A system and method for wireless transmission of electricity through the air utilizes Earth's natural magnetosphere or an induced magnetosphere to produce electrons which may be systematically converted to almost weightless preparticles called muons that are transmittable from a tower with a low frequency radio signal.

This invention relates generally to generators and transmission of electricity and, more particularly, to a system for wireless transmission of electricity that utilizes a magnetosphere to produce electrons which may be collected and converted to almost weightless muons that are transmittable with a low frequency radio signal.
Transmission of electricity through the air was attempted in the past by famed scientist Nikola Tesla. In fact, Tesla conducted multiple experiments between 1890 and about 1906 testing is early 30s into wireless transmission of electricity. Despite his many patents and invention of the method of alternating current, he was unsuccessful regarding fireless transmission of electricity. Failure of prior attempts is largely because the magnetosphere or charged atmosphere has been largely misunderstood. Past attempts proved that transmission of electrons out of the magnetosphere is a useless exercise and electrons are far too weak and far too heavy to use.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system for wireless transmission of electricity through the air that utilizes Earth's natural magnetosphere or an induced magnetosphere to produce electrons which may be systematically converted to almost weightless preparticles that are transmittable from a tower with a low frequency radio signal.

System and method for wireless transmission of electricity


Active lighting is provided for stereo reconstruction (30) of edges (11) of a Delta-8 bundle. Stereo images of a device with edges (11) are captured (24). The image capture (24) is repeated under different lighting conditions, such as illuminating (22) the edges (11) from different directions. The images from each viewing or capture direction are combined (28). The combined images are used to stereographically reconstruct (30) the edges (11).

The present embodiments relate to identification of edges. For example, a Delta-8 bundle is to be sealed. Delta-8 bundles are ceramic holders for fuel cells. The bundle includes a plurality of extruded triangular tubes. One end of the bundle is open (i.e., the tubes are open). A seal is made for the open ends. The open end profile of different Delta-8 bundles may be irregular due to sintering and multiple process heat cycles. Since each bundle may be different, the seals may not be mass produced.
The composite seal is custom machined with near-zero clearance (e.g., 0.001 inches). The custom seal closely matches the irregular profile of each cell. To design the seal, manual measurement with a tool is performed. However, manual measurements may be time consuming, such as taking weeks to measure the open ends, convert the measurements to a computer aided design (CAD) drawing, and manufacture the seal from the CAD drawing. The ceramic is brittle, so manual measurement increases the odds of damaging the Delta-8 bundle to the point of having to discard the Delta-8 bundle.

Active lighting for stereo reconstruction of edges


A controlling method and a controlling system for saving energy of a building are provided. In the present method, a user environment requirement is obtained first. Then, a plurality of cover ratios of a sunshade device on an opening of a building is defined, and according to an environment parameter and the user environment requirement, a total electricity consumption required by air conditioning equipment and by lighting equipment in the building corresponding to each of the cover ratios is calculated. Finally, a cover ratio that produces the minimum total electricity consumption is obtained, and the sunshade device, the air conditioning equipment and the lighting equipment are adjusted according to the obtained cover ratio, so as to make the building meet the user environment requirement and maintain a status of the minimum total energy consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology of gathering and integration of information, especially to a method and a system for integratingly applying the gathering of the information to saving energy of a building.
2. Description of Related Art
Judging whether a living environment is comfortable mostly depends on indicators such as temperature, moisture, speed of flow of air and light. However, under circumstances of global energy crisis, in addition to making residents feel comfortable, green buildings that are particular about saving energy are being paid more and more attention to. Generally, air conditioning equipment that controls the temperature and the moisture of the air consumes most energy in the building, and lighting equipment that maintains brightness indoors consume second most energy. A size of an opening of the building has most direct effects on energy consumption by two above methods.
The so-called opening is an area disposed on a wall or a ceiling for connection to outside. Currently in various sorts of smart building controlling methods developed for the green buildings, the better a shading effect, the more energy saved from the energy consumption by the air conditioning equipment. Hence, due to considerations of the energy consumption by the air conditioning equipment, building contractors mostly limit a size of the opening, so as to draw less radiation heat to achieve a purpose of saving from the energy consumption by the air conditioning equipment. Relatively, a smaller shading area draws more sunlight indoors, thereby greatly reducing the energy consumption by the lighting equipment.
Under circumstances of being unable to concurrently reduce the energy consumption by the air conditioning equipment and that by the lighting equipment, current designs of the opening of the building are mostly unilaterally designed towards drawing sunlight or insulating radiation heat and are not taking into consideration both the energy consumption by the air conditioning equipment and that by the lighting equipment. Such processing results lead to limited effects in saving energy and, moreover, cannot achieve a purpose of comprehensively saving energy.

Controlling method and system for saving energy of building


Embodiments are disclosed relating to an electric power conversion device and methods for controlling the operation thereof. One disclosed embodiment provides a multi-stage electric power conversion device including a first regulator stage including a first stage energy storage device and a second regulator stage including a second stage energy storage device, the second stage energy storage device being operatively coupled between the first stage energy storage device and the load. The device further includes a control mechanism operative to control (i) a first stage output voltage on a node between the first stage energy storage device and the second stage energy storage device and (ii) a second stage output voltage on a node between the second stage energy storage device and the load.

Power supplies play an important role in the performance of microprocessors and other electronic devices. Power supplies must provide an appropriate amount of current and voltage over a range of operating conditions. Current and voltage must be supplied in an efficient and stable manner at steady state, and as conditions change the power supply must respond quickly to transient demands, such as an increase or decrease in the amount of current drawn by a load. As components come "online," for example, current demands may increase dramatically, and demand in turn will decrease significantly as components go "offline." For example, a graphics processing unit ("GPU") may utilize a small amount of current most of the time, but may also require a substantial increase in current as a new frame is generated and the appropriate components are brought into operation. If such demands occur and sufficient power is not available, the voltage provided to the components may drop below a critical voltage, thus potentially effecting undesirable operation. As such, typical electric power conversion devices (e.g., voltage regulators) may utilize one or more energy storage devices, such as capacitors and inductors, in order to ensure that enough energy is available to provide the desired current. However, as the storage devices increase in size, the ability to respond quickly is proportionally diminished.

Multi-stage power supply with fast transient response


A motor drive system has a brushless motor having coils classified into a group A and a group B, a stator having 12 teeth, around each of which any one of the coils classified into the group A and the group B is wound, and a shaft and a rotor which are provided inside the stator; a controller which applies three-phase voltages to each coil of the group A; a controller which applies the three-phase voltages to each coil of the group B; and a sensor portion which outputs an electric signal according to the rotation angle of the shaft to the controllers. Both the total number of the coils of the group A and the total number of the coils of the group B are 6.

For example, in vehicles, a brushless motor is used as a drive source for assisting the rotation of a steering and the like. Moreover, the brushless motor is used also as a drive source which rotates a steering when detecting the lane of a road and a vehicle running immediately ahead, and then automatically operating a vehicle based on a signal of the detection.
As described above, the brushless motor used as the drive source which rotates a steering has been required to have high reliability. Furthermore, the brushless motor has been required to be designed in such a manner as to perform a minimum function even when a failure, such as disconnection, occurs in coils constituting the brushless motor. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration such that a switching unit, which is movable between a closed position at which current flows in each phase winding and an open position at which current does not flow, operates when a failure occurs.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a configuration such that two or more power electronics each are provided in a stator having a winding portion separated into two or more portions as a starter generator system of vehicles.


During normal operation of a truck engine (12), a catalytic partial oxidizer (30) provides syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to regenerate NOx traps (35), for brief periods of time, or diverted (33) to the inlet (13) of an engine (12) via the EGR system (43–46). Some hydrogen is extracted from syngas by a palladium membrane separator (63) and passed to the fuel inlet (52) of a fuel cell stack (51). The stack (51) provides auxiliary electric power to the truck. Humid air from the air outlet (55) of the stack is provided to a fuel/exhaust/air static mixer (25). A methanator (66) may convert CO, leaked through the palladium membranes, into CH4. Water/gas shift or steam reformer catalyst (76) at the inlet to or inside of the palladium membranes separator may provide some additional H2.

On vehicles having internal combustion engines, in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the exhaust, it is known to produce a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide (referred to hereinafter as syngas) for regeneration of adsorption material in NOx traps. The generation of syngas from engine fuel, engine exhaust and air, for use in regenerating NOx traps is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/243,105, filed Sep. 13, 2002. Another example of such a system is illustrated in commonly owned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/309,712, filed Dec. 4, 2002.
In a prior art system shown in FIG. 1, an engine system 11 includes an internal combustion engine 12 which receives a mixture of fuel and air in a line 13. Air on a line 17 typically is provided by a turbo charger, the pressure of the air being suitably regulated by a valve 18. Fuel is provided on a line 19 from a fuel pump 20. The exhaust of the engine on a line 23 is provided through either a valve or a fixed orifice 24 to a static mixer 25 along with fuel from the line 19, which is passed through either a valve or a fixed orifice 26. The output of the static mixer on a line 29 is applied to a catalytic partial oxidizer (CPO) 30, which generates a gaseous mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gases, all as is conventional and not relevant to the invention. The output of the CPO on a line 31 is applied to a two-way valve 33, although it could be a valve having more selections as is described elsewhere therein.
The exhaust on line 23 is also provided to syngas-utilizing apparatus, such as a set of valves 34 feeding a pair of NOx traps 35, which may be as disclosed in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 10/243,105, and may employ, for example, barium carbonate as the NOx adsorption material for reducing NOx emissions of an engine. The other input to the valves 34 is provided on a line 38 by one of the settings of the two-way valve 33. Thus, during the short period of time (5–10 seconds, typically) when the adsorbent material in one of the NOx traps is being regenerated by syngas, a signal 39 from a controller 40 will cause the two-way valve 33 to provide an effective amount of syngas to the valves 34; in this case, an effective amount is the amount needed to regenerate an NOx trap. The controller 40 switches the valves 34 back and forth by means of signals 41 so that each of the NOx traps alternatively adsorbs NOx in a larger period (typically on the order of 80–100 seconds) and then is regenerated by the syngas during the smaller period of time.
When syngas is not required, the controller 40, via the signal 39, will cause the setting of the two-way valve 33 to apply syngas to an EGR line 43 that receives exhaust through a conventional EGR valve 44 from the exhaust line 23. The EGR gas is cooled in a heat exchanger 45, passed through another conventional EGR valve 46 and thence mixed with the air/fuel mixture just before the combustion chamber of the engine 12. The EGR components 43–46 are conventional.
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, when the engine 12 is in normal operation, the CPO is allowed to function at its rated capacity, to continuously provide an effective or adequate amount of syngas. The output of the CPO is alternatively provided to the NOx traps 35 or diverted to the inlet of the engine 12. Since the heat value of the syngas is recovered in the engine, improving engine operation and reducing its unwanted emissions, the amount of fuel utilized to generate the syngas does not result in an efficiency loss of the overall engine system. By causing the CPO to operate continuously (during normal engine operation), there is no need to start up and shut down the CPO frequently; thus, the control of the CPO is simplified significantly, and the risk of damage to the CPO catalyst is minimized.
In large trucks, typically those powered with a diesel engine, the amount of electrical energy which is consumed at times requires an auxiliary power unit. Auxiliary power units currently available are very expensive, and the fuel processing systems required to power auxiliary power units is very complicated and expensive, and not practical for common use.

Generating syngas for NOx regeneration combined with fuel cell auxiliary power generation


A method of etching a plurality of cavities in a wafer provides a wafer having a patterned hard mask layer. The patterned hard mask has open areas defining locations for first cavities and second cavities. A mask is applied to cover the patterned hard mask layer. The mask is etched to remove wafer material from areas defined by the second cavities. The mask is removed and etching then removes wafer material except as prevented by the hard mask layer. This leaves the first cavities with a first depth and further deepens the second cavities to a depth greater than the first depth. By suitably configuring the second cavities, a capped die can be formed by securing the wafer to a second wafer and removing at least a portion of the unsecured side of the first wafer to expose the second cavities, thereby forming a plurality of caps on the second wafer.

Generally speaking, a microelectromechanical system ("MEMS") is a highly miniaturized device having both electrical and mechanical components. MEMS devices are typically fabricated on or from a substrate material, such as a silicon wafer or polysilicon material. A variety of long used, well-known techniques form electrical and mechanical structures in the MEMS devices.
The mechanical structures of the MEMS are typically very fragile, and can be easily damaged. Furthermore, the mechanical structures of the MEMS are typically very sensitive, and can be easily impeded. Many factors can affect MEMS performance, including dirt, moisture, and even static electricity.
To protect the fragile microstructure, many MEMS devices have a cap secured over substantially all of the MEMS mechanical components. The cap typically forms a cavity with the device die to allow the MEMS structures to move while simultaneously protecting the structures from the operating ambient. The cap thus is bonded onto the MEMS die in such a way that the MEMS structures to be protected are positioned within this cavity. In some applications, this bond is formed so that the device is hermetically sealed against contaminants.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A laser mounting assembly for mounting a laser tool to a mounting surface such as a wall to adjacent to an end of a mounted first molding segment and orienting the laser tool to project a beam of light from a point aligned with a longitudinal edge of the first molding segment along the mounting surface to locate and permit marking of the position of a second molding segment longitudinal edge includes a laser tool distal end for mounting to a support surface and having a laser tool proximal end. The laser mounting assembly includes a mounting plate for securing to a mounting surface; and includes a backing panel for fastening to the laser tool distal end, such as with adhesive, the backing panel having a direction indicator along the panel periphery which extends laterally to an extent that it is visible to an observer at the laser tool proximal end. A method of assembly use is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of molding installation. More specifically the present invention relates to a laser mounting assembly for mounting a laser tool to a mounting surface such as a wall to adjacent to an end of a mounted first molding segment or a segment location marking and orienting the laser tool to project a beam of light from a point aligned with a longitudinal edge of the first molding segment or segment location marking along the mounting surface to locate and permit marking of the position of a second molding segment longitudinal edge, the laser tool having a laser tool distal end for mounting to a support surface and having a laser tool proximal end. The laser mounting assembly includes a mounting plate for securing to a mounting surface; and includes a backing panel magnetically attracted to the mounting plate, for fastening to the laser tool distal end, such as with adhesive, the backing panel having a direction indicator along the panel periphery which extends laterally to an extent that it is visible to an observer at the laser tool proximal end for directing toward the segment longitudinal edge or location marking, tag laser tool is oriented to project a beam of light exactly opposite from the direction indicator.
A method of assembly use is also provided including the steps of: fastening the mounting plate to a mounting surface adjacent to an end of a first molding segment; securing the backing panel to a laser tool distal end; placing the backing panel against the mounting plate so that magnetic attraction removably retains and supports the laser tool and backing panel against the mounting plate; and orienting the backing panel so that the direction indicator is directed in alignment with the first molding segment longitudinal edge or location marking; activating the laser tool to cause the laser tool to project a beam of light along the mounting surface in a direction opposite that of the direction indicator.
A second embodiment of the laser mounting assembly is provided which has a mounting structure rather than a mounting plate, the mounting structure having an outward mounting structure connection wall with an engagement slot having a slot wider end and a slot spacing structure spacing the mounting structure connection wall from the building wall, the slot spacing structure preferably including a mounting wall for abutting the building wall and fastener ports for passing mounting structure fasteners into and thus fastening the mounting structure to the building wall. A backing box replaces the backing panel. The backing box includes a tool engaging wall having an engaging wall external surface covered with an adhesive which in turn is and initially covered by a removable cover sheet, a backing box connection wall spaced from and parallel with the tool engaging wall for abutting the mounting structure connection wall, a circumferential backing box side wall interconnecting the tool engaging wall and the backing box connection wall and shaped to include a direction indicator preferably in the form of a V-shaped protrusion, and at least one retractably biased slot engagement stem having a cone-shaped slot engagement head protruding outwardly through the tool engaging wall and into the slot wider end, whereupon the backing box and tool and moved laterally to slide the stem to the narrower part of the slot where the slot engagement head engaged behind the mounting structure connection wall. The slot engagement stem preferably is biased with a coil spring, but may be biased by any other suitable means as well.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have long been laser tools such as laser levels for placement against a surface such as a wall of a building to project a beam of light to locate a position along the surface. A problem with these laser tools has been that they are not suited, in themselves, to project light from corner to corner of a building wall to locate an edge of a molding segment, such as of a crown molding segment.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a laser tool mounting assembly which establishes a straight line from corner to corner of a building interior wall so that ceiling imperfections are less conspicuous, while permitting unrestricted mobility of the laser during alignment of corner reference lines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a laser tool mounting assembly which works on all wall materials including plaster.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a laser tool mounting assembly which produces no visible damage to the building wall, permits easy vertical adjusting due to metal and magnet design.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a laser tool mounting assembly which can be used by a single installer working alone, which is compact and inexpensive to manufacture.

Laser tool mounting assembly and method of use


A down hole drilling motor shaft security apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a general body housing threadedly attached to a lower radial bearing housing and an output shaft extending from the lower radial bearing housing. Within the general body housing is a thrust bearing assembly that secures a portion of the output shaft within the general body housing and the lower radial bearing housing. An intermediate sleeve having a capture groove of an elongated predetermined width is threadedly attached to the output shaft. An interference structure that is secured to the general housing extends radially into the capture groove in a manner that prevents axial loads from being transmitted to the intermediate sleeve from the interference structure while the bearing assembly is intact. The interference structure is configured to secure the intermediate sleeve and the output shaft to the general housing by engagement with the capture groove of the intermediate sleeve in the event of axial movement of the intermediate sleeve a preselected amount.

Drilling motors are used as part of a drill string, near the drill head, to drive the drill head rotationally relative to the upwardly continuing drill string. The drilling fluid flow is usually used to power the motor. Drilling motors are often used on coiled tubing which cannot be rotated. In some cases the motor is used to rotationally attach the drill string to hardware down hole that is to be recovered by tension forces. Jars are sometimes used to deliver shock to the hardware. Motors that are designed for drilling are sometimes not designed to accept axial shock forces.
Axial shock loads imposed upon motors can separate their Output drive shafts. The usual structure of motors includes capture rings that will usually extract all of the output shaft when the damaged motor is removed from the well. The part of the output shaft that extends outside the motor body is about the size of the body. The shaft diameter decreases before the capture contrivance can engage the shaft. If the shaft breaks below the capture device, debris is left in the well.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,061 issued Nov. 4, 2008 provided a sleeve that engaged the largest part of the output shaft and extended upward to engage at least some of the thrust bearings. That enabled the recovery of all motor parts and the bit even if the shaft broke below the capture device.
During the use of drilling motors, the motors may be miles below the surface and the evidence of failing bearings may not be realized until the bearings are destroyed and the supported shaft drops out of the motor. The cited patent depends upon bearings to support the output shaft and these bearings too can fail totally. The present improvement can function independently of any bearings. Further, the friction of the preferred configuration makes the motor have to produce more torque, or stall, when the bearings have failed. This additional torque can be detected in the form of a mud pressure jump at the stand pipe. The machine can be stopped before the capture device is destroyed.


A storage container for storing powdered baby formula consisting of a first opening mated with a baby bottle and a hollow member rotatably disposed in the container. A wall of the hollow member provides a waterproof seal between the interior of the hollow member and the baby bottle when the hollow member is rotated into a first position. The hollow member defines a second opening which aligns with the first opening when the hollow member is rotated into a second position. The container also has a second open end for mating to a nipple. The container is used to store a pre-measured amount of powdered formula and the baby bottle is used to store a pre-measured amount of water. When in the first position the wall of the hollow member prevents contact between the powdered formula and the water. At a desired time, the hollow member is rotated to the second position to allow the water and powdered formula to mix, thereby producing liquid baby formula. Once thoroughly mixed, the liquid formula is consumed through the nipple.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage container for use with a baby bottle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art baby bottle used to dispense liquid baby formula or milk is shown in FIG. 1. The baby bottle includes a bottle portion 10, having an outer wall 11 and defining an open neck 12, and a nipple assembly 15. The nipple assembly 15 includes a base 16 and a nipple 17. Generally, the nipple assembly 15 is connected to the bottle portion 10 by means of a mating threads 8 and 18 which are located on the neck 12 and the base 16, respectively. A water-tight seal is formed by pinching a portion of the nipple 17 between the base 16 and the neck 12 when the nipple portion is screwed onto the bottle portion.
Powdered baby formula is mixed with water to produce a milk-type liquid formula for consumption by infants. The powdered formula may be stored for extended periods without refrigeration. However, once the powdered formula is mixed with water to produce a liquid formula, the liquid formula must either be refrigerated or consumed within a short period of time; otherwise the liquid formula spoils.
Powdered baby formula and water are typically mixed using prior art baby bottles by combining predetermined amounts of powdered formula and water in the bottle portion 10, attaching the nipple portion 15, and shaking the baby bottle to thoroughly mix the powder with the water. This mixing process may be safely and accurately performed with the aid of suitable measuring devices and substantially sterile surroundings. In addition, where refrigeration is also available, it is possible to store mixed liquid formula for later use.
However, where refrigeration is unavailable, it is necessary to perform the mixing process immediately prior to consumption. On these occasions, if suitable measuring devices and substantially sterile surroundings are unavailable, the process becomes laborious and contamination, spillage and the production of incorrectly mixed formula can occur.


An X-ray cassette 30 has a window 32 for mounting a back-lit LCD 34 to expose the film therein with patient identifying information in the form of a barcode. A strip of lead 38 opposite window 32 shields film 37 when cover 31 is closed. The LCD is activated after a sensor 56 connected to an X-ray tube 54 detects the discharge of X-rays. The patient identifying information may be read directly from the patient's bracelet 47 at the same time the X-ray is taken using barcode scanner 44.

The present invention relates to barcoding and more particularly to the barcoding of X-ray film.
Extensive use of X-rays in hospitals and other facilities requires that each X-ray film be carefully and accurately marked with proper identification of the patient. In a typical situation, multiple exposures are taken for each patient, and patients are exposed one after the other as they are moved through the X-ray facility.
It is obviously critical that each film exposed be accurately marked with the patient's identifying information. With the large volume involved, it is seen that it is essential that the film be marked as close to the exposure as possible to insure this accuracy.
In spite of the many procedures put in place to insure proper identification, it can readily be appreciated that will be marked with the wrong patient's identification. This could occur because the technician may be interrupted by a telephone call necessitating putting down temporarily the cassette holding the film before the exposure and identifying procedure is complete, or for any number of other reasons. When the mistake is made, there can be tragic implications for one or both of the patients involved, as well as exposure to liability of the institution responsible for the X-rays.
One system commonly in use today for placing identifying information on an X-ray film relies on printing such information photographically on a corner of the film prior to or after X-ray exposure. X-ray film prepared for exposure involves placing a sheet of such film within a cassette sealed against light One side of the cassette is made of material which is transparent to X-rays On the other side of the cassette there is mounted in one corner a small window with a sliding panel or door closing the opening. Typically, the patient is first exposed to the X-rays and then the exposed film is taken to a dark room where the door is opened and a transparent sheet with the patient's identifying information is put in place. A light is then flashed to expose the film in that corner to record that information photographically on the film. A small patch of lead can protect the corner opposite the opening to exposure by the X-rays.
Some cassettes do not have an opening or a window. In such situations, the film must be removed from the cassette in a dark room and then flashed with the information. This extra step, of course, improves the chances that an error will be made.
Between the time that the information is imprinted by exposure and the taking of the X-ray, the possibility exists, as already noted, that an error can be made. If the technician is rushed, and is handling a number of cassettes at one time, and in several locations, which is not unusual today, there is significant risk that such a mistake can be made.

System for imprinting patient-identifying barcodes onto medical X-rays


A method provides for the production of a concentrate for dialysis, the composition of which can be adapted individually to the respective needs of the patient. The special components required individually are added in the form of highly concentrated special concentrates with a volume of 10-500 mL to 3-10 liters of standard concentrate. The two solutions are then mixed thoroughly by compressed air, which is blown through a concentrate intake rod into the solution from a compressed air source in the dialysis machine.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method for producing an individual concentrate for dialysis with a device that includes a dialysis machine having a compressed air source, a concentrate line, a compressed air line between the concentrate line and the compressed air source, and a concentrate intake rod that is connected to the concentrate line. The method includes thoroughly mixing the first liquid concentrate and the second liquid concentrate in the container by introducing compressed air through the compressed air line, the concentrate line, and the connected concentrate intake rod. The invention also relates to a suitable device for performing the method. The composition of this individual concentrate may be adapted optimally to the specific needs of an individual patient without having to keep a large selection of concentrates on hand in the clinic. Through a system of concentrates that are mixed by machine in an automated process, the labor for the operating personnel and the risk of contamination are reduced.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the treatment of chronic renal failure, solutions for hemodialysis are often prepared online from concentrates and ultrapure water by a portioning unit of the dialysis machine. The dialysis machine usually receives ultrapure water from a central supply, whereas the required electrolytes in the form of concentrates that are packaged in bags or canisters are made available on the dialysis machine by the nursing staff.
With the bicarbonate dialysis which is customary today, two concentrates are usually needed due to the required electrolyte composition of the solution for hemodialysis or similar methods, namely a basic concentrate which contains the buffer bicarbonate and optionally salt and an acid concentrate which contains the other electrolytes, for example, magnesium, calcium, potassium, glucose and an acid. The basic concentrate is usually supplied as a dry concentrate but may also be made available in the form of a liquid concentrate. The acid concentrate is usually a liquid concentrate. Liquid concentrates are usually supplied in plastic canisters with a volume of 3-10-L canisters. The two concentrates are drawn into the dialysis machine by the concentrate pumps of the portioning unit of the dialysis machine and are diluted with water in a defined ratio in the machine to obtain the desired electrolyte concentration. The resulting electrolyte solution corresponds largely to the composition of physiological, i.e., healthy blood plasma and can then be used for treatment of chronic renal failure by hemodialysis.
Renal failure can be triggered by a number of diseases. In addition, the dialysis treatment itself constitutes a serious intervention in the human body which may cause various complications and co-morbidities. Therefore, the initial situation at the beginning of treatment may vary greatly from one patient to the next. For example, many patients have extremely high potassium levels prior to dialysis. To make dialysis as gentle as possible, the potassium concentration in the dialysate may also be set somewhat higher here. The same thing is also true of the other electrolytes. Whereas most dialysis patients are found to have an excessive phosphate burden, many patients who have undergone dialysis suffer very intensely from hypophosphatemia, which can be relieved by the presence of phosphate in the dialysis solution. Malnutrition is another challenge dialysis patients must often encounter. An improvement can be achieved here by adding glucose or amino acids to the concentrate. In addition, the unintentional removal of trace elements from the blood due to the dialysis treatment can be counteracted, if necessary, by replacement of these trace elements in the dialysis solution. The individual requirements of the precise composition of the dialysis solution used thus cover a wide spectrum, and the individual adaptation of the dialysis solution to the respective needs of the patient can minimize adverse effects and improve the success of the treatment.
On the other hand, storage capacity in a clinic is limited, so that it is only possible to keep on hand a limited number of different dialysis concentrates. At the same time, storing and preparing a great many different concentrates would necessitate complex logistics.
DE 32 24 823 solves this problem by having a modular composition for the concentrate for the solution for hemodialysis. One or more special concentrates as an extra solution containing the desired extra components are added to a stock solution in which the electrolyte composition corresponds approximately to the physiological electrolyte composition of blood, after being diluted by the portioning unit of the dialysis machine. The stock solution is kept in a canister in an amount of nine liters. The extra solutions and/or special concentrates are added in amounts of 10-500 mL. The special concentrates each contain only one component, which is either not present in the stock solution or whose concentration is to be increased in comparison with that of the stock solution.
WO 99/07419 describes the addition of vitamins and trace elements to the liquid bicarbonate concentrate.
However, the concentrate for preparing the solution for hemodialysis must be homogeneous; otherwise safe handling is not ensured. Therefore, in practice today the resulting solution is mixed by intense agitation of the canister by the nursing staff after adding the special concentrate to the acidic or basic concentrate for the bicarbonate dialysis. This means a physical burden for the user. The canister must be opened to add the special concentrate. Before shaking the canister, it must be resealed with the cover. These steps may result in contamination of the concentrate.


A legacy device bridge for use in a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network, is provided. The legacy device bridge performs protocol conversion to enable a network-attached entity that uses a packet-based communication protocol to communicate with and control legacy devices, such as consumer electronics, that rely exclusively on infrared (IR) or serial communication protocols. The legacy device bridge also performs a virtualization function that allows legacy devices to be advertised to the network as devices that comply with a packet-based discovery and control protocol, and to be controlled as such. The legacy device bridge is also adapted to probe, deduce and publish information relating to the state of a legacy device to other entities on the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interface device for discovering, communicating with and controlling devices attached to a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network.
2. Background
Networks in homes and small offices are becoming increasingly popular. This is due, in large part, to an increase in the number of households and small offices having more than one personal computer (PC). Networks provide a variety of benefits to such multi-computer households and offices. For example, such networks enable the users of multiple PCs to share a common printer, to share documents and other files, and to access the Internet via a common network connection.
In light of this increasing popularity, it would be beneficial to extend home/office networks to permit communication with and control of conventional consumer electronic devices such as televisions, stereo equipment, video cassette recorders (VCRs) and digital video disk (DVD) players. However, the vast majority of consumer electronic devices employ infra-red ("IP") communication as a means of remote device control. Alternatively, serial communication and radio frequency (RF) protocols are used. Unfortunately, these modes of communication are not compatible with packet-based communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, that are used for communication over many home/office networks.
It would also be beneficial to enable conventional consumer electronic devices to advertise themselves to devices on a home/office network and to publish command sets by which they can be controlled. Modem device discovery and control protocols such as the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocol may be used to enable such functionality in network-attached devices. However, protocols such as UPnP require compliant products that: (a) are adapted for network connectivity and (b) possess modest computational and storage resources. Conventional consumer electronic devices such as those described above typically lack these features. Thus, consumers that wish to enable these features have little choice but to wait for protocol-compliant devices to come to market and discard their current legacy devices.
In addition to being incompatible with packet-based communication protocols and modem device discovery and control protocols, consumer electronic devices that rely on IR or serial communication protocols suffer from a number of other disadvantages. For example, the vast majority of legacy consumer electronic devices lack a feedback mechanism through which device state can be reported. Modem device discovery and control protocols such as the UPnP protocol typically allow compliant units to publish methods by which an interested network entity might query them for state information. The majority of consumer electronics, however, do not have status reporting mechanisms. For example, consumer IR, which is the dominant form of IR communication, is largely uni-directional.
Also, in order to control consumer electronic devices that rely on IR communication, IR transmitters (also known as "remotes") must be placed within a very short range of a target device, and transmission paths must be free of obstructions, including physical barriers such as walls. The requirement of close physical proximity and a clear line-of-sight places severe limitations on the manner in which consumer electronic devices that rely on IR may be controlled.
What is desired, then, is a device that allows legacy consumer electronic devices to be controlled via a network, such as a wired or wireless residential network. To this end, the desired device should translate between packet-based communication protocols, such as TCP/IP, and communication protocols used by legacy consumer electronic devices, such as IR and serial protocols.
The desired device should also link the world of modem device discovery and control protocols (such as the UPnP protocol) to the world of legacy devices. For example, the desired device should provide UPnP control and management functionality to legacy devices, while permitting additional "true" UPnP devices to be added to a network as they become available.
The desired device should also be able to determine or deduce the state of one or more legacy consumer electronic devices. The desired device should then be able to publish this state information to interested network entities.
The desired device should further allow control of legacy devices through a network, thereby obviating the use of traditional direct line-of-sight IR controllers. Consequently, a user of the desired device should not need to be in the same room as or have a clear path to the devices that he or she wishes to control. The desired device should thus provide true "remote" control.

Legacy device bridge for residential or non-residential networks


A compensated signal source (210, 220) utilizes baseband signals and a radio frequency carrier signal to generate a set of source output signals (226, 227) which are coupled to a particular circuit (230, 240, 250). The signal source (210, 220) is operable in a characterizing mode in which a test configuration is applied, and outputs from the signal source and the particular circuit measured to develop parameters representing imperfections within the signal source and within the particular circuit. The signal source (210, 220) is operable in a normal mode, in which compensation based on the measured parameters is applied to account for the imperfections. In a preferred embodiment, the particular circuit (230, 240, 250) and compensated signal source (210, 220) form part of an amplifier (200) that implements linear amplification using nonlinear components (LINC) techniques.

Many signal processing circuits have a need to maintain known relationships between the signals traversing multiple signal paths. In practice, however, imperfections within a circuit can affect such relationships and adversely impact the performance of the circuit. One important example is that of an amplifier employing a linear amplification using nonlinear components (LINC) technique. In a typical LINC amplifier, a signal to be amplified is decomposed into two channel signals, both having an equal and constant envelope. It is known to use baseband inphase (I) and quadrature (Q) signal modulation of a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal to obtain the two channel signals. The decomposed signals are separately amplified then combined to form a linearly amplified signal. The LINC amplifier is attractive because the signals to be amplified have a constant envelope thereby enabling the use of efficient nonlinear radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers for amplification. As both signals are required to have equal amplitudes and proper phase relationships, it is important that the phase and gain for signal processing within each amplification path be balanced.
The promise of LINC amplifiers have yet to be fully realized in part because of the difficulty in developing circuits that maintain phase and gain balance for signals amplified using the separate amplification paths. For example, it may be desirable to achieve a level of amplitude signal accuracy of -65dBc for adjacent channel coupled power, and phase and gain resolution of within 0.5% for signals traversing the different amplification paths. Manufacturing imperfections within the amplification circuits make such balancing requirements difficult to achieve.
The prior art describes a variety of approaches to address such circuit imperfections. In one approach, phase and power measurements are made of RF signals and such measurements used to adjust for signal path imbalance. Adjustments typically involve phase and amplitude corrections along the RF signal path. Generally, phase measurements and adjustments tend to be complex and difficult to implement with extreme precision. In another prior art approach, a feedback loop is used which requires the sampling and processing of the RF signal to compare with the original baseband I and Q signals. This approach typically requires complex stability analysis to handle impedance load variations and other factors.
It is desirable to accommodate differences in circuits due to component imperfections and operating environment which can lead to unwanted variations in signal processing. This would enable implementation of LINC amplifiers and other circuits requiring the maintenance of a precise relationship between signals processed in different portions of a circuit. Therefore, a new approach to compensation for circuit imperfections is needed.

Method and apparatus utilizing a compensated multiple output signal source


An apparatus and method of extracting a sync signal from an analog composite video signal includes a controller to decide whether a horizontal sync signal in the analog composite video signal is a distorted abnormal signal, and extracts the horizontal sync signal from the composite video signal using a separate counter if the analog composite video signal is the distorted abnormal signal A sync signal can be precisely extracted from the distorted abnormal signal. Therefore, an overall system synchronization of the apparatus can be stable, and distortions in output images can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates to an apparatus to extract a sync signal from an analog composite video signal, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method of precisely extracting a sync signal even from a distorted analog composite video signal, thereby preventing distortions in output images.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an analog broadcast receiver is required to receive analog broadcasts including NTSC, PAL and SECAM. Despite a high level of availability of digital broadcasts, a large number of viewers still use an analog broadcast receiver. For this reason, analog and digital broadcasts are often simulcasted, and even digital broadcast receivers have a receiving end for receiving the analog broadcasts as well.
In the analog broadcast receiver, if an analog broadcast channel is selected, a tuner receives corresponding radio frequency signals and produces video intermediate frequency signals VIF, such as 45.75 MHz. The video intermediate frequency signal VIF is inputted to a video detector circuit, and the video detector circuit detects the VIF signal and demodulates it to a composite video signal, such as a CVBS signal including color, video, burst, and sync signals. The composite video signal is then inputted to a video decoder and decomposed into an RGB signal for reproducing real colors which are displayed on a display device such as a CRT.
In general, the video decoder extracts the sync signal from the CVBS signal through sync falling edge detection and the sync averaging (to be described later). A system clock is generated using a separated sync average.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are diagrams illustrating a conventional method for extracting a sync signal from a composite video signal. Waveforms depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B correspond to horizontal sync signals based on the NTSC system.
FIG. 1A describes a method for sync falling edge detection. The method includes detecting a point of half an amplitude of a falling edge of the sync signal. Using a point 101 having a 50% amplitude of the falling edge as a starting position of the horizontal sync signal, an already known rising edge and a vertical sync signal are detected, and a system clock is generated thereby.
FIG. 1B describes a method for sync averaging. The method includes finding a part having 50% of a total area of an incoming horizontal sync signal. At first, an amplitude of a falling edge is divided into two parts, and an area in a lower half is obtained. Using a part (or line) 103, that divides the area marked with slant lines into two equal sub-areas, as a starting point of the horizontal sync signal, a system clock is generated.
However, a problem arises because a normal composite video signal is not always inputted to a video decoder as shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. For instance, the falling edge or a bottom part of the horizontal sync signal is distorted and then inputted to the video decoder.
FIGS. 2A through 2C are diagrams illustrating methods of extracting an abnormal sync signal from an abnormal composite video signal input.
If a waveform of a video signal shown in FIG. 2A is inputted, the extraction of the sync signal by the sync averaging can be accomplished without causing any problem. Unfortunately, however, when the sync signal is extracted by detecting a falling edge thereof, it is very difficult to know precisely where a bottom 203 of a horizontal sync signal is. As a result, a point 207, not a point 205, is read as a 50% amplitude point on the falling edge, and so, a point 211, not a point 209, is regarded as a starting point of the horizontal sync signal.
Similarly, waveforms shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C are generated if a bottom of an incoming horizontal sync signal is distorted. In this case, however, the sync falling edge detection is a suitable method for sync extraction. If the sync averaging method were applied, a point 215 and a point 219, not points 213 and 217, could be regarded as the starting point of the horizontal sync signal.
Therefore, when the horizontal sync signal wiggles and is not rock stable, a system clock thereof is also affected. Consequently, images on a screen are not quite as sharp, and a HPLL (Horizontal Phase Locked Loop) may be deviated, thereby causing distortions in the images.

Apparatus and method of extracting sync signal from analog composite video signal


A folding chair that comes with a portable stereo system. The present invention includes foldable supporting frame (1), chair seat (2), chair back (3), primary armrest (4), secondary armrest (5), mini boom box (6&7), battery channel (8), audio frequency receiver (9), audio frequency wire (10), primary armrest support (11), secondary armrest support (12), chair back support panel (13&14), chair front edge (21), horizontal face (41&51), vertical face (42&52), and a music-player sack (420).

Folding chair is a common gear people carry with themselves when they travel. For instance, when they go fishing or go to beach. To reduce carrying difficulty, folding chair's main characteristics is to be foldable and be easy to carrying around.
Moreover, when people travel around, they would want to listen to some music in order to relieve the tension that they face from daily life and from work. But most music playing devices on the market now have one disadvantage is that if they are small in size, then they require earphones to go with the playing devices in order to play out the music. However, this way of playing music is inconvenient and the music that they play out has very rough quality.
Therefore, the present invention fixes this difficulty by combining the music-playing device with a folding chair to create one portable traveling device that people can sit on and to listen to music.

Invention of folding chair with portable stereo system

Abstract: The present invention offers people a whole new perspective view on how a folding chair can be utilized. The idea of the invention delivers the convenience of how seating and entertaining enjoyment can be combined in one device for traveling people in order to reduce traveling difficulties.


A timed-release bait container that has an inner bait container with small openings formed in it. The inner container is inserted into an outer housing and sealed with an elastomeric band and a galvanic couple. The elastomeric band holds the inner bait container and the outer housing together. A rubber gasket creates a watertight seal between the inner bait container and the outer housing keeping the selected bait dry and fresh. A pressure equalization hole is covered until the galvanic couple breaks, allows the container's internal pressure to equalize with the external pressure. Once pressure equalization has occurred, the inner bait container is pulled out of the outer housing allowing exposure of the fresh bait to the sea. The small holes in the inner bait container prevent target species from depleting the bait and prevent the entry of sea lice, thereby keeping the bait fresh for as long as possible.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the technical field of fishing equipment. More particularly, the invention is in the technical field of delayed release bait containers that are intended for use in fish and shellfish fisheries.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, generally, crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs and shrimp, are caught with baited traps. In addition, large numbers of fish, such as sablefish and other bottom fish, are caught in baited traps or pots. Crustaceans and fish are attracted to, and lured within, the pots by the odor of bait, which usually comprises a food substance preferred by the particular targeted animal. Typically, fish or shellfish byproducts are used as bait; however manufactured baits are sometimes used. Bait can be hung within the pot, or it can be held in bait containers that allow the odor of the bait to escape. Two problems with such systems exist. First, as soon as bait is exposed to water, the attractive odor substances contained within the bait begin to quickly leach out. Because the quantity of bait is limited in a pot, the effectiveness of baited pots lasts for a relatively short period after the pot is deployed in the sea. Second, bait left hanging free, or bait in containers with large holes in them, allow sea creatures, such as sea lice to enter the container and eat the bait quickly. As a result, much of the effort and expense of pot fishing involves the frequent renewal of bait. Generally, re-baiting is necessary long before an adequate catch has accumulated. It has been recognized, therefore, that if fresh bait replacement can be delayed, avoiding the expenditure of labor and boat operating time, the actual catch per unit effort, and hence the profitability, of the fishing operation can be significantly increased.
To that end, several devices for holding bait have been developed. Examples of such devices are found in following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,856 discloses a trap made of plastic that has a door for loading and a number of slits formed in it. The device can be loaded and suspended in a pot and released into the sea. While an improvement over hanging the bait openly, the slits allow water and some organisms to enter immediately, thus shortening the effective life of the bait. U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,669 is another example of a simple container for holding bait that does little to protect the bait from rapid exhaustion.
Others have developed systems for time-release of the bait. In this way, the bait is kept in a container and not opened for a set time. After a desired interval, the container is opened and the bait is allowed to mix with the seawater. Such devices allow for a prolonging of the bait for an extended time. Examples of these devices include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,479, which teaches a sealed bag that is held in a frame. A knife blade is secured to a track and is held by a restraint. The restraint is designed to dissolve in seawater after a given time. Once the restraint fails, the knife blade is pulled along the track and the bag is opened. While novel, this system has a number of drawbacks. First, the knife blade has a high potential of failure. Second, the device is difficult and perhaps dangerous to operate and configure with gloves and in typical fishing environments. Lastly, if the bag is successfully opened, target species and other organisms can quickly consume the bait, as there is no mechanism that prevents access to the bait. U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,602 teaches a canister that has a door for loading and exposing the bait. The door is biased open by an elastic cord that is restrained by a corrodible link. Because the container is not water tight, bait is immediately exposed to seawater, which leads to immediate degradation of the bait prior to release of the corrodible link. Once the link corrodes, the lid is released and the bait is further exposed to the seawater. Once the door is open, however, this device is no better than simply hanging the bait fully exposed. As such, the bait does not last long once the container is opened. U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,529 teaches a number of methods of using corrodible materials to hold bait and release it after a desired time has elapsed. In one most embodiment, he teaches containers that have corrodible lids or a bag with a corrodible clip that, once corroded expose the bait. The problem with these designs is, one again, once the container is opened, the bait is fully exposed to seawater and organisms and sea water is allowed to leak into the container prior to the container being opened leading to significant premature bait degradation Finally, a UK patent, GB 2,359,473 teaches another container that is sealed after loading. A time-release mechanism is installed to cause the seal to open, exposing the bait. This too suffers from the problem of having large holes that permit seawater and organisms to enter the container and rapidly deteriorate the bait after the time-release function has worked.


A process for the preparation of a polyunsaturated olefinic compound, i.e. undeca-1,3,5-triene, in its (3E,5Z) isomeric form, consisting of four consecutive steps starting from deca-1,4-diyne, is disclosed.. Said process has the advantage of making it possible to obtain the desired isomer in its essentially pure form.

There have been many proposed ways of synthesizing undeca-1,3,5-triene [see, for example, patent FR 74 19580; patent AS 68 01077; patent application EP 203 615; F. Naef et al., Helvetica Chimica Acta 1975, 58, 1016; V. Ratovelomanana et al.; Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1987, 174; Recherches 1967, 16, 5; W. Boland et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 1987, 70, 1025; E. Block et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 4568] ever since its discovery [see: Chretien-Bessiere et al., Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1967, 97]. Amongst the methods proposed, there are some which have found an industrial application and undeca-1,3,5-triene is presently commercialized under several tradenames. Since it is characterized by the presence of three ethylenic double bonds in its molecule, undeca-1,3-5-triene can take several isomeric forms, the respective proportions of which in the final product determine its olfactive quality. We have been able to establish that none of the described prior art methods can, at once, satisfy the economic, safety and environmental requirements and provide an irreproachable quality product, of better quality than that of the product currently avialable on the market.
The process of the present invention has the advantage of providing undeca-1,3,5-triene under its essentially pure undeca-1,3E,5Z-triene isomeric form. It is precisely this isomer which best develops the most characteristic and prized odor properties, amongst the ensemble of possible stereoisomers.

Process for the preparation of polyunsaturated olefins


An apparatus has an electrode plate having an array of electrodes, a flexible membrane separated from the electrode plate by a gap, the membrane having localized regions corresponding to electrodes in the array of electrodes, and each localized region having a stiffener. A print head has an ink reservoir, a nozzle plate to deliver ink from the reservoir to a print substrate, an ink inlet on an opposite side from the print substrate to provide ink from the reservoir to the nozzle plate, and a flexible membrane arranged so as to draw the ink through the ink inlet when actuated and to dispense the ink through the nozzle plate when released, the flexible membrane having a stiffener. A method of manufacturing a membrane device includes providing an electrode plate having an array of electrodes, forming an air gap adjacent the electrode plate, and forming a membrane of conductive material having localized regions with a stiffener, the localized regions corresponding to electrodes in the array.

Ink jet printers generally dispense ink onto a substrate through a nozzle plate that has an array of holes. Ink is loaded behind the plate and an actuator causes the ink to be pushed through the hole onto the print substrate. Generally, the number of holes corresponds to a particular number of dots per inch (dpi) for a printing system.
In many current ink jet printers, the actuators are an array of piezoelectric actuators. When the image data representing an image dictates that a drop should be printed onto the print substrate at a particular place, the piezoelectric actuator is activated. The actuator's motion or vibration causes the ink to be pressed through the hole in the nozzle plate onto the substrate.
It is possible to replace the piezoelectric actuators with an electrostatically actuated system using a flexible membrane. The flexible membrane may reside behind the nozzle plate where the ink fills between the flexible membrane and the nozzle plate. An electrode plate to actuate regions of the membrane may reside behind the flexible membrane and across a small air gap from it.

Membrane stiffener for electrostatic inkjet actuator


A method and device for coating a medical device, such as a stent, including rolling the stent against a ribbon or gravure roll impregnated with coating material. The ribbon and gravure roll may include a recessed pattern matching a strut pattern of the stent. The stent may also be rolled against a plate or cylinder while coating material is forced onto the stent through a pattern of holes or openings in the plate or cylinder matching a strut pattern of the stent.

Medical devices may be coated so that the surfaces of such devices have desired properties or effects. For example, it may be useful to coat medical devices to provide for the localized delivery of therapeutic agents to target locations within the body, such as to treat localized disease (e.g., heart disease) or occluded body lumens. Localized drug delivery may avoid some of the problems of systemic drug administration, which may be accompanied by unwanted effects on parts of the body which are not to be treated. Additionally, treatment of the afflicted part of the body may require a high concentration of therapeutic agent that may not be achievable by systemic administration. Localized drug delivery may be achieved, for example, by coating balloon catheters, stents and the like with the therapeutic agent to be locally delivered. The coating on medical devices may provide for controlled release, which may include long-term or sustained release, of a bioactive material.
Aside from facilitating localized drug delivery, medical devices may be coated with materials to provide beneficial surface properties. For example, medical devices are often coated with radiopaque materials to allow for fluoroscopic visualization while placed in the body. It is also useful to coat certain devices to achieve enhanced biocompatibility and to improve surface properties such as lubriciousness.
Metal stents may be coated with a polymeric coating that may contain a dissolved and/or suspended bioactive agent. The bioactive agent and the polymeric coating may be dissolved in a solvent mix and spray coated onto the stents, for example, by gas assist atomized spray coating. The solvent may then evaporate to leave a dry coating on the stent.
Drawbacks to gas assist atomized coating include its low material transfer efficiency and the presentment of polymer and drug to the inside of the device being coated, such as the inside surface of a stent. Another drawback to gas assist atomized coating includes the resulting high degree of shear to the coating solution, which makes the use of shear sensitive coating materials impossible. Webbing may also present a problem, such as webs of the coating between stent struts.
There is therefore a need for alternative coating methods for medical devices.

System and method for coating a medical device


The present invention is directed to a method and system for compiling a markup language file into an executable application or library dll. The system may also compile a code-behind file associated with the markup language file. The compiling system may include a parser for parsing the markup language file and providing the compiling system with detailed token information to the compiling system. This token information could be user code snippets or non-code token information such as tags, properties or events in the markup. The compiling system may also include a binary file generator for generating a binary file from the non-code token information, wherein the binary file contains one record for each non-code token. Additionally, the system may include a code generator for generating a language-independent tree of code expressions based on the token information, wherein the code expressions represent the markup language file as a class. A compiler may compile the binary files and code files to create an executable application.

With the growth of Internet use, the use of web programming languages such as markup languages has become widespread. A markup language is a notation system for describing documents in which the text of documents is intermixed with markup or annotations that describe aspects of the structure or format of a document. Markup languages include such languages as Extensible Markup Language (XML), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), and Transaction Authority Markup Language (XAML). These markup languages are typically used to create documents that are deployed the web.
A tool is needed for enabling the creation of a real executable application or a dynamic link library (dll) that can be reused in one or more executable applications, using a markup language. Writing an application declaratively enables a Rapid Application Development (RAD) environment, thus greatly reducing the time it takes to write a typical application program. Furthermore, the ability to mix both markup and code-behind files enables the development of an application that has the best of both the Web Applications and traditional applications written in a language like C#. Thus, a markup language can be used just like any other traditional coding language to build real applications and libraries, but with the ease of use that comes with the declarative nature of a markup language.

System and method for compiling markup files


A fish tape reel has an ergonomic pistol grip and ergonomic hand grips at an inner periphery of a hollow housing. Fish tape is wound into the housing cavity by rotating the housing with respect to the pistol grip. This can be done manually by grasping the interior handle(s) or using a ratcheted winder that fits into the housing opening and has a lever handle for ratcheting the housing. The reel is held with the housing beneath the pistol grip which has a retainer shoe slidably sandwiched between halves of the housing. The pistol grip is positioned behind a vertical center line of the reel so that the weight of the reel is balanced in a neutral position in which the pistol grip can be grasped with the user's wrist being essentially straight and horizontal. A method of assembling the reel is also disclosed in which the fish tape is attached and wound after the housing is assembled.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to fish tapes of the type used by electricians to pull wire through conduit or other spaces, and more particularly to the fish tape reel assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fish tape is a stiff but bendable wire, flexible rod or flat tape typically used to install wire in conduit, through existing walls, or other tight spaces. Because typical electrical wire is very flexible, pushing it through long lengths of conduit is virtually impossible. Pulling wire along the desired path is much more effective. In order to pull the wire, a fish tape, being more rigid than electrical wire, is first pushed along the desired path. Once an end of the fish tape reaches the end of the desired path, the electrical wire is attached to the fish tape end, and the fish tape is retrieved which pulls the wire with it.
The fish tape is typically coiled inside of a reel assembly. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,780 has a generally annular tape receiving chamber bounded at its periphery by a pair of opposed lips, which separate to permit winding and unwinding of the fish tape in the chamber. A handle having a tape passage is mounted between the lips, which provides passage of the tape out of and into the receiving chamber. This reel arrangement makes it somewhat difficult to wind and unwind the tape. Given the relative rigid and springy characteristics of the fish tape, coiling the fish tape can require significant force and can be time consuming and frustrating, particularly if the tape binds inside of the reel. Moreover, initial assembly or reattachment of the fish tape to the reel may require the reel to be disassembled in order to anchor one end of the tape to an interior wall. And, once the tape coiled in the chamber the reel must be assembled (or reassembled) without the coil coming undone.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,038 provides a solution to the winding and assembly difficulties associated with conventional fish tape reels, as in the above mentioned patent. In this patent, the fish tape is contained in a cassette that loads easily into the main body of the reel. The cassette has its own handle for rotating the cassette relative to the reel body and thereby wind and unwind the tape. While this design provides significant benefits over other conventional fish tape reels, it lack ergonomic features that make it comfortable to operate.
One common problem with conventional fish tape reels is that the handle, as in U.S. Des. Pat. No. D408,749, is ordinarily a carrying handle for transporting the reel to and from a job site, for example, rather than being something to grip and brace the reel when unwinding, and especially, when winding the fish tape.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,609 discloses a purportedly ergonomic fish tape reel with a "pistol grip" handle. The pistol grip handle is beneficial because it permits the user to grasp the reel during the winding and unwinding processes with the user's wrist generally straight and in line with the forearm, thereby reducing strain on the user's wrist. However, the disclosed reel coils the fish tape in a cavity located horizontally behind the handle such that the reel would tend to cock back under the force of gravity and forces generated during the winding and unwinding processes such that user's wrist will have to overcome these forces, thereby straining the user's wrist.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,884 discloses a different approach to aiding the user in the winding process. In particular, this patent discloses a threader element that fits in the chamber between the opposite sides of the reel. The threader has an elongated body with a passageway through which the fish tape feeds into and out of the reel and a forward leaning handle extending up from the body. The threader is held fixed by the user and the rest of the reel is rotated by hand to wind the fish tape. The threader extends as a chord across an upper interior part of the reel diameter. By virtue of the force of gravity moving the reel downward and the spring force of the fish tape biasing the threader upward, the threader will assume this position during use almost in variably, with only slight difference in relative position. This location, in which the handle of the threader is positioned at a front side of the reel, is disadvantageous because the weight of the reel will tend to cause the wrist to cock backward, especially when winding the fish tape.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,040 discloses a fish tape device with a vertically oriented handle on a rear side of the reel assembly, with the tape dispensed through an opening on the other side of the reel assembly. This device is adapted with cam members for gripping and pulling, as when retrieving a wire, fish tape that was previously unwound from the reel assembly. This handle would cock the user's wrist forward and downward in use in order to support the reel assembly.


A server executing a social media identity and discovery application and method are provided that scan social networking sites for communications. The target content is found with content indicators when communications are put on a social networking site. The content is recorded and evaluated. If the identified content is contextually significant, the alias and the user account data and/or user data from public records are correlated based on keywords and/or events, and a notification of the correlation is sent to an agency, agent, or a contact center system. The agent or agency may verify that the identity of a poster has been accurately correlated with a customer record in the database or with user data from public records. The agent, the agency, or the system has the opportunity to respond to the communication, despite the anonymity of the poster on the social networking site.

People exchange information or provide commentary about business services, products, people, and agencies on social media or social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, MySpace, Pinterest, Spoke, YouTube, Blogs, RSS, search sites (Google, Bing, etc.), etc. Generally, a user of the social networking site employs an alias to mask his or her identity. Thus, social networking sites generally inhibit identifying a user. Comments can be made anonymously, often prompting a user to be forthright and candid about interactions with companies without fear of reprisal or consequence. For example, a consumer John Smith may use the alias "RocknRoll" on a social media site and complain about bad service at "Music World." Unless John chooses to reveal his real name, it can be extremely difficult to determine John's identity from the alias RocknRoll. Mapping the alias to a known customer of a company based on a specific transaction may not be possible. It also might be difficult if not impossible to map a threat to a person who made it.
When people use social networking sites to comment negatively about financial and banking business transactions, a company has a vested interest in identifying these users and addressing issues quickly and directly. Negative comments about service and products can seriously hurt or even ruin a business. The inability to determine the identity of a user presents a challenge to directly addressing the problem.
Additionally, threats may be publicly and anonymously made on the social networking site to avoid retribution or potential legal action. A person who comments or threatens may use key words to make the threat more credible, but anonymity may make identifying the person difficult. Agencies would like to be able to deal with threats made on social networking sites the same way they have been able to deal with similar threats in traditional media. Communications on social networking sites may also provide real-time information on disasters or other escalating situations. Without a way to validate the identity of the person posting, it may be difficult to determine how credible the information is and what assistance should be provided.

Social media identity discovery and mapping for banking and government


A rotatable cassette-type paper feeding apparatus includes a tray, a turning member mounted rotatably on the tray. A first rotating device is used for rotating the turning member, a plurality of paper cassettes installed rotatably on the turning member. A second rotating device is used for rotating the paper cassette in a paper feeding side, and a controller which controls the first rotating device to interchange the paper cassettes in the paper feeding side and in the non-paper-feeding side and which controls the second rotating device to switch the position of the paper cassette in the paper feeding side between sideways and lengthways. This structure achieves a compact rotatable cassette-type paper feeding apparatus capable of storing sheets of paper of various sizes and of feeding the paper sheets both sideways and lengthways by switching their positions.

For example, a copying machine is provided with a paper feeding apparatus for feeding paper onto which an image on a document is transferred. There has been a great demand for paper feeding apparatuses that are capable of supplying paper of various sizes according to the sizes of documents to be copied and in response to requests for enlarged and reduced copies. The following are some examples of such paper feeding apparatuses. A paper feeding apparatus disclosed in a Japanese Publication for Unexamined Patent Application, No. 2-295826/1990 has paper cassettes which are disposed over a plurality of stages and capable of switching the position of paper between lengthways and sideways. An apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 53 and 54 is provided with a turntable 51 on which a plurality of paper trays 54 for storing paper 53 are formed by paper guides 52. By rotating the turntable 51 the paper 53 is supplied to the main body of the copying machine from the respective paper trays 54. In the case of an apparatus shown in FIGS. 55 to 57, a plurality of box-shaped paper cassettes 62 are mounted around a rotatable supporting rod 61. In this copying machine, it is arranged that any of the paper cassettes 62 can be selectively placed in front of the paper feeding opening 64 of the main body 63 by rotating the supporting rod 61.
With the configuration of the above-mentioned application, No. 2-295826/1990, paper feeding modes are freely switched between lengthways feeding and sideways feeding. However, since the paper feeding cassettes are disposed over the plurality of stages to feed paper of various sizes, the size of the apparatus is increased. As for the paper feeding apparatus shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, it is unable to switch paper feeding modes freely between lengthways feeding and sideways feeding. Therefore, in order to feed paper of various sizes in both lengthways and sideways, a number of the paper trays 54 must be provided. This also results in an increase in the size of the apparatus. Similarly, the paper feeding apparatus shown in FIGS. 55 to 57 is unable to switch paper feeding modes freely between lengthways feeding and sideways feeding. Additionally, with the configuration of this apparatus, since the paper cassettes 62 are attached to the supporting rod 61 such that the direction of feeding paper is parallel to the axial direction of the supporting rod 61, it is difficult to reduce the height of the apparatus, thereby resulting in a large-sized apparatus.

Rotatable cassette-type paper feeding apparatus


In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for allowing access to developed applications via a multi-tenant on-demand database service, in a controlled environment. These mechanisms and methods for providing such access can enable embodiments to provide additional control over the development process as well as the access of such developed applications. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional control may lead to an improved application development framework, etc.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In conventional database systems, users access their data resources in one logical database. A user of such a conventional system typically retrieves data from and stores data on the system using the user's own systems. A user system might remotely access one of a plurality of server systems that might in turn access the database system. Data retrieval from the system might include the issuance of a query from the user system to the database system. The database system might process the request for information received in the query and send to the user system information relevant to the request.
There is often a desire to develop various applications for extending capabilities of the aforementioned database systems. To date, however, such applications have typically been developed in an uncontrolled environment. For example, developers conventionally dictate the development of such applications, leaving the database system service with less control. This, in turn, may lead to various shortcomings in the development process, etc. For instance, various development best practices (e.g. with respect to testing, resource allocation, etc.) may not necessarily be enforced, since they are under the control of the developer.

Method and system for allowing access to developed applications via a multi-tenant on-demand database service


A client acquires the size of the moving picture, decides a segment of a moving picture to be extracted from the original moving picture and extracts the moving picture of the segment decided. The client uploads, to a server on a network, the moving picture extracted from a moving picture file.

The rapid development of digital still cameras and digital video cameras and the like in recent years has been accompanied by increasing opportunities for individuals to handle moving pictures on a personal computer. Further, owing to the spread of the Internet, there are greater opportunities for sending moving pictures to acquaintances by attaching them to e-mail or for uploading them to sites that provide an Internet-based moving picture sharing service in order to disclose the moving pictures to third parties.
Under these circumstances, there are many instances where a limitation is imposed upon the uploadable size of moving pictures in the case of the conventional Internet-based moving picture sharing services. For this reason, the user follows a procedure according to which an original moving picture file is compressed or has unnecessary portions removed by a client application in such a manner that the size of the moving picture file will fall within the size limitation, after which the moving picture is subjected to editing processing and stored as a separate file, which is then uploaded.
However, the prior art described above has certain disadvantages.
Specifically, one problem is that when an original moving picture is compressed, its image quality declines.
Further, even if the user attempts to create a moving picture file by removing unnecessary portions so as to obtain a size within the size limitation by making an inference from the overall size of the original moving picture, it is difficult for the user to grasp the size of the eliminated portions and difficult to stringently achieve the desired size. Adjustments must be made a number of times to obtain the desired size. This is a troublesome procedure.

Moving picture system and moving picture extraction method


An image forming state detection device comprises a micro-lens array that is disposed at a position set apart from a predetermined focal plane of an image forming optical system by a specific distance and includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed with a predetermined pitch, a light-receiving portion array that includes a plurality of light-receiving portions each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses in the micro-lens array and receives an image on the predetermined focal plane via the individual micro-lenses, a signal string extracting means that extracts a pair of signal strings corresponding to images, formed with light fluxes having passed through different pupil areas of the image forming optical system, based upon light reception outputs obtained from the plurality of light-receiving portions, and an image forming state calculating means that calculates an image forming state at the image forming optical system by detecting an offset with regard to the phases of the pair of signal strings extracted by the signal string extracting means.

A focal point detection device in a single lens reflex camera in the related art typically adopts the split pupil image reforming method (see patent reference literature 1 and the like). In this method, images are individually reformed via a pair of image reforming lenses by using image forming light fluxes having been transmitted through different areas on the exit pupil of the photographic lens of the camera, the patterns of the pair of secondary images thus reformed are detected with a line sensor and a defocus signal is generated based upon the extent of pattern misalignment manifested by the pair of the secondary images.
In this method, the detection pitch at the focal point detection plane (predetermined focal plane), i.e., the pixel pitch of virtual pixels achieved by reverse-projecting (projecting the line sensor back onto the focal point detection plane via the image reforming lenses), is determined in correspondence to the projection magnification rate and the pixel pitch with which the pixels at the line sensor are disposed. Accordingly, by disposing pixels in a very dense array at the line sensor, very accurate focal point detection is enabled.
It is to be noted that the term "focal point detection plane" refers to a plane at which focus adjustment is attempted, e.g., a plane conjugate with the film surface.
Patent reference literature 1: Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2002-174766


A new cultivar of hybrid Clematis, ‘Taiga’, characterized by its large, double flowers, its purple flowers with the tips of the outer tepaloids uniquely colored light yellow-green with center tepaloids light yellow-green, and its sterile flowers with no reproductive organs present.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Clematis, botanically of hybrid origin, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name 'Taiga'. 'Taiga' is grown as an herbaceous perennial for landscape use or as a terrace pot plant.
'Taiga' was derived from a breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Tokyo, Japan. The Inventor, now deceased, made years of crosses between plants of Clematis florida (and other species now included in the Florida group of Clematis) and plants of Clematis integrifolia, and proprietary hybrids between them. The parental plants were unnamed and unpatented, however the Inventor's records could not be found for detailed information in regards to the parents. 'Taiga' was selected by the Inventor as a single unique plant from a batch of seedlings in 2000.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by internodial stem cuttings by the Inventor in Tokyo, Japan in 2000. Asexual propagation by internodial stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


An identity card that can be used, for example, in a travel document or as a separate card, includes at least two core layers, preferably of polycarbonate material, that are fused to one another. In each of the core layers there is a recess, each of a different size. On assembly these recesses become situated on top of one another and a semiconductor chip is accommodated in the larger recess formed as a result. A covering layer can be fused to at least one of the core layers, and a layer that can be written on by laser can also be applied. There can be (semi-)transparent windows on top of one another in the core layer and if the covering layer is transparent, light can be transmitted, it being possible to define a specific pattern in the windows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an identity card having a layered plastic structure.
2. Description of Related Art
A prior art identity card is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,554 A. This document discloses a card used for medical or information purposes, wherein one of the core layers is provided with a hole through it in which a chip is placed. This core layer is then laminated to the adjoining core layer. The adjoining core layer is preferably made of paper, but can likewise comprise a plastic material.
WO 98/19870 discloses a passport wherein the identity part is made up of layers and can be written on with the aid of a laser beam.
What is needed, however, and not disclosed in the prior art, is an identity card that has a large number of security features that are easy to detect.