A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimagdala’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are purple in color; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Dongimagdala'.
The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.
The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2013 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri 'Duemagpur', disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,917, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN11-002765-004, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2014.
Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A wet well pumping system and a method of installing and servicing the same in a wet well include mounting a pair of bent elbows having pump inlets and riser outlets on an alignment platform having a centerline, configuring the riser outlets to extend along longitudinal axes generally parallel to, and located at substantially equal distances from, the centerline of the platform, overlying the wet well with an alignment cover having a centerline and a pair of riser clearance holes, configuring the riser clearance holes to extend through the cover at the substantially equal distances from the centerline of the cover, passing a pair of upright risers through the riser clearance holes along longitudinal axes generally parallel to the centerline of the cover, aligning the longitudinal axes of the risers with the longitudinal axes of the riser outlets, connecting the risers to the aligned riser outlets, securing the platform to a floor of the well after the risers are connected to the aligned riser outlets, connecting a pair of submersible pumps inside the well to the pump inlets of the bent elbows, and pumping waste water from the well though the bent elbows and the risers to outside the well.

This invention generally relates to a wet well pumping system and, more particularly, to a method of installing and servicing the system for maintenance and replacement.
Wet well pumping systems for pumping waste water such as sewage, including liquid and solid waste, from community structures, such as domestic residences, office buildings, companies, industries, farms, institutions, and the like, to sewage or drainage pipes for treatment in a sewage treatment plant prior to safe, sanitary discharge, are well known. The sewage is typically collected in a wet well, which may be below or above ground. In a typical multi-story, office building application, the wet well is located below street level in the basement of the building and collects sewage from each floor, and the pumping system pumps the collected sewage back up to a street sewage pipe at a higher elevation. A typical pumping system includes one or more submersible pumps in the wet well and connected to one or more runs of discharge pipes that include elbows for changing direction from the horizontal to the vertical, as well as risers for changing elevation. The risers extend generally upwardly from inside the well, through a cover overlying the well, and outside the well to the street sewage pipe. Valves in the risers resist back flow of the sewage toward the pumps.
A new installation of such a wet well pumping system is often problematic, because the system is installed from the "bottom up" and is customized for each location. Typically, the well is fabricated with studs permanently anchored in the well floor. For example, in the case of a concrete-poured well, threaded studs extend upwardly from the poured concrete, and the pumps and the elbows are initially lowered into the well and bolted directly to the anchored studs. Then, the risers are connected to the elbows, and the risers are passed through clearance holes in the cover. Oftentimes, the risers are not properly aligned with these clearance holes. To achieve alignment, sometimes the clearance holes are enlarged on the job site. Sometimes, the pumps and/or the elbows have to be unbolted from the floor and jockeyed to new positions. Sometimes, the floor is not level at these new positions, thereby requiring further jockeying of the various system components until everything is more or less aligned. A custom installation is therefore both laborious and time consuming.
Servicing an installation of such a wet well pumping system is also often problematic. Removal and replacement or repair of broken or malfunctioning submersible pumps in the pumping system is time consuming, often requiring several personnel and exposing these personnel to possible unsafe conditions due to the possible accumulation of poisonous gases within the well. The service personnel are also exposed to possible environmental hazards from the wet and slick environment and the confined space within the well, as well as from possible electrical hazards associated with the connection of electrical wiring to the pumps from an electrical system. Furthermore, especially with the passage of time, inevitable corrosion between the pipes and the pumps cause them to fuse to each other and, as a consequence, the service personnel often have to break at least some of the pipes and/or bolts in order to service or replace a malfunctioning or broken pump.

Wet well pumping system and method of installing and servicing the system


Methods and non-volatile storage systems are provided for using compensation that depends on the temperature at which the memory cells were programmed. Note that the read level compensation may have a component that is not dependent on the memory cells' Tco. That is, the component is not necessarily based on the temperature dependence of the Vth of the memory cells. The compensation may have a component that is dependent on the difference in width of individual Vth distributions of the different states across different temperatures of program verify. This compensation may be used for both verify and read, although a different amount of compensation may be used during read than during verify.

The present disclosure relates to technology for non-volatile memory.
Semiconductor memory has become increasingly popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories. With flash memory, also a type of EEPROM, the contents of the whole memory array, or of a portion of the memory, can be erased in one step, in contrast to the traditional, full-featured EEPROM. The array of storage elements may be divided into a large number of blocks of storage elements.
Both the traditional EEPROM and the flash memory utilize a floating gate that is positioned above and insulated from a channel region in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is positioned between the source and drain regions. A control gate is provided over and insulated from the floating gate. The threshold voltage (Vth) of the transistor thus formed is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, the minimum amount of voltage that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned on to permit conduction between its source and drain is controlled by the level of charge on the floating gate. Thus, a storage element may be read by applying a reference voltage to its control gate and sensing the magnitude of the current that flows between its drain and source.
A storage element may be programmed by applying suitable programming voltages to its control gate. Typically, a program voltage Vpgm applied to the control gate during a program operation is applied as a series of pulses that increase in magnitude over time.
Typically, the Vth of the memory cell varies with temperature. If the same memory cell is read at different temperatures, its Vth typically shifts lower as the temperature increases. The Vth shift per temperature unit is defined as the Temperature Coefficient (or simply Tco) for that memory cell. For some devices, Tco is a negative quantity since the Vth reduces as the temperature increases.
This shift is depicted in FIG. 1, which shows two sets of threshold voltage distributions. One set is for a high temperature read, the other for a low temperature read. However, each set was programmed at the same temperature. Each set has a threshold voltage distribution for an A-state, B-state, and C-state. A portion of the erase-state is also shown. The threshold voltage distribution for a given state shows the range of Vths for memory cells programmed to that state. Example read levels (VrA, VrB, VrC) are shown for the low temperature distributions. Example read levels (VrA′, VrB′, VrC′) are shown for the high temperature distributions. For accurate reading, the read levels may be about midway between two adjacent threshold voltage distributions. Note that the y-axis is a log scale of the number of memory cells.
One possible way to compensate for this Vth temperature dependence is to determine read levels according to an equation such as Equation 1.R(atT)=R0+Tco*T   Eq. 1
In Equation 1, R is the read level for a given state, R0 is a base read reference voltage for that state, T is the temperature during read, and Tco is the temperature coefficient which may be optimized by matching it with the memory cell Tco. Note that Tco may be a function of the state being read. As one example, a result of applying Equation 1 may be to determine level VrB for the low-temperature read and VrB′ for the high-temperature read (see FIG. 1). Thus, a compensation that is based on the dependence of the memory cell's Vth on temperature may be applied to the read levels.
Further complicating the situation is that the memory cells could be programmed at different temperatures. For example, memory cells in one block (or some other unit) in the memory could be programmed at a high temperature and another block at a low temperature. In one scenario, the different blocks may be read back at the same read temperature. For example, there may be a high-temperature program paired with a high-temperature read, as well as a low-temperature program paired with a high-temperature read. In another scenario, the different blocks may read back at different read temperatures. For example, there may be a high-temperature program paired with a high-temperature read, as well as a low-temperature program paired with a low-temperature read.
If the same program verify levels are used at different temperatures, it would lead to different Vth distribution positions for the blocks programmed at different temperatures due to the Tco of the memory cells. This is true even if both blocks are read at the same temperature. This is also true even if temperature compensation is used during read for the case that reading is performed at different temperatures. Thus, simply having a Tco on read levels is not sufficient to take care of different programming temperatures.
To resolve the problem of different programming temperatures, the same Tco may also be applied to all the verify levels (not depicted in FIG. 1). As one example, the verify levels will also follow Equation 1 (but with verify levels instead of read levels). At lower temperatures, the verify levels for all states will be higher than what they would be at higher temperature. Thus, if both blocks are read back with optimized voltage Tco, the Vth distributions would align at the same position no matter the temperature the programming was done at.
Note that to achieve the above, the value for Tco used on read/verify levels needs to be optimized such that it matches with the memory cell Tco (the rate at which typical cell's Vth moves with temperature). Also there may be state dependency in the memory cell Tco, which means different Tco values may be used to determine read and verify reference levels for different states.


An energy-saving communication is made available in a hearing aid system. For this purpose the individual communication participants are given different priorities, by using data packets of variable length in the communication. The longer data packets of higher priority prevail when the transmission requests of lower priority are paused as long as the communication channel is busy. In this manner a suitable communication can be structured in a hearing aid system comprising, for example, of two hearing aids and a remote control.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for the sending of data in a hearing aid system.
Wireless communication between one hearing aid and another hearing aid as well as with an additional communications interface must fulfill special requirements, which, for example, are caused by the very limited available transmission energy of a transceiver located in the hearing aid as well as by the antennae, which are frequently quite ineffective due to spatial limitations.
The solutions implemented in other application fields resort, on the one hand, to multiple channels or time-slicing procedures. If, on the other hand, a single-channel communication system is used, in the case of sufficient transmitting ranges and transmission bandwidths of all the involved communication participants, it is possible as a rule to ensure that the wireless communication channel is free in the case of the use of a communication procedure. For energy and spatial reasons, these methods, which find application for example in modern digital communication systems (Bluetooth, DECT, etc.), are not suitable for hearing aid applications. The FM communication systems common in the field of hearing aids as a rule represent pure point-to-point communication systems with a communication level for a single application, which continuously transmit analog signals.
In this connection, a hearing aid with several analog inputs and one additional digital input is known from German patent publication DE 195 44 546. It is possible to further process several digital signals fed in at the additional input of the hearing aid by way of a multiplexer and to lead said digital signals to a signal processor of the hearing aid.
By way of this procedure, the spatially separate microphone signals of stereo microphones can be received and further processed quickly and error-free in a digital manner.
Additionally, in the German patent publication DE 102 01 068, a method for communication of a hearing aid with external radio interfaces is described, in which address data and/or channel data regarding several signal sources are stored in a memory device. By way of a priority-driven address management system, the hearing-aid wearer can very comfortably automatically pick up communication with a radio interface of the highest priority.

Device and method for communication of hearing aids


An outboard motor is provided with a four-stroke-cycle engine and an oil pan disposed below the engine. In the arrangement of the oil pan, a lubricating oil reservoir is arranged on a front side of the oil pan, and an exhaust gas passage and a cooling water passage are arranged on the rear side of the lubricating oil reservoir.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an outboard motor including an oil pan having an improved structure.
2. Related Art
The outboard motor is generally stored in a state in which the outboard motor is tilted up about a tilting axis of a bracket assembly at a time when the outboard motor is not used. However, in an intermediate or large sized outboard motor having a heavy weight, such tilt-up operation is performed electrically by using a power-tilt and trim (PTT) system equipped to the outboard motor.
On the other hand, a small sized outboard motor is not provided with such PTT system, and the tilt-up operation is performed manually by an operator. However, even such an outboard motor has a relatively heavy weight, and in certain cases, it is difficult to manually perform the tilt-up operation by hands. In order to obviate such defect, there is also provided an outboard motor equipped with an assisting apparatus or device, for example, a gas-assist cylinder device, for assisting the manual tilt-up operation such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open (KOKAI) Publication No. HEI 7-81682.
However, the equipment of such assist apparatus results in increasing in the entire weight of the outboard motor and manufacturing cost, while the tilt-up operation may become easy.


A system, a method and computer-readable media for performing texture resampling algorithms on a processing device. A texture resampling algorithm is selected. This algorithm is decomposed into multiple one-dimensional transformations. Instructions for performing each of the one-dimensional transformations are communicated to a processing device, such as a GPU. The processing device may generate an output image by separately executing the instructions associated with each of the one-dimensional transformations.

Computer software applications today provide a wide variety of controls for allowing users to interact with and manipulate content presented on a computer. For example, the recent growth in the popularity of digital photography can be attributed, in part, to the development of user-friendly applications and operating systems, which facilitate interaction with digital images. These applications and operating systems often make it easy for users to store, organize and share their digital photos.
With the proliferation of interest in digital images, many applications and operating systems today also include tools for editing and manipulating digital images. For example, the user may alter the colors of an image by adding brightness to the presented colors. As another example, the user may resize, rotate or apply a geometric transformation to an image. For manipulations such as these, a texture resampling algorithm must be employed.
As known to those skilled in the art, texture resampling algorithms use a portion of the original image (known as a resampling window) to generate the transformed image. A variety of texture resampling algorithms exist in the art, and the existing algorithms vary in the degree of complexity and in the size of the utilized resampling window. For example, the nearest neighbor method is a texture resampling algorithm that generates an output pixel by simply mapping the output pixel's location onto the input image and copying the pixel nearest to that location. While this algorithm is simple and may be performed quickly, it often produces unacceptable results. Multiple algorithms known in the art provide better quality, but they involve more complex and slower computations. For example, bilinear interpolation algorithms are well-known to provide intermediate quality with intermediate performance. Algorithms such as bicubic, b-spline bicubic and Lanczos-sinc provide high quality results, but they require complex, time-consuming operations, as well as large resampling windows.
To more quickly and efficiently handle operations related to digital images, many computers today include a graphics processing unit (GPU). A GPU is a dedicated graphics processor with a platform that allows for image processing at speeds much faster than traditional central processing units (CPUs). GPUs often include simple, built-in resampling algorithms such as nearest neighbor or bilinear interpolation. However, existing GPUs do not support high-end texture resampling algorithms. Such algorithms are not built-in to the GPUs. Further, while modern GPUs have programmable components that allow implementation of algorithms designed specifically for the GPU, these components can only handle a limited number of instructions and a limited number of sample points. Given these limitations, modern GPUs are incapable of performing complex texture resampling algorithms. Accordingly, these complex algorithms must be performed at slow speeds by CPUs.


Electrical bus isolation is detected for an electrified vehicle having a DC power source connected to positive and negative buses. The positive bus is connected to chassis ground, and a resulting first current is sensed that flows through a negative bus leakage resistance and a balanced leakage resistance. The negative bus is connected to chassis ground, and a resulting second current is sensed that flows through a negative bus leakage resistance and a balanced leakage resistance. The positive and negative bus leakage resistances are estimated in response to respective ratios of the first and second currents. An isolation value is compared to a threshold, wherein the isolation value is responsive to a voltage of the DC power source and a smaller one of the positive and negative bus leakage resistances. An atypical isolation is signaled when the isolation value is less than the threshold.

The present invention relates in general to electrified vehicles using a high voltage bus, and, more specifically, to accurate estimation of the effective isolation resistance present between each high-power bus and a chassis ground.
Electrified vehicles such as for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles typically utilize a high voltage power bus driven by a DC power source which may include storage and/or conversion devices such as a multi-cell battery pack or a fuel cell. The presence of high-voltage buses creates a need for monitoring of the electrical isolation of each bus with respect to the electrically conductive components of the vehicle chassis (ground).
Any leakage resistance present between a DC bus and chassis ground must be sufficiently large. In typical leakage resistance detection systems, there is an assumption that leakage resistance will be between one of the positive or negative DC buses and chassis ground. A typical leakage detector circuit operates by periodically connecting one bus at a time to chassis ground through a current-limiting resistance, and using the resulting current flow to calculate the leakage resistance between the opposite bus and ground. The calculated leakage resistance divided by battery voltage characterizes the electrical isolation.
Leakage resistance detection systems typically supply a current from one bus through a known resistance to the leakage resistance between the ground and the other bus. Such systems might miss a potential balanced component of leakage resistance from both buses to ground that can sometimes result in the mischaracterization of the electrical isolation because of a potential discrepancy in the derived leakage resistance values. More specifically, a resistance may exist between one bus and chassis ground as well as a resistance having a component of equal value between the other bus and chassis ground. These resistances, both being equal in value, are hereafter referred to as symmetrical or balanced leakage resistance. A resistance on one bus to chassis without a matching value on the other bus to chassis is hereafter referred to as non-symmetrical or unbalanced leakage resistance. The additional current flow through the balanced leakage resistance may cause prior art detection systems to overestimate the composite balanced and unbalanced resistance which exists between one bus and chassis ground. Estimating this latter composite resistance is desirable in order to more accurately determine the electrical isolation.
Co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 14/504,588, entitled "Bus Leakage Resistance Estimation for Electrical Isolation Testing and Diagnostics," filed Oct. 2, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses methods and apparatus for identifying the balanced and unbalanced leakage resistances. Leakage currents are measured for the positive and negative buses. A correction factor based on a ratio of the currents is obtained in order to separate the balanced and unbalanced leakage resistance components.
The foregoing leakage resistance estimations depend on both voltage and current measurements from each of the detection circuits for the two respective buses. It would be desirable to reduce the number of measurements required and to reduce the computations needed to derive the unbalanced and/or balanced bus leakage resistances.

Bus leakage resistance estimation for electric vehicle


A thru-tubing retrievable whipstock is disclosed. A running tool creates relative movement to pivot out anchors at the lower end of the whipstock to accomplish its support. The setting force is trapped by spring-loaded wedges. The whipstock can be released and retrieved through tubing by undermining the wedges which allows retrieval of the whipstock by a pick-up force on the whipstock which collapses the anchoring mechanism for retrieval of the entire assembly to the surface.

Whipstocks have been in use for a long time to kick off deviations in a wellbore. A whipstock is a long insert in the wellbore which has a tapered component to guide a mill to cut through a casing an opening called a window. A lateral is then drilled through the window. Many times the production in an existing well is reduced to a level that warrants the drilling of a lateral into a producing formation to enhance production. In so doing, there is usually a production string in the wellbore. It, therefore, becomes desirable to be able to set a whipstock below the production string to kick off the lateral. In the future, subsequent laterals may be called for and retrievability can also become a significant feature. Without the ability to retrieve a whipstock even if inserted through tubing, any laterals to be initiated below the level of the permanent whipstock that has been set through tubing would require the milling out of the whipstock after removing the production tubing, and the placement of another whipstock at a lower location in the proper orientation for kicking off yet another lateral from the main wellbore.
There have been many anchoring systems employed for whipstocks. Some of these are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,812,880; 2,105,722; 2,170,284; 2,401,893; 2,445,100; 2,699,920; 5,035,292; and 5,277,251. Techniques have been developed for supporting a whipstock through the use of a cementitious material where the whipstock is installed through tubing. The whipstock can be repositioned for other laterals if the cement is milled out and the underlying sand layer is circulated out. This technique is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,387. A retrieval technique for a whipstock using a hook-shaped retrieval tool insertable into a slot in the whipstock is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,873.
Yet other patents are of general interest in the area of whipstock setting and milling techniques. Those patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,193,620; 5,109,924; 2,725,936; 2,882,015; 2,211,803; and 5,474,126.
More recently, a permanent thru-tubing whipstock has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,111.
The object of this invention is to improve the design illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,111 to provide a whipstock that is insertable through tubing and retrievable. It is another objective of the design to allow for the use of running and retrieval tools of known design to accomplish the setting, release, and retrieval.


A burn-in method for synchronous memory that utilizes synchronous signals for the burn-in operation. Using synchronous clock pulse signals for burning in the synchronous memory is able to exercise the burst output mode and the pipeline function, and hence the optimum burn-in results can be obtained. Furthermore, synchronous burn-in not only can increase the processing speed up to twice the conventional asynchronous burn-in method, but can simulate of the actual working environment of the synchronous memory as well. Moreover, an asynchronous burn-in method can be selected whenever required without any penalty.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a burn-in method for synchronous memory. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for generating burn-in signals to simulate the normal operation of synchronous memory including burst mode and pipeline functions.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, asynchronous burn-in method for asynchronous memory is used for carrying out the burn-in of conventional synchronous memory. For example, conventional extended data output (EDO) DRAMs are burn-in by the asynchronous method. However, for synchronous memory, if an asynchronous method is used in the burn-in operation, a number of advantages offered by a synchronous method are left out, and hence the possibility of hiding some untested situations are real. For example, the speed of operation tested by an asynchronous method is only half of the actual speed of operation for a synchronous memory, which can entail a high risk to the product. Furthermore, the synchronous memory tested by an asynchronous burn-in may not meet the demands in an actual working environment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the pin layout of a conventional synchronous memory package. FIG. 1 shows an example of a DRAM produced by NEC with the product label .mu.PD4516821. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram for carrying out an asynchronous burn-in operation for a synchronous memory as shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, a clock pulse signal CLK in cycle T201 pre-charges the DRAM in group A, and then another clock pulse in cycle T202 pre-charges the DRAM in group B. Next, about eight clock pulses are used in cycle T203 for auto-refreshing the whole group of memory, and then the burn-in method is selected in clock pulse cycle T204. Conventionally, an asynchronous testing method is selected here. Thereafter, a clock pulse cycle T205 with no operation is effected purely as a time delay. Then, the exercising of data storage and retrieval for the DRAM begins.
As shown in FIG. 2, because an asynchronous burn-in method is selected, the subsequent clock pulse CLK for the storage and retrieval of data Dasy must go through the sequence of first activating the DRAM in group A in cycle T206, performing a write operation for the DRAM in group A in cycle T207, pre-charging the DRAM in group A in cycle T208, activating the DRAM in group B in cycle T209, performing a write operation for the DRAM in group B in cycle T210, pre-charging the DRAM in group B in cycle T211 and so on (because pipelining architecture divides the DRAM into a group A and a group B). Consequently, only 4 groups of data Dasy are written into the DRAM in the 12 clock pulse cycles CLK from T206 to T217, and hence the burst output mode and pipelining function of a synchronous memory are not exercised.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for improving the burn-in method for exercising the underutilized functions as well.


A floating screed device has a first section for cutting through plastic concrete and a second section for floating on the plastic concrete. The two sections are pivotally coupled for rotational movement about a pivot point. Elevation of the second section is measured and used to rotate the first section as the floating screed device is moved through a volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished. As a result, the second section pitches to follow the first section.

Floating screeds are used to strike off and finish concrete floors or other horizontal surfaces. In general, a floating screed has a heavy planar float with an elongated edge defining a blade. The blade forms the leading edge of the screed that cuts through a volume of plastic concrete as the screed is pulled therethrough. Excess concrete that builds up on the blade side of the screed is raked away by workers standing in the unfinished concrete. As the float moves over an area of the concrete cut by the blade, the float serves to smooth the concrete thereby leaving a finished region of concrete that should be smooth, level, and at a specified elevation.
Typically, the unfinished concrete is adjacent to a section of finished concrete that has not yet cured. The floor finishers generally place a portion of the floating screed on the finished concrete thereby referencing one end of the screed to the finished elevation/grade plane. To make elevation corrections in the unfinished concrete, the floating screed is essentially lifted up/pushed down on the portion thereof that is in the unfinished concrete. While the goal is to place the screed at the same elevation as the finished concrete, this action tends to tilt the floating screed with respect to the desired finished elevation. Further, since the finished concrete is generally not yet fully cured, this tilting action also can cause the floating screed to dig into the finished concrete and/or damage the edge of the finished concrete where it interfaces with the unfinished concrete thereby necessitating repair work.

Concrete screed with pivoting leading—edge blade for angular positioning thereof


A method and apparatus are disclosed for securing an arthroscopic cannula in place during arthroscopic surgery. The method and apparatus seal the arthroscopic incision to mitigate leakage of fluid from the joint and seepage of the fluid into surrounding tissue. Reducing leakage of fluid during surgery reduces consumption of saline to insufflate the joint, and improves safety in the operating room by reducing accumulation of fluid on the operating room floor. Reducing leakage and tamping the incision also reduces the likelihood of expulsion of the cannula under pressure from the joint. Reducing seepage of fluid into surrounding tissue also reduces stiffening of the joint during surgery which can interfere with manipulation of the joint and instruments to desired positions during surgery. Reducing seepage of fluid into surrounding tissue also reduces the likelihood of complications or extenuating circumstances during surgery due to migration of fluid through expulsion of the cannula by reducing expansion of surrounding soft tissue during manipulation of instruments and the cannula during surgery, and improves patient recovery.

Arthroscopy is the performance of a surgical procedure within naturally occurring joints through a cannula. The procedure may be simple observation and inspection of tissue structures within the joint, or may involve performing surgical steps through the cannula inserted through soft tissue into the joint capsule. Arthroscopic surgery has become routine and is increasingly being adopted for performing surgery within the human knee and shoulder and is being explored and may be adopted for use in other joints such as the elbow, ankle, wrist, etc. By way of example only, arthroscopy is commonly used in connection with the inspection and repair of the meniscus and ligaments of the knee and inspection and repair of the rotator cuff in the shoulder.
During arthroscopic surgery, multiple cannulas are typically inserted into the joint. One cannula accommodates the arthroscope through which the surgeon may visualize tissue and structures within the joint either directly or by projection of an image onto a monitor or screen. Additional operating cannulas allow the surgeon to approach the tissue within the joint from various angles with appropriate surgical instruments to perform a desired procedure.
In order to create greater visibility and working space, the joint typically is distended during arthroscopic surgery by providing a source of pressurized saline, such that the saline flows or is pumped into the joint to distend the joint and create working space. For example, a saline bag may be elevated to create a pressure head, with the outflow of the bag attached to the insufflation port of one or more of the arthroscopic cannulas. More commonly, a saline fluid pump issued to create a substantially constant fluid pressure. Saline fluid pressure of at least 40 millimeters of mercury is generally required to distend the joint sufficiently for arthroscopic surgery, and pressures of 70 to 80 millimeters of mercury are commonplace during arthroscopic surgery.
During arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon frequently manipulates the various cannulas to view different portions or structures within the joint or to manipulate, cut, remove, suture, staple, anchor or otherwise diagnose and repair conditions within the joint. Such manipulation of the various cannulas creates leverage against surrounding skin, fascia and muscle structures, thereby stretching and loosening such structures as the procedure progresses. During surgery a surgeon may also elect to change cannula diameter at a given entry site, removing a cannula of a first diameter and replacing it with a cannula of a different diameter to accommodate different size instrumentation. Such insertion and removal of the cannula can further contribute to opening of the incision and stretching and loosening of surrounding tissue. As the soft tissue surrounding the cannula stretches and loosens during arthroscopic surgery, pressurized saline within the joint penetrates various layers of tissue surrounding the joint and becomes dispersed through such tissues. The penetration of saline into surrounding soft tissues enlarges the soft tissue surrounding the joint and creates pressure on various tissues and vessels after surgery, prolonging discomfort and recovery time. A build up of saline fluid in the tissue layers surrounding the incision also makes the joint tense, making it difficult to manipulate the joint and instruments to desired angles during surgery. A further potential complication is migration of saline through tissue. By way of example only, if a patient is placed in a lateral position with the arm elevated during shoulder surgery, fluid penetrating tissue layers may migrate along the shoulder toward the neck, and may cause swelling around the neck including critical structures such as the windpipe. Presented with such a situation, a surgeon likely will elect to keep the patient for a longer post-operative period and may require an overnight stay for observation until the saline dissipates and concern about pressure on vital structures such as the windpipe, arteries or veins is reduced. In addition, loosening of soft tissue structures surrounding the arthroscopic cannula permits saline to leak from the joint capsule around the outside of the cannula. Leaking saline flows over the patient and onto the floor of the operating room, creating wet, slippery and undesirable operating conditions. Leakage of saline during arthroscopic surgery has become sufficiently commonplace that arthroscopic surgeons and operating room staff routinely wear waterproof boots in the operating room. In addition, suction equipment is routinely used to collect and remove puddles of leaked saline from the operating room floor. In addition to the inconvenience and safety issues created by puddles of saline, the loosening of tissue surrounding the cannula can also lead to expulsion of the cannula from the joint under the pressure of the saline. Expulsion of the cannula interrupts the procedure, prolonging surgery and exposure of the patient to anesthesia. If expelled with sufficient force, the cannula can also become a projectile, creating a safety hazard to the surgeon and operating room personnel. In addition, if an expelled cannula contacts a non-sterile surface, a replacement sterile cannula and a replacement instrument inserted through the cannula at the time of expulsion must be opened and re-inserted into the joint to continue surgery.
The loss of saline during surgery due to leakage between the cannula and the incision also increases the expense of the procedure as numerous bags of saline are used during the procedure in excess of the actual volume required to distend the joint during surgery. Due to such leakage, it is not uncommon to use three to six bags of saline, and over ten bags in extreme circumstances in an arthroscopic surgical procedure. Most of this saline leaks out of the joint or permeates tissue surrounding the joint. Each bag contains 3,000 cubic centimeters of saline, so several liters of saline may find its way into adjoining tissue or onto the operating room floor.
An arthroscopic cannula with an external thread is known. See for example Glowa U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,697.
Laparoscopic cannulas with anchors, including balloon structures to hold the cannula in place against accidental removal as instruments are inserted and removed, also are known. See for example Shichman U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,441; Yoon U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,615; Orth U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,913; and Hopper U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,946 and 6,524,283. The foregoing patents relate to abdominal, i.e., laparoscopic, surgery during which the abdomen is insufflated with carbon dioxide gas. Laparoscopic surgery utilizing gas insufflation does not implicate the considerations identified above with respect to leakage of saline during arthroscopic surgery.

Methods and apparatus for performing arthroscopic surgery


A communication system having a configurable bandpass filter is disclosed. The system includes a bandpass filter and a bandpass controller. The bandpass filter has an adjustable center frequency. The bandpass controller is configured to identify a frequency shift in a master in or received signal and to shift the center frequency of the bandpass filter according to the identified frequency shift.

Automotive systems are complex systems that include computers and components to operate and monitor automotive vehicles. The systems typically include a processor that controls and monitors engine operation and the like. The system generally operates various control systems that perform automotive functions. By monitoring, minor problems can be identified and corrected before becoming major problems.
Automotive systems typically use a dual purpose bus to mitigate wiring and cost. The bus provides power to sensors and components and also is used for data transmission. Generally, attempts to improve providing of power degrade data transmission and, similarly, attempts to improve data transmission degrade providing of power.

Sensor systems and methods utilizing band pass filter tuning


When a tag selector 30 receives a plurality of RFID tag IDs detected by an RFID tag reader 10, by a tag ID receiving part 31, it acquires nonspecificities corresponding to these RFID tag IDs from an attribute information DB 41. The tag selector 30 selects an RFID tag ID with a nonspecificity smaller than a predetermined selected tag threshold by a tag ID selecting part 33 and notifies a service determining device 50 of it. A nonspecificity is an index indicating a diversity of use of an article to which a corresponding RFID tag is attached. Therefore, the service determining device 50 determines a service to be provided for the user, based on the RFID tag ID with the low nonspecificity value, whereby it becomes feasible to promptly provide the service very likely desired by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology of providing services according to IDs of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags detected, for users.
2. Related Background Art
There is a conventional proposed technology of selecting a service suitable for a user holding an article accompanied by an RFID tag, based on an ID of the RFID tag detected by a tag reader, and providing the service for the user. One of such services disclosed is a method of attaching RFID tags with identifiers to various commodities and supporting customer service on the basis of commodities carried into a fitting room by a customer and customer data (cf. Patent Document 1). Another method disclosed is a method wherein RFID tags are attached to books in a library and to users and wherein when a user and a book both are simultaneously off a detection range, it is acknowledged that the user borrows the book and lending of the book is registered (cf. Patent Document 2).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-249987
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-22834

Tag selector, tag selection system, and tag selection method


A method, a structure, and a computer system for assessing user mobility. The exemplary embodiments may include collecting mobility data corresponding to a user and extracting one or more low level features from the mobility data. The exemplary embodiments may further include extracting one or more clinical level features from the low level features and assessing one or more health conditions of the user based on applying one or more models to the one or more clinical level features.

The exemplary embodiments relate generally to user mobility, and more particularly to analysing user health through user mobility.
Mobility refers to one's ability to move freely and easily. Physiologically, mobility is a manifestation of a functional integration of skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems. Thus, mobility may represent critical clinical evidence in assessing physical and cognitive health, for example progression of neuro-degenerative diseases, quality of life, risk of fall, ability of independent living, and frailty of pre- and post-surgery patients.

International Business Machines Corporation


An internally heated injection molding nozzle has a unitary head portion and body portion. The nozzle has opposed, generally planar, lateral faces and front and back sides. A melt passageway is defined by a bore extending through the head portion and body portion, and a heater core is received in an elongated cavity that is in generally parallel alignment with, and spaced from, the melt passageway.

The present invention generally relates to internally heated, injection molding nozzles. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved injection molding nozzle wherein a nozzle body, a heater core, and a thermocouple are of an integral, unitary construction, and said heater core and said thermocouple are positioned on one side of, rather than concentrically enclose, a melt duct, thereby allowing opposing lateral surfaces of said nozzle body to be generally flat and generally parallel to one another, resulting in a nozzle that is narrow in width and that is particularly suitable for use in close cavity spacing injection molding applications.
In certain injection molding applications, such as the molding of complex or multiple small parts, it is desirable to arrange the injection molding nozzles as close together as possible in side-by-side relationship. This ensures that the complicated mold cavity can be quickly and completely filled, or that smaller molds may be used when making multiple small parts.
In conventional hot runner injection molding nozzles, the melt passageway is located interior of and concentric with a heater coil. This relationship dictates the width of the nozzle and, consequently how closely adjacent nozzles can be spaced.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a hot runner injection molding nozzle that allows for closer spacing of a plurality of nozzles than can be obtained with presently available nozzles.

Internally heated nozzle for close cavity spacing injection molding applications


An airborne weather radar system is coupled to a display on an aircraft and a radar antenna attached to the aircraft. The airborne weather radar system includes a processing system for receiving weather radar returns from the radar antenna. The radar returns resulting from radar signals are transmitted from the radar antenna. The processing system is configured to compress radar data representing graphical images actually provided on the display on the aircraft. The graphical images are provided in response to the weather radar returns. The radar data is compressed to provide compressed data. The compressed data has reduced spatial resolution when compared to the radar data, wherein the processing system is disposed on the aircraft.

Conventionally, pilots use weather radar systems to detect and avoid hazardous weather. Weather radar systems typically include a radar antenna which transmits radar signals and receives radar returns. The radar returns are processed to provide graphical images to a radar display. The radar display is typically a color display providing graphical images in color to represent the severity of weather. Conventional weather radar systems includes those manufactured by Rockwell Collins, Inc. and Honeywell International, Inc. and others.
Most conventional weather radar displays require a vast amount of digital storage capability. For example, raw quadrature data (I, Q data) digitized from radar returns can require approximately 4.9 megabytes for each four second scan. According to an ARINC 453 standard, the raw quadrature data is processed into a smaller data stream that is used to provide graphical images on weather display. The data stream of the ARINC 453 standard requires approximately 140,000 bytes to store each 4 second scan. Accordingly, the vast quantity of data associated with radar scans makes real time, data storage during flights difficult. This difficulty may be enhanced as radar techniques became more sophisticated and process even more data.
Further, the large amount of data associated with weather radar systems makes long-term storage of such data and/or downlink transmissions of such data nearly impossible. As a result, post-flight evaluation of radar performance must often be conducted based upon pilot memory and conjecture rather than recorded weather radar data. For example, if an aircraft experiences a weather pattern which is not indicated on the display, the pilot must mentally remember what was on the display at the time of the weather pattern.
Conventional weather radar systems do not include a mechanism for storing the weather radar data or even the graphical images provided to the pilot on the display. Having weather data for post flight analysis would be helpful in assessing any unusual weather encounters experienced by the flight crew. In addition, this data could be transmitted to ground based personnel for dissemination to other aircraft or could be transmitted directly to other aircraft. According to another example, if an aircraft experiences lightning, a wind shear event, a sudden gain or drop in altitude due to weather or other event, it would be desirous to store data associated with the weather radar display at the time of the event.
Thus, there is a need to provide a system and/or method that allows weather radar data to be stored in response to an event. Further still, there is a need for a system and/or method that compresses data to a more manageable size. Yet further, there is a need to store data or download data that reflects the graphical images provided to a pilot on a weather radar display. Even further still, there is a need for a system and/or a method that reduces the amount of data required to provide an approximation of the graphical images on a weather radar display. The teachings disclose the extent to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

Data compression system and method for a weather radar system


A method of applying multi-colored designs to substrates such as fingernails or toenails. A mask/stencil is prepared by cutting a design in a thin flexible plastic sheet held on a backing sheet by a low tack adhesive. Preferably, the mask/stencil is cut in a computer driven plotter using a sharp blade in place of the usual pen. The mask/stencil is removed from the backing sheet and placed on the substrate with openings corresponding to the design. A colorant is applied over the mask/stencil and areas of the substrate exposed through the openings. The mask/stencil is then removed, leaving colored areas corresponding to mask/stencil openings. Additional mask/stencils with different openings corresponding to other portions of the final multi-color design are then applied, coated and removed.

A wide variety of substrates are coated with single color or multicolor patterns for personal adornment and the like. Nail polish is often applied to fingernails and/or toenails, both natural nails and artificial nails, generally formed from acrylics and adhesively bonded over natural nails. Generally, a single color is applied to the entire nail, with perhaps a base coat under the polish and a clear or other coat over the polish for varied optical effects. Sometimes, a pattern of different colored polish is applied or sequins, glitter, etc. are added to the still wet polish.
Forming small, sharply patterned areas on the nails is quite difficult. Free hand painting of designs requires considerable skill and is difficult on small areas such as fingernails. Masking tape and the like can be used to mask off part of the nail, although only straight edged, large, patterns can be accomplished.
Attempts have been made to silk screen patterns onto fingernails, as is described by Jenkins in U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,026. This method uses fairly expensive screens and generally has difficulty following the contour of a fingernail. This method appears to be only capable of printing a design on a central area of the fingernail using only one color per screen.
Stencils have been cut from relatively thick plastic in broad patterns, as described by O'Donnell in U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,225 and Rucker in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,587. However, the stencils described in these patents are primarily intended for preventing polish from overlapping onto the moon of the nail or the finger adjacent skin, and are not described as suitable for the formation of areas having sharp, small patterns in plural colors.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improvements in methods of decorating substrates such as fingernail, toenails and the like, that will provide sharp edge, small patterns of different colors and that can be used to apply a number of patterns in different colors.

Fingernail stencil system using precut design masks


A system and method are provided for using a plurality of knowledge acquisition approaches to provide a solution to a task. The method includes providing at least one input parameter to define the task and at least one solution parameter to define the solution. A determination is made whether to use a Task-Method-Knowledge approach or a Structure-Behavior-Function approach for processing the task and the task is processed based on the input parameter. If the determined approach is the Task-Method-Knowledge approach, the processing may include determining whether a first portion of the task should be processed independently and whether to use the Task-Method-Knowledge approach or the Structure-Behavior-Function approach for processing the first portion. If the determined approach is the Structure-Behavior-Function approach, the processing may include determining whether a second portion of the task should be processed using the Task-Method-Knowledge approach. The solution is examined relative to the solution parameter.

The present disclosure relates generally to the use of computer-based knowledge acquisition systems, and specifically to the gathering, representing, and processing of knowledge.
Artificial intelligence has long been a goal for those who design and develop computer systems. The development of such intelligence is directed toward designing systems which "think". It is hoped that thinking systems will be able to adapt to new situations, new problems, and new forms of input. For example, one goal of artificial intelligence is to solve problems by providing previously unanticipated solutions.
Under the broad umbrella of artificial intelligence, two main approaches have developed. The first approach, known as machine learning, is directed to developing computer systems with the ability to acquire knowledge on their own from observations or through instruction. The second approach, known as knowledge acquisition, is directed to developing computer systems in which the computers are "expert" in some area. This approach includes drawing knowledge from experts, encoding this knowledge for use in a computer system, and providing software programs which use the encoded knowledge to develop solutions. Knowledge acquisition systems are generally developed using the combined effort of knowledge engineers and software engineers. The knowledge engineers and software engineers interview experts to gain knowledge, capture the knowledge, and encode the knowledge in a computer-usable format. Software may then be developed to utilize the encoded knowledge. This development process is undesirable for a number of reasons. For example, the process is often expensive, generally requires specialized training, is an inefficient use of the expert's time, and is frequently unsuccessful in producing useful knowledge or solutions.
Therefore, it is desirable to develop improved knowledge acquisition techniques and applications.

System and method for collecting and representing knowledge using task-method-knowledge with structure-behavior-function in a computer system


An arrow construction for use with a bow in hunting wild game provides an arrow shaft having a hollow interior. An arrowhead attaches to a leading end of the arrow shaft. A nock attaches to a trailing end of the arrow shaft. A stop member is provided within the shaft of the arrow and activates to an open position external to the shaft to restrain further travel of the arrowhead when it becomes embedded within the game. The stop member activates to the open position upon the arrow impacting the desired target. A slidably detachable arrowhead is also provided and is forceably detached from the leading end of the arrow upon the arrow's impacting the desired target. The arrowhead translates along the arrow shaft in a direction toward the trailing end. Further translation of the arrowhead is prevented by an abutting engagement with the stop member in its activated position. A spring loaded nock at the trailing end of the arrow shaft is also provided and compensates for frictional losses inherited by the arrow upon disengagement of the arrow from the bowstring when the arrow is fired.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to archery and, more particularly, an arrow construction for use in bow hunting.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Various assemblies for enhancing the performance of an arrow used in bow hunting are known in the art. The object of the known arrow assemblies is to enhance both the performance of the arrow and the striking power of the arrow's arrowhead when hunting various wild game. Among the most difficult of these pursuits is the hunt for various species of deer.
Due to the tendency of wild deer to bolt upon being struck by an arrow, an important feature of an arrow's arrowhead is it's ability to perform the maximum amount of damage to the internal organs of the deer in order to bring the deer down within the shortest possible distance. The brochure, "Harvest with Punch Cutter", distributed by Forest Line International Corporation, teaches an arrangement of blades within the arrowhead of the arrow which expand outwardly to increase the cutting effect of the arrowhead as it travels through the animal's hide. The drawback of the punch cutter apparatus is that the blades are admitted to open and close during the flight of the arrow. This causes undesirable aerodynamic variations to be introduced to the arrow during the arrow's trajectory.
Another shortcoming of the known arrow assemblies is their tendency to exit the other side of the animal's hide, due to the high velocities at which they travel. This is disadvantageous from the point of view that the arrowhead of an arrow which remains within the internals of a wild animal during its final run tends to create more internal damage to the animal and thus drop the animal in a shorter distance. The brochure, "Harvest with Punch Cutter", teaches that the Punch Cutter blades will open to a particular rearward position, indicated at "C", which would not likely provide sufficient stopping forces to prevent the arrowhead from exiting the opposite side of the animal's hide.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,393, issued to Swails, discloses a retractable arrow assembly for use in hunting fish and the like. Retractable barbs are provided in the shaft of the arrow which open up in a direction facing away from the arrow's tip. This is done so that the arrow will remain embedded in the fish and can be withdrawn from the pond or river with the fish still attached thereto. However, the shortcoming of Swails is that it teaches the barb's opening in a direction away from the tip of the arrow for the express purpose of fishing. Consequently, this would provide no stopping action for the benefit of the arrowhead at the tip of a hunting arrow as it travels through a fish's or animal's hide. Swails also teaches that the barbs will remain recessed within the arrow's shaft as long as the arrow is in motion. The barbs of Swails are only biased to project outwardly when the arrow becomes stationary with respect to the object struck.
The "Viper Broadhead Simulator" discloses a displaceable arrowhead for target practice composed of forward raking teeth. Upon impact of the arrow with the target, the simulated broadhead is forceably displaced from a compressible rubber tip on the arrowshaft. Displacement is accomplished by the removal of a retention washer provided adjacent the rear of the arrowhead. The purpose of the "Viper Broadhead Simulator" is to provide a simulated broadhead for target practice which more clearly imitates the weight and aerodynamics of actual broadheads. The detachable broadhead provides for easier removal of the practice arrow from the target. The shortcoming of the "Viper" disclosure is that it fails to disclose a detachable arrowhead for use in combination with a stop or catch mechanism located on the arrow shaft for interrupting the travel of the blades at a desired point to optimize the broadhead's effect on the animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,037, issued to Miller, discloses an accelerating arrow having a compressible coil spring which extends from the arrow's nock. The coil spring extends a considerable longitudinal distance beyond the vanes or feathers of the arrow. The arrow's nock is positioned at the free end of the coil spring. During the draw stage, the coil spring becomes compressed from the forces exerted on the spring. As the arrow is released, the spring absorbs the recoil forces of the bow and directs them along the longitudinal path of release of the arrow. The coil spring stiffness is approximately the actual draw power of the bow.
The shortcoming of the Miller reference is that undesirable directional forces may be applied to the arrow during its trajectory due to the stiffness power of the coil spring, with resulting undesirable effects in the arrow's travel. Further, Miller does not teach utilizing a coil spring for the limited purpose of compensating for frictional losses to the arrow due to disengagement of the bowstring from the arrow nock, rather it seeks to affect the acceleration and velocity of the arrow once it leaves the bow.

Arrow construction for use in bow hunting


An optical connector assembly having an adapter with a first and second end. Either end can accept a connector with a removable, detachable and replaceable coupling nut that when removed, connector outer diameter is substantially reduced, thereby allowing said connector to be inserted through a conduit having an inner diameter substantially less than outer diameter of separable coupling nut.

The prevalence of the Internet has led to unprecedented growth in communication networks. Consumer demand for service and increased competition has caused network providers to continuously find ways to improve quality of service while reducing cost.
Certain solutions have included deployment of high-density interconnect panels. High-density interconnect panels may be designed to consolidate the increasing volume of interconnections necessary to support the fast-growing networks into a compacted form factor, thereby increasing quality of service and decreasing costs such as floor space and support overhead. However, room for improvement in the area of data centers, specifically as it relates to fiber optic connects, still exists. For example, manufacturers of connectors and adapters are always looking to reduce the size of the devices, while increasing ease of deployment, robustness, and modifiability after deployment. In particular, more optical connectors may need to be accommodated in the same footprint previously used for a smaller number of connectors in order to provide backward compatibility with existing data center equipment. For example, one current footprint is known as the small form-factor pluggable transceiver footprint (SFP). This footprint currently accommodates two LC-type ferrule optical connections. However, it may be desirable to accommodate four optical connections (two duplex connections of transmit/receive) within the same footprint. Another current footprint is the quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. This footprint currently accommodates four LC-type ferrule optical connections. However, it may be desirable to accommodate eight optical connections of LC-type ferrules (four duplex connections of transmit/receive) within the same footprint.
In communication networks, such as data centers and switching networks, numerous interconnections between mating connectors may be compacted into high-density panels. Panel and connector producers may optimize for such high densities by shrinking the connector size and/or the spacing between adjacent connectors on the panel. While both approaches may be effective to increase the panel connector density, shrinking the connector size and/or spacing may also increase the support cost and diminish the quality of service.
In a high-density panel configuration, adjacent connectors and cable assemblies may obstruct access to the individual release mechanisms. Such physical obstructions may impede the ability of an operator to minimize the stresses applied to the cables and the connectors. For example, these stresses may be applied when the user reaches into a dense group of connectors and pushes aside surrounding optical fibers and connectors to access an individual connector release mechanism with his/her thumb and forefinger. Overstressing the cables and connectors may produce latent defects, compromise the integrity and/or reliability of the terminations, and potentially cause serious disruptions to network performance.
The reliability of communication infrastructure depends on secure connections between components, such as cable segments, network equipment, and communication devices. Such connections are continually exposed to dust, dirt, moisture, and/or other contaminants that may infiltrate the connections and degrade performance or even sever the connection between components. Conventional connection assemblies, such as typical fiber optic connectors, are generally not capable of providing an adequate seal to fully prevent the ingress of unwanted fluids (for instance, water) or solid contaminants. Fiber optic network segments are particularly vulnerable because fiber optic connections require extremely precise termination and alignment between connected components and cable segments that may be disrupted by the presence of fluid or solid contaminants. As such, fiber optic network segments connected using conventional technology are very susceptible to performance and/or availability degradation over time. Accordingly, telecommunication network providers would benefit from a connection assembly capable of maintaining a sealable and secure connection configured to prevent the ingress of unwanted materials into the connection assembly.

Ingress protected optical fiber connector having a reduced diameter with a removable retaining nut


A connector includes a body and a contact that is inserted into the body. The contact includes a protruding part that is protruded in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the contact, a protrusion that is provided on an outer periphery of the contact, and an overhanging part that overhangs in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. The body includes, on an inner surface thereof, a guide groove that is fitted with the protruding part and is extended in the insertion direction, a housing part that has an internal dimension for press-fitting the contact, which includes the protrusion, thereto, and a press-fitting part that has an internal dimension for press-fitting the contact, which includes the overhanging part, thereto. An insertion distance A of the protruding part, an insertion distance B of the protrusion, and an insertion distance C of the overhanging part satisfy a relation A>B>C.

Japanese Registered Patent No. 5757198 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Literature 1), for example, discloses a conventional connector. The connector of Patent Literature 1 is provided to suppress rotation of a terminal metal fitting in a connector housing, and includes: a connector housing that is made of resin and holds an external conductor terminal, which has a tubular connection part having a cylindrical shape, thereinside; a terminal housing part that is formed in an inside of the connector housing and to which the tubular connection part is inserted; a guide groove that is formed to be recessed in inner walls positioned on both sides in the left and right direction of the terminal housing part and extends in the front and back direction; and a housing press-fitting protrusion that is formed to be protruded from an outer surface of the tubular connection part toward the outside in a diameter direction in a tapered shape and is press-fitted to both-side inner walls, which position on both sides in the left and right direction of the guide groove, when being housed in the guide groove.
Concentricity of respective components is the important matter related to fit in a connector, but it has been sometimes difficult to appropriately control concentricity of respective components because of downsizing and structure complication of connectors. For example, position control is performed by a positioning piece and a positioning piece housing recession (slit) and positioning and holding are performed by the housing press-fitting protrusion (projection) in the connector of Patent Literature 1. However, concentricity is not taken into account and required concentricity might not be secured accordingly.


A label manufacturing method including: applying an adhesive to a base sheet to form an adhesive layer; applying an acrylate-based bonding adhesive to part of the adhesive layer to cure the adhesive layer so as to form a cured portion; and cutting the cured portion to define labels. A label having an adhesive layer 12 is laminated on a base sheet 13. A part of the adhesive layer 12 is cured to form a cured portion 14, wherein the cured portion 14 is cured by an acrylate-based bonding adhesive for enabling cutting labels off the laminated base sheet.

A conventional method of cutting out label seals into a predetermined shape is known (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-39062, for example). An example of the conventional technique is described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the conventional technique, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a label lift-up, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the label lift-up. The reference sign 51 indicates an adhesive applying step and the reference sign S3 indicates a cutting step. The reference sign 2 indicates a continuous label body before waste peel-off (waste removal), the reference sign 4 indicates label pieces, the reference sign 4a indicates a lifted-up label piece, the reference sign 7 indicates a separator, the reference sign 8 indicates a missing part, the reference sign 9 indicates a label waste, the reference sign 10 indicates the continuous label body, and the reference signs 83 and 84 indicate waste peel-off rollers, respectively.
In a conventional method as shown in FIG. 6, after the adhesive applying step S1, an adhesive layer is cut with metal cutting blades or the like in the cutting step S3. However, this method could not attain complete cutting of the adhesive in some cases. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the "label lift-up" was performed, in which the label piece 4a was peeled off together with the label waste 9. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the continuous label body 10 had a missing part 8 (indicated by a virtual line) where the label piece 4 was missing, which was called an "omission", and this caused deterioration of the yield rate and impaired the productivity. In addition, this may cause complaints from customers because of a shortage of the label pieces 4.


Digital preservation is realized in this invention by providing a method and system for long term error-free storage, having means for requested files to be retrieved error-free from the storage, and having means for interpretation of the retrieved files, for all the time span that the storage continues on. User-requested files, when retrieved from the long term error-free digital storage, are retrieved without possibility of corruption of the files of the storage. The storage of the files is continued on in time, by being forward copied, error-free, from one-era storage media to next-era storage media. Planning for the timing of forward copy from the one-era media is accomplished by methods for contemporaneous determination of the actual lifetime of the one-era media, through monitoring scans of the written-to media.

In the vast world of digital information storage, there is need to preserve certain digital files. The files are originally in digital format or are files that have been converted to digital format from original content. To achieve digital preservation of the files, there are means needed for long term error-free digital storage of the files, means needed for files to be retrieved error-free from the storage, and means needed for interpretation of retrieved files, for all the time span that the storage continues on. Files retrieved from the storage must be error-free, because the loss of one byte from a digital file in a critical place can cause the entire file to effectively be corrupt.
Digital storage systems have been developed for storing digital files for extended periods of time. These storage systems have been used, for instance, to store corporate documents and emails in compliance with the five year storage requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, there are no systems of prior art that will store digital files error-free for 100 years and more, with error-free retrieval of user-requested files from the storage, and with interpretation of the retrieved files, for all the time span that the storage continues on.
Digital storage media for utilization in the long term error-free digital storage of this invention are true Write-Once, Read-Many (WORM) media. True WORM media, once written-to, cannot be overwritten. True WORM media are invulnerable to corruption by hacker and virus attacks, which attacks can occur when the media are connected, to the outside of the storage, for the retrieval of user requested files.
In all digital storage media, even in media new from the factory, there is an error rate, expressed as, e.g., error bytes per 100,000 bytes. Media errors increase with time passing, where small defects present at manufacturing grow in size, and grow in number, and additional defects emerge. Digital storage media use error correcting codes, and the software for these codes, termed "firmware," is incorporated as part of the drive for the media. A version of the Reed-Solomon (RS) error correction code is programmed into the firmware of the drive. The RS encoder takes a block of digital files that are being ingested and adds redundant bytes, to create an RS codeword that is stored on the media. On retrieval, the RS decoder processes each block and corrects media-induced errors so as to recover the original files. The firmware also incorporates software recovery retry algorithms that supplement the RS decoder in recovery of the original files on retrieval. Each RS codeword contains 255 codeword bytes, including bytes for error correction. The RS decoder, with added software recovery, can correct, in real time, 32 error bytes in one codeword. The employment of error correction codes allows for practical manufacturing of digital storage media.
The digital storage media industry's standard method for estimating the lifetime of digital storage media is an Arrhenius equation lifetime estimation model that uses data obtained from accelerated lifetime testing of the media (Ref. 1, p. 4). Samples of the media are tested at elevated temperatures that are beyond those experienced under normal usage, in order to accelerate the rate of growth of errors in the media. The result of an individual heating test is the lifetime, i.e., the hours-time-to-failure, of the sample medium under test at a given temperature. The tests are conducted at three different elevated temperatures, and the test results are entered on a plot of hours time vs. temperature, where the ordinate is a logarithmic scale of hours, a logarithmic-linear, or "log-lin" plot. An Arrhenius model plot of an estimated lifetime test of a Panasonic DVD media in shown in FIG. 1. The hours-time-to-failure of a medium under a heating test is determined as the hours of testing to the point when the error rate of the individual medium under test is observed to increase to a specified multiple of the initial error rate of the medium. For example, as stated in a note alongside the ordinate in FIG. 1, the "Archival Lifetime" point (hours-time-to-failure) occurs when the error rate of the medium under test is observed to increase to twice the initial error rate.
In FIG. 1, there are plotted three test data points, for the hours-time-to-failure, of media lifetime tests done at 90° C., 80° C., and 70° C., and the temperature of normal usage is shown as 30° C. For discussion purposes of FIG. 1, the hours-time-to-failure for each test data point has been scaled from the ordinate of the logarithmic scale of hours, as follows, using the 90° C. test data point as an example, as follows: the ordinate of the test data point is scaled from the ordinate as being 0.38 of the interval between 100 hours and 1,000 hours. The logarithm of the hours-time-to failure of the test is formed of characteristic "2" (between 100 to 999 hours) and mantissa "0.38"=2.38, the anti-logarithm of which is 240, the number of hours-time-to-failure of the medium under test. For the 80° C. test, the hours-time-to-failure of the medium under test is 870, and for the 70° C. test, the hours-time-to-failure of the medium under test is 1445. It is to be noted that as the test conditions become less harsh, i.e., the testing temperature is lower, the hours-time-to-failure of the medium under test increases.
It is the indicia of the media estimated lifetime testing by the Arrhenius model that the failure mechanisms of the media remain the same for all testing temperatures, and following on, then, a constant slope will be obtained for a straight line that is drawn through all the test data points. In FIG. 1, the straight line, as drawn by the Arrhenius testing facility for Panasonic, proceeds through the 90° C., 240 hours test data point and the 80° C., 870 hours test point. In drawing the straight line, the 70° C., 1,445 hours test data point was ignored. The straight line was then extended, beyond the 80° C. data test point, to intersect a vertical line drawn by the Arrhenius testing facility for Panasonic, a line that that indicates the 30° C. normal usage temperature point of the abscissa scale.
Extension of a line or curve into the future, beyond the last test data point, done by assuming the variables will continue to behave as they have in the past, is known as extrapolation. In FIG. 1, the far reach of the extrapolated line intersects the 30° C. temperature line at an ordinate scale reading of about 788,000 hours-time-to-failure, corresponding to about 90 years estimated lifetime. Thus the straight line was extrapolated in time, beyond the 80° C. data test point, the through 90 years of no test data. (A notation to the 90 years, 30° C. temperature point has been here added, for purposes of clarity, onto the Panasonic plot.) In FIG. 1, the Arrhenius model estimated lifetime of the Panasonic DVD is claimed to be 90 years, when the DVD is operated always at 30° C.
At media testing temperatures that are closer to the normal usage temperatures of the media, there may be failure mechanisms in the media that are different from those prevailing at higher testing temperatures. These different temperature-dependent failure mechanisms may produce hours-time-to-failure observed results that are shorter than the expected hours-time-to-failure failure results. This is evidenced in FIG. 1 where the 70° C. test data point is far below, in time, the extrapolated line drawn through the 90° C. and 80° C. test data points. The 70° C. data test point should not have been ignored, as the 70° C. test was the longest of the three tests, and it was the test of the media conducted at the temperature closest to the normal usage temperature of the media. A revised extrapolative line can be approximately fitted, with aid of a transparent straight-edge to all three test data points of FIG. 1, and that revised line would intersect below the 30° C. abscissa at about the location where a notation of an asterisk and dash have been here added onto the Panasonic plot. This location corresponds to a reading on the logarithmic ordinate scale of about 14 years estimated lifetime, a result that is many decades shorter estimated lifetime for the DVD. These huge shifts in estimated lifetime are concomitant with use of the Arrhenius model for estimated lifetime testing, which model incorporates extreme extrapolations in time from the last test data point, in conjunction with the plotting of hours-time-to-failure test data points against a logarithmic coordinate scale that is a highly compressive scale of time.
In the Arrhenius model for lifetime estimation of media, the hours-time-to-failure tests of the media are conducted within a period of from 3 to 12 months. To derive a lifetime estimation for the media under test, by extrapolating a straight line, the beginning of which line was drawn though a set of data test points that were gathered in a relatively short time period, on through time spans of no test data, can be inaccurate. It would be uneconomical of utilization of storage media and media equipment, and unsafe of retrieval of error-free files from the media, to base long term error-free digital storage solely on media lifetime claims that are derived from Arrhenius model extrapolative testing.
Means for the interpretation of user-requested retrieved files are required when, in the future, the programs and operating systems that originally were needed for interpretation of the retrieved files have become obsolescent. There are efforts for interpretation of files retrieved from long term digital storage that use virtual computers and emulation. One such effort utilizes a Universal Virtual Computer (Ref. 2). Another effort that resulted in a working method for interpretation is the technique of Migration-on-Request (MoR). MoR was developed at Leeds University, UK (References 3, 4). The Migration Tool (MT) of the MoR decodes and transforms retrieved files to usable formats, allowing the user to reuse the digital objects, to repurpose them, and to use them elsewhere. Repurposing is exploiting the retrieved files in new ways, e.g., editing, correcting, extracting from them.
MoR interpretation requires that the files of the long term error-free storage remain in the format as originally ingested (Ref. 3, Section 1) (Ref. 4, p. 1, p. 4). Migration of files means copying the files while changing the format of the files. In contrast, forward copy of files, wherein the term "forward copy" is a new term created for the purposes of this patent, means that files are copied, unchanged, from one media to another media. It is important to note that migration of files, and forward copy of files, are entirely different operations. Each sequential migration of files introduces losses in the file, losses that are accumulatively propagated forward in time (Ref. 4, pp. 2-3). In the MoR approach, files are singly migrated, upon user-request for files, always from the original ingestion format, to the future, then-current, usable format, by the then-current MT. Thus the MoR approach prevents migration losses from being propagated forward, because with MoR there is never more than a single migration.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for digital preservation having long term error-free storage, retrieval, and interpretation of digital files


A method of and apparatus for detecting the presence of fecal or ingesta matter contaminants on a poultry or meat item. The poultry or meat is conveyed in front of a UV light transmitter/receiver where UV light is directed onto the poultry or meat item and subsequently light is gathered from the poultry or meat. The gathered light is then compared to a threshold, above which indicates contaminants. If contaminants are present, the controller can generate a signal and/or send the contaminated items to a wash station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and system for detection of fecal and ingesta material. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of and system for detection of fecal and ingesta material during the processing of foods. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of and system for detection of fecal and ingesta material during the processing of poultry, beef, veal, pork, lamb and mutton. In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of and system for detection of fecal and ingesta material during the processing of poultry, beef, veal, pork, lamb and mutton, utilizing fluorescence.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processing of meats and poultry, such as chicken, turkey, beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, and even the more exotic emu and ostrich, tend to expose them to fecal and ingesta matter. This is especially true when meats and poultry are processed utilizing highly automatic and rapid systems which might cut into or tear apart the intestines and bowels of those animals. Additional expose to fecal matter occurs as a matter of course from having these animals confined immediately prior to slaughter in holding pens.
Inspection of meat and poultry has always been of great importance to insure the safety of the food system. However, in spite of the importance of having proper inspections, the advances in meat and poultry inspection technology have been limited at best.
Recent meat contamination events involving e coli bacteria have led the public and media to require more careful inspection of meat and poultry. Such publicity has also revealed to the public that inspection for bacterial contamination is many times conducted by a meat inspector using human sight to find microscopic bacteria and other contaminants. Such techniques reveal those meat and poultry carcasses in the advanced stages of contamination, but are not very efficient at finding less advanced stages of bacterial contamination.
With modern processing equipment and the economic demands of the market place, meat and poultry lines are typically run as quickly as possible, further complicating the task of human visual inspection.
There have been suggestions in the prior art for methods of inspecting foodstuffs.
Foods and feeds have natural components which fluoresce when exposed to energy at particular wavelengths. Coumarins, coumarosteroids, carotenoids, chlorophyllins, and other plant and animal pigments all have characteristic absorption and fluorescent properties. Fluorescence is commonly used to detect mouse and rat droppings in grain products, to detect the presence of Aspergillus flavus in various grain products, and to detect the spoilage organism, Pseudomonas in coolers and freezers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,328, issued Dec. 4, 1962 to Harrison, discloses a method for the inspection of crustaceans to determine their freshness. The method involves exposing the shrimp to light in the violet and ultraviolet region of the spectrum of 250 to 375 millimicrons, and comparing the resultant fluorescence pattern against the bright white pattern for fresh shrimp.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,469, issued Nov. 11, 1986 to Akiyama, discloses a method of and apparatus for detecting rotten albumen. The apparatus includes a device for casting 300 to 410 nm UV light onto the albumen, an optical filter system for filtering out UV light at wavelengths less than 400 nm, and a discriminating means which compares the received signal to a predetermined threshold level of fluorescence from sound albumen, and after the comparison outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of rotten albumen.
However, in spite of these advancements in the prior art, none of these prior art references disclose or suggest a method of or apparatus for inspecting meat and poultry for ingesta and fecal matter.
Thus, these is still a need for a method of and apparatus for inspecting meat and poultry.
There is another need in the art for method of and apparatus for inspecting meat and poultry that will not have an undue slowing affect on the processing speed.
There is even another need in the art for an economic method of and apparatus for inspecting meat and poultry.
There is still another need in the art for a method of and apparatus for inspecting meat and poultry, that has an improved detection method as compared to human visual inspection.
These and other needs in the art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including its drawings and claims.

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