An end grapple for use on loader tractors in nurseries to load and unload trees and shrubs onto and off of trucks and the like includes a grapple head with three fingers. Two of the fingers are fixed to the head and extend generally straight, while the third finger is curved and is mounted for pivotable movement to grip the earth balls of the trees and shrubs. The pivotable finger is movable by a hydraulic cylinder. The grapple head is mounted on the end of a rotation shaft that is driven for rotation by a hydraulic drive motor to permit trees in any orientation to be grasped by the grapple. A quick release connection permits easy and fast changing of the grapple head with other equipment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an end effector for a loader tractor, and more particularly to a rotatable grapple having three gripping fingers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In nurseries, trees and shrubs bound up with an earthen ball wrapped in cloth about its roots are moved about after being dug up, are loaded onto trucks for shipping and are unloaded from trucks when received from other nurseries. The trees and shrubs are found lying in many different orientations on the ground and in the trucks. It is common practice to manually lift the tree or shrub into an upright position, typically using two, three, or more workers depending on the size of the tree, and then insert the forks of a fork lift beneath the tree ball for lifting and loading operations. The tree must be manually held in position while being lifted and loaded to avoid tipping over. Once in position in the truck, the tree must be positioned in a stable orientation and for least damage to the tree, thereby requiring additional workers on the truck.
This procedure is time consuming and requires many workers, thus resulting in high costs. On windy days, loading of trees can become impossible, particularly for larger trees.


Negative working photoresist compositions containing:. a) a polyimide primer containing recurring structural units of formula (I) in the specification as well as PA1 b) a photoinitiator for polymerizing olefin double bonds, which are characterized by in that they contain PA1 at least one other component c), which is selected from the group consisting of PA1 c1) organosilicon compounds with one or more hydroxyl groups, PA1 c2) compounds of formula (IIa) in the specification, PA1 c3) compounds of formula (IIb) as in the specification, PA1 c4) mixtures comprised of two or more components selected from components of c1), c2) and c3), PA1 have the advantage that they can be developed with a developer, which comprises up to 50 to 100 wt. % of an aqueous-alkaline medium, whereby the balance to 100 wt. % is formed by one or more organic solvents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application concerns improved negative working photoresist compositions containing
a) a polyimide primer (i.e. precursor) containing recurring structural units of formula (I) ##STR1## in which
A.sub.1 stands for an oxygen atom or an NH group,
R.sub.1 represents the same or different residues with at least one photopolymerizable olefin double bond, X! indicates the residue of the cyclic dianhydride of the same or different tetracarboxylic acids remaining after removal of the anhydride groups, and Y indicates the residue of the same or different diamines remaining after removal of the amino groups, as well as
b) a photoinitiator for polymerizing olefin double bonds.
2. Brief Description of Relevant Art
Photoresists of the initially known type have already been known for a long time and are described, for example, in DE-A-2,308,830; DE-A 2,437,348; EP-A-0 119,162, or EP-A-0 624,826. The named photoresist compositions are crosslinked upon action of irradiation of suitable wavelength by means of the photopolymerizable olefin double bonds in the polyimide primer and thus represent negative resists. The named resists have a very high sensitivity and show only a small amount of dark material removed during development. Further, they have the advantage that a coating that is prepared with their help can be transformed into a polyimide coating after exposure and developing by firing, whereby the coating is particularly heat resistant. However, a disadvantage is that such negative resists must be treated beforehand with developers that consist almost completely of organic solvents, which, of course, is not desirable due to the expenditures associated therewith for environmentally compatible disposal as well as for reasons of inflammability.
On the other hand, aqueous-alkaline developable positively operating photoresists based on polyimide primers, including those of above formula (I), are described in WO-A-93/09470. The compositions also contain, as aqueous-alkaline developable photoresists, compounds that decompose under the effect of radiation into components that are soluble in alkali, particularly 1,2-diazoquinone derivatives, as have been used for a long time in commercial positive resists based on novolak resins. In order to improve their developability in aqueous-alkaline media, the named positive photoresist compositions also contain solubility reinforcers, particularly hydroxy compounds, which essentially increase the solubility of the irradiated resist parts in the developer, but the solubility of the unexposed resist parts is only slightly increased or is not increased at all. Particularly preferred solubility reinforcers are organosilanols, such as triphenylsilanol, diphenylsilanediol, and 1,4-bis (hydroxydimethylsilyl)benzene, as well as organosiloxanes with free hydroxyl groups, such as 1,3-bis(4-hydroxybutyl)-tetramethyldisiloxane.
One task of the present invention is to make available a negative working photoresist composition based on polyimide primers or precursors of the above named formula (I), which makes possible, under the usual conditions of practice, the use of developers that comprise aqueous-alkaline media.

Negative working photoresist composition based on polyimide primers


Disclosed herein are a method of localization using multi sensors and a robot implementing the same, the method including sensing a distance between an object placed outside of a robot and the robot and generating a first LiDAR frame by a LiDAR sensor of the robot while a moving unit moves the robot, capturing an image of an object placed outside of the robot and generating a first visual frame by a camera sensor of the robot, and comparing a LiDAR frame stored in a map storage of the robot with the first LiDAR frame, comparing a visual frame registered in a frame node of a pose graph with the first visual frame, determining accuracy of comparison's results of the first LiDAR frame, and calculating a current position of the robot by a controller.

A large-scale retail store, a department store, an airport, a golf course, and the like are places where exchange of goods and services takes place between people. Robots may be useful in the places to offer information or convenience to people.
Robots may be classified as guide robots, security robots, cleaning robots and the like. The robots move in a space, confirming their positions.
The robots are required to hold information on a space, on their current positions, or on a path previously moved by the robots and the like such that the robots move confirming their positions and avoiding obstacles.
The robots may store maps to confirm a space and to move in the space. To generate a map, the robots may draw up a map using a variety of sensors, and may match and store various pieces of information in the map.
Additionally, after the robots store a map, comparison between information of the map and information acquired by the robots during movement of the robots is required to localize the robots using the map. That is, the robots may perform localization in which a position of a robot is estimated as a result of comparison between the information of the map and the information acquired by the robots during movement of the robots.
Enhanced accuracy of localization of a robot requires an increase in the number of sensors and an increase in the number of pieces of information of maps corresponding to the number of sensors, and technologies, in which a robot is localized using this are required.

Method of localization using multi sensor and robot implementing same


When a tank filler tube cap is closed, several flow paths having solenoid-operated valves are selectively operated by an engine management computer to control pressurizing of a bladder disposed in a fuel tank and of surrounding fuel vapor space not occupied by the bladder to attenuate fuel vapor generation. Venting of the bladder to atmosphere and of the vapor headspace to a canister are also controlled. The control further regulates the pressure in the bladder relative to that in the vapor headspace. On-board testing for leakage can be automatically accomplished for ascertaining compliance with relevant regulations. When the tank is to be re-fueled, a signal is sent to the computer. If conditions, as sensed by certain sensors, are appropriate, the computer unlatches an access door to the filler tube cap so that upon removal of the cap, no significant pressure differential that might cause vapor to be expelled from the tank to atmosphere, or impede the filling of the tank with fuel from the nozzle, is present. As liquid fuel is dispensed into the tank, the combined volumes of the bladder and the tank vapor headspace are reduced by the volume of liquid fuel introduced into the tank. The headspace cannot be re-pressurized until the cap again closes the filler tube.

Known types of on-board fuel vapor management systems (sometimes called evaporative emission control systems) comprise a vapor collection canister that collects fuel vapor emitted from a tank containing volatile liquid fuel for the engine. A canister purge solenoid (CPS) valve periodically purges collected vapor to an intake manifold of the engine where it entrains with induction air or an induction air-fuel charge for combustion in the engine combustion chamber space. The CPS valve may comprise a solenoid that is under the control of a microprocessor-based engine management system. The sizes of various components of these vapor management systems must be adequate to handle the anticipated maximum rate of fuel volatilization, i.e. vapor generation. In general, the sizes of these various components must be made larger as the anticipated maximum rate of fuel volatilization becomes larger, and/or more highly volatile fuels are used. Consequently, increased component cost is apt to follow. By the same token, increased space in the vehicle for larger components is apt to be required, and this imposes constraints of the packaging design of a new vehicle. Minimizing the size of these emission control system components is therefore desirable.
The anticipated increased usage of more volatile liquid fuels, such as methanol and ethanol for example, imposes further demands on the design of on-board fuel vapor management systems.
Heretofore, it has been proposed to confine volatile fuel in a vehicle's fuel tank in ways that reduce the tendency of the fuel to vaporize. Reference may be had to various patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,477,611; 5,460,135, and 5,146,902 for example. Generally speaking, vapor generation may be attenuated in several different ways. One is by an enclosure, such as a bladder or diaphragm for example, arranged within a fuel tank to reduce the volume of the vapor headspace in the tank and/or to reduce the surface area of the liquid fuel, as in the first two of the three referenced patents. Another is to pressurize the headspace to a superatmospheric pressure as in the third of the three referenced patents. It may also be important to avoid vapor escape through the tank fill when it is opened for re-fueling.

Fuel vapor management system for motor vehicles


A musical instrument, such as an electric or bass guitar, is formed of a lamination of wood layers having differing grain orientations in adjacent layers, the grain orientations defining a crossing angle less than 90°. An instrument formed from such a lamination is strong and resistant to splitting and checking and produces a good musical sound. The wood layers can be molded under pressure to form curves, such as an S-curve in a neck, or deformations, such as rounded edges in a guitar body. The S-curve in the neck allows the neck to be attached to the guitar body without breaking the continuity of the wood fibers, thereby strengthening the neck. In a three-dimensional molding embodiment, a net shape or near net shape part results, which requires little or no further machining after molding.

Musical instruments such as electric and bass guitars are made of wood. Solid wood is commonly used, as wood produces a good sound. Plywood has also been used, because of its strength. In plywood, layers of wood are glued together, with the grain angles alternating between a 0° orientation and a 90° orientation. An instrument of plywood, however, produces an inferior sound. Prior art composite neck structures for electric guitars are known that employ vertically oriented veneers in order to provide stiffness for resisting string tension.

Molded laminate for musical instrument and method of manufacturing molded laminate musical instrument


A mounting carrier for semiconductor chips includes a second main surface provided for mounting of semiconductor chips, and a first main surface opposite to the second main surface. The mounting carrier also includes a mounting body, wherein the mounting body includes a first metallization on the side facing the first main surface and the first main surface includes a structure having a plurality of columnar structural elements.

Conventional methods of producing a connection between a mounting carrier and a connecting carrier include adhesion by an elastic adhesive and soldering, over a large surface by a solder material consisting of metal.
By reason of the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the mounting carrier and the connecting carrier, thermomechanical stresses can occur in the event of fluctuations in temperature. In particular, in solder connections over a large area, these stresses can cause damage to the solder connection and as a result the required service life of the solder connection may not be achieved. Compared to a solder connection, a more elastic adhesive connection can more effectively compensate for the thermomechanical stresses, but has a considerably lower thermal conductivity.
It could therefore be helpful to provide a mounting carrier and a mounting method to produce a highly stable and at the same time highly thermally conductive connection between a mounting carrier and a connecting carrier.

Mounting carrier and method of mounting a mounting carrier on a connecting carrier


The present invention is directed to systems and methods for trailer alignment including a clamping mechanism configured to rigidly and removably clamp to a neck of a trailer hitch ball. An arm arrangement is rotatably attached to the clamping mechanism. The arm arrangement configured to extend from the clamp arrangement to beyond an edge of a tow vehicle. A mirror may be attached to the arm arrangement and configured to provide a view of the trailer hitch ball from the inside of the tow vehicle. A sight rod may be attached to the clamping device and configured to bend in response to a trailer coupler approaching the trailer hitch ball at a predetermined distance from a selectable angle. The clamping mechanism may include a pair of opposed jaws configured to adjustably clamp between a range of about 0.8 and about 1.5 inches.

Tow vehicles and trailers are often connected using a hitch arrangement at the rear of the tow vehicle and a trailer coupler at the front of the trailer. The hitch typically has a ball of one of a few standard diameters, and the trailer coupler typically has a correspondingly sized socket to accept the ball. To connect the tow vehicle and trailer, the front of the trailer is first elevated to a height adequate to allow the trailer coupler to clear the top of the ball, and then the tow vehicle is backed up to the trailer.
When the hitch and trailer coupler are sufficiently close, the trailer coupler is lowered onto the hitch ball and secured. But it is difficult to see the two connection points while backing most tow vehicles. Thus the assistance of another person to guide the operator is often needed to prevent backing the tow vehicle into the trailer and damaging one or both, either at the connection points or other surface areas. Without assistance, the operator often attempts to manually move the trailer close enough to the tow vehicle to engage the hitch, risking strain or injury.
Frequently, the operator must turn their back, shoulders, and neck into ergonomically stressful positions to look through the rear window to judge the proximity of the tow vehicle to the coupler. Alternately, the operator can repeatedly exit the tow vehicle, inspect the proximity of hitch ball and trailer coupler, and make repeated attempts to adjust the tow vehicle by moving the tow vehicle forward, backward, and to the left or right, which becomes tedious.
The problem of connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle has spurred development of several attempts at solution. Early efforts to address the problem included trailer-mounted mirrors. These include U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,914 to Dietrich (Jan. 3, 1967), with a trailer-mounted mirror. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,701 to Strohmeier (Aug. 18, 1970), a mirror is mounted on the trailer jack post. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,292 to Rutkowski (Oct. 23, 1973), and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,606 to Granno (Aug. 7, 1979), mirrors are mounted on gas bottles secured to the trailer. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,966 to Lowell, a mirror is mounted on the trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,468, to Stephens (Aug. 10, 1993) employs a trailer mount. U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,289 to Johnson (May 3, 1994) uses a mirror mounted on the towed trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,847 to Thornton (Jun. 20, 2000) also mounts a mirror on a trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,926 to De Shazer (May 29, 2001) attaches permanently to a single trailer. Design patents granted on trailer-mounted mirrors include U.S. Pat. No. D329,631 to Cameron (Sep. 22, 1992); U.S. Pat. No. D340,219 to Moon (Oct. 12, 1992); and U.S. Pat. No. D344,485 to Linne et al. (Feb. 22, 1994).
However, trailer-mounted mirrors have a number of disadvantages. Because the mirror is mounted on the trailer, the angle from which the tow vehicle can approach the trailer is severely constrained to a narrow range directly in front of the trailer. Each trailer requires a separate device, and most are not easily transferable to another trailer in case more than one trailer must be moved by the same tow vehicle. Because some trailer mounted mirrors are positioned vertically with respect to the trailer coupler and hitch, they are unsuitable for determining from a horizontal perspective the trailer coupler height.
Other efforts to address the problem include mirrors attached to the tow vehicle. While these solve some of the problems inherent in trailer-mounted mirrors by providing temporary attachment of a backing-aid mirror to the tow vehicle, several new problems may arise. For example, magnets have been employed as mounting aids in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,376 to Neeley (Mar. 6, 1990); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,310 A to Staggs (Jan. 9, 1996). However, magnets must be strong enough to be stable but weak enough to disengage easily, they can scratch paint during attachment, adjustment, and detachment, and are unsuitable for use on non-metallic vehicles.
Other problems occur when magnets used for reversible attachment of a backing-aid mirror to a tow vehicle are adhered by suction cups, such as those described in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,287 To Lord et al. (May 15, 1990); U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,669 to Wun (Jun. 26, 1990); U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,342 to Quesada (May 5, 1992); U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,337 to Byers (May 17, 1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,681 to Mazarac (Aug. 27, 1996); U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,213 to Howard (Jul. 21, 1998); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,555 to Wilcox, et al. (Oct. 26, 1999). Although suction cups can be attached to windows, avoiding the problem of scratching paint, they are subject to different weaknesses, which are circumvented by the present invention.
For example, the use of suction cups requires that the tow vehicle have a surface that is sufficiently flat, clean, and smooth for correct adhesion, which cannot be guaranteed under actual use conditions. If mounted on a painted surface, the cups can scratch the paint. Sometimes, suctions cups are prone to overly forceful attachment, and thus can be difficult to remove. In cold weather, suction cups can lose their flexibility and become unsuitable for their intended use. In rain or when water spray is blown onto the intended mounting surface, suction cups may allow slippage.
Vehicles having a tailgate, such as pickup trucks, some station wagons, and some sports utility vehicles, allow mounting to the edge of the tailgate. Backing aid mounts for tailgates include U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,376 to Neeley (Mar. 6, 1990); U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,913 to Queseda (Aug. 28, 1990); U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,182 to Haworth (Jan. 19, 1993); U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,681 to Mazarac (Aug. 27, 1996); U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,175 to Brewington (Aug. 12, 1997); U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,213 to Howard (Jul. 21, 1998); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,555 to Wilcox, et al. (Oct. 26, 1999). However, these devices are limited in scope of application to vehicles having a tailgate. In addition, most are mounted on the centerline of the tow vehicle, so that in use they do not provide any information about the relative height of the tow vehicle hitch ball and trailer coupler as the tow vehicle approaches the trailer, and are only effective when the tow vehicle and trailer are oriented in a narrow range of angles relative to each other.
Others have provided attempts at solutions to trailer alignment issues by requiring permanent modifications to the tow vehicle or tow vehicle hitch. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,405 to Chin-Wun (Sep. 4, 1984), comprises two mirrors, one mounted at the front and one at the rear, to generally enable the operator to see the rear of a vehicle by looking up into the mirror mounted at the front of the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,500 to Ackerman (Apr. 29, 1997) mounts to the center of a rear window. U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,564 to Mazarac (Oct. 20, 1998) requires a special support frame; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,608 to Osgood (Apr. 10, 2001) requires special modifications to the hitch or vehicle. However, these attempts at solution require permanent modifications of the tow vehicle and as a result are only suitable for vehicles having the special modification.

Trailer alignment aid with universal mounting device


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that non-intrusively detects counterfeit components in a target computer system. During operation, the system collects target electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals generated by the target computer system using one or more antennas positioned in close proximity to the target computer system. The system then generates a target EMI fingerprint for the target computer system from the target EMI signals. Next, the system compares the target EMI fingerprint against a reference EMI fingerprint to determine whether the target computer system contains a counterfeit component.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to techniques for detecting counterfeit components in electronic systems. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus that detects counterfeit electronic components by monitoring and analyzing EMI emissions generated from an electronic system which contains the components.
2. Related Art
Counterfeiting of electronic components has become an increasing problem for electronics and computer system manufacturers worldwide. One expert on counterfeiting accurately summarizes the problem as follows: "counterfeit electronics have been reported in a wide range of products, including computers, telecommunications equipment, automobiles, avionics and military systems. Counterfeit electronic products include everything from very inexpensive capacitors and resistors to costly microprocessors. Unfortunately, this problem is growing rapidly and no signs of abatement are in sight." It has been estimated that counterfeiting of electronic components is costing the electronics industry $200 billion per year across the industry. One study estimated that as high as one in 10 information technology products is counterfeit.
In practice, counterfeiters typically use packaging, labeling, and part numbers that very closely match the authentic parts or systems to deceive purchasers. In fact, counterfeit parts often appear so real that service engineers cannot distinguish them from authentic parts by simply visually inspecting the parts. However, the counterfeit parts often contain scrap components from discarded systems, cheaply manufactured components, or older components from recycled vintage systems, which are repackaged to resemble authentic systems. Such systems are then integrated into the supply chain via brokerage channels. When the counterfeit parts or systems are shipped to customers, they often fail on arrival or within a very short time period. Counterfeit parts that have poor performance (e.g., systems with older versions of chips put into newer server boxes) can cause additional customer dissatisfaction. Furthermore, for military, medical, and aviation electronics, counterfeit parts and systems can lead to life-threatening problems.
The most commonly used technique for mitigating counterfeiting in the electronics and computing industry is to use technologies that make the labeling of parts very difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce (e.g., by using holographic labeling). However, the process of authenticating such state-of-the-art labels often requires a system or component to be disassembled. It also requires a person with a trained eye to examine internal parts to make subjective judgments on how well the colors and patterns in the labels match the authentic labels. Unfortunately, such intrusive counterfeit detection techniques are extremely labor-intensive, and are hence impractical for customs inspections. Furthermore, the detection techniques are prone to human errors because complex systems need to be disassembled and reassembled.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that facilitates non-intrusive detection of counterfeit components in electronic systems without the above-described issues.

Detecting counterfeit electronic components using EMI telemetric fingerprints


Processes and apparatus for the alkylation of aromatic compound with mono-olefin aliphatic compound in the presence of solid alkylation catalyst use a lights distillation for obtaining desired selectivities to arylalkane in a energy efficient manner. The processes and apparatus offer the potential for debottlenecking existing arylalkane production facilities and reducing the size and energy requirements for a new arylalkane production facility.

Alkylation of aromatic compounds produces arylalkanes that may find various commercial uses, e.g., alkylbenzenes that can be sulfonated to produce detergents. In the alkylation process, aromatic compound is reacted with olefin of the desired molecular weight to produce the sought arylalkane. The alkylation conditions comprise a catalyst such as aluminum chloride, hydrogen fluoride, or zeolitic catalysts and elevated temperature.
The alkylation, however, is not selective and can produce dimers, dialkylaryl compounds and diaryl compounds ("heavies") and can affect skeletal isomerization of the olefin, resulting in a loss of selectivity to the sought arylalkane structure. The formation of dialkylaryl compounds is particularly problematic as the reaction approaches complete conversion of the olefin and the greater concentration of the arylalkane since the likelihood has increased that an olefin molecule will react with an arylalkane molecule rather than a molecule of the aromatic compound in the feed. Accordingly, typical processes use a large excess of aromatic compound to enhance selectivity to arylalkane over dialkylaryl compound. In many instances, the mole ratio of aromatic compound to olefin is greater than 15:1.
In order to provide an economically viable process, the unreacted aromatic compound must be recovered from the alkylation product and recycled. Typical commercial processes recover the aromatic compound during refining the alkylation product through the use of several distillation steps. For instance, see Pujado, Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) Manufacture, Handbook of Petroleum Refining Processes, Second Edition, pp 1.53 to 1.66 (1996), especially pages 1.56 to 1.60, who discloses refining processes for linear alkylbenzenes. In general, benzene and an olefin-containing feedstock derived from a paraffin dehydrogenation are reacted to produce an alkylation reaction product. The reaction product is refined. A first distillation in a benzene column separates a benzene stream as an overhead stream for recycling to the alkylation reactor. The bottoms stream from the benzene column is virtually free of benzene and is then subjected to a distillation to separate paraffins and unreacted olefin in a paraffins column. The paraffins-containing overhead is capable of being recycled to the paraffin dehydrogenation unit while the bottoms stream is passed to a heavy alkylate distillation column. In the heavy alkylate distillation column, heavies are separated from the lighter alkylbenzene, a heavies-containing stream is withdrawn as a bottoms stream. If desired, the bottoms stream can be subjected to a further distillation to recover additional alkylbenzene.
An important consideration for commercial-scale facilities for production of arylalkanes, especially alkylbenzene, is energy and equipment integration. For example, reboilers for distillation columns are conventionally heated with a thermal stream, e.g., hot oil or other thermally-stable liquid, derived from a central heater. The capacity of a distillation column, at a given degree of separation, can thus be limited by the availability of thermal fluid. For an alkylbenzene process having a refining system comprising a benzene column, paraffins column and heavy alkylate column, the benzene column consumes the greatest portion of the reboiler heat. Thus the heat demand or reboiler size for the benzene distillation can provide a bottleneck to increased capacity at a given benzene to olefin feed ratio to the alkylation reactor. Similarly, the size of the benzene column itself can pose a bottleneck.
Significant economic benefits can be achieved through even slight improvements in efficiency or reductions in energy consumption or increases in production capacity in a given existing plant, e.g., through debottlenecking, provided that no undue increase in the production of heavies occurs and the arylalkyl meets specifications after refining.
Fritsch, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,285 disclose the use of a benzene rectifier and a benzene fractionation column to treat effluent from an aromatic alkylation process using solid alkylation catalyst. The rectifier provides an overhead containing feed aromatics and a rectifier bottom stream comprising feed aromatics and enriched in alkylaromatics. The overhead stream from the rectifier is recycled to an on-stream alkylation reactor. The benzene column produces higher purity benzene-containing overhead stream that can be used to regenerate a sorption bed to treat the olefin-containing feed prior to being passed to the alkylation reactor and can be used to regenerate solid alkylation catalyst in an off-stream alkylation reactor.
Processes and apparatus are sought to effect alkylation that reduce the size and heat demand of the distillation system to remove aromatics from the alkylation reaction product at a given production rate. The processes and apparatus would thus allow the debottlenecking of existing facilities and the design of new facilities with a smaller aromatics removal column.

Process and apparatus for alkylation of aromatic with olefin using impure aromatic recycle


A video monitor support movable between stowed and deployed positions includes a base attachable to a surface and a carriage fixed to the base. The carriage includes a shaft extendible between the stowed and deployed positions. A constant linear force is applied to the shaft between the stowed and deployed positions, and a mount is fixed to the shaft opposite the carriage for supporting a video monitor.

The present invention relates generally to support arms. More particularly, the present invention relates to a video monitor support arm.
With each passing year, commercial airline companies are continuously striving to provide improved services for their customers as well as improving passenger comfort and convenience. On many airlines, it is standard for each passenger to have their own personal video display monitor associated with their chair or seat to provide the passenger with in-flight entertainment and/or information. As a matter of safety and convenience, the screen must be easily stored and retracted.
Many different types of supports have been proposed to provide a video display monitor that can be stowed when not in use. However, such supports have their limitations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,511 discloses an apparatus for attaching a display monitor to a seat. However, this apparatus relies on the use of pivoting mechanical linkages to deploy the monitor that may interfere with the comfort of a neighboring passenger and these linkages are subject to mechanical wear, breakdown and require maintenance. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,616 discloses a stowable video display assembly. However, this assembly requires a good deal of effort, space and movement by the passenger to move the display from its stowed position for viewing by the passenger. In an additional example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,709 discloses a television receiver supporting structure of an arm rest. However, this support also relies on the use of pivoting mechanical linkages to deploy the television receiver and these linkages are subject to mechanical wear, breakdown and require maintenance. Other prior art systems are also impractical for one or all of the following factors: expense of manufacture and installation; complexity; durability; required level of maintenance; inefficiency; and compromise of space available for meal trays and various control switches used for reading lights, alerting a flight attendant and the like.
While devices such as the ones described above may provide means of providing supports for video monitors, such devices can always be improved.
Accordingly, there is a need for a video monitor support movable between stowed and deployed positions that requires a minimal amount of space during storage and deployment. There is a need for a video monitor support that employs an automatic deployment mechanism that at least partially deploys the support without pivoting the support. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages.


Systems and methods for providing configurable caller ID information are disclosed. A communications service includes a caller ID configuration function. The communications service controls packetized call data, and outbound caller ID options are configurable via the caller ID configuration function.

Businesses, particularly small to medium size offices, typically have a need for a variety of voice and data communications. For example, a typical office might have a dedicated fax machine, using a dedicated or shared telephone line, one or more telephone lines for voice communications, perhaps coupled to a central or distributed voice mail system(s), and one or more computers or computer networks, often coupled to telephone lines via one or more modems. Many offices now use the Internet in some form for business communications or research or the like, often by way of a modem or modem pool coupled to individual computers.
Typically, such business communication needs have been fulfilled with piecemeal technical solutions, typically from separate equipment and service vendors, and with separate hardware, software and design considerations.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional small office communication configuration. Voice communication system 1 typically is implemented by way of multiple analog trunks 16 from wide area network ("WAN") 18. WAN 18 often consists of a telecommunication network by way of a local telephone company or other telecommunications service provider. Analog trunks 16 may be directed through switching system 10, which may be a conventional PBX or similar telephone switch. Telephones 12 and voice mail system 14 are coupled to switching system 10. Often, dedicated analog line 16A is coupled to facsimile 44 for facsimile communications.
Data system 2 typically is implemented with a plurality of computers (or workstations, etc.) 24 interconnected by way of packet network 26, which may be a standard Ethernet compliant network or other office network. Network 26 often is coupled to remote access server 32, which is connected to one or more analog trunks 40, and which may include one or more modems in a modem pool. Computers 24 may communicate with remote systems via the modem pool of remote access server 32 over analog lines 40 and WAN 42. Network 26 typically includes a connection to printer 22 and file server 20. In more sophisticated systems, network 26 may be coupled to switching hub 28 and router 30, which is coupled to WAN 42 over digital trunks 38. Data system 2 also may include a connection between one or more of computers 24 to modem 36, which in term is coupled to WAN 42 over dedicated analog trunk 40A.
Such a conventional system often is characterized by piecemeal equipment and network solutions, limited or non-existent coordination and management between voice system 1 and data system 2, non-optimized or non-integrated equipment, and inefficient use of costly network services (telephone lines, data lines, etc.), such as duplicate and often idle phone and data network lines, often provided from multiple equipment/service providers. In general, such conventional systems are neither constructed nor operated in a manner to provide efficient and integrated voice/data communications.


A fluid-filled engine mount, including: an elastic body connecting a first and a second mounting member; a pressure receiving chamber partially defined by the rubber elastic body; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible layer, a first orifice passage connecting between the pressure receiving and equilibrium chambers and tuned to a low frequency range, a second orifice passage connecting the both chambers and tuned to a medium frequency range; a valve member for opening/closing the second orifice passage and operated by a pneumatic actuator; a movable partition member including a rigid center movable plate portion and a readily deformable outer peripheral rubber film portion supported fluid-tightly by the second mount portion; and an intermediate equilibrium chamber formed opposing to the pressure receiving chamber with the movable partition member interposed therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine mount for vibration-isolating support of a power unit on a body of an automobile, and more particularly to a fluid-filled engine mount of improved construction, that utilizes the flow action of non-compressible fluid sealed in its interior to produce effective vibration damping action against vibration of multiple, wide frequency ranges, such as engine shake and idling vibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are known in the art, as an engine mount for use in automotive vehicles, an engine mount of fluid-filled design having a first mount fixture and a second mount fixture for respective attachment to either the power unit or the vehicle body, a rubber, elastic body elastically connecting the fixtures, a pressure receiving chamber whose wall is partially formed by the rubber elastic body, and an equilibrium chamber whose wall is partially formed by a readily deformable flexible layer. A non-compressible fluid is sealed within the pressure receiving chamber and equilibrium chamber, and an orifice passage is provided for a communication between the two chambers.
Typically, an automotive engine mount is required to meet a variety of vibration to be damped whose frequencies differ depending on driving conditions. However, vibration-damping action based on flow action of fluid flowing through the orifice passage is limited to a relatively narrow frequency band to which the orifice passage has been pre-tuned.
The present assignee has been proposed in JP-A-8-270718, a pneumatically switchable type, fluid filled engine mount including: a first orifice passage tuned to the frequency of a first vibration to be damped; a second orifice passage tuned to the frequency of another vibration to be damped in a higher frequency band than the tuning frequency of the first orifice passage; a valve member for opening/closing the second orifice passage; and a pneumatic actuator that utilizes air pressure exerted from the outside to drive the valve member. In this engine mount, the valve member is driven so that the second orifice passage is placed in the closed state by means of atmospheric pressure exerted on the pneumatic actuator from the outside, or so that the second orifice passage is placed in the open state by means of negative pressure exerted from the outside, whereby the first orifice passage and second orifice passage are made to function selectively depending on the vibration to be damped, thereby producing the desired vibration damping action.
In recent years, an even higher level of vibration damping performance has come to be required, and in some instances the engine mount taught in JP-A-8-270718 is not sufficient to affords the required level of vibration damping performance. One required characteristic is damping ability against high frequency vibration such as running booming noise, which can be a problem during driving. Another required characteristic is damping ability against low frequency vibration such as engine shake, which can be a problem during driving. With regard to this latter low frequency vibration, damping ability against two types of vibration, namely low frequency; large amplitude vibration which is a problem when driving over speed bumps or the like, and low frequency, small amplitude vibration which is a problem during normal driving.
To coop with the first instance the required characteristic of damping ability against high frequency vibration, the present applicant has been proposed, as taught in JP-U-2-25749, to dispose a rigid movable plate in the partition wall that divides the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber so that the plate is displaceable over a very small distance, whereby when high frequency vibration above the tuning frequency band of the first orifice passage and second orifice passage is input, pressure fluctuations in the pressure receiving chamber are absorbed by a very small level of displacement of the movable plate, creating lower dynamic spring.
However, when such a movable plate is employed, there is a risk that pressure fluctuations occurring in the pressure receiving chamber will be absorbed by displacement of the movable plate, even at times of input of small amplitude vibration in the low frequency range. This makes it difficult to ensure adequate fluid flow level through the first orifice passage tuned to the low frequency range, resulting in the difficulty in achieving sufficient attenuating action on low frequency, small amplitude vibration. Additionally, the rigid movable plate needs a gap on the outer peripheral side of the movable plate in order to permit slight displacement thereof, likely permitting a leak of fluid pressure from the pressure-receiving chamber to the equilibrium chamber through the gap. As a result, pressure fluctuations occurring in the pressure receiving chamber during input of low frequency, small amplitude vibration or medium frequency, medium amplitude vibration can leak, making it difficult to assure adequate fluid flow level through the first and second orifice passages, with the resultant problem of a decline in damping ability against the low amplitude component of engine shake and the medium amplitude component of idling vibration.
With the foregoing in view, the present application has also proposed, as taught in JP-A-9-310732, to dispose a movable film consisting of thin rubber film in place of the rigid movable plate, whereby liquid pressure absorbing action based on elastic deformation of the movable film provides lower dynamic damping of high frequency vibration above the tuning frequency range of the second orifice passage.
However, it was found that, just as with the movable plate mentioned earlier, when such a movable film was employed, there was a risk that elastic deformation of the movable film would absorb pressure fluctuations in the pressure receiving chamber, including low frequency, small amplitude vibration and medium frequency, medium amplitude vibration. This makes it difficult to provide sufficient damping action against engine shake and idling vibration.
To address this problem, the applicant has further proposed, as taught in JP-A-5-118375, to provide a working air chamber to the opposite side of the movable film from the pressure receiving chamber, whereby in association with negative pressure exerted on the working air chamber from the outside, the movable film is made to undergo constraining deformation, limiting the extent of elastic deformation thereof. Namely, by ensuring a sufficiently high level of fluid flow through the first orifice passage and second orifice passage during input of engine shake or idling vibration, by means of limiting the extent of elastic deformation of the movable film to suppress absorption of pressure fluctuations in the pressure receiving chamber, damping action of engine shake or idling vibration can be advantageously realized.
However, in the fluid-fluid engine mount disclosed in JP-A-5-118375, when limiting the extent of elastic deformation of the movable film, in consideration of phase difference, movable film free length, working air chamber size etc., negative pressure is exerted on the working air chamber, and the movable film undergoes a high level of undergo constraining deformation. This makes the mount control system and overall construction complicated. Thus, with the engine mount in question there are appreciable disadvantages in terms of production efficiency and production costs, another inherent problem is the difficult of installation in an automobile.
Further, the present applicant has made another proposal, while focusing on the fact that vibration which poses a problem in the high frequency range typically has small amplitude. Namely, as taught, for example, in JP-A-2000-310274 and JP-A-2001-200884, the present assignee has proposed to dispose a slightly displaceable removable plate extending at a generally right angle to the direction of opposition of the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber with respect to a partition member, whereby pressure fluctuations produced in the pressure receiving chamber by input of vibration in the high-frequency band above the tuning frequency band of the first orifice passage and second orifice passage can be absorbed by minute displacement of the movable plate, producing a low dynamic spring rate.
Where this kind of movable plate was employed, however, there was a risk that pressure fluctuations produced in the pressure receiving chamber would be absorbed by displacement of the movable plate, even during input of vibration in the low- to medium-frequency range,
Specifically, vibration in the medium-frequency range, such as idling, typically has small amplitude of ±0.1-0.25 mm. As regards vibration in the low-frequency range, such as engine shake that is a problem during driving, there is now required effective vibration damping not only of large amplitude on the order of ±1.0 mm such as occurs when driving over speed bumps or the like, which has been considered a problem for some time, but also of small amplitude on the order of ±0.1 mm occurring during normal driving. Thus, as regards vibration of the low- to medium-frequency range having relatively small amplitude, if pressure fluctuations in the pressure receiving chamber are absorbed through small displacement of the movable plate, there is a risk that that fluid flow level through the first orifice passage or second orifice passage will be insufficient to afford adequate vibration damping action.

Pneumatically switchable type fluid-filled engine mount


The surface-treated glass cloth includes a surface treatment layer on a surface, and the surface treatment layer includes: a first silane coupling agent containing at least one amine selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine and a tertiary amine and containing no quaternary ammonium cation; a second silane coupling agent containing at least one quaternary ammonium cation; an organic acid; and a surfactant. A total content of the first silane coupling agent and the second silane coupling agent is 0.05 to 1.20 mass% based on the total amount of the surface-treated glass cloth, a ratio of a molar content of the first silane coupling agent to a molar content of the second silane coupling agent is 1.1 to 10.0, and a content of the organic acid is 50 to 300 ppm based on the total amount of the surface-treated glass cloth.

As a base material of a printed wiring board, for example, a copper-clad laminate obtained by laminating a plurality of prepregs, each of which is obtained by impregnating a surface-treated glass cloth with a matrix resin such as an epoxy resin varnish and dying the glass cloth, and arranging a copper foil as its outer layer is used. In order to enhance affinity of the glass cloth that is an inorganic substance for the matrix resin that is an organic substance, the surface-treated glass cloth is one having been generally surface-treated with a compound having reactivity to both the glass and the matrix resin, namely, a so-called silane coupling agent.
By the way, the surface-treated glass cloth has a problem that if interfacial peeling occurs at the interface between the glass and the matrix resin when the glass cloth is used to prepare the prepreg, insulation reliability is reduced. Then, in order to solve the above problem of the surface-treated glass cloth, known is a surface-treated glass cloth having been subjected to surface treatment with a silane coupling agent a plurality of times, wherein a silane coupling agent having high affinity for the glass cloth and exhibiting low hydrophobicity after the surface treatment is used in the first treatment and a silane coupling agent exhibiting high hydrophobicity after the surface treatment is used in the second and subsequent treatment (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
It is thought that according to the surface-treated glass cloth of Patent Literature 1, the silane coupling agent of the first treatment has high affinity for the glass, and the silane coupling agent of the second treatment has high affinity for the matrix resin, so that interfacial peeling at the interface between the glass and the matrix resin is prevented, and the insulation reliability can be enhanced.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-370275


A thin IOL capable of insertion through a small incision into the capsular bag of an eye includes haptics having free ends configured to absorb compressive forces resulting from shrinkage of the capsular bag in the weeks following surgery.

The present invention relays to intraocular lenses (also commonly referred to as IOLs), and more particularly relates to a thin IOLs that can be inserted through a very small incision in the eye and into the evacuated capsular bag of an eye.
Cataract surgery commonly involves removal of the eye's natural but clouded lens which is located in the capsular bag using a surgical technique known as phacoemulsification. It is desirable to have an incision in the eye as small as possible to improve heating and discourage formation of post-cataract astigmatism caused by the healed incision. The standard of today's incision size is 3 mm or less. With even more recent surgical techniques, i.e. bi-manual phacoemulsification or laser-phaco, incisions of less than 2 mm are possible. Of course if the IOL and/or the insertion instrument are larger than the incision size, the incision must be enlarged.
In order to pass a flexible IOL through a small incision, it must be compressed to a smaller size and inserted in the eye using an instrument such as forceps or an IOL inserter. Examples of IOL inserters may be seen in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,944,725 and 6,336,932. It will thus be appreciated that the material and dimensions of the IOL will dictate how small the IOL may be compressed without undergoing damage (i.e., larger dimensioned IOLs will not compress as small as a smaller sized IOL). Of course, the IOL cannot be so small as to lose its intended purpose of restoring the function of the eye's natural lens. Proper functioning of the IOL requires the IOL to remain as stable as possible in the eye since movement thereof can distort the light rays passing therethrough onto the retina Positioning elements known as haptics are thus incorporated into the IOL design to help position and stabilize the optic in the capsular bag Many different haptic configurations exist yet there remains a need for an IOL of a relatively small size which allows the lens to be compressed and delivered through a small incision, preferably on the order of about 2 mm or less, while also maintaining the optic very stably in the eye despite compressive forces being applied thereto. Compressive forces may occur, for example, from shrinkage of the capsular bag which occurs in the few months following cataract extraction surgery.


Described herein is a marking system for marking animals. The marking system comprises a restraining device, a controller, and a robot assembly wherein the robot assembly comprises a robotic arm, a marking device attached thereto, and one or more actuators for manipulating the robotic arm and marking with the marking device; the robot assembly and the restraining device are positioned in a fixed manner relative to one another; the restraining device is sized and configured for restraining an animal or animal body part thereof and oriented such that the marking device can make a mark on a substrate portion of the animal body part; and the controller is configured to control the position of the marking device and to make a mark on the substrate portion of the animal body part by actuating the one or more actuators. Also described herein are media transfer assemblies and animal restraints.

Animals have been marked for identification purposes for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Animals are marked for identification in a variety of applications. Some animals are used for research and it is important to track which animal was exposed to a given set of experimental conditions. Some animals are used for breeding stock and it is useful to track which animals pass on desirable and undesirable traits to their offspring. Some animals are kept as pets and it is useful to identify animal ownership, animal type, licensing or need for special care. Some animals are used in competition and it is useful to identify animals to reduce animal substitution or other unfair competitive practices.

Animal marking devices, transfer assemblies, and useful restraints


A vertical Hall sensor structure according to an embodiment includes a Hall effect region arranged between a first interface and a second interface of the Hall effect region, a first contact, a second contact, a third contact, and a fourth contact, the first, second, third and fourth contacts being closer to the first interface than to the second interface and in contact with the Hall effect region, wherein an electrical resistance between the first and second contacts is substantially equal to an electrical resistance between the third and second contacts, a conductive layer closer to the second interface than to the first interface and in contact with the Hall effect region, the conductive layer comprising a higher conductivity than the Hall effect region, wherein a resistance between the fourth contact and the conductive layer is lower than a resistance between the second contact and the conductive layer.

In many applications, components and systems, magnetic fields are used for different purposes. For instance, magnetic fields can be used to store information, to transmit information, to manipulate components, to detect a position or an orientation of an object and other purposes to name just a few. To detect the magnetic field appropriate magnetic sensor structures may be used. Among those magnetic sensor structures Hall sensor structures represent a sensor structure, which may offer the possibility of an easy implementation into an integrated circuit since the fabrication processes to produce a Hall sensor structure may be similar and are often compatible with fabrication processes used to fabricate an integrated structure integrated into a die or substrate.
Hall sensor structures employ the Hall effect, which is based on the fact that due to the Lorentz force, moving charge carriers experience a force, when they move in a magnetic field. The force is directed perpendicular to the direction of motion of the charge carriers. This force may give rise to an electric field which may then be detected, for instance, in the form of a voltage. Lateral Hall sensor structures are typically implemented in a die or substrate and are responsive to magnetic field components perpendicular to a main surface of the die or substrate. Vertical Hall sensor structures may be sensitive to a magnetic field component parallel to the main surface of a corresponding die or substrate.
Unfortunately, in many cases vertical Hall sensor structures are comparably asymmetric with respect to their transport properties and, hence, with respect to their sensing or detecting quality. They may, for instance, show variations of the internal resistances, which in turn may be caused by a geometry, fabricational parameters and other reasons, to name just some possible effects and reasons.


The present invention provides a latch-type of lock 2 that includes an override mechanism to grant access to an article of luggage 1 by an override tool such as a master key. The present invention can be used on any type of storage facility and/or transport vessel including large storage containers, such as molded plastic storage and shipping boxes for linens and the like, briefcases, computer bags, messenger bags, backpacks, hard or soft-sided totes, hybrids, other molded or non-molded vessels, framed cases, unframed cases, and so on. The latch lock 2 of the present invention includes a mechanism for clearing a pathway 46, that, when the lock 2 is in a locked condition, is blocked. A pivot arm 12 is provided to block/unblock pathway 46. The pivot arm 12 is operated by a cam 10, which is in turn operated by the override tool. When the lock 2 has been overridden, the pivot arm 12 rotates out of pathway 46, thereby allowing lateral movement of a slider 6, which in turn allows displacement of a lever 8, thereby granting access to the contents of the luggage 1.

Travel today, and in particular, airline travel, has become much more complicated for the average consumer/traveler than it has been in the past. Instances like 9/11 and other terrorist attacks have led to increases in security within our nation's and the world's airports. Understandably, travelers and security officials alike conform to the more vigorous and strenuous security rules imparted by local airports. However, many travelers today still require an additional sense of security and therefore prefer to lock their luggage before abandoning it to board the aircraft. The benefits of locking one's luggage include deterring potential theft as well as protecting the suitcase from unexpectedly opening. To meet the needs of both the airline security and the consumer, locks have been developed to allow the airline security to override the locking mechanism, which may comprise a combination lock or any other locking mechanism, with a master key, thereby granting access to and inspection of the contents of the luggage without breaking the consumer's lock. Currently, such master key operable locks comprise combination locks that include a shackle. The shackle is entwined within zipper slider loopholes of the luggage case. Such shackle locks are usually applied to softside luggage cases that have zippers, instead of latches that can be found on hard-side cases. The shackle is then inserted into the mating portion of the combination lock, which can then be locked by applying a combination known only to the traveler. The base portion of some of these locks includes a "Transportation Security Administration" (TSA) key provision for security agency access. However, currently there are no provisions for an override combination lock that can be integrated into a hardside luggage case.
There is therefore a need for a latch-type combination lock that can be used on hardside luggage cases that incorporates an override feature such that travel security agencies around the world can access the contents of a traveler's locked luggage case without breaking the traveler's lock or disturbing the traveler's personal combination. The override mechanism should allow the lock to be opened, even when the combination is still in the locked position, and re-closed and relocked after security inspection has been completed. A further need exists for a universal latch lock that can be applied in either a left or right configuration to a luggage case.


Source and destination fiber channel devices are coupled to a fiber channel fabric. Hosts communicate with the fiber channel devices using fiber channel addresses. All data is copied from the source fiber channel device to the destination fiber channel device. Source port names and LUN names are exchanged with destination port names and LUN names so that the source device has the destination port and LUN names and the destination device has the source port and LUN names. The fabric reloads its name server database for use by the host(s) so that the database associates the source port and LUN names with the destination port and LUN names and the destination port and LUN names with the source port and LUN names. The names known to the host have not changed and the destination fiber channel device now appears to the host as the source fiber channel device.

Today's enterprise data centers store ever-larger amounts of business critical data that must be immediately and continuously available, and highly reliable. Any down time for a storage system is considered unacceptable. Many precautions are taken in storage systems to protect against the effects of failures so that down time is avoided. However, from time to time a storage system, such as a storage array, must be upgraded or replaced.
In order to replace a current storage array with a new storage array, all the data and connections on the current storage array must be migrated to the new array. Then the storage system requires re-initialization, and host systems must be reconfigured. This requires at least some down time to complete; thus, host applications lose access to the storage array for some amount of time. Interruption of critical applications is unacceptable.
What is needed is a way to upgrade or replace storage arrays in a manner that is transparent to the host systems so that host applications are not interrupted by the upgrade or replacement.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Full array non-disruptive data migration


A terminal block assembly includes a base assembly including a terminal block housing and a terminal stud extending through the terminal block housing. A filter assembly is coupled to one end of the stud, and a second housing is coupled to the terminal block housing over the filter assembly. The filter assembly is enclosed between the first and second housing, and a ground plate is coupled to the base assembly and the filter assembly for dissipating filtered signals.

This invention relates generally to terminal block assemblies for electrical power distribution, and, more particularly, to filtered terminal block assemblies for removing undesirable frequencies from electronic signals.
A growing proliferation of electronic devices in modern products and systems can produce unintended and undesirable signal distortion between electrical components, systems and subsystems. While some signal distortion is tolerable in many instances, in certain applications signal distortion is a significant issue that must be controlled, if not overcome. Such applications wherein reduction and/or elimination of signal distortion is desirable include, for example, power supply systems for telecommunication systems, telecommunication switching applications, cellular base stations, radar transmission systems, industrial control systems, and instrumentation systems.
Consequently, a variety of terminal block assemblies have been introduced that include one or more filter elements coupled to electrical terminal elements for removing undesirable frequency transmission through the terminal block. One type of filtered terminal block assembly includes a tubular capacitor element mounted to a terminal stud for filtering a signal through the stud. When electrical connections are made to the terminal stud in the field, however, the tubular capacitor element may be placed under a structural load. Connections to threaded studs render this type of terminal block assembly particularly vulnerable to placing the capacitor element under stress when a wire is fastened to the stud. The resultant stress may damage the capacitor element and adversely affect filtering performance of the terminal block assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,791 discloses a terminal block assembly having a filter assembly with a tubular capacitor filtering element for filtering a signal through the stud. The filter assembly is mechanically isolated from a base assembly with a resilient contact element extending longitudinally between the terminal stud and the filter assembly. Structural loading of the filter assembly when electrical connections are made to the terminal stud is therefore avoided and reliable filtering of signals is ensured in a cost effective manner. Such terminal blocks, however, are presently limited to approximately 10,000 pF (picofarads) of capacitance. Higher capacitance levels are desired for certain applications to improve attenuation characteristics of the terminal blocks.
At least one type of terminal block exists which is capable of providing capacitance levels of about 2 μF (microfarads) using laminated foil materials to fabricate capacitive elements for filtering of signals passing through the terminal block. The manufacture of such terminal blocks, however, is difficult and equipment intensive. It would be desirable to provide a lower cost alternative terminal block which is capable of providing capacitance levels in the range of about 2 μF.


A merchandising system can display merchandise on a display rack. The system has a pair of articles to be worn by a person (for example, gloves). The articles have a right main body and a left main body, each with a user (or hand) opening. The pair of articles have an attachment subsystem for providing an outlying attachment locus for the articles. The attachment subsystem includes a right extremity and a left extremity secured at the user opening of the right main body and the left main body, respectively. The right and the left extremity are each able to reach out of the user opening. The attachment subsystem also includes a display arrangement including a panel. The attachment subsystem is arranged to detachably secure the articles together with the panel, and the right extremity and the left extremity. The attachment subsystem is adapted to hang on the display rack and support the articles. Thus the articles can be attached to and detached from the attachment subsystem without marring either the right main body or the left main body of the articles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to merchandising systems, and in particular, to systems for hanging a pair of articles on a display rack.
2. Description of Related Art
Merchandise, such as articles that are worn by people, are commonly offered for sale on a display rack. Such a rack may have a number of pegs on which merchandise is hung. A common display technique is to attach merchandise to a display card and then hang the card on a peg in the display rack. The display card may have a hole or a hook-shaped extension for this purpose.
Often the merchandise is attached to this display card by a staple.
Stapling the merchandise, however, punches holes in the goods and can otherwise mars the goods unacceptably. When the merchandise are high-quality gloves made of leather or other costly materials, consumers object to such holes or marring. An example of stapling a display panel to a pair of gloves is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,845.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,580 and 5,503,269 show jaw-like clips for holding gloves on a display rack. These clips, however, are relatively complex and expensive for a disposable item that is only used for display purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,676 and 5,553,706 show a pair of gloves lashed to a display card. These gloves are made with holes fitted with grommets that are positioned along the edge of the hand opening. However, these gloves are defaced by the holes and grommets.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,060 a fastening filament is looped through the holes in an informational tag, and a pair of the tabs that are secured inside a pair of shoes. This arrangement is designed to keep the shoes together prior to sale. Also, the tabs make punching holes in the shoe uppers unnecessary. These tabs are, however, hidden inside the shoe and do not reach outside thereof. Accordingly, these tabs have a different purpose and are not easily and practically used with a display rack. See also U.S. Pat. No. 1,300,998.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,409 shows one glove with a snap fastener, and a mating glove with a leash having a number of snap fasteners. The leash can connect between the gloves to allow the gloves to separate by no more than the length of the leash. Additionally, the gloves can be directly snapped together to form the leash into a loop. This reference has a different purpose and therefore has no disclosure of how a display panel can be attached to the gloves.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,067 each of the pair of gloves has a strap that can be closed into a separate loop using a Velcro(trademark) fastener. Also, the ends of the straps have additional fasteners to allow the gloves to be attached side-by-side. The straps also have holes 42 which allow the gloves to be suspended on a support rod prior to sale. This reference has no disclosure of how a display panel can be attached to the gloves.
Accordingly, there is a need for a merchandising system that can connect a pair of articles, such as gloves, to a display panel, without marring or defacing the articles.
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a merchandising system for displaying merchandise on a display rack. The system has a pair of articles to be worn by a person. According to one aspect of the present invention, these articles are gloves. The articles have a right main body and a left main body, each with a user opening (for a glove, a hand opening). The pair of articles have attachment means for providing an outlying attachment locus for the articles. The attachment means includes a right extremity and a left extremity secured at the user opening of the right main body and the left main body, respectively. The right and the left extremity are each able to reach out of the user opening. The attachment means also includes a display arrangement including a panel. The attachment means is arranged to detachably secure the articles together with the panel, and the right extremity and the left extremity. The attachment means is adapted to hang on the display rack and support the articles. Thus the articles can be attached to and detached from the attachment means without marring either the right main body or the left main body of the articles.
By employing a system of the foregoing type, articles such as gloves can be easily displayed on a rack without marring or defacing the merchandise. In a preferred embodiment, rectangular tabs are sewn into the hem or binding strip of the articles. For example, these tabs can be sewn at the border of the hand openings of a pair of gloves. These tabs can then be fastened to a display panel which has a hole or hook for hanging the display panel. The display panel can be a simple card, folded card or a multiple part card.
In one embodiment, a folded display panel can straddle and attach to both tabs, with one wing of the display panel tucked into one of the gloves. In still other embodiments, the tabs can be attached on one side of display card or can be sandwiched around the display card. In any event, the hand opening of one or both of the gloves can be left open so that a prospective purchaser can try at least one of the globes on for fit.
In another embodiment, the two tabs can be attached together to form a linking strip that is looped through an aperture in a display card that can then be hung on a display rack. In still another embodiment, a display panel can have a pair of integral tabs or extremities that can be sewn into the hem or binding along the hand opening of a pair of gloves.
Instead of tabs, some embodiments will employing a cord or line that is a freely extending portion of the stitching of the article. The end of this free portion can connect to a display panel. Alternatively, this free portion can be secured at both ends to the article to form an arch that can be attached to a display panel.


A headlamp adjusting mechanism having a housing member with a passage formed therethrough and an independent nut body is retained in the housing member. The independent nut body has a threaded aperture which is substantially coincident with the passage in the housing. An elongated threaded shaft extends through the passage in the housing and cooperatively engages the threaded aperture in the independent nut body. An assembly for driving the elongated shaft such as a mitered gear arrangement is operatively associated with the housing. The driving assembly transfers motion applied to the assembly to rotate the elongated shaft cooperatively engaged with the threaded aperture in the independent nut body to produce axial displacement of the elongated shaft through the passage. A friction or prevailing torque increasing device is provided on the housing for canting or forcibly angling the independent nut body to increase the frictional forces between the threaded bore in the independent nut body and the threaded surface of the shaft. The increased friction between the independent nut body and the shaft not only increases the prevailing torque, but eliminates all axial play and prevents angular deflection of the shaft. The friction increasing device is sized and dimensioned to control the degree of prevailing torque between the independent nut body and the shaft.

The present invention relates to adjusting mechanisms for use with a headlamp to adjust the position of a headlamp and retain the desired adjusted position.
A variety of headlamp adjusting mechanisms are currently available. These mechanisms typically provide a housing and a gearing arrangement retained in the housing for transferring rotary motion in one direction to a linear motion in another direction. The purpose for transferring rotary motion into linear motion is to control the movement and adjustment of the headlamp from a more conveniently accessible position. The remote control of the adjustment of the headlamp enables a variety of angular relationships to be achieved between a point where a user controls the adjustment of the headlamp and another point at which the adjustment actually occurs.
The angular relationships that can be achieved using a headlamp adjusting mechanism is very important to the automobile industry. In the automobile industry, space limitations for components in the operating compartment, or engine compartment, is very limited. As such, it is advantageous to provide a conveniently accessible adjusting point to adjust a remote and somewhat inaccessible headlamp adjusting mechanism.
A variety of headlamp adjusting mechanisms have been produced to provide remote adjustment of a headlamp. The following list provides an example of some known devices:
______________________________________ Inventor U.S. Pat. No. Issued ______________________________________ Lisak 5,079,676 01/07/92 Weber 5,034,870 07/23/91 Eckenrode 5,023,759 06/11/91 Ryder et al. 4,939,945 07/10/91 Lisak 4,893,219 01/09/90 Ryder et al. 4,757,429 07/12/88 Ryder et al. 4,674,018 06/16/87 ______________________________________
The devices as shown in Eckenrode and Weber directly transfer forces from a driving assembly to move a shaft axially through the housing. The other references presented hereinabove rotate and axially displace a shaft.
Each of the devices presented hereinabove includes an arrangement whereby a threaded shaft engages a cooperatively formed threaded bore to axially displace the threaded shaft through the housing. Each of the devices uses a specialized bushing or gear member having a tapped bore to provide cooperative threads for engaging the threaded shaft. A problem arises with these devices such that the specialized bushing or gear are not readily available and must be produced or molded especially for this application. As such, the cost of such bushings or gears can be quite expensive. Additionally, since these specialized bushings and gear members are specifically produced for this application, they may not be readily available and may create production problems if they become unavailable.
Prior art headlamp adjusting devices also attempt to provide additional friction or prevailing torque to retain a desired adjustment during use. In this regard, road and engine vibration will tend to move the components out of adjustment if the threaded engagement is free running. To this end, many devices provide such friction or prevailing torque but require numerous additional parts and locking devices to achieve the desired friction requirements. For example, several devices employ plastic bushings and thread portions of the housing to increase effective thread length through which the threaded shaft travels to increase the frictional engagement between the shaft and the threads. While this increased thread length may provide a degree of increased friction to retain the desired adjustment, the threads experience a degree of axial play and possibly deflection. Therefore, while the shaft may be prevented from the rotary movement, the shaft still moves forward and backward along the axis extending through the shaft. Such axial play is undesired as it potentially results in undesired adjustment of the headlamp attached to the headlamp adjusting mechanism.
Another problem encountered with the prior art headlamp adjusting mechanisms is axial deflection. As shown in the device in Eckenrode and Weber, the shaft is only retained over a short section in the threaded bushing retained in the housing. As such, there is a degree of axial deflection which may occur with this device. A variety of prior art devices which employ bushings may somewhat reduce the axial deflection, however, there is still some potential for the bushing in which the shaft is retained to axially deflect within the bore tapped in the housing.
As mentioned above, some prior art devices employ threaded sections of the housing to provide threaded engagement between the shaft and the housing. A commonly used material for the housing is plastic so that the weight, cost and time for production is minimized. While most plastic bushings rely upon a self tapping arrangement, viz., the metal thread cold forms the plastic material, if a thread is formed through a section of the housing, an error in tapping the thread through the housing makes the housing unusable for an adjusting mechanism. As such, the potential for scrap housings may be quite high. Additionally, the threads generally have a greater potential for stripping in the plastic material than if the housings were formed from a metallic material. While devices which use a tapped gear often times provide a metallic gear and therefore a metallic threaded surface, such gears can be quite expensive to produce and may create a supply problem as mentioned hereinabove.
Prior art devices also have a problem in that the degree of prevailing torque or friction employed to prevent movement of the shaft is not readily controllable. The components which control the prevailing torque, the specialized threaded bushings and specialized threaded gears, do not lend themselves to varying degrees of prevailing torque. For example, one way to change the degree of prevailing torque between the threaded shaft and the specialized bushings and gears would be to provide some kind of friction device on the gears to provide resistance against adjustment, as disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 07/800,536, filed Nov. 27, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,877. As mentioned above, however, this solution does not resolve the problem of axial play in the threaded shaft.
Another way to control the degree of prevailing torque imposed on the threaded shaft might be to alter the tolerances between the threaded shaft and the specialized threaded bushings or gears. This solution, however, results in further specialization of the bushings, threaded gears, and threaded shaft and therefore does not solve the problems of costs and availability.
One further prior art device provides a threaded shaft which has a partially spherical end for engaging a cooperatively formed socket attached to a headlamp. The shaft is axially displaced by means of a gearing arrangement in the housing of the adjusting mechanism. The shaft is prevented from rotating by a number of wings or ears protruding from the partially spherical end of the shaft. The wings or ears engage cooperatively formed slots in the socket. This device provides a degree of multi-directional movement between a partially spherical and the shaft and the socket. It is believed that this is provided to increase the prevailing torque or resistance to adjustment of the shaft in the adjusting mechanism housing. This device has a potential problem, however, such that the wings or ears are prone to being broken off if not properly installed in the socket.


An adjustable control clip cinches to secure webbing; is useful in constructing pet control devices in various configurations with one continuous length of webbing. The clip is also used in securing luggage straps or tie downs, in adjustable bag straps, or in any other device requiring the use of an adjustable strap or webbing secured or guided by a clip.

The following description is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the present invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Any publications cited in this description are incorporated by reference herein. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
There are multiple varieties of clips currently in use as fasteners. Fastener clips have been used to secure webbing in a wide variety of applications such as backpacks, bags, luggage, animal leashes, collars, and harnesses, human safety harnesses, sporting equipment, and other items.
Clip products currently available on the market are typically permanently attached to webbing material and usually lack the independent ability to adjust to ensure a proper or secure fit. These products require the use of multiple additional components to achieve adjustability, adding additional materials and labor cost, and creating multiple points of weakness.
Generally, because these devices are sewn or glued at a specific location on the webbing to create a secure connection, they lack the ability to move up and down the length of the webbing. There is also not an option to relocate the clip to another piece of webbing or to adapt the use of the clip for different configurations within the same product, or to use the clip with other products, showing a general lack of versatility among current clip devices. In particular, a pet owner using currently available clip products in harnesses, collars, or leashes may have to purchase several sizes or styles to be used over the life of the animal as it grows and training needs change.
Therefore, the need exists for a control clip device that is adjustable and can be used in multiple configurations and with existing products. In addition, a clip that does not require the addition of other components or does not introduce multiple points of weakness into the finished product would be a useful complement to the current market.


A method and apparatus for diagnosing heart rejection is disclosed. Heart rejection is diagnosed based on the pattern of interbeat intervals. The interbeat intervals of the heart are measured shortly after transplant to establish a baseline pattern. The patterns of interbeat intervals from subsequent measurements are compared to the baseline to detect changes from the baseline indicating rejection. The apparatus of the invention measures the interbeat intervals using a Schmidt trigger that detects the upstroke of the QRS and produces a corresponding pulse. The intervals between pulses are timed to produce a series of interbeat interval measurements that are stored and analyzed. Software provides for automated pattern analysis.

Tissue rejection is the principal cause of heart transplant failures, occurring when a recipient's immune system attacks the transplanted heart. Suppressing this immune system response is critical to the success of heart transplants. Pharmaceutical agents such as Cyclosporine A (CSA), steroids and Azathioprine are used to control and suppress a recipient's immune system response to grafted tissue. However, suppressing a recipient's immune system renders him more vulnerable to infection. Adjusting immune system suppression to the minimum required is thus a major objective. To do this, the transplanted heart tissue must be monitored continuously and carefully for signs of rejection.
Recognizing the onset and severity of rejection is a major problem. Tissue rejection in heart transplant recipients is generally silent until the heart is damaged irreversibly. It is crucial to decide whether or not a patient is rejecting his or her transplanted heart, so that potentially life saving therapy can be started immediately. Thus, early and reliable detection of graft rejection is vital to the success of heart transplants.
At present, the only reliable method for diagnosing rejection requires frequent endomycardial biopsy (EMBx), an expensive (roughly $1,200 or more per procedure), invasive procedure that must be performed by a sub-specialist. The biopsy is studied by a pathologist for the invasion of heart tissue by white blood cells, edema, and dead cardiac muscle cells--the histologic manifestations of rejection. In 85% of cases histologic diagnosis determines treatment for rejection; treatment is determined by clinical judgment in only 15% of cases. Although EMBx is associated with a morbidity of 1-4% in experienced hands, the need for repeated, invasive procedures adds significantly to cost and patient discomfort during post transplant follow-up. A reliable, non-invasive method for detecting rejection is thus needed.
A number of investigators have used a decrease in voltage amplitude on the electrocardiogram (EKG) as a marker for rejection. In the early days of transplantation, a decrease in voltage on the surface EKG correlated well with rejection. With the introduction of CSA in 1982 for immuno-suppression, voltage measurements from surface EKGs became unreliable. More recently, voltage amplitudes from intramyocardial screw-in electrodes have been used to diagnose rejection, as have T-wave amplitudes produced from ventricular pacing. Although these techniques are sensitive and specific for detecting rejection, they require permanent implantation of hardware in the patient's body.
Several investigators have analyzed the EKG using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). FFT measures the spectral power of heart over a range of frequencies. Because the heart rate time series is extremely complicated, frequencies with low statistical weight may be lost because they are indistinguishable from noise. Thus, this approach has not provided a reliable indicator of rejection.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a reliable, non-invasive method for detecting rejection. The present invention provides such a method, and corresponding apparatus, wherein rejection is diagnosed based on the dynamics of heart beat rhythm.
Since the time of Galen, examination of the pulse has been a time-honored ritual in examining a patient. Physicians have learned that dramatic changes in cardiac rhythm may reveal fundamental changes in the health of the heart. The tradition of examining the pulse forms the basis for the novel technique of the present invention for diagnosing rejection in heart transplant recipients. Unlike traditional methods of heart beat analysis based on "gross" variations in heart beat rhythm, the present invention employs the principles of dynamical systems theory to diagnose changes in the health of the heart based on variations which are imperceptible without the use of high precision electronic measurements and computer-aided analysis. These changes from one day to the next may indicate in the heart transplant recipient that rejection has begun.
The present invention uses the investigative tools of dynamical systems analysis to characterize the heart's reaction to rejection. Dynamical systems theory seeks to classify system behavior into one of three classes: 1) steady state; 2) periodic; and 3) chaotic. The theory raises the possibility that seemingly complex unpredictable behavior may be explained by simple deterministic rules. According to P. E. Rapp, in his paper entitled "Chaos in the Neurosciences: Cautionary Tales from the Frontier" (unpublished at the time of filing of this application), the study of chaos in the laboratory is fraught with great difficulty. All measurements contain noise. Differentiating between random noise and deterministic chaos is difficult at best. Worse yet, plausible yet totally spurious results can be obtained from measurements which are largely noise. Therefore, applying the methods of dynamical systems theory to clinical diagnosis remains at the edge of science, and the results of such studies are still viewed with skepticism.
To date, there are a number of publications reporting studies of the dynamics of the heart rhythm, including chaotic dynamics. One general study of heart rate dynamics is reported by Kleiger, et al., in "Decreased Heart Rate Variability and its Association with Increased Mortality after Acute Myocardial Infarction," Am J Cardiol, 59:256-262 (1987) Kleiger et al. report that heart rate variability can be decreased with severe coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, aging and diabetic neuropathy. Casolo et al. reported similar results for congestive heart failure in the paper entitled "Decreased Spontaneous Heart Rate Variability in Congestive Heart Failure," Am J Cardiol, 64:1162-1167 (1989). Data in these studies were analyzed using only means and standard deviations.
Anan et al. describe a more sophisticated analytical approach in their study "Arrhythmia Analysis by Successive RR Plotting," J. Electrocardiol 23:243-248 (1990). In this paper, the authors looked at the coupling interval-dependent characteristics of arrhythmia based on the gross behavior of heart rhythm, and found that RR interval plotting using data created by the method of delays could be useful both in detecting and in highlighting specific features of various types of arrhythmia, based on the gross behavior of heart rhythm.
Also published in 1990 is a paper by Chialvo et al. entitled "Low dimension chaos in cardiac tissue," Nature, 343:653-657 (1990). This paper reported experimental evidence for chaotic patterns of activation and action potential characteristics in externally driven, non-spontaneously active Purkinje fibers and ventricular muscle. Chialvo et al. did not investigate clinical applications of chaos in cardiac tissue, but restricted their investigation to the action potentials of cells in a petri dish.
A study on the chaotic dynamics of the heart published by Skinner et al. entitled "Chaos in the Heart: Implications for Clinical Radiology," Bio/Technology, 8:1018-1024 (1990), reports that chaos appears to occur in the heart beat time-series. Skinner, et al. discussed in the possible correlation of chaos in heart rhythm with arrythmia, ischemia, myocardial infarction, CHF and old age. In a study of a pig subjected to progressively reduced coronary blood flow, Skinner et al. found that ischemia appeared to produce a decrease in the dimensional complexity of the heart beat as compared to normal.
Another known publication is entitled "Dimensional Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Heart Transplant Recipients," by Zbilut et al., Mathematical Biosciences 90:49-70 (1988). This paper reports what appears to be a general study of the chaotic dynamics of denervated transplanted hearts. It appears that the primary intent of the study is to test several algorithms for computing dimension on clinical data. The study concludes that there is an apparent reduction of heart rhythm "dimensionality" (a measure of the complexity of a system's behavior in chaos theory) with rejection. However, the paper is inconclusive on this point: "Since we do not claim statistically convincing results at this point, we did not systematically study our dimension estimates for different subsets of our data set" (p. 66). In fact, upon close inspection the clinical results obtained by the study are easily interpreted to suggest that no clear correlation between rejection and reduced dimensionality exists. In particular, based on the study of four transplant patients, Zbilut et al. report that a decrease in the singular-value decomposition estimate of dimension, D-SV, may signal rejection. D-SV for the three non-rejecting patients studied ranges from 2.6-3.6, with standard deviations approaching half of the mean values. However, D-SV for the single episode of rejection equalled 2.9, which falls squarely within their defined "normal" range. Clearly, this result supports the conclusion that there is no clear correlation between a reduction in dimensionality and rejection.
There are several other deficiencies and aspects of the results reported by Zbilut et al. that render their results inconclusive, at least as to the usefulness of dynamical systems theory to diagnose rejection of heart tissue. For instance, there is no indication in the paper as to the level of precision at which the heart beat intervals are measured. Moreover, the phase plots presented in the paper do not appear to differ qualitatively between rejecting and non-rejecting hearts (FIG. 7 vs. FIG. 8), again countering any suggestion that dynamical systems can be correlated with rejection in a transplanted heart. Therefore, the results reported by Zbilut et al. are inconclusive at best, and in fact can be fairly characterized as demonstrating a lack of correlation between rejection and a change in the behavior of heart rhythm.

Noninvasive detection of rejection in heart transplant patients