A suspension fork for a bicycle includes at least one stanchion tube and at least one slider tube interacting therewith and a wheel receiving space, and a damper system. The damper system includes a damper chamber divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a movable piston and a damping device for rebound damping and a damping device for compression damping. The damper system is disposed at the stanchion tube, the damping device for rebound damping and the damping device for compression damping are disposed above the movable piston.

The present invention relates to a suspension fork for a bicycle and a damper system for such a suspension fork.
Employing suspension forks in bicycles has basically been known for a long time. Suspension forks configured in particular as telescopic suspension forks are installed in downhill and mountain bikes and cross-country bikes, and increasingly in everyday bicycles as well.
Most suspension forks comprise a pair of tubes stationary relative to the bicycle frame, the so-called stanchion tubes, and two lower, movable tubes, the so-called slider tubes, to which the wheel hub is fastened. The stanchion tubes may be held together by means of a fork bridge or fork crown at the center of which the fork column is attached as a rule. Most slider tubes or outer tubes are larger in diameter so as to accommodate the stationary tubes to be slidingly displaceable in the slider tubes.
The riders of suspension fork-equipped bicycles desire suspension forks whose springing and damping characteristics can be easily and quickly adjusted to speedily adapt the current suspension fork characteristics to actual ambient conditions.
Therefore, suspension forks have become known in the prior art which are provided with adjusting elements. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,136 B2 discloses a suspension fork having an oil chamber provided in a lower region of a slider tube and divided into two sections by way of a movable piston. The piston rod connected with the piston is attached to the top end of the stanchion tube and configured hollow to allow an adjusting mechanism to pass through to the piston. This is a complex structure, requiring very long, thin components to adjust the damping and controls of the damper system.
Another drawback of this structure is that in operation, considerable heat is generated at the damper valve for adjusting the rebound damping and at the damper valve for adjusting the compression damping which heat spreads in the slider tube by way of the heated oil, accumulating in the lower region. Furthermore, in this known prior art the rebound stage damper valve is disposed in the lower region of the slider tube such that the heat generated in the rebound stage during damping accumulates in the lower region of the slider tube. Compression stage damper valves tend to be provided at the lowermost end of a slider tube such that the heat it generates again accumulates at the bottom.
By way of the heated oil accumulating in the lower slider tube regions where the rebound stage damper valve is provided as well, the generated heat is emitted in the lower slider tube region so as to result in the slider tube heating up more than does the stanchion tube. In this way, different thermal expansions of the slider tubes and the stanchion tubes may result.
Against the background of the described prior art it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a suspension fork allowing a simpler structure. It is a preferred aspect of the object to provide a suspension fork comprising improved heat dissipating options.


Neighbor relation information management involves, for example: acquiring, reporting, and exchanging neighbor relation information. In some cases, neighbor relation information is acquired and/or reported in a manner that does not significantly impact other functionality of the access terminal. For example, an access terminal may be configured to acquire and/or report neighbor relation information only during one or more defined radio states. In some cases, the acquisition of neighbor relation information is based on a neighbor relation threshold. In some cases, an access terminal does not immediately report measured neighbor relation information and instead stores the information for reporting at a later time. In some cases, a transmitted indication is used to facilitate retrieval of neighbor relation information from an access terminal. In some cases, neighbor relation information acquired from an access terminal is exchanged over a direct interface between access points.

1. Field
This application relates generally to wireless communication and more specifically, but not exclusively, to managing neighbor relation information.
2. Introduction
A wireless communication network may be deployed over a geographical area to provide various types of services (e.g., voice, data, multimedia services, etc.) to users within that geographical area. In a typical implementation, access points (e.g., associated with one or more cells) are distributed throughout a network to provide wireless connectivity for access terminals (e.g., cell phones) that are operating within the geographical area served by the network.
In general, at a given point in time, an access terminal may be served by one of these access points. As the access terminal roams throughout this geographical area, the access terminal may move away from a serving cell and move closer to another cell. In addition, signal conditions within a given cell may change over time, whereby an access terminal may eventually be better served by another cell. To maintain access terminal connectivity under these circumstances, the access terminal may be handed-over from a serving cell to the other cell.
To facilitate these handovers and other operations, access points in a network may keep track of their neighbor access points (e.g., which may be potential targets for handover). For example, in conjunction with a handover to a neighbor access point, a serving access point may send context information that neighbor access point. To enable this context transfer, the serving access point may maintain neighbor relation information that identifies its neighbor access points and provides other information about these access points (e.g., information about the cell(s) associated with a given access point).
The neighbor relation information maintained at each access point may be managed by a centralized network management entity. For example, based on measurements conducted by system components and/or so-called "drive tests", a system administrator may attempt to identify the cells in the vicinity of a given cell and, based on this information, update the neighbor relation information maintained at that cell. In practice, however, such centralized and/or human-based schemes may not always identify all of neighbor cells of a given cell. Moreover, such schemes may involve relatively high operational and implementation costs and complexity. Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for managing neighbor relation information.


A monitoring system for cargo containers coming into the United States from foreign countries, to detect any harmful contents, within the close container, which would prove dangerous to the American people. The system includes a unique flexible plastic strip in which are embedded, 1) a global positioning computer chip, 2) a power source, 3) an encrypted strip serial number computer chip, and thousands of nano detection devices.

The invention relates generally to container packaging, and more particularly to cargo containers which are used to ship products, foodstuffs, and other materials into the United States of America from foreign countries outside the United States. The contents of such containers has become critical in the war against terrorism. It has become extremely important to monitor the contents of such containers for harmful materials, such as explosives, harmful biological material, and radiation materials. The invention is designed to monitor the contents of large or small containers for any harmful materials.
Briefly stated, the invention is in one or more detection devices which are initially placed within a container, depending on the size of the container. The detection devices are designed to send off specific resonant frequency signals which are correlated to any harmful material detected within the container. A hand held or stationary monitor is provided to monitor the container for any signals given off from the detection devices within the container. The detection devices are designed to give off a predetermined amount of background signal. So that if no such signals are received, the container is highly suspect as being tampered with, and such container is quickly removed and its contents examined.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system for transferring power between components includes a first object having a light emitter operatively connected to a power source, and a second object having a light receiver operatively connected to a power storage unit. The light receiver receives light emitted from the light emitter and converts the received light into electricity that is stored in the power storage unit.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method of controlling and energizing a rotatable object, such as a rotating dartboard of a dart game system. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to communicating between parts of a machine, and more particularly, to a system and method of transferring energy and/or data between objects that are not physically connected to one another. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention also relate to an activation/deactivation system for a rotatable object, such as a rotatable dart board of a dart game machine, and more particularly to a switchless control system for a rotatable object.
Various systems include numerous internal parts that utilize electrical or other energy to operate. Typically, each device to be powered is connected to a power source in a conventional manner (e.g., wired to an electrical outlet). However, such conventional power sources occupy space. As more components are used within a system, more space is needed to accommodate the components and power sources.
Thus, a need exists for a system and method of efficiently transferring power between components of a system while without taking up too much space.
Additionally, various rotating mechanisms are automatically rotated through motors, which are operatively connected to the rotating mechanisms through drive axles. In order to start rotation of a particular rotating mechanism, a switch that is operatively connected to the motor is positioned in an "ON" position. In order to cease rotation, the switch is positioned in an "OFF" position.
Manipulating the switch mechanism may be difficult for various reasons. For example, the switch mechanism may be disposed between a user and the rotating mechanism. Thus, when a user switches the rotating mechanism into an "ON" position, the user's arm may be within the field of movement of the rotating mechanism.
In order to prevent injury, the switch is typically located far enough way from the rotating mechanism to avoid a user being struck by the rotating mechanism. Locating the switch at such a distance, however, may inconvenience the user during operation of the rotating mechanism. For example, the user may traverse a long distance, in relation to the rotating mechanism, to activate and deactivate the mechanism.
Additionally, a switch is typically connected to the system through mechanical and electrical connections, thereby adding material and expense to the overall system.
Thus, a need exists for a system and method for safely, easily, and efficiently activating and deactivating a rotating mechanism.

System and method for controlling and energizing a rotating object


A control method prevents overheating of a line print head, the line print head for printing 4800 print dots per print line in response to print data. The print data is initially divided into sixteen blocks of print data denoting successive segments of the print line. The sixteen blocks of print data are then grouped into two groups and two-strobe printing is effected for one line. The temperature of the print head is detected and compared with a threshold temperature. If the temperature of the line print head exceeds the threshold temperature, subsequent print lines are carried out according to a four-strobe system, that is, the sixteen blocks of print data are divided into four groups. If the temperature of the line print head continues to exceed the threshold temperature, the printing is carried out according to an eight-strobe system, and so on. As such, by reducing the number of blocks of print data simultaneously printed, the printing operation is slowed, thus reducing overheating of the line print head.

This invention relates to a method of controlling a drafting head of a thermal printer.
The drafting head of a thermal printer tends to breakdown when continually used at certain high temperatures (generally, at a temperature of about 70.degree. C.). Accordingly, heretofore, a temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the drafting head, and when the drafting head temperature becomes too high, the printing operation is suspended or interrupted.
One situation which causes the drafting head temperature to become too high is the case where the print data denotes almost total printing on a print medium. In the case of such print data, when the printing operation is suspended, the drafting head temperature drops and the continuation of the printing operation becomes possible. However, when the printing operation is thus continued, the drafting head temperature will again become too high, resulting in the application of stress on the drafting head, whereby the service life of the drafting head is shorted.

Method preventing overheating of a thermal line print head by varying the number of print data being simultaneously printed


A oneway valve for an automatically inflatable air cushion includes a valve body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, a valve seat mounted in the valve body and formed with a plurality of conducting holes connected to the air inlet port and the air outlet port, and a valve stem movably mounted in the air inlet port and movable to seal the conducting holes. Thus, the oneway valve prevents the air from leaking from the air cushion during the inflation process and prevents the air from entering the air cushion during the deflation process, so that the air cushion is inflated and deflated completely and exactly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a oneway valve and, more particularly, to a oneway valve for an automatically inflatable air cushion.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional air nozzle for an automatically inflatable air cushion in accordance with the prior art shown in FIG. 7 comprises a mounting seat 30 mounted on an automatically inflatable air cushion 31 containing a packing 311, a connecting pipe 10 having a first end mounted on the mounting seat 30 by ratchet teeth 16 and limit bosses 15, a mediate portion formed with an outer thread 14 and a second end formed with a mounting portion 12 having an inside formed with an annular passage 13 connected to the mounting seat 30, a control cap 20 rotatably mounted on the connecting pipe 10 and having an inside formed with an inner thread 24 screwed onto the outer thread 14 of the connecting pipe 10 and an end face 21 provided with a protruding seal portion 23 that is movable to seal the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10, and a gasket 11 mounted in the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 to press the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 when the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 is inserted into the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10. The connecting pipe 10 has an inside formed with an air chamber 101 connected between the mounting seat 30 and the passage 13. The control cap 20 has an inside formed with an air channel 25 connected to the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 when the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 is detached from the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10. The end face 21 of the control cap 20 has a peripheral wall formed with a plurality of air vents 22 connected to the air channel 25.
In practice, the inner thread 24 of the control cap 20 is screwed onto the outer thread 14 of the connecting pipe 10, so that when the control cap 20 is rotated relative to the connecting pipe 10, the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 is movable relative to the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10. Thus, the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 is movable to detach from the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 to open a connection between the air channel 25 of the control cap 20 and the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10, so that an air from the ambient environment is in turn introduced through the air vents 22 of the control cap 20, the air channel 25 of the control cap 20, the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10, the air chamber 101 of the connecting pipe 10 and the mounting seat 30 into the automatically inflatable air cushion 31 so as to inflate the automatically inflatable air cushion 31 automatically. On the contrary, the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 is movable to seal the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 to interrupt the connection between the air channel 25 of the control cap 20 and the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10, so as to stop the air flow into the automatically inflatable air cushion 31.
However, the user needs to rotate the control cap 20 successively to move the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 to detach from the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 so as to open the air flow or to move the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 to seal the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 so as to close the air flow, thereby causing inconvenience to the user when operating the air nozzle. In addition, after inflation of the automatically inflatable air cushion 31, the user needs to rotate the control cap 20 successively to move the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 to seal the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10 to close the air flow, so that the air easily leaks from the automatically inflatable air cushion 31 before the seal portion 23 of the control cap 20 reaches and seals the passage 13 of the connecting pipe 10, thereby decreasing the inflating effect.

Oneway valve for automatically inflatable air cushion

Feng Yi Outdoor Leisure Equipment Enterprise Co., Ltd


The disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for predicting presence of one or more neurological deficits. The system may include a microphone, a camera, one or more memory devices storing instructions, and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to extract audio information including a period density entropy coefficient and a mel frequency cepstral coefficient from an audio feed received from the microphone. Additionally, the instructions may cause the processor to determine position and depth information of eye movement from a video feed received from the camera and detect features of interest including facial landmarks, spatial orientation of limbs, and positional information of limb movements from the video feed. The one or more processors may further extract the features of interest from the video feed and process the extracted features of interest by aligning the extracted features of interest to a common reference.

Early recognition and reduced time to treatment improves outcomes of stroke. Prehospital screening tools administered by emergency medical providers facilitate early detection and triage of acute stroke, but the accuracy and reliability of these tools in practice is variable. An automated screening tool with enhanced accuracy would minimize inter-operator variability and operator error and improve stroke outcomes by more rapid diagnosis and triage.
In the United States, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability with more than 795,000 people who suffer an incident stroke each year. Numerous studies have shown that reduction in time to treatment by as little as fifteen minutes significantly decreases mortality and disability in stroke patients. Recognition of stroke by EMS leads to earlier and more frequent treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Implementation of prehospital stroke screening tools by EMS has been shown to improve detection of stroke in the prehospital setting. The most commonly used stroke screen is the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, which assesses facial weakness, limb drift, and abnormal speech. However, detection of stroke deficits in the field is highly variable and operator dependent, contributing to limitations in sensitivity and specificity. Current systems which assesses facial weakness, limb drift, and abnormal speech are designed to be performed quickly on the field by trained emergency medical personnel. However, neurological deficits in stroke often present in various forms with varying degrees of severity requiring large amounts of exposure over time to more accurately and consistently recognize them. Areas with low population densities often rely on volunteers for their emergency services personnel for which training and field experience will vary significantly. Further, recent clinical trials support endovascular therapy conducted at highly specialized stroke centers for patients with large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke, and efforts are underway to validate new EMS screening tools to prioritize transport to hospitals with advanced intervention capability. Machine learning algorithms may iteratively learn from and make predictions about data without being explicitly programmed. Previous research has demonstrated that machine learning algorithms may accurately detect facial asymmetry, direction of gaze, limb drift, dysarthria, and language abnormalities. However, current systems fail to detect common neurological deficits in acute stroke patients through the analysis of video from smart phones, tablets, or other mobile devices.
In view of the shortcomings of current systems and methods for detecting neurological deficits, a system for enhancing accuracy of stroke detection and expediting triage and diagnosis related to stroke conditions is desired. More specifically, a mobile video assessment and automated screening tool system in a prehospital setting using a machine learning algorithm that accurately identifies facial weakness in static images and video and detects common clinical signs in neurological deficits using computational video analysis is desired. Such a system may provide clinical utility to any patient over 55 with one or more risk factors for stroke.
Using machine-learning algorithms, the system and method of the present disclosure constructs an automated screening tool for detection of stroke and large vessel occlusion in the prehospital setting that enhances (1) accuracy of prehospital stroke diagnosis, (2) timeliness of treatment with acute stroke therapies, and (3) appropriateness of selective triage to interventional capable comprehensive stroke centers.

System and method for automated detection of neurological deficits

University of Virginia Patent Foundation


A tubular gripping system and a top drive drilling system with such a tubular gripping system, in at least some aspects, the gripping system beneath the top drive unit and, in at least some aspects, the gripping system having a body with four spaced-apart grippers movably connected thereto and piston/cylinder devices movably interconnected with each gripper for moving the grippers to clamp the tubular.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention is directed to tubular grippers, clamping apparatuses, top drive systems, and methods of their use.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a variety of tubular gripper systems and top drives used with such systems. Certain prior art top drive systems have a top drive unit and a pipe gripper system for receiving a tubular member and engageable jaws for contacting and gripping a tubular that has been positioned within the gripper system. In one aspect each jaw has an interconnected hydraulic cylinder apparatus which is controlled and activated to move the jaw into or out of gripping engagement with a tubular.
The prior art patents reveal a wide variety of such systems, including, but not limited to, and by way of example only, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,594 and in the references cited in this patent and those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,950,639; 3,902,385; 4,346,629; 4,458,768; 5,433,279; 6,276,450; 4,813,493; 6,705,405; 4,800,968; 4,878,546; 4,753,300; 6,536,520; 6,679,333.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,594 discloses pipe gripper and top drive systems, and, in certain aspects, a top drive drilling system, in at least some aspects, having a top drive unit, and a pipe gripping system beneath the top drive unit which has an open throat for receiving a tubular to be gripped by the pipe gripping system; and, in at least certain aspects, the gripping system having a body with first and second jaws movably connected thereto and piston/cylinder devices movably interconnected with each jaw for moving the jaws to clamp and then to rotate the pipe. In one aspect, a pipe gripping system is disclosed which has a body, a first jaw movably connected to the body, a second jaw movably connected to the body, a first piston/cylinder device movably interconnected with the first jaw, a second piston/cylinder device movably interconnected with the second jaw, the first piston/cylinder device for moving the first jaw to clamp a pipe and the second piston/cylinder device for moving the second jaw to clamp the pipe, and the first piston/cylinder device for moving the first jaw and the second piston/cylinder device for moving the second jaw to rotate the pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,451 discloses methods and apparatus for making and breaking tubular connections within a tubular string are disclosed. In certain aspects, a tong assembly includes gated power and back up tongs coupled to a torque bar. Jaws of the tongs may be arranged circumferentially with support members disposed between adjacent jaws to substantially complete a 360 degree closed circle. A hydraulic circuit may equally distribute fluid and pressure to actuate the jaws. The power tong may include a gated rotor driven by at least three drive motors. The rotor may be selectively physically locked from rotation or movement by one or more rotor locks. Further, the tong assembly may include an interlock that prevents activation of the drive motors until the rotor locks actuate to unlock the rotor. Additionally, gate locks may secure the tongs and rotor when closed, and a releasable coupling arrangement may aid engagement of a motor to a rotor pump. There is disclosed an apparatus for handling a first tubular and a second tubular during make up and break out operations, including: a tong having jaws radially arranged within a rotatable member and moveable toward a center for gripping the first tubular, wherein each jaw is actuated by a substantially equal supply of fluid independently controlled by a common pressure limiter; and a back up member for gripping the second tubular and preventing rotation thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,385 discloses pipe joint make-up or break-out tools for making or breaking a threaded pipe joint, including two gripping assemblies adapted to extend about and grip two pipe sections respectively and each having two jaws hinged together for opening and closing movement, with the two gripping assemblies being mounted for relative rotary movement about the pipe axis by power driven actuating means, preferably including two piston and cylinder mechanisms, each of which acts in one rotary direction against one of the gripping assemblies and in the opposite rotary direction against the other gripping assembly at essentially the location of the hinge between its two jaws. In one aspect a tool is disclosed for effecting relative rotation between two threaded pipes about an axis of the pipes, including: a first gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a first of the pipes, and including two jaws and a first hinge connection attaching the jaws together for relative swinging movement about a first hinge axis between open and closed positions; a second gripping assembly adapted to extend about and grip a second of the pipes, and including two additional jaws and a second hinge connection attaching the additional jaws together for relative swinging movement about a second hinge axis between open and closed positions; a power operated actuating unit for exerting force against the two gripping assemblies in a relation causing relative rotation between the pipes; the two hinge connections being receivable substantially in axial alignment with one another in a position in which the jaws of both gripping assemblies are openable; and a shoulder carried by a jaw of one of the gripping assemblies and engageable with a shoulder on a corresponding jaw of the other gripping assembly in a relation transmitting closing force from one jaw to the other when the two assembles are in the relative position in which they are openable.


The method includes using a flow meter system having a meter assembly and a transmitter device in conjunction with a utility distribution system disposed behind a wall in a space and having a conduit extending through a conduit opening in the wall for coupling a fixture thereto. The meter assembly is connected in fluid communication with the conduit, and positioned outside of the space and in front of the wall. The transmitter device is installed within the space and positioned remotely from the meter assembly. The transmitter device is connected electrically to the transmitter device, and the fixture is coupled in fluid communication with the meter assembly, thereby concealing the meter assembly and the conduit opening.

The use of flow metering devices is well known for measuring the quantity of a particular utility resource which is supplied by a utility provider. For example, measuring the quantity of natural gas, electricity and water supplied by the local gas, power and water utility providers to a user of those utility resources has been utilized to determine the payment required for the utility resources actually used by the user. Primarily, such measurements have been accomplished at a service connection point for a building or other structure for each utility resource, without regard to the usage of the utility resources by individual utility resource users within each building.
A flow meter system was disclosed in prior filed and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/560,161, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, for sub-metering the use of utility resources utilized by many individual utility resource users within a single building. The sub-metering flow meter system disclosed therein is especially suitable for enabling the specific usage of a utility resource by an individual user to be monitored. For example, the sub-metering flow meter system is particularly adapted to measuring water usage in a typical one bedroom, one bath, residence apartment or condominium within a multi-family residence having seven separate water pipes for delivering water, including: (1) a kitchen sink hot water supply pipe; (2) a kitchen sink cold water supply pipe; (3) a bathroom sink hot water supply pipe; (4) a bathroom sink cold water supply pipe; (5) a toilet cold water supply pipe; (6) a shower hot water supply pipe; and (7) a shower cold water supply pipe.
Prior filed and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/633,537, which is also incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, disclosed a wireless transmission system which could be utilized with a sub-metering flow meter system to facilitate the remote monitoring of the many water supply pipes associated with each tenant of a building.
As a result, a sub-metering flow meter system could now be utilized within each tenant occupied space to monitor the specific usage of water therein from a remote location. Each flow meter comprising the flow meter system could be coupled to each water supply pipe, and the information obtained by the meters concerning the amount of water used could be transmitted by a wireless transmission system.
However, the installation of such a sub-metering flow meter system with the wireless transmission system required that portions of the systems be exposed within the tenant occupied space in some instances, especially the flow meters for exposed water supply pipes. The resulting effect on the aesthetic appearance of the space was, in some applications, somewhat less than desirable, though, due to the presence of the flow meters.
Alternatively, openings in the wall near the exposed water supply pipes would receive and hide the flow meters associated with the exposed pipes. Unfortunately, in some applications, such a procedure would be time consuming, expensive, and would not be entirely aesthetically pleasing in appearance.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved method for installing a flow meter system, and which method can be accomplished with a novel flow meter apparatus. Such a method should enable the flow meter system to be installed onto a utility distribution system quickly and easily, and should substantially conceal all evidence that the flow meter has been installed.

Method for installing a flow meter system and flow meter apparatus therefor


A self-propelled dump trailer comprises a frame, a first wheel driven by an engine, a second wheel, a steering mechanism, and a dump bed that may have its front end elevated by a lifting mechanism. The frame includes a coupler so the dump trailer can be selectively coupled to a vehicle and uncoupled from the vehicle. Further, the dump bed includes a rear gate and a separator gate that divides the dump bed into two sections, wherein the separator gate is operable to place the dump bed into a first dumping position and a second dumping position. As such, the forward section of the dump bed acts as a counterbalance during a dumping operation.

The present invention relates in general to dump trailers and more specifically to self-propelled trailers.
A self-propelled dump trailer is used for various applications including hauling soil or aggregate and collecting large, bulky waste from residences. Once at a site, the self-propelled dump trailer does not require a towing vehicle to move around, nor does it require that a user exert force to move. Because the self-propelled dump trailer does not require a towing vehicle, it is suited for travel over mowed-grass areas (e.g., a lawn, cemetery, golf course, etc.). Further, the self-propelled dump trailer has a tighter turning radius than a towed dump trailer, which allows for more maneuverability at the site.

Self-propelled dump trailer with separator gate


A heat-sealable container seal having a integral, heat-releasable promotional token attached thereto comprises a promotional token bound to a sealant sheet by a layer of wax. At least one of the surfaces of the promotional token and the sealant sheet that contacts the layer of wax is capable of absorbing liquid wax when the layer of wax is melted. At least one surface of the promotional token has promotional indicia visible thereon. The sealant sheet has a heat-sealable container contacting surface. Preferably, at least one of the promotional token and the sealant sheet includes a layer of metal foil. In use, the container seal provides a seal over the access opening of a container and also provides a promotional token, such as a redeemable coupon, within the container closure, loosely disposed over the seal.

It is common practice to seal a container with a sheet material, such as paper, a polymeric film, aluminum foil, or a laminate of paper, polymeric film and/or aluminum foil. The use of such seals, in many cases, has been imposed on the packaging industry by FDA regulations, as a protection against product tampering. Such seals provide evidence of product tampering, since they are typically destroyed by the process of removing the seal. It is also common to line the inner surface of container closures with a moderately compressible material, such as a polymeric material, pulp board, or a multilayer laminated combination thereof. When a closure containing the liner material is secured to the finish of a container, such as by applying a torque force to a threaded closure that is engaged with a threaded container finish, the resulting pressure exerted by the closure onto the liner, which is interposed between the closure and the container finish, produces a substantially liquid and/or gas-tight seal. When the closure is removed from the container, the liner remains within the closure. Re-engaging the closure with the container finish re-establishes the seal. Liner materials can utilize a pulp or paper substrate or polymeric materials, such as polyolefin foams or laminated multilayer lining materials comprising a combination of pulp or a polymeric foam along with a polymeric film, metal foil, and the like.
In a typical application, closures for containers are lined with a laminated material having a layer of pulp mounted to a layer of aluminum foil by an intermediate wax layer. Such laminated materials also frequently contain a layer of polymer, such as a polyester film, fixed by an adhesive to the foil, and a layer of sealing material fixed by an adhesive to the polyester film. The laminate is produced and shipped in roll form, which is then cut to the required shape and size, and mounted in a closure with an adhesive or by friction.
In use, the resulting lined closure is torqued onto a container, such as a bottle or jar, which has been filled with a fluid or solid product. Next, the capped container is passed through a high frequency induction heating unit. During induction heating, the aluminum foil is heated to a temperature in excess of about 65° C., generally about 150° C. or greater, which melts the wax in the layer between the pulp and aluminum foil. The melted wax is absorbed by the pulp, causing the pulp to separate from the remainder of the material. The sealing material typically is selected to match the material of construction of the container, and is heat-welded or sealed to the rim of the container (i.e.., the container finish) during induction heating. When a consumer removes the closure from the container, the pulp layer remains in the closure as a liner, leaving the foil, polymer film, and sealing material on the container as an inner seal, to provide evidence of tampering and to prevent leakage and contamination of the container contents during storage and shipment.
A clear, transparent seal is often desirable so that the contents of the container can be viewed through the seal, particularly when an opaque container is used. In some applications, it is also desirable to have a liner with a non-absorbent surface in direct contact with the contents of the container, rather than a paper layer. Such applications include, for example, when the contents of the container includes volatile materials or liquid substances that can be absorbed by the paper.
Modem advertizing and packaging often makes use of promotional materials, such as coupons, sweepstakes, games, and the like, to promote products and services. In many cases, this requires placing the coupon or other promotional material on the exterior of the container, where it is easily removed by individuals who did not purchase the product. This has led some to place coupons inside the product container. When the product is a food or drug item, any coupon that contacts the contents of the container must be printed with an FDA approved ink, or must be sealed in a hermetic pouch, both of which add to the expense of the promotional materials. It would be very useful to be able to place a readily retrievable coupon or other promotional material within a container closure. Some specialized closures have been developed, which have chambers for sealing promotional materials inside the closure itself; however, such specialized closures are expensive and can be complicated to manufacture. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for ways to conveniently include promotional materials, such as a coupon, within a container closure. There is also an ongoing need for improved container sealing materials that provide functional features such as tamper evidence, preservation of product quality, packaging integrity, and the like.
The present invention provides promotional materials integrated with a container seal, so that the promotional material can be included within the container closure and not in contact with the contents of the container. While container seals are a regulatory requirement for many food and drug applications, the container seals of the present invention turn this regulatory requirement into a marketing asset by integrating useful promotional materials into the container seal. The container seals of the present invention can be used with standard, conventional closures to provide promotional materials such as a coupon within the closure, without need for expensive specialty closures.

Container seal with integral, heat-releasable promotional token and method


A magnetic device includes a magnetic core and N windings wound at least partially around respective portions of the magnetic core. Each of the N windings has opposing first and second ends. Each first end forms a first connector, and each second end forms a second connector. Each first connector is adapted for coupling to a first substrate in a first plane, and each second connector is adapted for coupling to a second substrate in a second plane, where the second plane is different from the first plane. N is an integer greater than zero. An electrical assembly includes a substrate and a power supply module including a magnetic device. The magnetic device at least partially electrically couples the power supply module to the substrate.

Inductors are commonly used for filtering and energy storage in power supplies, such as in DC-to-DC converters. For example, a buck DC-to-DC converter includes an inductor which, in cooperation with one or more capacitors, filters a switching waveform. Power supplies including multiple power stages often include at least one inductor per power stage. Some power supplies, however, use a coupled inductor in place of multiple discrete inductors, such as to improve power supply performance, reduce power supply size, and/or reduce power supply cost. Examples of coupled inductors and associated systems and methods are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,986 to Schultz et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.
Electronic equipment, such as information technology equipment, is often powered by one or more power supply modules. Power supply modules that perform DC-to-DC power conversion are sometimes referred to as "voltage regulation modules," or "VRMs." VRMs are used extensively in computing equipment.
For example, FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of a prior art electrical assembly 100 including a conventional power supply module 102. Module 102 has a buck-type topology and includes an output filter inductor 104 affixed to a module substrate 106. Additional components 108-116, such as switching circuits, controllers, and passive devices, are also affixed to module substrate 106. Inductor 104 is typically significantly taller than the other components of module 102. Module 102 is coupled to an assembly substrate 120, such as an information technology device motherboard, via conductive pins 122, only some of which are labeled for illustrative clarity. Conductive pins 122 provide an electrical interface between module 102 and assembly substrate 120. For example, module input and output current flows between module 102 and assembly substrate 120 via pins 122. As another example, pins 122 may couple data signals, such as control signals, between module 102 and assembly substrate 120.

Pin inductors and associated systems and methods


There is provided a semiconductor device mounted with a light emitting element, which can be downsized easily, improve light emitting efficiency and be formed easily, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device effectively. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a light emitting element mounted on the substrate by flip chip bonding, a sealing structure sealing the light emitting element and a phosphor film which is formed on an internal surface of the sealing structure. The sealing structure includes a blocking portion which is formed integrally with the substrate so as to surround the light emitting element on the substrate and functions as a reflector that reflects a light emitted from the light emitting element and a cover portion which is arranged on the top of the blocking portion and is bonded to the blocking portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a substrate mounted with a light emitting element and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various structures have been proposed as a semiconductor device having a substrate mounted with a light emitting element. For example, as an example of a semiconductor device mounted with a light emitting element, a semiconductor device mounted with a light emitting diode (LED) as described in JP-A-H11-177136 has been proposed.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a frame format of a semiconductor device 10 mounted with the LED as a light emitting element 14. Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor device 10 includes a structure having a substrate 11 mounted with the light emitting element 14.
In addition, the substrate 11 is formed with wirings 12, 13 that extend from one side of the substrate, where the light emitting element 14 is mounted, to the opposite side of the substrate. The light emitting element 14 is arranged to be connected to the wirings 12, 13 respectively through wires 15, 16.
Further, a cavity 17 is formed on the substrate 11, and the light emitting element 14 is arranged in a concave portion of the cavity 17. If an internal surface 17a of the cavity 17 is coated with a metal plating, it is possible to use the internal surface as a reflector.
If necessary, it is possible to use a combination of LED light emitted and phosphor light emitted so as to obtain desired light emitting color by coating a phosphor film on the light emitting element 14.
However, the semiconductor device has the following problems. In the semiconductor device, the light emitting element is connected to the substrate through the wires. For this reason, a space is needed for bonding wires. As the result, a problem is caused in that it becomes difficult to downsize the semiconductor device.
Further, when a reflector is formed in the semiconductor device or when a phosphor film is formed in the semiconductor device, it is necessary to form the reflector and the phosphor film in every package respectively. As a result, there have been such problems that not only the structure of the semiconductor device is complex, but also it is difficult to form a structure to improve light emitting efficiency.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


Provided is a switch attached to an attachment object through a seal member. The switch includes an operating portion including an operating surface. The switch further includes a support portion supporting the operating portion to enable a push operation for the operating portion. The switch further includes a flange portion disposed in a direction of the push operation relative to the support portion. The switch further includes a seal holding portion disposed in the direction of the push operation relative to the flange portion. The seal holding portion has a circular shaped portion or an oval shaped portion in contact with the seal member to hold the seal member with the circular shaped portion or the oval shaped portion. The switch further includes a pawl portion disposed in the direction of the push operation relative to the seal holding portion and configured to be hooked to the attachment object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switch, a switch assembly and a switch seal structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A water vehicle is provided with various types of switches. For example, a PTT switch is configured to be operated for adjusting the tilt and trim angles of an outboard motor. The PTT switches are attached to a plurality of positions such as an outboard motor body, a tiller handle, a remote controller and so forth.
When a given one of the switches is designed to be attached to a position with low necessity for waterproofing, attaching the switch to the position is performed with a simple construction as described in, for instance, Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-H03-118294. The switch described in the Publication No. JP-A-H03-118294 includes an elastic pawl having a roughly rectangular shape, whereas a grip of an operating handle includes a stepped portion. The elastic pawl is locked with the stepped portion, and thus, the switch is fixed to the operating handle.

Switch, switch assembly and switch seal structure


Data processors and methods for their configuration and use are disclosed. As opposed to traditional von Neumann microprocessors, the disclosed processors are semantic processors—they parse an input stream and direct one or more semantic execution engines to execute code segments, depending on what is being parsed. For defined-structure input streams such as packet data streams, these semantic processors can be both economical and fast as compared to a von Neumann system. Several optional components can augment device operation. For instance, a machine context data interface relieves the semantic execution engines from managing physical memory, allows the orderly access to memory by multiple engines, and implements common access operations. Further, a simple von Neumann exception-processing unit can be attached to a semantic execution engine to execute more complicated, but infrequent or non-time-critical operations.

Traditional programmable computers use a von Neumann, or VN, architecture. The VN architecture, in its simplest form, comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and attached memory, usually with some form of input/output to allow useful operations. For example, FIG. 1 shows a computer 20 comprising a CPU 30, a memory controller 40, memory 50, and input/output (I/O) devices 60. CPU 30 sends data requests to memory controller 40 over address/control bus 42; the data itself passes over a data bus 44. Memory controller 40 communicates with memory 50 and I/O devices 60 to perform data reads and writes as requested by CPU 30 (or possibly by the I/O devices). Although not shown, the capability exists for various devices to "interrupt" the CPU and cause it to switch tasks.
In a VN machine, memory 50 stores both program instructions and data. CPU 30 fetches program instructions from the memory and executes the commands contained therein—typical instructions instruct the CPU to load data from memory to a register, write data to memory from a register, perform an arithmetic or logical operation using data in its onboard registers, or branch to a different instruction and continue execution. As can be appreciated, CPU 30 spends a great deal of time fetching instructions, fetching data, or writing data over data bus 44. Although elaborate (and usually costly) schemes can be implemented to cache data and instructions that might be useful, implement pipelining, and decrease average memory cycle time, data bus 44 is ultimately a bottleneck on processor performance.
The VN architecture is attractive, as compared to gate logic, because it can be made "general-purpose" and can be reconfigured relatively quickly; by merely loading a new set of program instructions, the function of a VN machine can be altered to perform even very complex functions, given enough time. The tradeoffs for the flexibility of the VN architecture are complexity and inefficiency. Thus the ability to do almost anything comes at the cost of being able to do a few simple things efficiently.


A method for removing fluorinated greenhouse gas from a gas stream comprises reacting at least one fluorinated greenhouse gas in a gas stream with at least one of a silane-based and a borane-based compound to provide an abated gas stream. An apparatus for removing fluorinated greenhouse gases from a gas stream comprises a fluorinated gas decomposer unit configured to decompose fluorinated greenhouse gases in a gas stream. The apparatus further comprises a silane-based or a borane-based compound introduction unit configured to introduce at least one of a silane-based and a borane-based compound into the fluorinated gas decomposer unit.

Fluorinated greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are collectively known as greenhouse gases, since they are capable of absorbing and holding heat in the atmosphere, thus contributing to a phenomenon known as global warming effect. Each of these gases is controlled by the Kyoto Protocol, which is a global environmental agreement. Fluorinated greenhouse gases are further controlled by specific European legislation.
Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHG gases) are a group of fluorine-containing gases that have long atmospheric lifetimes and that trap heat in the atmosphere, including perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Of all the greenhouse gases, fluorinated greenhouse gases are the most powerful and persistent greenhouse gases. Fluorinated greenhouse gases have very stable C—F bonds and, therefore, they are chemically very stable. Thus, they remain unchanged and stay for a long period of time if they are released to an ambient atmosphere. It is reported that the projected life span until consumption in the atmosphere for CF4 is 50,000 years, and for C2F6 is 10,000 years. Further, F-GHGs have high global warning potentials (GWP), which is a measure of the total energy that a gas absorbs over a particular time period. For example, it is reported that the global warming potential (relative to CO2) is 5,210 in the case of CF4 and 8,630 in the case of C2F6 (over a 20 year period).
Many industrial gas streams, such as exhaust gas streams produced by the manufacturers of semiconductor materials and devices contain a wide variety of chemical species. These chemical species must be removed from the gas streams before being discharged from manufacturing facilities into the atmosphere. Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHG gases) are used during the manufacture of semiconductor materials and devices. For example, F-GHG gases, such as CF4, C2F6 and NF3, are used as cleaning gases to remove accumulated films, such as SiO2, from the surfaces of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers. F-GHG gases, such as CF4, C2F6, C3F8, C4H8, CHF3, SF6 and NF3, are used as etchants in dry etch processes. Furthermore, F-GHG gases are used in the production of DRAM, NAND and other semiconductor devices, including photovoltaic, display, MEMS, nanotechnology, and related device manufacturing.
Conventional methods of abating fluorinated greenhouse gases in a gas stream rely on a thermal combustion or decomposition of the fluorinated greenhouse gases, which methods typically takes place at a temperature of at least 1400° C. Thus, the conventional methods of treating fluorinated greenhouse gases in gas streams demand large amounts of energy.
Accordingly, there have been extensive efforts to develop methods and abatement systems for treating fluorinated greenhouse gases in gas streams that require lower amounts of energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,422 discloses a process for thermally destructing perfluorinated gases in an exhaust gas stream, wherein air/oxygen is added to a mixture of fuel gas and the exhaust gas stream prior to subjecting the mixture to combustion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,906 discloses a method to remove perfluorinated gas from a semiconductor exhaust gas by thermally decomposing perfluorinated gas in the exhaust gas in a presence of saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon gas, at a temperature of 600° C. or more under non-oxidative conditions (i.e., in the absence of separated oxygen gas).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,421 discloses a method of treating an exhaust gas by thermally decomposing fluorine-containing compound in the exhaust gas in a presence of γ-alumina catalyst and at least one decomposition-assisting gas selected from hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and water vapor.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,980 discloses a process for treating fluorine-containing gases by contacting fluorine compound-containing gases with a catalyst in a presence of steam. The fluorine-containing gases are hydrolyzed to produce hydrogen fluoride (HF) gases. The use of catalyst allows the hydrolysis to take place at a temperature of from 400° C. to 800° C., which is much lower than the typical temperature of at least 1400° C. without the catalyst. The catalyst may be alumina, titania, zirconia and silica.

Methods and apparatus for treating fluorinated greenhouse gases in gas streams


Discussed are rational, economical production methods for inductive components. Compared to prior methods, those addressed herein are significantly simplified processes in which exact positioning of the connections is possible. Among actions contemplated in exemplary versions of the method are providing a mold comprised of aluminum alloy, inserting a magnet core of the inductive component, and filling the closed mold with a molten hot-melt adhesive preferably comprising a polyamide base.

Current transformers are inductive components that through their design with respect to imaging response and phase error enable precise acquisition of mains current in industrial meters as well as household meters. In combination with evaluation electronics they are now replacing the so-called Ferraris watt-meters (three-phase meters).
It is commonly known that such current transformers as well as other inductive components such as transformers for power supplies, chokes and repeaters can be produced on the basis of magnet cores affixed or molded in plastic housings. Here a magnet core provided with one winding or several windings is inserted in a thermoplastic housing and immersed in a molding resin generally consisting of polyurethane or epoxy resin. This causes numerous problems as regards outlets for the connecting cables from the windings. Providing outlets for the connecting cables through the molded surface demands precise positioning of the cable during the molding process. This generally requires the use of so-called molding pallets with cable fixtures. The use of such molding pallets is very costly.
A further possibility is to fasten the cable in a double groove on the upper edge of the housing. This, however, frequently leads to a discharge of molding resin as a consequence of capillary attraction through the groove.
A cable guide through a hole drilled in the wall of the housing requires additional sealing and hence additional cost which is economically disadvantageous.

Method for producing inductive components


A fan control circuit for controlling a fan to dissipate heat from an electrical device includes a comparator and an electrical switch. The comparator has a comparator input terminal, a comparator reference terminal, and a comparator output terminal. The comparator input terminal is connected to a power source via a first resistor and is also connected to the electrical device to receive a working current draw of the electrical device. The comparator reference terminal is receiving a reference voltage. The comparator output terminal is capable of outputting a comparison result between a voltage received by the input terminal and the reference voltage. The electrical switch has a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The control terminal is connected to the comparator output terminal of the comparator to receive the comparison result. The first terminal is connected to the power source via a resistor. The second terminal is grounded and connected to the terminal via a fan.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cooling fans, and more particularly to a fan control circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic device usually requires cooling of the power supply or one or more components of the device. Traditionally, a fan may be used to cool the device where continuous rotation of the fan dissipates unwanted heat away from the device. A fan usually continuously rotates whenever the power supply of the equipment body is turned on, which may lead to undesired results. Unwanted noise from the fan rotation may be present in an environment where quietness is required. Additionally, continuous rotation of the fan will inevitably lead to accelerated deterioration in the equipment.
What is desired, therefore, is to provide a fan control circuit which controls the rotational speed of the fan to efficiently dissipate heat.


Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating selection of optimal antenna weightings by which to weight signals sent in a communication system that utilizes closed-loop transmit diversity. A deterministic perturbation gradient approximation technique is utilized in which perturbation vectors are selected by a selector and applied, by an applicator, to antenna weighting elements. A selected set of perturbation vectors are applied to the antenna weighting elements in both a positive direction and a negative direction. A detector at a receiving station measures in disassociated with the signals communicated thereto, once weighted with the perturbation vectors. A single-bit feedback value is returned to the sending station, and the antenna weightings are appropriately adjusted.

Communication of information is an endemic necessity of modern society. Communication of information is effectuated through operation of a communication system. Information is communicated between a sending station and a receiving station by way of a communication channel. The sending station, if necessary, converts the information into a form to permit its communication upon the communication channels. And, the receiving station, if necessary, operates upon detected indications of the information to permit operations to be performed thereupon to recover the information.
A wide variety of different types of communication systems have been developed and are regularly utilized to effectuate communication of information between sending and receiving stations. New types of communication systems have been, and continue to be, developed and constructed as a result of advancements in communication technologies.
An exemplary communication system is a radio communication system. In a radio communication system, the communication channel is defined upon a radio link extending between the sending and receiving stations. Communication systems implemented as radio communication systems are sometimes of reduced costs, relative to wire line counterparts. And, radio communication systems are amenable to implementation as mobile communication systems since radio links, rather than fixed, wire line connections, are utilized upon which to define communication channels used to communicate the information.
A cellular communication system is exemplary of a radio communication system that has achieved significant levels of usage. Cellular communication systems have been installed throughout significant parts of the populated portions of the world. Various cellular communication standards have been promulgated, setting forth the operational parameters of different types of cellular communication systems.
Generally, a cellular communication system includes a fixed network infrastructure that includes a plurality of fixed-site base transceiver stations. The fixed-site base transceiver stations are positioned at spaced-apart locations throughout a geographical area that is to be encompassed by the communication system. Each of the base transceiver stations defines an area, referred to as a cell, from which the cellular communication system derives its name.
The fixed network infrastructure of which the base transceiver stations form portions is coupled to a core network, such as a packet data backbone or public-switched, telephonic network. Communication devices, such as computer servers, telephonic stations, etc. are, in turn, coupled to the core network, or elsewhere, and are capable of communication by way of the network infrastructure and the core network.
Portable transceivers, referred to as mobile stations, communicate with the base stations by way of radio links forming portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Use of the cellular communication system is permitted, typically, pursuant to a service subscription, and users, referred to as subscribers, communicate by way of the cellular communication system through utilization of the mobile stations.
Information communicated upon a radio link is susceptible to distortion as a result of non-ideal communication conditions. Other communication systems are analogously non-ideal, and communication of information in such other communication systems analogously also is susceptible to distortion. The distortion causes values of the information delivered to a receiving station to differ with the corresponding values of the information, when transmitted by the sending station. If the distortion is significant, the informational content of the information cannot be accurately recovered at the receiving station.
Fading caused by multi-path transmission distorts information communicated upon a communication channel. If the communication channel exhibits significant levels of fading, the informational content of the information might not be able to be recovered.
Various techniques are utilized to compensate for, or otherwise overcome, the distortion introduced upon the information during its communication upon a communication channel to the receiving station. Space diversity, for instance, is sometimes utilized. Space diversity is created through the use, at a sending station, of more than one transmit antenna transducer from which information is transmitted. Spacial redundancy is provided therefrom. The antenna transducers are typically separated by distances great enough to ensure that the information communicated by respective antenna transducers fades in an uncorrelated manner. And, receiving stations sometimes also utilize more than one receive antenna transducer, also typically separated by appropriate separation distances.
Communication systems that utilize both multiple transmitting antenna transducers and multiple receive antenna transducers are sometimes referred to as being MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) systems. Communications in an MIMO system provide the possibility that higher overall capacity of the system, relative to conventional systems can be achieved. Increased number of users are able to be serviced, or more data throughput is capable of being provided for each user.
The advantages provided through the use of space diversity are further enhanced if the sending station is provided with information about the state of the interface, interfacing the sending and receiving stations, i.e., the communication channel.
A sending station is not able to measure channel characteristics of the communication channel directly. Such measurements are possible only at a receiving station. In two-way communication systems, measurements made at the receiving station can be returned to the sending station to provide an indication to the sending station of the channel characteristics.
Communication systems that provide this type of information to a multiple-antenna sending station are referred to as being systems that provide closed loop transmit diversity. Communication channels extending from the network infrastructure of a cellular communication system to a mobile station are sometimes referred to as being down link, or forward link, channels. And, channels extending from the mobile station back to the network infrastructure are sometimes referred to as being uplink, or reverse link, channels.
The feedback information returned to the sending station, here at the network infrastructure, from the receiving station, here a mobile station, is used to select values of antenna weightings. The weightings are weighting values by which information signals provided to separate ones of the antenna transducers are weighted prior to their communication upon a communication channel to the mobile station. A goal is to weight the information signals applied to the antenna transducers in manners best to facilitate communication of the information to the receiving station. The values of the antennas weightings approach a conjugate of the subspace spanned by down-link channel covariance matrix. Estimation of the antenna weightings can be formulated as a transmission subspace tracking procedure. Several closed loop transmit diversity procedures are utilized. TxAA, Eigenbeam Former, and other techniques are sometimes utilized. Existing techniques, however, suffer from various deficiencies. For instance, a TxAA procedure fails to take into account a long-term covariance matrix of the communication channel in the selection of the antenna weightings. And, use of an Eigenbeam former technique is dependent upon the number of antenna transducers of the sending station. When the number of antenna transducers increases, the complexity of such a technique increases rapidly.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved manner by which to implement closed-loop transmit diversity, thereby to permit improved communications in a MIMO, or other, communication system.
It is in light of this background information related to radio communication systems that utilize space diversity that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating antenna weight selection utilizing deterministic perturbation gradient approximation


A cargo container comprising a container body defining an interior cargo space, a flexible and expandable liner secured inside the container body, a bulkhead positioned in the container body and held against the liner, and bracing apparatus to brace the bulkhead in the cargo container. A first embodiment of the bracing apparatus includes a plurality of vertical beams connected to a floor of the container body, horizontally spaced apart and vertically extending upward against the bulkhead; and a multitude of cross beams connected to the vertical beam to held hold those beams upright. A second embodiment of the bracing apparatus includes a plurality of upwardly extending straps and a plurality of laterally extending straps. These upwardly extending straps are connected to and extend between a floor and a ceiling of the container body, and are positioned against the bulkhead; and the laterally extending straps of this bracing apparatus are connected to and extend between left and right sidewalls of the container body, and are also positioned against the bulkhead.

The present invention generally relates to liners for cargo containers, and more specifically, to liners for containers used to carry bulk cargos.
Standardized containers or boxes have come into very extensive use for the shipment of freight by land and sea, and the many advantages of such containers have made it extremely desirable to adapt them for use with as many types of cargo as possible. Accordingly, there have been attempts, with varying degrees of success, to use conventional containers to carry bulk cargo such as dry bulk chemicals, powdered and pelletized resins, flour, coffee and grains.
When cargo containers are used to carry such bulk cargo, it is important that the container itself either be kept clean or be cleaned after each load of cargo is emptied from the container, so that the container can be subsequently used with another load of cargo. Moreover, it is important to protect the bulk cargo from contamination and from undesirable exposure to the natural elements.
For these reasons, large plastic removable liners are often used to line the interior walls or surfaces of the cargo containers that are used to carry bulk cargo. The liner protects the cargo during shipment, for example, from rain and debris; and after the cargo is delivered, the liner can be removed so that the container is again usable, without significant cleaning, to carry other cargo.
Various difficulties have been encountered, however, in using plastic liners i the above-described manner; and in particular, it has been found that the liners often tear or rupture under certain conditions. For example, a cargo container carrying bulk cargo is often emptied by opening the rear doors of the container, and raising the front end of the container to tilt the container so that the cargo slides out the back of the container. Prior art container liners often tear or rupture as the cargo slides rearward through the container and over the liner. Various attempts have been made to solve this problem by using braced cardboard or wood bulkheads to help support the liner inside the container, or by hanging the liner from the container roof or walls by means of a multitude of hooks connected to the top perimeter of the liner. These prior art attempts have not been completely successful, however.
It is believed that at least many tears that develop in a liner for a cargo container are caused by wrinkles in the bottom of the liner. Such wrinkles create pockets that trap product inside the liner; and when the container is tilted to empty the product, the weight of the trapped product creates stresses on the bottom of the liner, which may cause the liner to tear. Although numerous container liners have been in use for many years, very little attention has been paid to fastening the liners in a cargo container and in particular, in the floor area thereof. On existing liners, the industry in general normally suspends the liner from the ceiling area of the container.
The number of wrinkles in the bottom of a liner can be substantially reduced or completely eliminated by holding the liner tightly stretched across the interior of the cargo container. If this is done, however, tears or rips may develop in the areas of the liner that are used to secure the liner in place inside the container.
Another difficulty encountered when using plastic liners in the manner described above, is to hold the liner in place when the cargo container is tilted to empty the container of its contents. One way to address this difficulty is to locate a bulkhead against the back end of the liner and to brace that bulkhead against rearward movement so that the bulkhead holds the liner in place when the container is tilted. Various very effective systems are known for bracing bulkheads in cargo containers; however, it is believed that these prior art systems can be improved. In particular, these prior art bulkhead bracing systems are relatively expensive and require a considerable amount of time to install properly, and it is believed that these systems can be improved by making them less expensive and easier to install.

Bracing system for a liner for a cargo container


A compression garment for a body includes a first material, an upper part having a first opening adapted to receive the body part, a central portion, and a lower part. The compression garment further includes a tensioning device adapted to adjust the level of compression of the garment on the body part.

Medical compression garments, such as support stockings or compression stockings, are currently widely used in health care, including for patients who have suffered burns, leg ulcers, venous thrombosis, lymphoedema or similar. Such garments are also used by patients who have undergone various types of surgical operations, and a large user group is patients with heart and circulatory failure.
Such garments, such as compression stockings, can be difficult to get on and off, and in many cases the patient's ability to do this without help is limited. This entails huge costs for hospitals, nursing homes and municipalities, as well as discomfort for the user as the patient might be unable to remove or apply the stocking, or even adjust the garment's compression on a body part.
There is therefore a need for improved solutions for compression stockings and support garments for medical use. The present invention aims to provide such improvement with advantages over known solutions with regard to e.g. ease of use, therapeutic effect and handling.
An example of related art is found in WO 2011/025396 A1, which describes fabrics and a compression garment made from such fabrics, the garment comprising a tensioning device in the form of a zip closer, hook and loop fasteners, domes, snap fasteners, buckles and/or releasable adhesive.
Another example of related art is found in FR 3 019 731 A1, which discloses a compression garment being made from a first, inelastic, material, with an elongated gap, and a second, elastic, material disposed in the gap.
Yet another example of related art is found in US 2007/276307 A1, which discloses an orthopedic compression brace for applying a hydrostatic compression force to an extremity of a user, the compression brace having a resilient portion of a first, resilient, material, the resilient portion having an elongated gap, and an elastic portion of a second, elastic, material being disposed in the gap.
Still another example of related art is found in DE 20 2016 103817 U1, which discloses a compression garment comprising a first section of a first material, with an elongated gap between the first and second ends (edges), and a second section covering the gap. The second section may be of a material with increased stretching properties relative to the first material.
A further example of related art is found in WO 2005/094738 A2, which relates to a compression garment.


Certain aspects relate to a battery pack for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Exemplary battery pack includes a first pouch cell, a second pouch cell, at least a sensor, where the at least a sensor is configured to sense battery pack data and transmit the battery pack data to a data storage system, and a vent configured to vent the ejecta from the first pouch cell. In some embodiments, battery pack may be configured to power at least a propulsor component.

Manned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flight folds the promise of uncongested commuted roadways and air-travel without the presently concomitant fossil fuel usage. eVTOL aircraft flight requires electric energy storage, for example by way of battery bells. Battery cells can suffer from thermal runaway. Thermal runaway occurs when a battery cell overheats causing conditions that contribute to further overheating of the battery cell in an uncontrolled positive feedback loop. Conflagration resulting from thermal runaway of a single battery cell is further fueled when thermal runaway progresses to second or third battery cell.

Battery pack for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft


An apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure includes an outlet side end portion of a supplying passageway opened on an outer circumference of a column-shaped boss portion provided in an axle, and an inlet side end portion of an introducing passageway that is opened on an inner circumference of an annular hub portion provided in a wheel. A wheel is mounted onto the axle. The inner circumference of the annular hub portion is engaged with the outer circumference of the column-shaped boss portion, and thereby the outlet side end portion and the inlet side end portion are communicatively connected to each other air tightly. Thus, easiness in mounting a vehicle wheel assembly relative to the axle can be improved.

An apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure of this kind is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. Hei 11-139118 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). In the apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure described in the Patent Document 1, the pressurized air supplied from the pressure generating device can be introduced (supplied) into the tire air chamber of the vehicle wheel assembly, and accordingly, the air pressure in the tire air chamber can be secured.
Meanwhile, the apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure described in the Patent Document 1 is constructed in such a manner that the supplying passageway provided in the axle is communicatively connected to the introducing passageway provided in the wheel of the vehicle wheel assembly through an air tube. Therefore, when the vehicle wheel assembly is being mounted onto the flange portion of the axle, it is required to relatively adjust a position of the supplying passageway provided in the axle to a position of the introducing passageway provided in the wheel of the vehicle wheel assembly, and to communicatively connect the supplying passageway provided in the axle to the introducing passageway provided in the wheel of the vehicle wheel assembly through the air tube, leaving room for improvement due to difficulties in mounting.

Apparatus for controlling tire inflation pressure


Apparatus and methods for symbol timing synchronization in a direct-sequence spread-spectrum receiver may use non-coherent integration, thresholding, peak selection, and curve fitting to determine appropriate timing instants at which to select despread samples for further processing, such as demodulation and decoding. The curve fitting may be used to search backwards and/or forwards in time to obtain the timing instants.

In some situations, it may be useful, or even necessary, to transmit signals below a prescribed spectral energy, for example, to avoid interference with other signals being transmitted in a particular band. One way of doing this may be to use direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) techniques. DSSS may be used to spread the energy of a transmitted signal over a broad spectrum to avoid interfering with, or being interfered with by, other signals present in the same spectrum. The spreading may be achieved at the transmitter by multiplying a symbol stream by a spreading code, e.g., a pseudo-random spreading code, at a higher chip rate than the symbol rate, where a "chip" is a symbol of the spreading code. The spread sequence may be pulse-shaped to limit spectral emissions by applying a filter to the chips.
At the receiver, the DSSS signal often appears below the noise floor, and it is this low power spectral density that provides the interference tolerance discussed above. A DSSS receiver may correlate the received signal against the spreading code, and a pulse-shaping filter, which may correspond to the pulse-shaping filter used at the transmitter, may be applied (e.g., if a pulse-shaping filter was used at the transmitter). This is often referred to as "chip-matched-filtering" (CMF), and may be used to maximize the received SNR in white Gaussian noise.
However, in the absence of some form of symbol synchronization between transmitter and receiver, the symbol instants may generally be unknown at the receiver. Consequently, the symbol instants may need to be estimated from the signal itself. In addition, the oscillators on the transmitter and receiver are often mismatched, which may result in a non-fixed symbol sampling requirement at the receiver, as well as unknown carrier frequency and phase offset. Typical methods of symbol timing may use a timing (phase) detector and a phase-locked loop (PLL) connected to some sort of adjustable sampling device (e.g., a sample switch or adaptive resampler).
However, symbol timing synchronization may be difficult when the symbol energy to noise power spectral density (referred to with the symbol Es/N0) is less than unity, or negative in terms of decibel units. In such cases, a PLL cannot be used because the loop SNR may be too low to maintain lock. In fact, in such cases it is often difficult to even detect that a signal is present.
One approach to the signal detection problem in unknown carrier offset conditions may involve non-coherent integration (NCI), an operation that may accumulate the magnitude of a signal at symbol-period intervals. Mathematically, the NCI can be described as
            r              n                                                  c                        (      k      )        =            1              N                  n                                                              c                                        ∑                  n          =          0                                      N                          n                                                                                c                                -          1                                                    d                                (                          k              -                              n                                                                                T                  s                                                      )                                      where k is the current NCI output sample, Ts is the symbol period in samples (i.e., spreading code length (per symbol) in chips×samples/chip) and Nnc is the NCI length. The magnitude of a complex sample is defined as the square root of the sum of the squares of the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components, but it may also be implemented as a magnitude estimator.
If enough symbols have been integrated non-coherently, and if the oscillator mismatch and resulting timing slip does not cause the samples to become misaligned with the symbol period over that number of symbols, then the NCI may exhibit peaks at the appropriate symbol timing instants. In that case, these timing instants may be used to extract the symbol information in the despread stream.
However, for the case of oscillator mismatch, the samples may become misaligned. As a result, the NCI length may be limited because the peaks may become "smeared" over multiple samples, with the result being that the best timing instant may become obscured. To prevent significant smearing, the amount of integration Nnc may be limited by the maximum oscillator drift between the transmitter and receiver as
            N              n                                                  c              <          2                        Δ          f                                  T          s                      ,where Δf is the unitless relative amount of oscillator offset
      Δ    f    =                1      -                        f          T                          f          R                        and Ts is the symbol period in samples.
In addition, due to the integration group delay at the beginning of the reception, while the accumulation of NCI energy ramps up, peaks may be missed at the beginning of each reception, perhaps even many such peaks. Compounding that issue, the negative SNR condition and limited NCI duration may result in many "missing" peaks, i.e., locations throughout the reception that are not apparent above any practical threshold.
It may be desirable to have a receiver timing synchronization technique that addresses the above issues.

Timing estimation in communication systems


Disclosed is a method of forming a thermal oxide film on a silicon single crystal wafer, which includes throwing the silicon single wafer into a heat treatment furnace; elevating temperature of the heat treatment furnace up to a temperature T1 where a thermal oxide film is formed to form a thermal oxide film having a thickness d1; subsequently lowering the temperature of the heat treatment furnace down to a temperature lower than the temperature T1; and thereafter elevating the temperature of the heat treatment furnace up to a temperature T2 higher than the temperature T1 to additionally form a thermal oxide film having a thickness d2 thicker than the thickness d1. Thus, there is provided a thermal oxide film formation method to suppress occurrence of slip dislocation and/or crack of the silicon single wafer during formation of the thermal oxide film.

Hitherto, in order to form a thermal oxide film on the surface of a silicon single crystal wafer, e.g., silicon single crystal wafer is mounted on a heat treatment jig (frequently referred to as wafer boat) made of heat resistant material (e.g., quartz or SiC) to set such a jig within a tube for heat treatment furnace to perform heat treatment under oxidizing atmosphere.
Control of film thickness of the thermal oxide film formed in this way is performed after subjected to calculation by the kind of the heat treatment atmosphere, the heat treatment temperature and/or heat treatment time.
In regard to film thickness of thermal oxide film to be formed on the surface of the silicon single crystal wafer, although depending upon the purpose, in the case of fabricating a bonded SOI wafer including a thick buried oxide film layer (BOX layer) as described in the Patent Literature 1, a thick thermal oxide film is formed on at least one of two silicon single crystal wafers to be bonded and a bonding process is performed.
For the purpose of forming such a thick oxide film, high temperature/long time heat treatment is performed under the atmosphere including water vapor such as wet O2 oxidation or pyrogenic oxidation, etc. as the heat treatment atmosphere where oxidation rate is high.

Thermal oxide film formation method for silicon single crystal wafer


To provide a combustion apparatus and a controlling method therefor which are capable of preventing the flame-out and backfire of the flame of a premix burner and the increase of the NOx concentration attributable to the change of the calorific value of the fuel, the amount of air supplied to the premix burner is so controlled as to achieve a low NOx within the range in which the premix burner effects a stable combustion in accordance with the calorie of the fuel supplied to the combustion apparatus, and a change of the output of the combustion apparatus attributable to this control of the amount of air is compensated by the control of the amount of the fuel supplied to the diffusion burner.

As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional combustion apparatus applied generally to the gas turbine has usually been equipped with a diffusion burner C.sub.1 at the head thereof and with a premix burner C.sub.2 downstream of this diffusion burner as shown in FIG. 2.
Thus, the burners have been combined in two stages for the purpose of obtaining a combustion apparatus capable of effecting a low NOx and stable combustion due to the diffusion combustion which achieves a high combustion stability and the premix combustion which achieves a high reduction of NOx concentration although the stable combustion range therein is narrow.
This type of two-stage combustion apparatus comprises an antechamber or diffusion combustion chamber 1, F.sub.1 nozzles 2 for diffusion combustion, a main chamber or premix combustion chamber 3, F.sub.2 nozzles 4 for premix combustion, and a combustion air supply section. Particularly, in order to control the flow rate of premixed air A.sub.2 through the F.sub.2 nozzles 4 the stable combustion range of which is narrow, an internal flow rate control (IFC), 5 is provided in this combustion air supply section.
In the combustion apparatus having such construction, fuel-air ratio (the ratio of fuel amount to air amount) is controlled so as to be maintained at a constant value by changing the air flow rate in response to the fuel flow rate determined beforehand for the operation of the gas turbine as disclosed in Japanese Patent unexamined Publication No. 60-66020 as well. Namely, the fuel flow rate is changed in accordance with the change of load and the distribution of air in the burners is also changed in accordance with the change of this fuel flow rate so as to set the fuel-to-air ratio at the predetermined value, thereby realizing the stabilization of the combustion and the reduction of the NOx.
FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the fuel-air ratio and the NOx, in which the abscissa represents the fuel-air ratio and the ordinate represents the NOx relative value and which illustrates the difference between the diffusion combustion and the premix combustion. The theoretical fuel-air ratio of methane is 0.058, and gas turbine burners are usually used at fuel-air ratios less than 0.058. In operation, the diffusion combustion which is stable over the wide operation range is utilized from the start-up to the low-load operation of the gas turbine, and the premix combustion and the diffusion combustion are utilized simultaneously from the low-load operation to the rated-load operation, so as to reduce the NOx. On that occasion, since the range of the fuel-air ratio in which the premix combustion is effected completely (operation range of F.sub.2) is narrow, the fuel-air ratio is set to be in the operation range by controlling the flow rate of air A.sub.2 by the IFC 5 of FIG. 2. Total combustion air A of FIG. 2 is divided into a flow rate of air A.sub.1 flowing through the antechamber 1, a flow rate of air A.sub.2 flowing through the main chamber 3 and a flow rate of air A.sub.3 flowing into through dilution holes 6. When the IFC 5 is opened, the amount of air A.sub.2 is increased and the amounts of airs A.sub.1 and A.sub.3 are decreased, while when it is closed, the amount of air A.sub.2 is decreased and the amounts of airs A.sub.1 and A.sub. 3 are increased.
From the viewpoint of efficient use of energy, there arises a problem of the treatment of vaporized gas called BOG gas (boil-off gas) generated in power generation using LNG. The calorific content of the BOG gas is lower than that of the LNG due to the difference in boiling points of the fuel components. If the BOG gas is not discharged to the outside periodically, the internal pressure of an LNG tank is increased to bring about damage. To cope with this, the BOG gas is treated as being mixed with the LNG in the existing circumstances. This results in a sudden change of the calorific value in the LNG power plant. It is therefore difficult to realize the stable combustion and the reduction of the NOx by controlling the fuel flow alone in the conventional manner.
In the above-described prior art, change of the fuel flow rate due to load change has been taken into consideration, and however, change of the fuel characteristics such as the calorific value has not been taken into consideration. Therefore, in case of effecting the lean premix combustion and the two-stage combustion including the diffusion combustion and the premix combustion with the low NOx burner or the like, if the calorific value is changed during the constant fuel flow operation, a combustion flame is made unstable so as to cause a flame-out, or conversely a backfire of the premix flame occurs thereby increasing, increase the production of the NOx and the like. Further, this gives rise to a problem that if the calorific value of the supplied fuel is changed drastically during the constant fuel flow rate operation or the constant load operation, the load is changed greatly. Change of the calorific value of the fuel is the problem caused at the time of treating a low-calorie gas BOG gas, which is vaporized to above the LNG, in the LNG plant.
In order to realize a stable combustion over the wide range from no-load operation to the rated-load operation, such control as shown in FIG. 4 has been performed. In this diagram, the abscissa represents the fuel command signal corresponding to the load ranging from the no load to the rated load and the ordinate represents the flow rate of fuel through the F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 nozzles 2 and 4 and the opening of the IFC 5. On the lower load side, the flow rate of fuel is small and a lean combustion is effected, so that the diffusion combustion is utilized only due to the F.sub.1 nozzles 2. The IFC 5 is fully opened to reduce the air in the ante-chamber 1 so that the fuel-air ratio is increased to realize the stable combustion. It is necessary to reduce the ignition load of the F.sub.2 nozzles 4 for the purpose of expanding the range of the operation load. Therefore, by closing the IFC 5 from the point 1 to the point 2 as shown in FIG. 4, the flow rate of air A.sub.2 through the main chamber 3 is reduced so that the combustion can be effected in a stabilized manner with the fuel supplied from the F.sub.2 nozzles 4 at the time of changing over the fuel. At that time, the flow rate of air A.sub.1 through the antechamber 1 is increased so far as the combustion can be effected in a stabilized manner with the flow rate of the fuel flowing through the F.sub.1 nozzles 2 at the time of the changing-over, and the load at that time is regarded as the minimum change-over load.
After the ignition at the F.sub.2 nozzles 4, the opening of the IFC 5 is increased, as the load is increased to the rated load in due order through A.fwdarw.B.fwdarw.C, so that the flow rate of air A.sub.2 through the main chamber 3 is increased and, at the same time, the fuel supplied from the F.sub.2 nozzles 4 is increased, thereby setting the fuel-air ratio to be in the operation range shown in FIG. 3 so as to reduce the NOx.
In controlling the fuel, the fuel command signal is sent to an IFC opening setting device 7 so as to operate an IFC driving device 8 as shown in FIG. 2.

Combustion apparatus and control method therefor