Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques receiving graphics information in a graphics processing stream and applying vertex processing and topology processing to the graphics information in the graphics processing stream to generate vertex information and topology processing information. The vertex information associated with the graphics processing stream may be identified based on one or more identifiers and sent from the graphics processing stream to a buffer for a display controller.

In a typical graphics processing system, the processing elements, such as vertices and/or pixels, are processed through multiple stages providing for the processing of graphics information including application of textures and other processing instructions. These stages include transforming a three-dimensional image into a two-dimensional screen. Graphics rendering is like a manufacturing assembly line with each stage adding something to the previous one in a pipeline architecture.
Generally, each of these stages is programmed individually to complete a particular processing task. However during processing of the image, these stages act as a single "black box." The graphics information enters the pipeline or processing stream, and is processed by the various stages. The graphics information is then displayed on the display. Typically, a programmer or developer has no insight into each of the intermediate stages of the pipeline or processing stream, and only can see the input into the stream and the output to be displayed on a display. However during development of applications, programmers or developers desire insight into information processed during these stages.

Techniques for extracting and displaying partially processed graphics information


An apparatus for automatic radio-frequency identification (RFID). In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a flexible strap comprising a plurality of holes and a buckle configured to buckle to any one of the plurality of holes, such that, when the buckle is buckled to one of the plurality of holes, the strap forms a closed loop. The apparatus further comprises one or more tag enclosures. Each tag enclosure comprises one or more buckles and a RFID tag configured to communicate identifying data to a reader device. The one or more buckles of each tag enclosure are each configured to buckle to any one of the plurality of holes on the strap such that the tag enclosure may be attached to the strap at any one of a plurality of positions on the strap.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments described herein relate generally to wristbands for automatic identification and tracking, and, in particular, to a multipurpose wristband apparatus that can incorporate any type or combination of types of automatic identification technology such as barcode, passive radio-frequency identification (RFID), battery-assisted passive (BAP) RFID, and/or active RFID.
Description of the Related Art
The technique of identifying objects using radio-frequency communications has been eponymously called radio-frequency identification (RFID). RFID systems have been employed in an increasingly wide range of applications such as retail supply chain, postal logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, retail stores, airport baggage tracking, hospitality, social media, travel, theme parks, etc. In retail supply chain applications, RFID has been used to track and trace goods throughout the supply chain, automate the receipt of pallets of shipments at distribution centers, increase shipping accuracy of goods from distribution centers (DCs) to stores, and manage inventory throughout the supply chain. In postal logistics RFID has been used to monitor the quality of service of postal shipments for international and national mail systems. For instance, a global postal organization has deployed RFID to over forty countries around the world (and increasing) to measure and monitor quality of service of mail delivered between those countries. In healthcare, RFID is being used for asset and resource management, as well as patient and staff tracking for improving patient flow within hospitals. In airports, specifically baggage tracking, RFID is being used as a replacement to barcode-based systems for quicker, more secure, and more accurate transfer of bags to improve the overall baggage handling rate.
Accordingly, RFID systems have been increasingly employed in diverse applications to facilitate the identification and tracking of merchandise, personnel, and other items and/or individuals that need to be reliably monitored and/or controlled within a particular environment. The introduction of RFID into these applications has resulted in more secure, efficient, and accurate systems.
A conventional RFID system typically includes at least one RFID transponder or "tag," at least one RFID reader (or interchangeably referred to as an "interrogator"), and at least one controller or server. The reader inventories the tags and forwards the data to the server or controller.
At the physical layer of a passive ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RFID system, RFID tags communicate by "backscattering" signals that are concurrent with reader transmissions, and using a variety of frequencies and encodings under the control of the reader. This is in contrast to earlier high-frequency (HF) tags based on inductive coupling that only provided read ranges of centimeters, and active tags that require batteries to increase their range. There is a class of tags called battery-assisted-passive (BAP) that may also be of interest. For some applications, more range or link margin may be needed than a passive tag, especially in environments with metals and water in which electromagnetic waves experience shadowing of energy, destructive interference, or strong attenuation. More link margin may lead to better reading reliability and better interference control in harsh environments. BAP tags may overcome the read sensitivity limitation of passive tags by adding a battery to power the chip. The radio-frequency (RF) signal is then only used to carry the information, not to supply power to the chip. These tags retain the reverse link of passive tags, i.e., backscatter the response. BAP tags fill the gap between purely passive tags and the more costly (battery-powered) active tags.
Each RFID reader typically follows a predefined sequence or protocol to interrogate and retrieve data from one or more RFID tags within the RF field of the reader (also known as the "interrogation zone" of the reader). It is noted that the interrogation zone of a reader is generally determined by the physical positioning and orientation of the reader relative to the tags, and the setting of various parameters (e.g., the transmit power) employed by the reader during the interrogation sequence.
In systems employing passive tags, the interrogation zone is typically defined by the power coupling zone. For example, a typical interrogation sequence performed by a RFID reader includes transmitting a continuous wave (CW) to one or more passive tags within the reader's interrogation zone to power the tags, and transmitting a message packet (e.g., a request or command) by modulating the carrier signal. The passive tag then reads the message packet while tapping some of the energy of the CW to maintain its power. The message packet typically identifies one or a subset of the tags within the interrogation zone as the designated target of the message packet, and provides a request or command that the designated tag is expected to perform. After the passive tag reads the information carried by the modulated carrier signal, the tag appropriately modulates the CW, and reflects a portion of the modulated wave back to the reader by changing the reflection characteristics of its antenna via a technique known as "backscatter modulation."
The physical and logical layers of the communication between the Reader and the tag are defined by the air protocol. Specifically, the air protocol defines the signaling layer of the communication link, the reader and tag operating procedures and commands, and the collision arbitration (also known as "singulation") scheme to identify a specific tag in a multiple-tag environment. The world-wide standard air protocol in the UHF band is currently the EPCGlobal Class-1 Generation 2 (ISO 18000-6c) protocol ("Gen2 protocol"). Embodiments disclosed herein may use—but are not limited to using—the Gen2 protocol for communications between the reader and tags.
The collision arbitration (i.e., singulation) algorithm used in the Gen2 protocol is called the "Q algorithm" and is a variant of the slotted Aloha protocol. At the beginning of a round, the reader broadcasts the round size S to all the tags in its field of view. Each tag, upon receipt of this initial message, generates a pseudo-random number between 1 and S. That becomes the target time-slot in which the tag responds. The reader is the time-keeper and advances time by sending slot messages to the tags. Each tag decrements its target slot counter, and when the counter hits zero, the tag responds to the reader. At the reader receive side, the reader listens for a tag response in each slot. If exactly one tag responds, it initiates a state machine to transact with the tag. In the case of a collision or an "empty" slot, the reader either decides to resize S and start a new round or proceeds with the current round. This is how a single RFID reader is able to identify multiple tags in a rapid manner. For example, the singulation rate in a dense reader environment is roughly two-hundred tags per second.
The communication protocol used between the reader and the controller or server is called a reader protocol. The EPCGlobal Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP) is currently the standard reader protocol that is employed by most conventional readers around the world. Embodiments disclosed herein may use—but are not limited to using—the LLRP protocol for communications between the reader and controller or server.
UHF RFID readers operate in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band and are prone to external interference from cordless telephones, wireless headsets, wireless data networks, etc. In addition, there may be interference due to other co-located readers. Each reader's RF receiver front end must be designed to withstand high-interference signal levels without introducing distortion that can cause tag response decoding errors. The receiver noise needs to be low so that it has sufficient dynamic range (transmit power-received signal power from the tag) to allow error-free detection of low-level responding tag signals.
A forward-link-limited system may be limited by the receive sensitivity of the tag, and hence, beyond a certain distance, there may not be enough RF energy incident on the tag to energize it and then subsequently backscatter its response. On the other hand, a reverse-link-limited system may be limited by the receive sensitivity of the reader, and hence, beyond a certain distance between the tag and the reader, the reader may not be able to decode the tag responses correctly. Passive UHF RFID systems are typically forward-link-limited. This is because the state-of-the-art reader manufacturers have done a very good job at designing in sufficiently high dynamic range such that a reader is never backscatter-limited for passive UHF tags. The dynamic range of the state of the art UHF reader is about 120 dBm and improving. A 120 dBm dynamic range gives a RF link budget of 60 dBm each way. Thus, starting at a transmit power 30 dB with a 6 dB gain, and the forward-link budget of 60 dBm, the limiting receive signal strength at the tag is −24 dB, which is much lower than the receive sensitivity of the best tag available in the marketplace of −18 dBm. Notably, the FCC limits maximum radiated energy—the combination of transmit power at a reader port (which can be more than 30 dB to compensate for insertion loss) and antenna gain—at 4 watts EIRP (equivalent isotropically radiated power). Thus, the bottleneck with conventional UHF readers and passive tags is the forward link to the tag.
However, if a battery assisted passive (BAP) tag is used, a different result may occur. The receive sensitivity of the state of the art BAP tag is −30 dBm. This means that even at the limit (or the reader's dynamic range) and beyond it, the BAP tag can be powered and respond to the reader's signal. This means that the system becomes reverse-link-limited when interrogating BAP tags. This places stress on the design and implementation of the reader's receive path.
Certain behavior characteristics of electromagnetic fields may dominate at one distance from a radiating antenna, while a completely different behavior may dominate at another distance. At UHF frequencies, tags primarily use electromagnetic coupling in the far field, which means that the readers couple with the tags primarily with propagating electromagnetic energy in the far field (e.g., distance greater than two wavelengths). However, when the tag is in the near field (e.g., distance less than one wavelength) of the reader antenna, coupling occurs using inductive coupling. One may design tags to couple with a reader antenna primarily using inductive coupling, giving rise to UHF near-field tags. Embodiments disclosed herein may use—but are not limiting to using—UHF far-field tags.
A tag inlay may comprise a substrate, an antenna, and an integrated chip (IC). The inlay may be incorporated into a label (optionally printable) with pressure-sensitive adhesive or encapsulated in some other way.
The focus of UHF passive tags has been low cost designs. This has led to very simple antenna designs, primarily strip-line dipoles. Antennas are commonly made of aluminum, copper, silver ink, or other low-cost materials. The power transfer efficiency is the measure of the impedance mismatch between the antenna (RA+jZA) and the IC (Rchip+jZchip) and is given by τ=(4R↓chip R↓A)/(|Z↓chip+Z↓A|)↑2. Antennas are typically designed to maximize the power delivered to the IC, and this typically happens only if antenna impedance is the complex conjugate of the IC impedance (also referred to as "impedance matching").
Conventional tag designs are typically passive RFID tags, meant for general purpose supply-chain use cases, specifically designed for free space. The performance of such tags may degrade when placed near high dielectrics such as water. The dielectric constant of water is eighty. This loss of performance may result because the close proximity to high dielectric material may cause a substantial shift in resonant frequency of the antenna causing it to not operate at a resonant mode, hence losing antenna efficiency and also causing a shift in antenna impedance which may negatively impact the power transfer efficiency.
The human body is 60% water. Thus, when a tag that is optimized for free space is applied to the human body, the read distances may be severely impacted. For instance, a tag that reads close to six meters in free space may not be readable at distances more than half a meter. Such degraded performance is typically unacceptable for a UHF-RFID-based people-tracking solution at an enterprise scale. This performance is basically equivalent to a proximity HF-based solution which is typically suitable for door-access type applications, but not for general-purpose people tracking in indoor environments (e.g., within buildings) or outdoor environments (e.g., in theme parks, ski areas, etc.). One such application of people tracking in indoor environments is patient tracking in hospitals. Patient tracking typically requires RFID tags to be in a wristband form-factor. One such application for outdoor environments is tracking skiers at a ski resort. The wristband may serve as an access pass or ticket for entry into the ski resort and/or for utilizing or accessing the ski lift or other services available at the resort, so that skiers do not have to remove their gloves in order to present the pass/ticket at an access point.
Conventional wristbands for patient identification are typically either barcode or HF tag based. Both of these technologies may allow for proximity and line-of-sight based reading. However, such limitations may not allow for patient tracking across a hospital. As mentioned above, wristband designs based on UHF passive tags may have severely degraded performance when applied on a patient's wrist.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are wristband designs based on active tags. However, wristbands built using active tags are typically bulky. They also may be very expensive (e.g., at least ten times that of UHF tag based solutions). Due to their high cost, customers conventionally reuse these wristbands. This may introduce a new workflow for the customer to manage with respect to safety, cleanliness, identity management, and battery life management.

Methods and apparatus for automatic identification wristband


Embodiments of the invention may execute a NN by executing sub-tensor columns, each sub-tensor column including computations from portions of a layers of the NN, and each sub-tensor column performing computations entirely within a first layer of cache (e.g. L2 in one embodiment) and saving its output entirely within a second layer of cache (e.g. L3 in one embodiment). Embodiments may include partitioning the execution of a NN by partitioning the execution of the NN into sub-tensor columns, each sub-tensor column including computations from portions of layers of the NN, each sub-tensor column performing computations entirely within a first layer of cache and saving its output entirely within a second layer of cache.

Neural networks (NN) or connectionist systems are computing systems inspired by biological computing systems, but operating using manufactured digital computing technology. NNs are made up of computing units typically called neurons (which are artificial neurons or nodes, as opposed to biological neurons) communicating with each other via connections, links or edges. In common NN implementations, the signal at the link between artificial neurons or nodes can be for example a real number, and the output of each neuron or node can be computed by function of the (typically weighted) sum of its inputs, such as a rectified linear unit (ReLU) function. NN links or edges typically have a weight that adjusts as learning proceeds. The weight increases or decreases the strength of the signal at a connection. Typically, NN neurons or nodes are divided or arranged into layers, where different layers can perform different kinds of transformations on their inputs and can have different patterns of connections with other layers.
NN systems can learn to perform tasks by considering example input data, generally without being programmed with any task-specific rules, being presented with the correct output for the data, and self-correcting, or learning.
Various types of NNs exist. For example, a convolutional neural network (CNN) can be a deep, feed-forward network, which includes one or more convolutional layers, fully connected layers, and/or pooling layers. CNNs are particularly useful for visual applications. Other NNs can include for example transformer NNs, useful for speech or natural language applications, and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks.
In practice, a NN, or NN learning, can be simulated by one or more computing nodes or cores, such as generic central processing units (CPUs, e.g. as embodied in personal computers) or graphics processing units (GPUs such as provided by Nvidia Corporation), which can be connected by a data network. A NN can be modelled as an abstract mathematical object and translated physically to CPU or GPU as for example a sequence of matrix operations where entries in the matrix represent neurons (e.g. artificial neurons connected by edges or links) and matrix functions represent functions of the NN.
Typical NNs can require that nodes of one layer depend on the output of a previous layer as their inputs. Current systems typically proceed in a synchronous manner, first typically executing all (or substantially all) of the outputs of a prior layer to feed the outputs as inputs to the next layer. Each layer can be executed on a set of cores synchronously (or substantially synchronously), which can require a large amount of compute power, on the order of 10 s or even 100 s of Teraflops, or a large set of cores. On modern GPUs this can be done using 4,000-5,000 cores.
One difficulty with computing each layer at a time can include a requirement that memory size used to store intermediate layer values be driven by a width of the largest layer in the particular NN.

System and method of executing deep tensor columns in neural networks


A cargo hatch cover actuation mechanism. At least one fixed unilateral mechanical actuator is mounted on a cargo hatch cover panel. The actuator is driven by an electric motor, and controlled by a hand controller, attached to the end of a flexible electrical cable which can be moved about to any suitable position near the hatch.

This invention relates to the field of ship cargo hatch covers, and mechanisms for opening and closing such covers.
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of cargo hatch covers to the safety, watertight integrity and operability of a ship. Crew safety and ship survival may depend on how well hatch covers operate.
Hatch Cover actuation mechanisms fall into the category of cargo access equipment. Such actuators are shown in, for example:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,122 to Barlow discloses a power operated hatch cover mechanism in which a spaced pair of rotary hydraulic actuators pivot cargo hatch panels through gears.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,643 to Vallet discloses a hydraulic cylinder system for opening or locking a closed hatch cover. The hydraulic cylinder is suspended between two pivot points under one of two opposed hatch covers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,225 to Aarvold, in disclosing a design for the hinges of a cargo hatch cover, shows the use of a hydraulic motor for opening and closing the hatch cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,026 to Ligh shows an opening system involving two coordinated hydraulic actuators.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,891,500 to Appleton shows a combined hydraulic and cable system to open the hatch covers. This system results in extensive cable runs across the cargo deck.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,919 to McRae discloses a system having a multiplicity of relatively narrow hatch covers which individually can be rotated to a vertical or horizontal position and, in a vertical position, may be moved along the hatch by motors and gears.
German patent 1,506,251 discloses a hydraulic hatch cover with self contained hydraulics beneath the hatch cover.
Swedish patent 221194 discloses a mechanical, gear driven on track hatch cover actuator which appears to be a variant on a "single pull MacGregor" system, a cable pull system in which a cable is reeved through all the wheels supporting all the hatch cover panels, and used to pull the covers to a removed position.
Belgian patent 644496 appears to discloses a cargo hatch cover actuation mechanism comprising a belt driven gear, affixed to hinges to fold adjacent covers about said hinges.
Japanese patent 199789 appears to disclose a hydraulically actuated cargo hatch cover mechanism
Australian patent 241030 discloses a hydraulic hatch cover actuating mechanism, with hinging to maximize closing force near the cover closed position.
Danish patent 97330 discloses an actuating mechanism in which a freely pivoted hydraulic cylinder bears on a link, which is pivotally attached to two interlocked gears, each fixed to a hatch cover section, causing the gear to pivot around each other as a hinge.
The principal objection to the use of exposed hydraulic is the possible contamination of bulk cargos, especially grains, from hydraulic fluid leakage. Since hydraulic systems are uncommon aboard ship, few ships have on board maintenance capabilities for such systems, and such leaks and failures become increasingly common as ship systems age.
An equally serious objection is the consequences of system failure; loss of hydraulic pressure can result in a sudden fall of the hatch covers. Since a hatch cover is a large, heavy metal object, damage by a falling hatch cover can be severe, and may result in structural damage to the ship hull if the cover falls into the hold. Cable driven systems likewise can collapse if the cable snaps. Such failure additionally can result in cable whiplash, which endangers all crew.


Spray atomization of molten metal and/or intermetallic matrix composites reinforced with ceramic particles is practiced by atomizing the matrix into micron sized droplets and depositing the semisolid droplets in a bulk deposition upon a temperature controlled substrate. The semiliquid droplets are injected with refinement particles while in a range of 0 to 40% by volume solid phase and deposited on the substrate surface while in a 40 to 90% by volume solid phase. Refined grain morphology, increased solid solubility, nonequilibrium phases, absence of macro segregation, and elimination of the need to handle fine reactive particles are all achieved by performing the spray deposition process under a controlled atmosphere. Materials fabricated by the process exhibit unusual combinations of properties, such as spatially varying properties.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of reactive atomization and spray deposition of metal matrix composites, and in particular, relates to the control of a combination of reactive and nonreactive alloys with refinements to synthesize materials containing in-situ dispersoids.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Roberts et al., "Techniques for Producing Fine Metal Powder," U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,448 (1992), is directed to a gas atomization process for forming metal powder. Roberts discusses reactive atomization wherein the reactive phases of the material are more coarse and ductile so that they string out when deformed and act as a fiber reinforcement.
Watson et al., "Copper Alloys with Dispersed Metal Nitrides and Method of Manufacture," U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,620 (1992), describes a process using a reactive element, which is soluble in the metal alloy, reacts with the atomization atmosphere during the deposition process and provides a deposited metal matrix in which reinforcing particles are incorporated. The process is described as spray casting in a reactive atmosphere.
Werner et al., "Method and Device for Manufacturing a Powder of Amorphous Ceramic or Metallic Particles," U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,737 (1990), Kelley, "Method for Producing Closed Cell Spherical Porosity and Spray Formed Metals," U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,099 (1993); Ashok et al., Spray Cast Copper Composites," U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,722 (1995); and Gilman et al., "Magnesium Based Metal Matrix Composites Produced from Rapidly Solidified Alloys," U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,569 (1993), show systems for codeposition of materials. Kelley is directed to codeposition of metallic elements with blowing agents such as barium carbonate. Ashok describes spray casting composites wherein the first constituent may be a reactive element, and the second constituent another metal or reinforcing element such as carbon fiber. Gilman describes a composite material produced from a base metal matrix and a reinforcing phase. A dispersion of a reinforcing phase into the magnesium matrix of Gilman is described as being performed by atomization techniques.
Chun et al., "Production of Charged Uniformly Sized Metal Droplets," U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,098 (1993) and Orme et al., "Method and Apparatus for Droplet Stream Manufacturing," U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,948 (1993), both describe metal droplet deposition methods. Chun suggests utilizing a pulse gas jet oscillating at a predetermined frequency in order to provide a narrow distribution of the metal droplets in a manner compared to conventional gas atomization techniques. Orme discloses modulation of the metal droplet generators to provide a predetermined spray variation.
Dietrich et al., "CVD Process for the Production of a Superconducting Fiber Bundle," U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,776 (1987); Brill et al., "Multilayer Web for Reducing Loss of Radiant Heat," U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,181 (1985); Miura et al., "Method of Making Composite Material of Matrix Metal and Fine Metallic Particles Dispersed Therein," U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,410 (1986); Klesse et al., "Thin-Film Resistor and Process for the Production Thereof," U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,935 (1980), each describe a deposition process or composite material formation process utilizing a reactive atomization technique. Dietrich for example, describes a plasma activated chemical vapor deposition process which discloses deposition of a superconducting material on a fiber reinforcement.
Feest et al., "Metal Matrix Composite Manufacture," U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,745 (1990); Watson et al., "Substrate for Spray Cast Strip," U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,061 (1993); Leatham et al., "Spray Deposition Method and Apparatus Thereof," U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,139 (1992); and Eadie, "Method and Apparatus for Producing Strip Products by a Spray Forming Technique," U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,321 (1995), show deposition processes utilizing atomization. Although none of these references are specifically directed to reactive atomization, Leatham discloses the addition of particulates to form a composite coating which was disclosed in a copending published foreign application. Feest describes codeposition of reinforcing material particulates in the context of an atomization process. Uebber et al., "Process and Apparatus for Producing Rotationally Symmetrical Bodies," U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,613 (1994).
Anderson et al., "Method of Making Environmentally Stable Reactive Alloy Powders," U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,629 (1994); Anderson et al., "Gas Atomization Synthesis of Refractory of Intermetallic Compounds and Supersaturated Solid Solutions," U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,657 (1994); Biancaniello et al., "Producing Void-Free Metal Alloy Powders by Melting as well as Atomization Under Nitrogen Ambient," U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,470 (1992); Ashdown et al., "Fine Hollow Particles of Metals and Metal Alloys and Their Production," U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,695 (1991); Anderson et al., Environmentally Stable Metal Powders," U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,409 (1991); Choudhury, "Process for Producing Superconductive Ceramics by Atomization of Alloy Precursor Under Reactive Atmospheres or Post Annealing Under Oxygen," U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,400 (1991), each describe reactive atomization processes. Each of these references discusses the formation of a powder composition utilizing reactive atomization.
O'Handley et al., "Bulk Rapidly Solidified Magnetic Materials," U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,004 (1993), is directed generally to a system for producing powder material utilizing an atomization process, although is not necessarily a reactive atomization process. Liquid dynamic compaction is a process of direct fabrication of solid, even massive, bodies directly from a molten spray of fine, atomized liquid or semiliquid droplets. The process combines the advantages of rapid solidification with simultaneous consolidation to a final shape directly from the rapid quenched droplets while providing exposure only to the chosen atmosphere or gas used in the atomization process itself, typically, helium and argon. E. J. Lavernia, "Liquid Dynamic Compaction of a Rapidly Solidified 7075 Aluminum Alloy Modified with 1 Percent Nickel and 0.8 percent zirconium," MS Thesis 1984, MIT, Cambridge, Mass.
In the liquid dynamic compaction process during gas atomization, a stream of molten alloy is broken or shattered into a spray of fine droplets by jets of high velocity inert gas. The droplets solidify rapidly due to their large surface areas and high velocity relative to the atomizing gas and are collected in a cyclone collector at the bottom of an atomizing chamber with the particles ranging in size from a few microns to a few hundred microns. Essentially all the droplets are completely liquid and have not started to crystallize when they contact a metallic substrate surface placed beneath the atomization cone. A powder is used in the process or used in combination with inert gas such as argon or helium in a chamber and for atomization. Therefore, during the process, the pressure in the spray deposition chamber is slightly positive, for example, about 1 psig. Difficulties in dealing with reactive alloys, such as fine powders of aluminum and rare earth containing alloys, can be accommodated in practice by using an inert gas filled spray deposition chamber. The atomization cooling condition in the process is controlled so that the droplets are liquid, but undercooled or about to solidify when they contact the substrate surface. The droplets are essentially liquid and have not yet started to crystallize when they contact the metallic substrate surface. After impacting the substrate, the droplets form splats and continue to cool to temperatures well below their liquid temperature. Droplet sizes range generally from about 1 to 200 microns with the grain sizes in the deposition formed therefrom in the range of approximately 30-45 microns or greater.
None of the foregoing technologies however successfully fabricated a reactive spray atomization metal matrix composite with a low porosity. superplasticity, or a grain size generally lower than 10 microns, none successfully dealt with the inclusion of solid dispersoids into the atomized droplets, and none permitted controlled deposition products containing spatially varying physical and mechanical properties. Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and methodology whereby such improved composites may be controllably and successfully fabricated at low cost and high reliability.

The Regents of the University of California


A round baler having a wrapping apparatus for wrapping bales with twine includes a twine dispenser moveable generally between the sidewalls for dispensing at least one strand of twine around the bale. The wrapping apparatus includes a retractable twine guide for spacing the twine wrapped around the bale a certain distance from one of the sidewalls. The guide is shiftable into and out of an operating position, in which the guide engages and maintains the twine the distance from the one sidewall. The wrapping apparatus further includes a twine cutter for severing the twine at the end of each wrapping cycle. Power mechanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder, is provided for simultaneously operating the twine cutter and the twine guide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to round balers utilizing twine for wrapping successively formed bales and, more particularly, to a retractable twine guide for spacing the twine wrapped around the bale a certain distance from one of the sidewalls of the baler.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Round balers of both the fixed and variable chamber varieties often utilize strands of twine to wrap a fully formed bale. However, it is a well recognized problem with such conventional balers that twine wrapped around the extreme ends of the bale adjacent the sidewalls of the baler tends to slip off the bale. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, this problem is attributable to various factors such as the decreased crop material density at the ends of the bale. The convolutions of twine wrapped around the relatively inadequately formed ends of the bale are susceptible to unwrapping or may simply separate from the bale as the bale is discharged, transported, etc. As those of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize, this problem is magnified in dry, crumbly hay conditions.
Detached convolutions of twine are troublesome for several reasons. For example, loose strands of twine are unsightly and obviously detrimental to the salability of the bale. Moreover, the ends of the bale tend to be insufficiently wrapped, allowing the bale to loosen and deteriorate, which is especially problematic when the bales are stacked.
Accordingly, twine guides have been provided for spacing twine wrapped around the bale a certain distance inwardly from the sidewalls of the baler to ensure the twine remains wrapped around the bale. However, conventional twine guides consist of stationary devices mounted to the sidewalls of the baler. Since a majority of balers utilize a twine dispenser in the form of one or more pivotal twine dispensing tubes which dispense twine within the inflow of crop material so that the material carries the twine into the baling chamber and around the bale, the twine guide is positioned between the dispensing tube and the baling chamber and generally within the path of the inflowing material. Consequently, stationary twine guides interfere with the flow of crop material and are prone to collecting crop material and trash thereon which inhibits their twine guiding function. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, conventional twine guides are particularly problematic in balers utilizing a wide pickup. Wide pickups transfer and converge a wide windrow of crop material into the baling chamber and traditionally employ structure that congests the area within which the dispensing tube and twine guide are positioned and, more importantly, deliver a relatively heavy flow of crop material adjacent the sides of the baler.


An integrated circuit (IC) includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes an ADC core circuit integrated in the IC to receive an analog signal, to convert the analog signal to a digital signal in response to a trigger signal. The ADC core circuit further provide the digital signal as an output of the ADC. The ADC further includes internal trigger circuitry integrated in the ADC to provide the trigger signal to the ADC after a prescribed delay period has expired.

Electronic signal-processing often entails processing both analog and digital signals, sometimes called mixed-signal processing. Some sensors or transducers as well as natural properties or attributes, such as temperature, pressure, and the like, either constitute analog quantities or, in the case of sensors, often produce analog signals. Also, some transducers generate analog signals as their output signals.
Conversely, signal-processing circuits and building blocks increasingly use digital signals and digital techniques for reasons such as repeatability, stability, flexibility, and the like, as person of ordinary skill in the art understand. Typically, to interface the signal-processing circuits with analog circuits, signal conversion circuits are used.
One type of signal conversion circuit constitutes analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). ADCs are typically used to accept an analog signal as an input signal, and to provide a digital signal as an output signals. Thus, ADCs can provide an interface between analog circuits, such as transducers, sensors, or other circuits, and digital processing circuits or digital circuits in general.
The description in this section and any corresponding figure(s) are included as background information materials. The materials in this section should not be considered as an admission that such materials constitute prior art to the present patent application.

Apparatus for data converter with internal trigger circuitry and associated methods


A semiconductor device includes an adjustment data generation unit receiving at least a part of adjustment values of color attributes of each of n-axis vertices (n is an integer not less than 3), the n axes serving as an adjustment axis in a RGB color space. The adjustment data generation unit calculates the degree of influence which indicates the following index of each of the n-axis vertices based on the distance between each of the n-axis vertices and a target point which is an arbitrary lattice point in the RGB color space. The adjustment data generation unit calculates adjusted coordinates of the target point in the RGB color space based on shifting of each of the n-axis vertices in the RGB color space according to the adjustment value and the degree of influence. The image adjustment unit performs color adjustment of inputted image data.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, an image processing system, and a program, and specifically relates to a semiconductor device, an image processing system, and a program which adjust at least one of luminance, hue, and saturation.
In recent years, various image processing technologies are employed for realizing a high-quality image. One of the examples of the image processing technologies is a 6-axis color control. The 6-axis color control is a technology which adjusts luminance, hue, and saturation in each of six axes of Red, Green, and Blue as the three primary colors and Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta as the neutral colors. Applications of the 6-axis color control include generally the following two: (1) color gamut mapping and (2) image quality setting.
The color gamut mapping ((1) cited above) is a technology employed in the so-called color management. Generally, even when the same object is displayed, the colors reproduced will be different between devices, such as between different monitors or between a monitor and a printer, because the color reproduction characteristic of each device is different. Therefore, it may be difficult to decide the output color of which device as the standard color. The color management is the technology to bring the color reproduced by all devices close to a desired color as the standard, so that even if an arbitrary object is seen and identified by any device, it looks like almost the same color. The technology of matching the reproduced color of a target device to a color as the standard is called color gamut mapping. Devices, such as a monitor and a printer, generate various colors by additive color mixing or subtractive color mixing. Therefore, when the reproduced color of a color (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta) which becomes the source of the colors to be generated is matched between devices (between different monitors or between a monitor and a printer, etc.), all colors will match for the most part in the entire area of the reproduced colors. The present method (color matching between plural devices) can be realized only by adjusting luminance, hue, and saturation of the six axes (colors) described above. Therefore, the 6-axis color control is employed as the simplest technique of hue mapping.
The image quality setting ((2) cited above) is employed in the same way as adjustment items, such as contrast, brightness, color, tint, white balance, and a gamma characteristic, which are parameters of general image adjustments. Specifically, the 6-axis color control is employed as an auxiliary tool in the image quality setting called liking of an end user or image reproduction of picture-related equipment manufacturers.
Hereinafter, the disclosed technology regarding the 6-axis color control is explained. Patent Literature 1 discloses a color signal conversion device which adjusts the delicate color tone and color depth for a color image displayed by use of an RGB color signal. The color signal conversion device according to Patent Literature 1 calculates a chromatic color signal and an achromatic color signal from an input RGB color signal. Then, the color signal conversion device calculates a hue basic area from the calculated chromatic color signal by dividing a hue coordinate system into six. The color signal conversion device converts the chromatic color signal in each hue basic area, so as to obtain a target color, and calculates an output color signal by use of the achromatic color signal before the conversion and the chromatic color signal after the conversion.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technology to avoid a color from being adjusted to an area outside an RGB color space in adjustment of saturation and hue by use of the color difference signals (Cb/Cr). In detail, a color adjustment device according to Patent Literature 2 calculates a boundary value of the saturation component (Cb/Cr) corresponding to each input signal level, and normalizes the entire YCbCr color space by use of the boundary value. Then, the color adjustment device concerned adjusts saturation and hue in each arbitrary color area in the normalized YCbCr color space. Accordingly, it is realized that only a desired color component is adjusted.
By the way, in implementing the 6-axis color control by use of hardware, there are mainly two realization methods by means of (1) a dedicated circuit and (2) a three-dimensional look-up table.
In execution of the 6-axis color control by means of a dedicated circuit ((1) cited above), a circuit which is specialized in the 6-axis color control compensates luminance, hue, and saturation of the six axes (colors). Therefore, the color characteristic reproduced will be restricted only to the characteristics of arithmetic processing of the dedicated circuit. Furthermore, it is difficult for the dedicated circuit to perform processing other than the 6-axis color control. That is to say, the processing which can be realized by the present dedicated circuit is restricted to the 6-axis color control. Therefore, it becomes necessary to separately provide a circuit for realizing other functions; accordingly, there arises an issue of increase of a circuit scale.
Next, the following explains the 6-axis color control by means of a three-dimensional look-up table ((2) cited above). The information of the three-dimensional look-up table is stored in an arbitrary memory. The three-dimensional look-up table holds the table data corresponding to coordinate points, such as 9×9×9 or 17×17×17, which express the RGB color space. FIG. 21 illustrates an RGB color space including coordinate points of 9×9×9. In the following explanation with reference to FIG. 21, it is defined that the minimum value of the RGB color space is 0, and the maximum value is 256. In this connection, since the range of value which an 8-bit value can take is 0-255, a coordinate point which has a value greater than 255 is adjusted so as to fit in the range of 0-255.
The three-dimensional look-up table stores correspondence of the coordinates of each point in the RGB color space and the coordinates of a conversion destination (after adjustment) of the coordinates concerned. For example, in cases where the three-dimensional look-up table has table data corresponding to the coordinate points of 17×17×17, RGB coordinates (0, 0, 0) and RGB coordinates of the conversion destination thereof, RGB coordinates (16, 16, 16) and RGB coordinates of the conversion destination thereof, etc. are stored, respectively. Generally, each point stored in the three-dimensional look-up table is arranged at equal intervals (for example, an R value (or a G value or a B value) of each point is set at 0, 16, 32, 48, . . . , 256). Then, an arbitrary processing unit refers to the three-dimensional look-up table and calculates the coordinates of a conversion destination by various kinds of interpolation processing by use of coordinates which exist in the color space. For example, the processing unit concerned calculates the conversion destination coordinates of RGB coordinates (8, 8, 8) with reference to the conversion destination coordinates of RGB coordinates (0, 0, 0) and the conversion destination coordinates of RGB coordinates (16, 16, 16). That is, the processing unit concerned calculates the conversion destination coordinates of RGB coordinates (8, 8, 8), with reference to the conversion destination coordinates of 8 points of RGB coordinates (0, 0, 0), (16, 0, 0), (0, 16, 0), (0, 0, 16), (16, 16, 0), (16, 0, 16), (0, 16, 16), and (16, 16, 16).
As described above, the three-dimensional look-up table only holds table data and does not have any function. However, depending on a setup of the table data, it is possible to realize various color management functions, such as a 6-axis color control, a memory color correction, and a gamma correction. It is possible to realize these functions by changing the table data (data of the conversion original coordinates and data of the conversion destination coordinates) in the three-dimensional look-up table. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to realize various color management functions concurrently, by the setup of the table data in the three-dimensional look-up table. For example, it is possible to store the conversion destination coordinates in the three-dimensional look-up table, in the case of performing the 6-axis color control after performing memory color correction to a color indicated by the coordinates of each point. Furthermore, the picture signal processing performed by referring to the three-dimensional look-up table can be realized by hardware; accordingly it is possible to realize high-speed processing.
In this way, the image processing using a three-dimensional look-up table has an absolutely high degree of freedom compared with the case where a dedicated circuit is provided. In detail, the image processing using a three-dimensional look-up table can realize plural functions easily, and at the same time, can secure a processing speed and processing accuracy sufficiently. Therefore, it is possible to provide many cost advantages such as reduction of development resources and downsizing of a circuit scale, and to realize improvement in usability. Moreover, only by replacing table data, it is possible to improve efficiency and to correct a defective condition.
The technology disclosed by Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 is not the technology which employs a three-dimensional look-up table. Therefore, if the device is materialized by hardware, there arises an issue of increase of a circuit scale. On the other hand, when the device is realized by software, there arises an issue of a long processing time. In particular, when processing an image with large data size, such as a Hi-Vision image (1920×1080), the issue of the processing time becomes serious.    (Patent Literature)    (Patent Literature 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-277484    (Patent Literature 2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-160086

Semiconductor device, image processing system, and program


The present invention relates to a method for production of carbon electrodes where a first unbaked carbonaceous electrode paste containing a binder which cures at a temperature below 500.degree. C. is supplied to an annulus between a curing chamber having an inner cross section corresponding to the cross section of the electrode which is to be produced and an inner mould material, curing of the first electrode paste by means of supplying heat to the curing chamber, removing of elongated sections of the cured first electrode paste from the curing chamber. The lengths of the cured first electrode paste are mounted on the top of the electrode column in an electric smelting furnace, a second electrode paste is optionally supplied to the central opening of the cured body of the first electrode paste, whereby the cured body of the first electrode paste and the second electrode paste are baked into a solid carbon electrode in the area of supplying electric operating current to the electrode.

In electric smelting furnaces for production of ferro alloys, ferro phosphorus, pig iron, and other products it is to day mainly used self-baking carbon electrodes. Conventional self-baking electrodes comprise a vertical arranged electrode casing normally made from steel, extending through an opening in the furnace roof or hood. The upper end of the electrode casing is open in order to allow addition of unbaked carbonaceous electrode paste which upon heating softens and melts and is thereafter baked into a solid carbon electrode due to heat evolved in the paste in the area of supply of electric operating current to the electrode. As the electrode is consumed in the furnace the electrode is lowered and new sections of casing are installed on the top of the electrode column and further unbaked electrode paste is added.
Conventional electrodes of this type are equipped with inner, vertical metallic ribs affixed to the inner surface of the electrode casing which ribs extend radially towards the centre of the electrode. When a new section of electrode casing is installed at the top of the electrode column, the ribs are welded to the ribs in the casing below in order to obtain continuous ribs in vertical direction. The ribs serve as a reinforcement for the baked electrode and to conduct electric current and heat radially into the electrode paste during the baking process. To compensate for the consumption of the electrode, the electrode is lowered downwardly into the furnace by means of electrode holding and slipping means.
When conventional electrodes of this type are used, the electrode casing and the inner ribs melt when the electrode is being consumed in the furnace. The metal content of the casing and the ribs is thus transferred to the product produced in the smelting furnace. As the electrode casing and the inner ribs usually are made from steel, such conventional self-baking electrodes can not be used for electric smelting furnaces for the production of silicon or for the production of ferro-silicon having a high silicon content, as the iron content in the produced product will become unacceptably high.
For processes where iron contaminates the product to be produced it has conventionally been used prebaked carbon electrodes which are produced in suitable lengths outside the smelting furnace and added to the top of the electrode column by means of threads or threaded nipples. It is also known to use modifications of conventional self-baking electrodes where contamination of the product in the furnaces with iron from the casing and the ribs are avoided or reduced.
Pre-baked electrodes are normally produced by forming sections of electrodes from a carbonaceous electrode paste, whereafter the formed complete electrode sections are subjected to heat treatment in order to bake the electrode paste into a solid carbon electrode. Such a method of production requires a long period of heat treatment and the temperature has to be closely regulated during heating and during cooling in order to prevent crack formation in the finished electrode length. Further, the baked electrode has to be machined in order to obtain an acceptable surface finish and to make threads in the ends of each electrode length. Prebaked electrodes produced in this way are therefore very costly.
In Norwegian patent No. 154860 it is disclosed a method for continuous production of elongated carbon bodies which bodies are cut into suitable lengths and which are used in the same way as prebaked electrodes after machining and threading. In this method electrode paste supplied to a casing is baked by lowering the casing containing unbaked electrode paste continuously or substantially continuously through a baking furnace which is heated to a temperature of between 700 and 1300.degree. C. by external supply of heat and by combustion of gases which evolve during the baking. Also this kind of electrodes have the disadvantage that they have to be machined and treaded before they can be used as electrodes in smelting furnace.
A number of modifications of the conventional self-baking electrode have been proposed in order to avoid contamination of the product produced in the smelting furnace. Thus in Norwegian patent No. 149451 it is disclosed a self-baking electrode wherein an electrode paste with a tar-based binder contained in a casing having no inner vertical ribs, is baked above the area where electric operating current is supplied to the electrode and where the casing is removed after baking of the electrode, but before the electrode reaches the area where electric operating current is supplied to the electrode. In this way a casing and rib free electrode can be produced. This kind of electrode has been used in smelting furnaces for the production of silicon, but has the disadvantage compared to conventional prebaked electrodes that it needs costly apparatuses for baking of the electrode as the electrode in the area of baking has to be heated to a temperature in the range of 700-1000.degree. C. Further, as gases containing polyaromatic hydro-carbon compounds (PAH) evolve during baking, the apparatus has to be equipped with means for collecting and destructing the PAH compounds. Finally, it has to be arranged devices for removal of the casing after the electrode has been baked.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,929 discloses a self-baking electrode which is useful in the production of silicon. The electrode comprises a permanent metal casing having no inner ribs and a support structure for the electrode comprising carbon fibres, where the electrode paste is baked about the support structure and where the baked electrode is held by the support structure. This electrode has the disadvantage that separate holding means have to be arranged above the top of the electrode in order to hold the electrode by means of the support structure made from carbon fibres.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,856 discloses a self-baking electrode having a permanent casing having no inner ribs where the electrode paste is baked about a central graphite core and where the electrode is held be the graphite core. This electrode has the same disadvantage as the electrode disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,929, but in addition the graphite core is subjected to breakage when the electrode is subjected to horizontal forces.
The above mentioned methods for producing self-baking electrodes having no inner metal ribs all have the disadvantage the they can not be used for electrodes having a diameter above about 1.2 m without a substantial increased risk of electrode breakage. In contrast, conventional self baking electrodes may have a diameter of up to 2.0 m.
In the production of all the above mentioned types of carbon electrodes it is used a carbonaceous electrode paste comprising a particulate solid carbon material, preferably anthracite, and a tar-based binder. This electrode paste is solid at room temperature. Upon heating, the paste starts to soften at a temperature in the range of 50-150.degree. C. as the tar-based binder starts to melt at this temperature. Upon further heating to about 500.degree. C. the paste starts to bake, and a complete baking to a solid carbonaceous body takes place at a temperature above about 800.degree. C.

Method for production of carbon electrodes


Compounds of formula (I) and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof wherein: n is 1 to 3, R is an alkyl, R.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl, R.sub.2 is alkyl, R.sub.3 is an alkyl; b) alkyl substituted with an aryl, heteroaryl or cycloalkyl; c) alkyl substituted with one to eight fluorine atoms; d) cycloalkyl; e) alkenyl; f) alkyl substituted with one to three hydroxy, acyloxy or alkoxy substituents, and where the sum of carbons in R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is greater than five br where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 with the nitrogen atom form a saturated heterocyclic group having one nitrogen and form 4-8 carbon atoms or a 4-substituted piperazine group in which the 4-substituent can be alkyl, aryl, benzyl, or heteroaryl, and X is hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl, carbon trifluoride or a halogen, or compounds of formula (I') and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof wherein: n is 1 to 3, R is an alkyl, R.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl, R.sub.2 is an alkyl, R.sub.3 is an alkyl substituted with an aryl, heteroaryl or cycloalkyl, or an alkyl substituted with one to eight fluorine atoms, one to three hydroxy, acyloxy or alkoxy substituents, and where the sum of carbons in R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is greater than five; X is hydrogen, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl, carbon trifluoride or a halogen, useful as class III antiarrhythmic agents.

The present invention is directed toward selected (S)-enantiomeric methanesulfonamides characterized by a hydroxy-alkyl linkage between a tertiary amine group having a substituted side chain and a methanesulfonamide substituted phenyl, useful as Class III antiarrhythmics. These novel enantiomeric methanesulfonamides prolong the effective refractory period of the myocardium and are very potent and stable against metabolism. More importantly, these Class III antiarrhythmic compounds do not have the undesirable side effect of producing polymorphic ventricular tachycardia ("PVT").
Antiarrhythmic drugs act upon the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium and conductive tissues. Typically the rhythmic contractions of the heart are dependent upon the ability of the myocardium and conductive tissues to respond to electrical impulses. When the conductivity of the heart's muscle and conductive tissue is altered by an occlusion of an artery or disease, a life threatening cardiovascular deterioration is likely. It is therefore desirable to treat the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium and conductive tissue to restore rhythmic contractions.
One means for restoring rhythmic contraction is with an antiarrhythmic agent that selectively prolongs the action potential duration and concomitantly increases the refractory period of heart cells without significant effect on cardiac conduction. Such drugs are classified as Class III antiarrhythmic agents. Class III antiarrhythmics which have good bioavailability and which do not affect other circulatory parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate are continually being sought. The subject compounds are Class III antiarrhythmics which are suitable for the treatment of mammals suffering from arrhythmic disorders or disease.
Unfortunately, Class III antiarrhythmic agents are known to produce PVT or torsades de pointes, which is a drug-induced arrhythmia, in a percentage of patients treated with these agents. This potentially lethal arrhythmia represents a liability for this class of antiarrhythmic agents. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that the instant compounds, although potent Class III antiarrhythmics, do not cause PVT in an animal model for this arrhythmia. This is a breakthrough in preparing a Class III antiarrhythmic without the serious PVT side effect.
Bioavailability is an important characteristic of any drug. Unfortunately, with compounds similar to the subject compounds such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,268, bioavailability is hampered by a rapid metabolism of the amine side chain. The subject invention solves this problem, as previously disclosed in PCT WO 91/01299, by substituting the side chain with at least one fluorine atom to prevent rapid metabolism and thereby increase bioavailability.

Antiarrhythmic (S)-enantiomers of methanesulfonamides


Provided is a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head capable of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head with as high performance as possible. A magnetic pole layer is formed so as to have a laminate structure in which an auxiliary magnetic pole layer (including an adjacent portion and a nonadjacent portion) extending from a first flare point to the rear and a main magnetic pole layer (including a front end portion and a rear end portion) extending from an air bearing surface to the rear through the first flare point are laminated in this order. As (1) a recording track width is controlled with high precision through forming the main magnetic pole layer with high precision, (2) recording is stably performed by an increase in the amount of magnetic flux contained in the main magnetic pole layer, and (3) information recorded on a recording medium is stably maintained through preventing information erasing without intention, the thin film magnetic head can achieve higher performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film magnetic head comprising at least an inductive magnetic transducer for recording, a method of manufacturing the thin film magnetic head, and a magnetic recording apparatus comprising the thin film magnetic head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an improvement in performance of a thin film magnetic head which is mounted in a magnetic recording apparatus (for example, a hard disk drive) has been sought in accordance with an increase in the areal density of a magnetic recording medium (such as a hard disk; hereinafter simply referred to as "recording medium"). As recording systems of the thin film magnetic head, for example, a longitudinal recording system in which a signal magnetic field is oriented in an in-plane direction (a longitudinal direction) of a recoding medium and a perpendicular recording system in which a signal magnetic field is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording medium are well known. At present, the longitudinal recording system is widely used, but in consideration of market forces in accordance with an improvement in areal density, it is assumed that the perpendicular recording system instead of the longitudinal recording system holds promise for the future, because the perpendicular recording system can obtain advantages that higher linear recording density can be achieved and that a hard disk on which information has been already recorded has resistance to thermal decay effects.
The perpendicular recording system thin film magnetic head comprises a thin film coil generating a magnetic flux, and a magnetic pole layer emitting the magnetic flux generated in the thin film coil to a recording medium to perform recording. In general, the magnetic pole layer extends from a recording-medium-facing surface (an air bearing surface) which faces the recording medium to the rear, and has a planar shape which includes a uniform width region with a uniform width determining a recording track width of the recording medium and a widening region with a width larger than that of the uniform width region. A position where the width of the magnetic pole layer expands from the uniform width region to the widening region is called "flare point". In the thin film magnetic head of this kind, when a current flows through the thin film coil, a magnetic flux for recording is generated in the thin film coil. Then, when the magnetic flux is emitted from the magnetic pole layer to the recording medium, the recording medium is magnetized by a magnetic field (a perpendicular magnetic field) for recording generated by the magnetic flux, thereby information is magnetically recorded on the recording medium.
As the structure of the perpendicular recording system thin film magnetic head, some modes have been proposed.
More specifically, for example, a thin film magnetic head in which a facing surface facing a recording medium in a magnetic pole layer has a substantially trapezoidal shape to prevent the effect of side fringing due to a skew is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-197613). In the thin film magnetic head, a magnetic pole layer includes two magnetic structures which are separately formed, that is, a main magnetic pole layer which determines a uniform width region and a yoke layer which determines a widening region, and in particular, a rear portion of the main magnetic pole layer is partially covered with the yoke layer.
Moreover, for example, a thin film magnetic head in which a main magnetic pole layer is formed through growing a plating film on a yoke layer, and a front end surface of the yoke layer is inclined or curved to effectively flow a magnetic flux from the yoke layer to the main magnetic pole layer is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-197611). In the thin film magnetic head, like the above-described thin film magnetic head, a magnetic pole layer includes the main magnetic pole layer and the yoke layer which are separately formed, and in particular, the main magnetic pole layer is partially overlapped on the yoke layer.
Further, for example, a thin film magnetic head in which a non-magnetic layer is disposed on a main magnetic pole layer to control the thickness and the width of the main magnetic pole layer is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-197609). In the thin film magnetic head, like the above-described thin film magnetic head, a magnetic pole layer includes the main magnetic pole layer and a yoke layer which are separately formed, and in particular, the main magnetic pole layer is partially overlapped on the yoke layer.
Further, for example, a thin film magnetic head in which a magnetic pole layer is formed so that the cross sectional area of the magnetic pole layer is gradually reduced toward an air bearing surface, and a front end portion (pole tip) of the magnetic pole layer is disposed closer to a leading side than a plane including a trailing edge of the pole tip in order to improve a magnetic field gradient is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-036503). In the thin film magnetic head, the magnetic pole layer is formed so as to include a main pole and the pole tip which are separately formed, and in particular, the pole tip is partially laid on the main pole.
In order to improve reliability of the perpendicular recording system thin film magnetic head and put the thin film magnetic head into widespread use, for example, it is important to establish a manufacturing technique which enables to manufacture a thin film magnetic head with as high performance as possible.
More specifically, firstly, for example, in order to control the recording track width of a recording medium with high precision on the basis of the magnetic pole layer which performs recording, it is required to form the magnetic pole layer as precisely as possible. In this case, in particular, it is important to form a portion corresponding to the uniform width region which substantially determines the recording track width with high precision.
Secondly, for example, in order to stably perform recording in the magnetic pole layer, it is required to increase the amount of the magnetic flux contained in the magnetic pole layer as much as possible. In this case, it is important to sufficiently and smoothly flow the magnetic flux from a portion corresponding to the widening region which contains the magnetic flux to a portion corresponding to the uniform width region which emits the magnetic flux in the magnetic pole layer.
Thirdly, for example, in order to stably maintain information recorded on the recording medium, it is required to prevent the recorded information from being erased without intention due to the magnetic flux contained in the magnetic pole layer to the utmost. In this case, in particular, it is important to reduce the amount of the magnetic flux emitted from a portion of the magnetic pole layer corresponding to the widening region which normally does not emit the magnetic flux without intention.
Although a promising technique of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head on the above-described three points has been in demand, conventional techniques of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head do not sufficiently meet requirements on the three points, so techniques of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head are still susceptible to improvement. Specifically, in consideration of today's technical background in which the areal density of the recording medium is increased at an accelerating rate, it is urgently required to establish a technique of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head which can obtain sufficient advantages on the above-described three points.

Thin film magnetic head, method of manufacturing the same and magnetic recording apparatus


A heat-radiating structure of an electronic card unit is compact and reinforces a printed circuit board while improving heat radiation efficiency. Card unit 6 has dual function reinforcing plate-heat dissipaters 17 and 18 at the upper and lower edges of a printed circuit board 12 on which a heat-generating component 19 is mounted. Heat generated by component 19 is conducted to the reinforcing plate-heat dissipaters by passing a fluid in a heat pipe 21, a heat-conducting sheet 31 or a heat radiation circulation pipe 41 to be removed into the air. The reinforcing plates-heat dissipaters 17 and 18 are formed with a plurality of air vents 17a and 18a.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic card unit and a method for removing heat generated from electronic components. In preferred embodiments, the card unit has a heat-radiating structure which can efficiently remove heat generated from electronic components in the electronic card unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic components such as highly integrated semiconductor devices produce heat when the components are activated. Heat removal is essential for an electronic card unit which consists of such electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board. In particular, in electronic communication equipment having a plurality of card units in its card slots, a large amount of heat is generated. Efficient heat removal poses a serious technical problem. For this reason, various techniques have been proposed.
In a heat radiating structure disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63(1988)-152200, a component as a source of heat on a printed circuit board is connected to heat-cooling fins via a pipe, and the fins are further connected to movable heat-cooling fins that protrude into an air chamber, whereby heat is efficiently removed.
In a heat-radiating structure disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-270884 (Patent Document 2), a pipe on the side of component connected to a heat-generating element on a printed circuit board is removably connected to another pipe connected to a heat-radiating plate placed on the top surface of communication equipment, thereby removing heat of the heat-generating element from the external heat-radiating plate through the connected heat pipes.
In general, a number of card-like electronic units are accurately inserted into an electronic communication equipment frame, and as described above, heat must be efficiently removed. Therefore, printed circuit boards of electrical modules are required to be robust and accurate. Furthermore, the space for removing heat must be compactly allocated.
The heat-radiating structure described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63(1988)-152200 (the third to 15th lines in the lower right section of P. 1, FIG. 1) has fixed heat-radiating fins and movable heat-radiating fins. Thus, it is difficult to produce a robust and accurate cooling system. In addition, the fin construction prevents the system from being compact.
Heat-radiating space in the equipment must be provided, such that the heat-radiating structure described in Patent Document of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-270884 (paragraphs 0011 to 0013, FIG. 1) conducts heat from the heat-generating element through the heat pipes to the external heat-radiating plate. Therefore, it is difficult to compactly design the heat-radiating structure.

Electronic card unit and method for removing heat from a heat-generating component on a printed circuit board


A printing device for implementing printing on a medium includes a detection unit and a control unit. The detection unit is configured to detect loading of the medium into the printing device and withdrawal of the medium from the printing device. The control unit is configured to indicate contents displayed on a display screen. The control unit is further configured to generate a first signal of displaying a first screen on the display screen when the detection unit detects that the medium has been withdrawn from the printing device, and generate a second signal of displaying a second screen different from the first screen on the display screen when the detection unit detects that the medium has been loaded into the printing device.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printing device.
Related Art
As a printing device, for example as noted in Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-278377, known are printing devices equipped with a feed tray in which media such as paper or the like is housed. With this kind of printing device, when a designated condition such as the feed tray being pulled out from the printing device or the feed tray being pushed into the printing device is established, information relating to attributes such as the size, type or the like of the media that is housed or that was housed in that feed tray is made to be displayed on a display screen.
However, when contents according to the state of the printing device are displayed on the display screen, displaying suitable information according to the any given occasion leads to improved usability.

Printing device for generating display signals


The present invention relates to catalyst supports and improvements thereof for use with supported activators and supported transition metal catalyst systems. The invention specifically involves reacting a carrier containing reactive functionalities, e.g., hydroxyl containing silica, with halogenated organic compounds, e.g., fluorosubstituted phenols. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a base. The reaction consumes undesired functionalities on the support to provide a halogenated support which is suitable for activators and catalytic precursors which are adversely affected by functionalities typically found on supports. The supported activators or catalytic precursors are prepared by contacting the precursors or activators with the halogenated support.

Transition metal catalysts, i.e., Ziegler-Natta and metallocenes, generally cannot be practically used for gas or slurry phase polymerization unless sufficiently supported. The use of supported catalysts offers the possibility of gas and slurry phase compatibility. Control of the particle size distribution of the polymeric product in the various polymerization processes eliminates or reduces the extent of reactor fouling.
Supported catalysts for olefin polymerization are well known in the art. These catalysts offer, among other things, the advantages of being useable in gas or slurry phase reactors, allowing the control of polymer particle size and thereby the control of the product bulk density. Gas phase reactors also eliminate the need for a solvent and the equipment for solvent handling during separation of the solvent from the resin. However, it is known that transition metal catalysts, particularly metallocene catalysts, are deactivated by supports that contain reactive functionalities, such as silicas which are oxide supports.
Accordingly, when using supported polyolefin catalysts, it is often desired to remove or reduce hydroxyl groups and other reactive functionalities from the support particles before and/or during manufacture of the supported catalyst. Removal of the reactive functionalities is often desirable since they will often react with the catalyst thereby deactivating it.
For example, in the past, various thermal and/or chemical treatments have been used in an effort to achieve dehydroxylation of the oxide particles.
Thermal treatments (i.e., calcining) are advantageous from the point that they do not add undesirable chemicals to the support and that they are relatively simple inexpensive processes. Unfortunately, thermal treatments are often ineffective for achieving a high degree of dehydroxylation. Further, for many porous oxide supports (e.g., silica gel), thermal treatments often result in an undesirable loss of pore volume, shrinkage of the pores and/or loss of surface area.
Furthermore, a variety of chemical treatments have been attempted to remove or deactivate reactive functionalities. Many types of chemicals have been used such as organo aluminum compounds, magnesium chloride/dehydrating agent combinations, organosilanes, halosilanes, silanes, etc. These various chemical processes are often expensive and may result in the addition of undesired or complicating constituents to an oxide support.
Thus, there remains a need for improved catalytic supports and supported activators having the undesired reactive functionalities deactivated.
Moreover, it is sometimes desirable to impart different characteristics to the support surface. The attachment of selected organic moieties to the support effects the characteristics of the support and hence the catalytic nature of the catalyst and/or activator placed on the support.
Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a method to deactivate reactive functionalities on catalytic supports as well to provide for a new support for transition metal catalysts and a supported catalytic activator.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a supported activator and a supported transition metal catalyst and/or catalyst system (support, activator and catalytic precursor) capable of not only producing polymers, but also providing a catalyst with hydrogen sensitivity so as to allow use of hydrogen to control molecular weight in olefin polymerization reactors.

Halogenated supports and supported activators


A watercraft control system for a watercraft having multiple control stations routes operation control signals in a non-competing, non-contradictory manner. In an embodiment, the control system includes a plurality of links. When abnormalities affect one or more of the communication links, the control system maintains communication through one or more of the unaffected communication links.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in to general to watercraft control systems and, in particular, relates to watercraft control systems that communicate over a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Watercraft generally include operational and other controls that are used for maneuvering and other operations. For example, a watercraft often includes output control and steering control for a propulsion device, such as an inboard motor or an outboard motor having a propulsion mechanism, such as a jet, a propeller or another thrust generating device. In the past, the foregoing controls included mechanically linked devices. More recent control mechanisms employ one or more electronic systems. For example, the electronic systems may include an inboard local area network (LAN) that electrically connects, for example, a control station to the motor controls of an outboard motor. The inboard LAN may also connect other devices to one or more communication cables between the control station and the outboard motor.
The known electronic systems include a number of drawbacks when, for example, the watercraft includes multiple sets of operational controls. For example, a watercraft may include a plurality of control stations, each having a corresponding set of operational or other controls usable to maneuver or otherwise operate the watercraft. When such multi-set operational controls are operated simultaneously, the controls may send competing and even contradictory signals to the motor control via the inboard LAN. Consequently, the watercraft may not operate or may operate incorrectly.
In addition to the drawbacks associated with multi-set controls, the known electronic systems may fail when, for example, abnormal conditions affect communication in the inboard LAN. For example, electric shorts, poor connections, or the like may create communication breaks between nodes of the inboard LAN.

Watercraft control system for watercraft having multiple control stations


A radiation detection apparatus including a sensor panel, having a photoreceiving unit constituted of plural photoelectric converting elements two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate and electrical connecting portions provided in an external portion of the photoreceiving unit and electrically connected to the photoelectric converting elements of respective rows or columns of the photoreceiving unit, a phosphor layer provided at least on the photoreceiving unit for converting a radiation into a light detectable by the photoelectric converting element, and a phosphor protective member covering the phosphor layer and in contact with the sensor panel, characterized in that the phosphor protective member includes a frame member provided between the phosphor layer and the electric connecting portion on the sensor panel, and a phosphor protective layer covering an upper surface of the phosphor layer and provided in close contact with an upper surface of the frame member. This configuration allows to prevent a discharge of an electrostatic charge accumulated on the sensor panel, thereby providing a stable radiation detection apparatus with a high production yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scintillator panel, a radiation detecting apparatus and a radiation image pickup system adapted for use in a medical diagnostic equipment or a non-destructive inspection equipment, and particularly to a scintillator panel, a radiation detecting apparatus and a radiation image pickup system adapted for use in an X-ray image pickup. In the present specification, the radiation includes also electromagnetic waves such as α-ray, β-ray or γ-ray in addition to X-ray.
2. Description of the Related Art
For obtaining an X-ray photograph, there has been generally employed an X-ray film system including a fluorescent screen having an X-ray phosphor layer and an X-ray film coated on both sides. On the other hand, a digital radiation detection apparatus, including a phosphor layer as a wavelength converting member for converting an X-ray and a two-dimensional photodetector constituted by arranging photoelectric converting elements two-dimensionally, is an object of active research and development, and various patent applications are being made. This is based on a fact that the digital radiation detection apparatus has satisfactory image characteristics and digital data provided by such apparatus can be fetched into a computer system on a network and can provide an advantage of data sharing. Among such digital radiation detection apparatuses, an apparatus of a high sensitivity and a high sharpness is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,422, which describes a radiation detection apparatus formed by a photodetector (also called "sensor panel") constituted of a photoelectric converting element unit in which plural switching elements such as photosensors and TFTs (thin film transistors) are arranged two-dimensionally and by forming thereon a phosphor layer for converting a radiation into a light detectable with the photosensor.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a prior radiation detection apparatus. Also FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a radiation detection apparatus in which the aforementioned phosphor layer is formed in a two-dimensional sensor panel constituted of a photoelectric converting element unit in which plural electrical elements such as photosensors and TFTs are arranged. In FIG. 12, there are shown a glass substrate 101; a photosensor 102 utilizing amorphous silicon and constituting a photoelectric converting unit with a TFT; a wiring 103; a connection lead 104; a sensor protective layer (first protective layer) 105 formed for example with silicon nitride; a phosphor undercoat layer (second protective layer) formed by a resinous film 111; a phosphor layer 112 formed by an alkali halide having a columnar crystal structure; a phosphor protective layer 113 and a protective layer 115 for the reflective layer formed by an organic resin; a reflective layer 114; a protective resin 116 formed on the sensor panel on an external periphery of the phosphor prior to the formation of the phosphor protective layer 113, and a sealant 117 for sealing end portions of the phosphor protective layer 113 and the reflective layer protective layer 115 to prevent a moisture intrusion from the exterior thereby improving the durability. A connection lead 104 for a connection with an external electrical circuit is connected for example to a flexible wiring board, for example with an anisotropically conductive adhesion film. These components constitute a radiation detection apparatus.
In the aforementioned prior configuration, however, in case forming the phosphor layer 12 on the sensor panel, the connection lead 104 has to be masked in order to prevent a deposition of the phosphor, constituting the phosphor layer 112, onto the connection lead 104.
In this operation, it is possible to prevent the deposition of the phosphor by so positioning a holder, used for setting the sensor panel in an apparatus for evaporating the phosphor layer, as to cover the electrical connection lead 104. However, when the holder is detached after the formation of the phosphor layer, an electrostatic charge accumulated in the sensor panel may be discharged to the holder or the like, thereby causing, through the connection lead 104, a characteristic change of the photosensor 102 or the TFT or a breakage of a wiring, formed on the sensor panel. Also a masking may be achieved by covering the connection lead with a polyimide tape or the like before the setting in the phosphor forming apparatus, but there may result, when the masking tape is peeled off after the formation of the phosphor layer, a peeling charging of the sensor panel, thereby resulting in a discharge at a contact by the panel handling and causing similar failures. Also in the aforementioned masking by the masking tape, there may result a deposition of the phosphor on the connection lead 104 because of an incomplete masking or a residue of the tape on the collection lead 104, thus requiring a rinsing step of the connection lead 104 with a solvent or the like, thus increasing the manufacturing operations.
Also in the aforementioned prior technology, the phosphor protective layer 113 and the protective layer 115 for reflective layer are formed by a CVD (gaseous growth) method requiring a vacuum evaporation apparatus, but such process necessitates an expensive apparatus and a very long forming time, leading to a high cost.

Radiation detecting apparatus, producing method therefor and radiation image pickup system


A light source module includes at least one light source, first optical waveguide which causes light entering therein from a light inlet end face to emanate from a light outlet end face, and an inlet optical system which collects light emitted from the light source and couples it to the light inlet end face of the first optical waveguide. The light inlet end face of the first optical waveguide is larger than the light outlet end face thereof in cross-sectional area of the core.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light source module comprising a light source, an optical waveguide and an inlet optical system for coupling light emitted from the light source to one end of the optical waveguide.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been well known a light source module comprising a semiconductor laser and an inlet optical system for coupling light emitted from the semiconductor laser to a light inlet end face of an optical fiber as an optical communication component. In the inside of the light source module, the inlet optical system and the optical fiber are fixed together with an adhesive means such as solder or adhesive in order to stably keep the semiconductor laser coupled to the light inlet end face of the optical fiber in the order of micro meters.
In such an optical module, the package accommodating therein the light source module is generally hermetically sealed in order to prevent deterioration of the laser by humidity of the atmosphere. For example, the structure represented by the CAN package is representative of a sealing structure for protecting a semiconductor laser or an end face of a laser. In such a light source module, there has been a problem that pollutant remaining in the hermetically sealed package can adhere to an optical component such as a light outlet end face of the laser, the inlet optical system or the optical fiber to deteriorate the laser properties. Especially, the pollutant adheres more where is high in optical density. (dust collection effect) Such dust collection effect is more remarkable in light source modules comprising, for instance, a GaN semiconductor laser which radiates a laser beam in the range of 350 to 500 nm (400 nm band) since in such light source modules, photon energy is high and a photochemical reaction with material is apt to occur.
As a pollutant, for instance, hydrocarbon compound mixed therein from the atmosphere of a producing step can be included, and there has been known a fact that material polymerized or decomposed by the laser beam adheres to the hydrocarbon compound to prevent improvement in optical output.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-179595, there has been disclosed a technology where, in order to suppress pollution of the light inlet end face of the optical fiber, the light inlet end face of the optical fiber is coated with a photo-catalyst such as titanium oxide film active to laser beams and/or nitrogen-doped titanium oxide film. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-253783, there has been disclosed a technology where a transparent body such as a glass block is brought into close contact with the light inlet end face of the optical fiber to protect the light inlet end face of the optical fiber. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-252425, there has been disclosed a technology where the light inlet end face of the optical fiber is brought into close contact with the outside of the window of the package to suppress adhesion of the pollutant to the light inlet end face of the optical fiber.
As described above, the package of a precision optical component such as a semiconductor laser or an optical fiber is hermetically sealed in order to protect the precision optical component from pollutant. However, since the package for hermetically sealing each of optical systems which are variously shaped are not for a wide use and accordingly must be ordered for each optical system, whereby cost of thousands to tens of thousands of yens is required which adds to the cost of light source modules.


The present invention provides a work vehicle having a frame and an auxiliary axle system having an arm assembly including a pair of arms, an elongate tube extending between the arms and having an end attached to each of the arms, a pair of levers attached to the tube, and cylinder blocks extending between the levers; a cylinder assembly including a first cylinder shaft extending between the cylinder blocks and having an end attached to each of the cylinder blocks, a cylinder cross member attached to the frame, a second cylinder shaft attached to the cylinder cross member, and a hydraulic cylinder having one end attached to the first cylinder shaft and another end attached to the second cylinder shaft; and a rear assembly including a rear cross member attached to the frame, a pair of pivot blocks attached to the rear cross member, and a pivot shaft extending between the pivot blocks and having an end attached to each of the cylinder blocks. The arm assembly is pivotally mounted to the rear assembly and is actuated by the cylinder assembly.

Work vehicles are known to carry heavy loads, and often to carry these loads over unpaved surfaces such as dirt roads and around construction sites. In particular, cement trucks carry large drums full of cement long distances and often must traverse unpaved surfaces to access the site for unloading the cement from the drum. Cement trucks typically include a cab for the operator and a rotatable drum behind the cab for containing and mixing concrete. Such cement trucks further typically include a set of front wheels for steering, and plural rear drive axles carrying dual wheel arrangements mounted on a continuous elongate chassis for load-support. For additional load-support, particularly in-transit when the drum is substantially full, a cement truck can benefit by having a pivotally mounted tag axle (auxiliary axle) system able to operate between a raised position in which it is carried by the truck, and a lowered/deployed position in which the tag axle and its wheels share the truck's load.
Not only does the tag axle system assist in balancing the load carried by the cement truck when the drum is fully loaded, it may enable the cement truck to carry a higher total payload than would otherwise be permitted, because weight restrictions placed on vehicles traveling over highways are typically measured in terms of load per axle in combination with overall spacing between axles of a vehicle. By deploying a tag axle system, the number of axles as well as the spacing thereof can be temporarily increased when the truck is heavily loaded, thereby enabling the truck to transport a higher total legal payload.
It is known to have tag axle systems generally consisting of a rear tubular cross member welded to the truck frame, and two tag axle arms pivotally mounted to and extending rearwardly from the tubular cross member. According to a known arrangement, pins are inserted into the ends of the cross member and through apertures in the arms to hold the tag axle arms in place on the cross member with the aid of a set screw. Bearings surround the pin to allow smooth pivoting of the arms. This design is problematic in that over a period of a few years, the bearings may fail and seize to the pin, and the pin may seize to the ends of the cross member. Since cement trucks are often washed with an acid/water solution to remove cement particles from the truck surface, the acid/water solution may come into contact with the tag axle system components and accelerate corrosion of the components, thereby accelerating seizure of those components. Additionally, since load-hauling vehicles are often driven over unpaved surfaces, movement and twisting of the tag axle system components may occur and cause cross member flexure and articulation of the components. As a result of use, and seizing and articulation of the components, over time it becomes more difficult to disassemble and maintain the system, except by cutting the failed components from the frame (typically with a torch) and replacing them. Such permanently mounted components may limit the use of the vehicle (as the frame is itself modified).
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a tag axle system which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, and which allows simplified disassembly of the tag axle system for maintenance such as replacement of corroded, seized components of the system.