples of electrical inspections are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-21923 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-158413. Both documents disclose details of silk printing and show that it is possible to electrically inspect whether silk printing has caused misregistration on a wiring pattern or not.
In the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-21923, a dot-shaped or ring-shaped silk printing section with which an inspection jig probe (test pin) can come into contact is provided on a mounting pad to decide the presence/absence of misregistration depending on whether the probe contacts the pad or not.
However, the contact caused by a curvature of the probe itself may result in a detection error. A misregistration error of the solder resist is detected more rigorously than silk printing; misregistration of less than 0.1 mm may be regarded as an error and it is difficult to detect the misregistration error only using the probe.
Furthermore, in the case of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-158413, a silk printing pattern is formed on a circular circuit pattern and exposure of any part of the circuit pattern when silk printing is shifted can be detected using a test pin.
It is also difficult to apply these technical contents to detection of a misregistration error in a solder resist. Another problem is that the test pin used must be of special shape.
In order to solve the above described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printed circuit board and an inspection method therefor capable of electrically inspecting display misregistration produced in a solder resist and silk printing with respect to a wiring pattern of the printed circuit board.

Printed circuit board and inspection method therefor


A convertible multi-purpose covering is disclosed being formed of pair of similarly shaped and sized flexible sheets of material having predetermined surfaces and edges positioned in face-to-face relationship at a first location. The sheets are aligned along their edges and connected along the top and side marginal edges leaving the sheets bottom edges open and thereafter turning the connected sheets right-side-out. Insulating filling sufficiently shaped, sized or volumed is inserted through the opening and arranged to evenly fill the space between the connected sheets, with the sheets then being connected along the bottom marginal edges to close the opening forming a comforter body. Two pluralities of fasteners arranged in parallel longitudinal rows are attached to the top surface of the body along the right side edge. Two pluralities of fasteners arranged in parallel longitudinal rows are attached to the bottom surface of the body along the left side edge, and another plurality of fasteners in a lateral row are attached to the bottom surface of the body along the bottom edge to permit detachable connections and conversion of coverings to form several optional bedding items such as comforters, sleeping bats and body wraps as examples, and provide convenient laundering.

Field of the Invention
The invention generally concerns coverings and more particularly, convertible multipurpose bed coverings adapted to be singularly converted or detachably connected together and converted to form several optional adult, adolescent and infant size bedding items such as larger and smaller sized bed comforters, quilted blankets, body wraps, single and double sleeping bags as examples, and provides for convenient laundering of the coverings.
Fabric bed comforters have long been used for keeping the body warm when sleeping or when in cool surroundings. Sleeping bags have also long been used to keep the body warm, particularly when in outdoor environments. To increase the versatility of such bedding, several convertible bedding articles have been created serving as both a standard blanket and a sleeping bag or forming other such warming articles.
One such convertible bedding is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,442,105 issued to L. Vacheron on May 25, 1948. In this patent, a design for a multipurpose blanket is disclosed. This blanket is square in shape and is equipped with slide fasteners disposed about the entire periphery of the blanket. These slide fasteners allow the blanket to be arranged in several configurations. One of these configurations takes the form of a standard sleeping bag, substantially rectangular in shape and open at one end to permit a person to slide between the top and bottom layers of the bag. While adequately serving as both a blanket and a sleeping bag, the invention of this patent is large and, as such, may be difficult to clean in a standard automatic washing machine. In addition, no provision is made for covering the slide fastener elements of the blanket. With these slide fasteners exposed about all edges of the blanket, they are likely to irritate the blanket user, zipper teeth coming in direct contact with the skin.
Similar convertible bedding have been created in the art of infant bedding. One such bedding is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,132 issued to Landsberger et al. on May 15, 1962. In this patent, an infant's blanket is described in which an infant may be wrapped. The blanket is square in shape and secures about the infant with either snap or hook and loop fasteners. Although this particular design works well for keeping a small infant warm, such a design would be impractical for an adult comforter since the blanket would be required to be very large. As with the blanket of the Vacheron patent, a blanket of such large dimensions most likely could not be machine washed.
Other bedding designs related to the present invention appear in the art of sleeping bag design. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,889 issued to J. A. Peterson on May 12, 1970 and U.K. Pat. No. GB 2-224-640-A issued to Martin Bato on May 16, 1990, two person sleeping bags are disclosed that are formed by joining two single person sleeping bags together along their respective seams. In addition, the sleeping bag of the Peterson patent is convertible, allowing the user to change the top cover of the sleeping bag so that top covers of various thicknesses and therefore various warming properties may be selected. While the sleeping bag designs of both of these patents may be spread out to form large blankets, none of them provide for enclosing the bag's fastening elements, these elements left exposed.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
The present invention concerns, but is not limited to, convertible multipurpose coverings adapted to be singularly or detachably connected together and converted to form several optional adult, adolescent and infant size bedding items such as bed comforters, sleeping bags, body wraps and quilted blankets as examples, and provides for convenient laundering of the coverings. The coverings are constructed of a pair of natural, synthetic or blended flexible sheets of material similarly sized, generally rectangular in shape, with predetermined surfaces and edges positioned in face-to-face relationship at a first location, aligned along the sheets like marginal edges, connected together along the sheet's top and side marginal edges leaving the sheet's bottom edges open and turning the connected sheets right-side-out. Insulating filling material of sufficient shape, size or volume is then inserted through the opening at the sheet's bottom edges and arranged to evenly fill the space between the two connected sheets with the sheets then being connected together along the sheet bottom marginal edges closing the opening form a comforter-like body. Affixed to the top surface of the body along the right side marginal edge are two pluralities of fastening elements arranged in longitudinal rows at predetermined, spaced apart locations paralleling each other, affixed to the bottom surface of the body along the left side marginal edge are two additional pluralities of fastening elements arranged in the same manner. Also affixed to the bottom surface of the body along the bottom marginal edge are a plurality of elements arranged in a lateral row of alternating male-type and female-type fasteners at regular, predetermined intervals. These fasteners are arranged and of suitable types to permit detachable connections for multiple conversions of a singular covering, and at least two detachably connected coverings.
One of the principle objects of the invention is to provide larger size bed comforters or quilted blankets by conversion of two detachably connected coverings, that can be conveniently laundered in standard household size washing or drying machines safely without overloading by simply detaching the two coverings and laundering each covering separately.
It is another object of the invention to provide optional smaller size bed comforters or quilted blankets by conversion of a singular covering.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide optional adult size single sleeping bags or body wraps by conversion of a singular covering.
It is still yet another object of the invention to provide optional adult size double sleeping bags by conversion of two detachably connected coverings.
It is yet further an object of the invention to provide optional infant and adolescent size double sleeping bags or body wraps by conversion of a singular covering.
It is still further another object of the invention to provide optional infant and adolescent size extra cushioned single sleeping bags or body wraps by conversion of a singular covering.
Furthermore, the invention is also intended to be assembled using different colored, patterned, printed and textured surfaces permitting the covering to be inverted for greater appearance versatility.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention.