A head mounted type display composed of a display device for displaying an optical picture based on inputted picture signal, an ocular optical system for projecting the picture to an eye of the user, a head band, forehead resting section and right- and left-hand side head supporting sections for supporting a body section including the display device and the ocular optical system while being brought into contact with a head section of the user, a vibration device placed on each of the right- and left-hand side head supporting sections for receiving a caution signal to vibrate the vibration device to give a caution to the user. With this arrangement, the head mounted type display apparatus can surely give a caution to the user without affecting a picture and a sound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head mounted type display apparatus, and more particularly to a head mounted type display apparatus using a display device and an ocular optical system in a state of being mounted on a head section of the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, various types of head mounted type display apparatus such as a head mounted display have been proposed which extends downwardly from the head section of the user to cover the user's face when mounted. Unlike different portable displays, these types of display apparatus are advantageous in that a picture is observable without the use of the hands.
As one of such head mounted type display apparatus there has been known a binocular display apparatus, such as is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-289615, which comprises first and second small-sized display units respectively capable of independently presenting picture displays, first and second optical systems for enlarging each of the displayed pictures on the first and second display units so that the pictures are separately visible with both eyes, a view mechanism for holding the first and second optical systems and the first and second display units and further for separately intercepting the external light at least between the first display unit and the first optical system and between the second display unit and the second optical system, a carrying body mounted and used on the head section or the like of the user so that the first optical system held by the view mechanism comes in the right-eye's field of view while the second optical system held thereby enters the left-eye's field of view, and a control means for taking charge of the display control of the first and second display units.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-133479 has disclosed another head mounted type display apparatus designed as a visual system in which a light-emitting section of a television is located to be in the dead angle of both the eyes of the user and the television screen taking the light-emitted condition just reaches both the eyes through a concave mirror and which is arranged to be detachably mounted on the head section.
On the other hand, headphones have generally been employed as a sound outputting means applicable to the aforesaid head mounted type display apparatus. These headphones are classified into a hermetic headphone of the type of shutting out the environmental noises to allow the outputted sound to be clearly audible, an open headphone of the type whereby both the environmental voices and outputted sound are audible and an inserted headphone of the type of achieving the reduction in weight and size to be insertable into the ears.
Moreover, as a sound inputting means applicable to the head mounted type display apparatus, there have been used a common microphone such as an air conduction type microphone, i.e., an electret.diamond.capacitor microphone, the employment of which is made such that, for example, a segment flexible cord section is formed to extend from a supporting section of the head mounted type display apparatus and the aforesaid microphone is attached to its tip portion to approach the mouth of the user. In the case of using the foregoing head mounted type display apparatus as an information processing terminal, if a sound inputting means is provided and used as an inputting means to the information processing terminal, the inputting means such as a keyboard becomes unnecessary, which improves its portability.
However, in the case of the above-described prior head mounted type display apparatus, when receiving, for instance, an electronic mail in the middle of the mounting work, serious troubles can occur depending upon the kind of work because of informing the user of the reception through a sound or a picture. In addition, if using a display or a low voice which does not affect the work, there is a possibility that the user does not notice the reception news.
Moreover, in cases where the hermetic headphone is employed as the sound outputting means applicable to the aforesaid head mounted type display apparatus, the apparatus becomes larger in size and weight. On the other hand, in the case of using the open headphone, it is necessary that the headphone mounting position is adjusted so that the headphone position matches the ear positions, and hence an adjusting mechanism is required, which creates a problem in that the apparatus increases in weight and the adjusting work is troublesome. Further, in the case of employing the inserted headphone, it becomes difficult that the user inserts the inserted headphone into his ear after the mounting of the head mounted type display apparatus, and the cord plugged into the inserted headphone hangs close to the ear of the user to be in the way.
Still further, in the case of the prior sound inputting means applicable to the aforesaid head mounted type display apparatus, an extending section is required in order to bring the microphone close to the mouth of the user, which leads to the increase in weight of the apparatus.

Head mounted type display apparatus capable of generating or detecting vibrations


A block molded from a polymeric material has a through passageway to contain a percussive shock wave. Angularly related channels communicate with the containment passageway for receiving arcuate segments of detonation cord. Alignment of a plurality of blocks provides a convenient packaging setup for the cord. A percussive signal traveling along the cord can be short-circuited in the packaging setup. A diode version of the block can react to the signal in a given direction of travel.

Detonating cords typically contain a secondary high explosive core encased in an outer textile sheath and plastic jacket. Typical explosive materials used are PETN, RDX, HMX, HNS, and PYX. These textile wrapped detonating cords are used extensively in the petroleum exploration and production industry to initiate other explosive components used in various downhole tools. The textile wrapping provides a highly flexible structure that can be easily threaded through perforating guns. Some examples of components that textile detonating cords are used with are perforating shaped charges, setting tools, and similar items. The well locations where these components are used are widely scattered around the world sometimes in very remote locations. It is highly desirable to be able to ship detonating cord by air from a central store location to the remote field location needing the material. However the regulations governing the shipment of explosives by air are quite stringent.
Basically the regulations require that detonating cord explosive materials be packaged in such a manner that an ignition or detonation in one container shall be confined to that container and will not propagate to another container. In practical terms, this means that the maximum amount of detonating cord allowed to detonate in a package is twelve inches to thirty-six inches.
The prior art has several examples of packaging methods that have been used to meet the air shipping regulations for explosive materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,602 discloses a detonating cord transport system where the detonating cord is wound on a plurality of separator support members that provide crossover locations at frequent intervals. At these crossover points, a severing means is wrapped around the cord so that the detonation of one cord portion will sever the continuing cord length at the crossover point without initiating the cord. The maximum length of cord that can detonate without encountering a crossover point is approximately one foot. Packaging of detonating cord using this method is quite laborious and involves inserting severing means around the cord and cable ties to anchor the cord in position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,787 discloses a different packaging method where a mounting board of insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene, is used to hold the cord. Walled paths are molded into the mounting board through which the cord can be threaded. The cord path has a series of loop regions and adjoining parallel regions through which the parallel cord is separated by the wall. The purpose of the wall is to provide a safety distance where the detonation of a length of cord will cause the adjacent parallel length of cord to be severed without initiation. The minimum wall thickness required for the expanded polystyrene is about 0.205″ minimum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,249 discusses a packaging method that is claimed to be an improvement over the detonating cord transport system disclosed in the '602 patent. This patent discloses a method that increases the labor efficiency of packaging detonating cord and efficiencies in the quantity of detonating cord per package. In this patent, the detonating cord is also wound on a plurality of separator support members. The cord is wound in loops that cross over itself at frequent locations. At the crossover points a severing means is inserted which serves as a means of stopping the detonation at the crossover point. A preferred example of a severing means is a nylon-reinforced rubber hose that is slit and placed around one cord section at the crossover point. Each separator support layer can accommodate about 25 feet of detonating cord. Twenty stacked layers will therefore allow a total of 500 feet of detonating cord to be shipped in one package.
The prior art disclosed in both the '602 patent and the '787 patent rely on a separate severing means to actually cut the detonating cord. For this system to work, the detonating cord must follow a path very close to the adjacent strand being actually severed. The detonation of the cord will accelerate the independent severing means at high velocity. The material being accelerated actually causes the severing of the detonating cord. For the '249 patent, the severing means is a metal foil sleeve placed over the detonating cord at an actual crossover point.
Both of these packaging methods require that the detonating cord be bent back to either cross over itself or pass dose by in a parallel orientation to insure severing of the detonating cord. Placing severe bends in the detonating cord is detrimental if the cord remains in this packaging orientation for an extended period of time.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the detonating cord can be space apart at a greater distance that allows the radius of the loop to be increased to avoid damaging the detonating cord. Also the cord sections pass each other at the severing location in an arcuate configuration that avoids any sharp bends in the detonating cord. This packaging method allows the detonating cord to be stored in this configuration for an extended length of time. Also since no separate severing means is required, there will be a resultant material and labor costs.
It is the objective of the present invention to provide an improved method for packaging detonating cord that will meet the requirements for shipment by commercial air carriers in the United States and internationally. It is another objective of the present invention to obviate the need for a severing means and instead rely on the detonation properties of the cord to sever itself. It is another object of the present invention to provide an explosive diode whereby the propagation of detonation is restricted to one direction only.

Diode cutoff and safe packaging system for detonating cord


An automated marine refueling facility for effecting marine fueling transactions includes a buoyant platform that is adapted to float above a water level in a body of water such as a lake and a storage tank that is mounted to said platform for storing a quantity of fuel. A pumping system is provided for permitting a customer to refuel a boat from fuel that is extracted from said storage tank. The pumping system is grounded so as to avoid electrical discharges. This facility is advantageous in that it permits a fueling transaction to be performed without an excess of unprotected piping between the storage tank and the boat, thereby reducing the potential for accidents and marine pollution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of portable automated fueling facilities of the type that are deployable at a desired location and that do not need an attendant to effect a refueling transaction. More specifically, this invention relates to a barge mounted fueling facility that is adapted for marine refueling transactions, and that is adapted to minimize the risk of significant environmental pollution.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Nearly all marinas have facilities of some type for refueling. The most prevalent type of marine refueling facility includes an above or below-ground storage tank and an above-ground pumping module which is operated by an attendant, much in the manner of commercial service stations for automobiles.
One significant disadvantage of below ground marine refueling stations is the time and labor involved in preparing for and constructing such a facility. Some factors which contribute to the expense of constructing a below-ground facility include the need for construction permits, subcontractors, excavation and the time and planning involved in locating a permanent site for the facility. Once installed, such facilities can not practically be moved to different locations at the marina, to other marinas, or be sold. Above-ground tanks avoid many of the problems discussed above, but present other problems. For example, an above-ground tank will float in high water, so it must be secured to the ground in areas where flooding is a realistic possibility. Similarly, it is not uncommon for below ground tanks to rise in areas that have a high water table or that are prone to flooding.
Another disadvantage of the typical marine refueling facility is that the pumping station is typically located a good distance away from the boat that is being refueled. It is not uncommon to find systems where the tank is positioned on the shore with piping and hoses running hundreds of feet to a dispenser on a dock or a pier. Since most fuel system leaks occur in the piping, and since marine dispensing systems are in constant movement, many marine fuel systems leak into lakes and waterways, which is not easily detectable since the fuel floats away from the spill location and mixes with the water. Many times, hoses become submerged in the water, and pulled around objects, increasing the risk of rupture and contamination.
In many marinas, it is difficult for a marine pilot to refuel his or her water craft at irregular times when an attendant is not present at the marina's refueling facility. As a result, a boat may be effectively prevented from beginning or resuming boating activities until an attendant is again on duty.
When storing volatile liquids such as fuel, it is important that the loss of vapor to atmosphere be minimized, both for fuel conservation and ecological considerations.
When refilling a fueling facility, it is also important that the operator in charge of such refilling be warned when the fuel level in the storage tank approaches capacity, thereby avoiding a spill due to overfilling the tank.
When a large fuel capacity is required for a marina, it is important to modularize the fuel storage such that, in case of impact by a boat, only the breached module will leak, thus limiting the amount of fuel that is spilled.
It is clear there has existed a long and unfilled need in the prior art for an improved marine refueling facility that is as isolated as possible from potential sources of combustion, that minimizes the amount of unprotected piping or hose from the fuel storage tank to the area where fuel is being dispensed, that is secondarily contained, preventing contamination in the event of a spill or a leak in the primary tank, that is resistant to conduction of electricity and corrosion, and that is easily movable in the event of a flood or high water, all for environmental reasons and for reasons of fire safety.


An electrical connector including a shell having a inner area supporting a contact member adapted to mate with a contact of another connector. The shell includes a wall having at least one locking opening and a flexible extension. A locking member includes first and second ends, the first end including at least one locking tab received in the locking opening and extending into the inner area of the shell in a locked position, and the second end being coupled to the extension of the shell. The locking member is moveable to an unlocked position in a first direction away from the wall of the shell and the extension is moveable in a second direction opposite the first direction, so that no portion of the locking tab extends into the inner area of the shell.

Conventional electrical connectors for data transmission, such as universal serial bus (USB) connectors, include two mating parts, a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle receives the plug thereby connecting their respective electrical contacts of the plug and receptacle. Springs arms typically are provided in the receptacle body to grip the plug when it is inserted into the receptacle. However, these spring arms often fail to sufficiently hold the plug in the receptacle resulting in inadvertent separation of the plug from the receptacle and loss of data transmission.


A torsional joint assembly formed from a substantially planar material sheet comprises a plurality of contiguous segments. The contiguous segments include at least two, substantially parallel hinge segments, each being coupleable to a loading structure; and at least a first connecting element connecting the hinge segments one to another, the connecting element extending substantially orthogonally to the hinge segments.

Compliant joints, or flexures, gain their motion through the deflection of the joint material, rather than multiple joint surfaces rotating and/or sliding relative to each other. Because compliant joints are monolithic they have no backlash from joint clearances or friction from contacting surfaces. Energy is stored in the material as the joint flexes. This energy can then be used advantageously by designing the joint to exhibit desired force-deflection characteristics without additional springs.
Compliant joints are often used when creating multi-stable mechanisms capable of having two or more equilibrium positions. Although compliant joints exhibit many benefits, they are often limited in their range of motion, and are generally harder to design, than their rigid-body counterparts, due to the coupled motion and energy equations that govern their behavior.
Compliant mechanisms manufactured from sheet goods with motion out of the plane of manufacture have been classified as "lamina emergent mechanisms" (LEMs). While much work has been done in developing such compliant joints for micro and macro applications, prior solutions often exhibit a number of problematic attributes.

Lamina emergent torsional joint and related methods


Citric acid is separated from a fermentation broth containing gluconic acid by using an adsorbent comprising a water-insoluble, macroreticular or gel, strongly or weakly basic anionic exchange resin possessing quaternary or tertiary amine functional groups, said a anionic exchange resin having a cross-linked acrylic or styrene resin matrix and a desorbent comprising water or dilute sulfuric acid. The pH of the feed is maintained below the first ionization constant (pKa1) of citric acid to maintain selectivity.

Citric acid is used as a food acidulant, and in pharmaceutical, industrial and detergent formulations. The increased popularity of liquid detergents formulated with citric acid has been primarily responsible for growth of worldwide production of citric acid to about 700 million pounds per year which is expected to continue in the future.
Citric acid is produced by a submerged culture fermentation process which employs molasses as feed and the microorganism, Aspergillus-Niger. In some applications, the fermentation product will contain organic acids such as gluconic acid or aconitic acid carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins and salts as well as citric acid, which must be separated from the fermentation broth.
There are two historical technologies employed for the separation of citric acid from fermentation broths. The first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,928 involves calcium salt precipitation of citric acid. The resulting calcium citrate is acidified with sulfuric acid. In the second process, citric acid is extracted from the fermentation broth with a mixture of trilaurylamine, n-octanol and a C10 or C11 isoparaffin. Citric acid is reextracted from the solvent phase into water with the addition of heat. Both techniques, however, are complex, expensive and they generate a substantial amount of waste for disposal.
The patent literature has suggested a possible third method for separating citric acid from the fermentation broth, which involves membrane filtration to remove raw materials or high molecular weight impurities and then adsorption of contaminants onto a nonionic resin based on polystyrene or polyacrylic resins and collection of the citric acid in the rejected phase or raffinate and crystallization of the citric acid after concentrating the solution, or by precipitating the citric acid as the calcium salts then acidifying with H2SO4, separating the CaSO4 and contacting cation- and anion-exchangers. This method, disclosed in EP 151,470, is also a rather complex and lengthy method for separating the citric acid. In contrast, my method makes it possible to separate the citric acid in a single step and recover the citric acid in a much simplified process. Succinctly stated, the citric acid is adsorbed selectively by the adsorbent and purified citric acid is desorbed by a desorbent, for example, water or a dilute acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or phosphoric acid.

Separation of citric acid from gluconic acid in fermentation broth using a weakly or strongly basic anionic exchange resin adsorbent


The lightning arrestor has two metal end fittings for connection purposes, a stack of electrically conductive components extending along a longitudinal axis between the two end fittings, and an envelope surrounding the electrical components and the end fittings in such a manner as to maintain electrical contact between the components. The envelope is made of a thermoplastic material that molded over the electrical components and the end fittings. It has an embossed outside surface including depressions and projections. The depressions correspond to zones of reduced envelope wall thickness and they serve to constitute lateral openings through the envelope for allowing gas to escape to the atmosphere.

Such a surge shunt or lightning arrestor is designed to be connected to electrical equipment for the purpose of enabling it to be bypassed by pulses of surge current. Such surge current pulses occur, for example, during strokes of lightning. When this takes place, the lightning arrestor diverts the current pulse to ground, thereby protecting the electrical equipment and the circuit from being damaged or even destroyed.
In present lightning arrestors, the envelope surrounding the conductive electrical components, generally cylindrical varistor blocks, is constituted by a resin-impregnated winding of glass fibers, with the assembly being received in an insulating housing of an elastomer polymer that is weatherproof.
For a lightning arrestor to operate properly, intimate contact must be maintained between the varistor blocks. This contact is ensured by the structure of the envelope which puts the varistor blocks into axial compression. Where appropriate, a spring can be interposed between one of the end fittings and the varistor block situated at the corresponding end of the stack in order to achieve such axial compression.
Such lightning arrestors can fail, in which case they can be the seat of large leakage currents giving rise to high gas pressures inside the envelope and thus leading to the lightning arrestor bursting. To limit or prevent this risk of bursting, it is known to provide a glass fiber winding that leaves lateral openings so that gases can escape to the atmosphere. Such a structure, known from European patent No. 0 335 480, is nevertheless relatively expensive to manufacture and an object of the invention is to propose a shunt that is less expensive.

Lightning arrestor with a thermoplastic envelope having an embossed outside surface

Sediver, Societe Europene D/Isolateurs En Verre Et Composite


A gravel packing assembly gravel packs a horizontal borehole. Operators wash down the borehole using an inner string in a first position by flowing fluid from the inner string through the apparatus' toe. Operators then gravel pack by moving the inner string to one or more flow ports between a screen and the toe. Slurry flows into the borehole from the flow ports, and returns from the borehole flow through the screen. The gravel in the slurry can pack the borehole in an alpha-beta wave from toe to heel. In another condition, operators can move the inner string to a second flow port so slurry can flow into the borehole through a shunt extending from the second flow port. When gravel packing is done, operators move the inner string to a port collar in a liner of the assembly to cement the liner in the borehole.

Some oil and gas wells are completed in unconsolidated formations that contain loose fines and sand. When fluids are produced from these wells, the loose fines and sand can migrate with the produced fluids and can damage equipment, such electric submersible pumps (ESP) and other systems. For this reason, completions can require screens for sand control.
Horizontal wells that require sand control are typically open hole completions. In the past, stand-alone sand screens have been used predominately in these horizontal open holes. However, operators have also been using gravel packing in these horizontal open holes to deal with sand control issues. The gravel is a specially sized particulate material, such as graded sand or proppant, which is packed around the sand screen in the annulus of the borehole. During production, the gravel acts as a filter to keep any fines and sand of the formation from migrating with produced fluids.
A prior art gravel pack assembly 20 illustrated in FIG. 1A extends from a packer 14 downhole from casing 12 in a borehole 10, which is a horizontal open hole. To control sand, operators attempt to fill the annulus between the assembly 20 and the borehole 10 with gravel (particulate material) by pumping slurry of fluid and gravel into the borehole 10 to pack the annulus. For the horizontal open borehole 10, operators can use an alpha-beta wave (or water packing) technique to pack the annulus. This technique uses a low-viscosity fluid, such as completion brine, to carry the gravel. The assembly 20 in FIG. 1A represents such an alpha-beta type.
Initially, operators position a wash pipe 40 into a screen 25 and pump the slurry of fluid and gravel down an inner string 45. The slurry passes through a port 32 in a crossover tool 30 and into the annulus between the screen 25 and the borehole 10. As shown, the crossover tool 30 positions immediately downhole from the gravel pack packer 14 and uphole from the screen 25. The crossover port 32 diverts the flow of the slurry from the inner string 45 to the annulus downhole from the packer 14. At the same time, another crossover port 34 diverts the flow of returns from the wash pipe 40 to the casing's annulus uphole from the packer 14.
As the operation commences, the slurry moves out the crossover port 32 and into the annulus. The carrying fluid in the slurry then leaks off through the formation and/or through the screen 25. However, the screen 25 prevents the gravel in the slurry from flowing into the screen 25. The fluids passing alone through the screen 25 can then return through the crossover port 34 and into the annulus above the packer 14.
As the fluid leaks off, the gravel drops out of the slurry and first packs along the low side of the borehole's annulus. The gravel collects in stages 16a, 16b, etc., which progress from the heel to the toe in what is termed an alpha wave. Because the borehole 10 is horizontal, gravitational forces dominate the formation of the alpha wave, and the gravel settles along the low side at an equilibrium height along the screen 25.
When the alpha wave of the gravel pack operation is done, the gravel then begins to collect in stages (not shown) of a beta wave. This forms along the upper side of the screen 25 starting from the toe and progressing to the heel of the screen 25. Again, the fluid carrying the gravel can pass through the screen 25 and up the wash pipe 40. To complete the beta wave, the gravel pack operation must have enough fluid velocity to maintain turbulent flow and move the gravel along the topside of the annulus. To recirculate after this point, operators have to mechanically reconfigure the crossover tool 30 to be able to washdown the pipe 40.
Although the alpha-beta technique can be economical due to the low-viscosity carrier fluid and regular types of screens that can be used, some situations may require a viscous fluid packing technique that uses an alternate path. In this technique, shunts disposed on the screen divert pumped packing slurry along the outside of the screen. FIG. 1B shows an example assembly 20 having shunts 50 and 52 (only two of which are shown). Typically, the shunts 50/52 for transport and packing are attached eccentrically to the screen 25. The transport shunts 50 feed the packing shunts 52 with slurry, and the slurry exits from nozzles 54 on the packing shunts 52. By using the shunts 50/52 to transport and pack the slurry, the gravel packing operation can avoid areas of high leak off in the borehole 10 that would tend to cause bridges to form and impair the gravel packing.
Prior art gravel pack assemblies 20 for both techniques of FIGS. 1A-1B have a number of challenges and difficulties. During a gravel pack operation in a horizontal well, for example, the crossover ports 32/34 may have to be re-configured several times. During a frac pack operation, the slurry pumped at high pressure and flow rate can sometimes dehydrate within the assembly's crossover tool 30 and associated sliding sleeve (not shown). If severe, settled sand or dehydrated slurry can stick to service tools and can even junk the well. Additionally, the crossover tool 30 is subject to erosion during frac and gravel pack operations, and the crossover tool 30 can stick in the packer 14, which can create extremely difficult fishing jobs.
To deal with gravel packing in some openhole wells, a Reverse-Port Uphill Openhole Gravel Pack system has been developed as described in SPE 122765, entitled "World's First Reverse-Port Uphill Openhole Gravel Pack with Swellable Packers" (Jensen et al. 2009). This system allows an uphill openhole to be gravel packed using a port disposed toward the toe of the hole.
Today when wells are drilled into reservoirs that are intended to be completed with an open hole gravel pack such as described above, the well is drilled to the top of the reservoir, and a liner is then set and cemented in place before drilling proceeds further into the reservoir. After the liner is run and cemented, then drilling operations can resume into the intended zone. Completing these operations in separate steps and separate pipe trips into the well adds cost and time to the overall well construction operation.
Rather than performing the cementing and gravel pack in separate steps, it would be desirable to perform these in the same run downhole. One way to do this is to run a gravel pack system downhole after drilling the hole. With the gravel pack system installed, sand slurry can be pumped through a crossover tool from the top of the targeted zone to the bottom to pack the annulus around a screen with sand. The crossover tool could then be raised past the open hole packer so that the crossover tool aligns with cementing ports. Operators can then pump cement downhole to cement the liner above the open hole packer. This requires circulating through a complicated cross-over tool.
Unfortunately, the wash pipe used for the gravel pack operation will still extend through the screen during the cementing operation. If tools are out of position, cement could be pumped into the screen, effectively ruining the operation. In addition, the cement would be pumped immediately after the gravel pack operation. Therefore, if any acidizing operation is to be subsequently performed, it would have to be through pipe that would likely have residual cement, which could damage the formation.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

One trip toe-to-heel gravel pack and liner cementing assembly


An epicardial lead having an electrode extending from the bottom thereof in combination with an anchoring system adapted to secure the lead to the heart without the use of complex procedures or tools. In a preferred embodiment the epicardial lead comprises an electrode body having two oppositely disposed arms, each arm fixed for rotation, each arm having an arcuate anchor mounted to the bottom surface, each arcuate anchor having as the center of the arcuate shape the axis of rotation of the respective arm. Rotating the arms causes each arcuate anchor to move in a circular fashion such that when each arm is moved from an open position to a closed position the respective anchor is moved to engage and move through the cardiac tissue and thereby secure the lead to the heart.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to leads for providing electrical signals to a human organ, such as a heart, and more particularly, to an epicardial lead adapted for quick attachment to the heart without extensive operative procedures to suture or connect the epicardial lead to the heart tissue surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heart leads are in widespread use for providing electrical stimulus signals from a pacer device to a patient's heart. In a great majority of the cases where pacers are implanted within a patient on a permanent basis, intracardiac leads are used wherein the lead is introduced into the heart through a convenient vein. This procedure avoids the requirement of having to establish direct access to the heart itself. Such leads also avoid the trauma of actually inserting the lead into the heart wall. The endocardial lead as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,680 to Stokes has proven very successful for use in a large majority of cases.
In a certain percentage of cases, however, it is deemed necessary or desirable to use an external or epicardial lead, wherein the electrode or electrodes are mechanically inserted into the epicardium. In this arrangement, it is necessary that the insertion be made with a minimum of trauma but yet be absolutely secure so that good electrical contact is maintained with the heart. Historically, one form of such epicardial lead has involved actually suturing the lead onto the heart wall to thereby insure the required security. This has the great disadvantage, however, of increasing the complexity of the operative procedure required to implant such a lead.
To overcome the difficulties and complexities presented by use of a sutured epicardial lead, the medical device industry has developed a screw-in epicardial lead. This lead consists of a helical coil which is screwed into the heart wall. Examples of such a lead are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,534 to Quinn and U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,234 to Tachick. This type of lead, however, requires sufficient room to approach the heart wall from a direction more or less perpendicular to the surface to enable the helical coil to be screwed directly into the heart muscle. Even if a perpendicular approach is not required, the physician must still have sufficient access to the heart so as to be able to push the helical coil tip into the epicardium and rotate it.
An alternative to a screw-in lead may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,818 to DePedro which discloses an epicardial electrode constructed from a pliable material and having a series of fixation prongs perpendicular to the body. This lead, however, requires the use of a tool or instrument to deform the electrode body back against itself in order to attach it to the heart surface. A variation on a such flexible epicardial lead is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,890 to Hess which shows a lead which must be flexed forward with a tool, rather than backward, against itself in order to insert it into the epicardium.
While these leads have enjoyed a reasonable success to date, there remains a need for a simpler type of epicardial lead which reduces the procedures and tools required of the physician to secure the lead to the heart. The need is to find an epicardial lead which increases the simplicity of the procedure, in contrast to recent designs which have increased the complexity of the procedure and have required specific additional instruments or tools. There is thus a great need for a simple epicardial lead which may be manually secured by the surgeon with a minimum of procedure and with a minimum of access to the heart wall and without the need of specific additional instruments or tools.

Epicardial lead having dual rotatable anchors


A method for manufacturing an article that records a holographic image when photographed or videotaped but otherwise not visible to the naked eye. The article, such as a basketball, includes at least a layer of polyurethane leather that is reflective and is illuminated on photographic media when imaged. The illuminated or holographic image may be seen and displayed on a digital device, such as a social media platform.

This invention relates generally to reflective articles and, more particularly, a method for producing a holographic article on recordable digital media, the article preferably relating to sports-related gear. More particularly, the article may be constructed of a reflective leather material that produces an illuminated or holographic effect when exposed to the flash or light of a video camera.
In recent times, users of the internet desire to post pictures and videos of interest to their followers in a quest to receive the gratification of "likes," more followers, or to be viewed by so many people to qualify as "going viral." Purveyors of interesting videos may have their own YouTube™ channel, Facebook™ page, or other social media platforms. Pictures or videos of sports gear or other articles provide excellent subject matter for videos, especially if they display vibrant or photogenic color schemes.
In the past, reflective materials have been applied to an outer surface of an article so that the colors of the applied materials display vibrant color variations to the naked eye of onlookers. The applied reflective materials may be powder or paint and may be applied as needed over time or be included in the manufacturing process. In addition, the display may be enhanced by a light source being activated and directed toward the article.
Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, there is now a need for an article to display a glow, radiance, or holographic effect that is not visible to the naked eye of a person but, rather, that is only captured by a still or video camera having a light source directed at the article while capturing a recording of the article. Therefore, it would be desirable to have an article, such as sports-related gear, that that produces an illuminated or holographic effect when exposed to the flash or light of a video camera. Further, it would be desirable to have an article, such as sports-related gear, that requires no external or internal power source to cause the illumination effect on film.

Method for producing a holographic article


A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip that defines a medium confronting surface. The write element is operable to generate a first field at the medium confronting surface. A conductor is proximate the write element tip and first and second conductive leads are connected to the conductor and configured to deliver a current to the conductor to generate a second field that augments the first field. First and second side elements are disposed on opposite sides of the write element tip in a cross-track direction at the medium confronting surface. At least a portion of the first conductive lead is disposed adjacent the first side element on a side opposite the medium confronting surface, and at least a portion of the second conductive lead is disposed adjacent the second side element on a side opposite the medium confronting surface.

As magnetic recording storage densities continue to progress in an effort to increase the storage capacity of magnetic storage devices, magnetic transition (i.e., bit) dimensions and critical features of the recording device are being pushed below 100 nm. In some cases, the critical dimensions of the write element are decreasing faster than the spacing between the write element and the magnetic medium. This presents a significant challenge in that not only is the magnetic field strength effectively reduced, but the magnetic field profile at the medium is more poorly confined. The result is that off-track fields can cause undesirable effects such as adjacent track or side track erasure. Thus, an important design consideration is to confine the magnetic fields more effectively without significantly degrading the field strength at the medium.
In addition, making the recording medium stable at higher areal densities requires magnetically harder (i.e., high coercivity) storage medium materials. A magnetically harder medium may be written to by increasing the saturation magnetization value of the magnetic material of the recording device to increase the magnetic field applied to the magnetic medium. However, the rate of increase of the saturation magnetization value is not sufficient to sustain the annual growth rate of bit areal densities. Another approach is to provide a stronger write field by incorporating a conductor adjacent to the tip of the write pole that produces a magnetic field to reduce the coercivity of the magnetic medium near the write pole. This allows data to be written to the high coercivity medium with a lower magnetic field from the write pole. However, due to the finite thickness of the conductor in the down track direction and its location, the magnetic field generated by the conductor can have an adverse effect on the down-track field gradient. In addition, leads that deliver current to the conductor may present potential processing and reliability problems due to exposure of the lead material to corrosion inducing agents. Furthermore, when side shields are incorporated in the writer, a portion of the leads near the medium confronting surface, write pole, and assist device are often replaced with magnetic materials, which generally do not have ideal electrical and thermal properties.

Wire and wire lead designs for a wire-assisted magnetic write device


An in-line roller skate with fiber optic lighting for illuminating a skater's pathway including a boot housing having a plurality of closure means, a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall; and a roller wheel assembly connected to the bottom wall of the boot housing including a mounting bracket for supporting a plurality of skate wheels thereon. The in-line roller skate further includes a power source mounted on the boot housing; and a fiber optic lighting assembly for providing light and being connected to the power source and including a light source, a lens and a plurality of fiber optic lines for transmitting light to a plurality of locations on the boot housing and on the mounting bracket.

Roller skates, in-line skates and the like are an ever increasing sporting activity popularized by children, teens and adults of both sexes. This sporting activity takes place in day light, evening and night time hours where present skates have only reflective strips for illumination to other skaters or pedestrians or traffic when in use during evening or nighttime hours. Skaters presently use reflective clothes and a flashlight for illuminating their path when skating at dusk, evening, twilight or nighttime hours.
Reflective strips on skates and reflective clothes on skaters are dependent on overhead lighting from street lights, or traffic headlights from moving motor vehicles or from flashlights from other skaters. When the aforementioned lights are not present, reflective strips on skates and reflective clothes on skaters are not effective for giving illumination to a pathway, street, or parking area for a skater participating in the skating activity. Skaters do not always have a flashlight while skating, motorists do not necessarily turn-on the headlights of their vehicles until nighttime hours, and street lights may be on a timer that only turns on at a specific time, well past darkness or nighttime.
There remains a need for in-line skates with fiber optic lighting that provides safety and aesthetic lighting to the skates which gives the skater proper pathway illumination, brake light illumination and skate illumination for the skater, other skaters, pedestrians, and motorists when in use.

In-line skates with fiber optic lighting


The polishing composition of the present invention contains an oxidizing agent and a scratch-reducing agent represented by general formula (1) or (2) below.

When the wiring of a semiconductor device is formed, first a barrier layer and a conductor layer are successively formed on an insulator layer having trenches. Then, at least portion of the conductor layer located outside of the trenches (outside portion of the conductor layer) and portion of the barrier layer located outside of the trenches (outside portion of the barrier layer) are removed by chemical mechanical polishing. Such polishing to remove at least the outside portion of the conductor layer and the outside portion of the barrier layer is generally carried out as two steps: a first polishing step and a second polishing step. In the first polishing step, part of the outside portion of the conductor layer is removed to expose the upper surface of the barrier layer. Removal of part of the outside portion of the conductor layer is generally begun at what is initially a relatively high polishing removal rate, after which the polishing removal rate is held down in order to minimize the formation of steps between the upper surface of the conductor layer and the upper surface of the barrier layer. In the subsequent second polishing step, at least the remainder of the outside portion of the conductor layer and the outside portion of the barrier layer (in some cases, part of the insulator layer as well) are removed in order to expose the insulator layer and obtain a flat surface. Conductor wiring composed of the portions of the conductor layer remaining within the trenches is thereby obtained.
In such polishing for the purpose of forming the wiring of a semiconductor device, particularly polishing in the second polishing step, use is generally made of a polishing composition that includes both a polishing accelerator such as an acid and an oxidizing agent and further includes, where necessary, polishing abrasive grains. It has been proposed that an organic acid and a surfactant be added to a polishing composition to increase the polishing removal rate and reduce defects in an object to be polished after polishing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a polishing composition containing two types of abrasive grains of different sizes, a triazole compound, and an organic acid such as PBTC, and attempts both to increase the barrier layer polishing removal rate and to suppress defects such as surface contamination. Patent Document 2 discloses a polishing composition containing a metal oxide dissolving agent, abrasive grains, and a surfactant such as HEDP that keeps the abrasive grains from precipitating. The aim of using a surfactant that keeps the abrasive grains from precipitating is both to increase the ease of cleaning an object to be polished and to reduce the adhesion of foreign matter to the object to be polished. Patent Document 3 discloses a polishing composition containing an oxidizing agent and a specific compound of HEDP or NTMP. The prime aim of using the specific compound is to form a metal protective film on an object to be polished composed of copper or silver to reduce defects such as corrosion on the object to be polished.
However, when the wiring of a semiconductor device is formed by chemical mechanical polishing, scratches commonly appear on the conductor wiring. Reducing such scratches to a satisfactory level with the polishing compositions disclosed in Patent Documents 1-3 is difficult.
One cause of scratches on conductor wiring is thought to be aggregation of abrasive grains in a polishing composition. Means that have been adopted for reducing such scratching include, for example, removing coarse abrasive grains from the polishing composition, preventing abrasive grains aggregation within the composition, and adding a chemical substance having the effect of forming a protective film on the surface of the conductor layer. However, such means do not sufficiently reduce scratching.
In another means for reducing scratching, a new problem sometimes arises. Specifically, portions of a conductor layer that are located in trenches and are not supposed to be removed end up being removed by polishing more rapidly than an insulator layer, which results in the increase of the size of steps between the upper surface of the conductor wiring and the upper surface of the insulator layer.

Polishing composition, polishing method using same, and method for producing semiconductor device

Abstract: In the formulas, X1 and X2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a phosphate group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkyl polyamine group, an alkyl polyphosphate group, an alkyl polycarboxylate group, an alkyl polyaminopolyphosphate group, or an alkyl polyaminopolycarboxylate group.


A liquid crystal display device with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal interposed between the first and the second substrates, and a detection circuit. The second substrate includes a detection electrode for a touch panel. The respective pixels have pixel electrodes and counter electrodes. The counter electrode divided into a plurality of blocks is provided common to the respective pixels on a plurality of consecutive display lines. The counter electrode divided into blocks serves as the scanning electrode for the touch panel. The detection circuit includes a calibration capacity element provided for each of the detection electrodes, having one end connected to the detection electrode, and supplies a calibration voltage to the other end of the calibration capacity element in a touched position detection process.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to the art efficiently applied to an in-cell type liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch panel.
The display device is provided with a unit for inputting information (hereinafter referred to as a touch sensor or a touch panel) through touch operations (contact-pressing operation which will be simply referred to as touching) on the display surface by means of a user's finger or a pen, and used for mobile electronic devices, for example, PDAs and mobile terminals, various kinds of home electric appliances, and automated teller machines.
As the aforementioned touch panel, an electrostatic capacity system for detecting change in the capacity of the touched area has been known.
For example, as JP-A-2009-258182 discloses, the in-cell type liquid crystal display device with a touch panel function built-in the liquid crystal display panel has been well known as the electrostatic capacity type touch panel.
A scanning electrode for the touch panel of the in-cell type liquid crystal display device is derived from dividing a counter electrode (common electrode) formed on a first substrate (TFT substrate) into blocks, which constitutes the liquid crystal display panel.
The touch panel of the in-cell type liquid crystal display device is of coupling capacity detection type, and detects a touched position through detection of a cross capacity Cxy between the scanning electrode formed on the first substrate of the liquid crystal display panel and a detection electrode formed on a second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel.
The cross capacity Cxy has to be calibrated because of individual difference and variation in the plane resulting from variation and non-uniformity in permittivity and thickness of the liquid crystal layers, glass substrates that constitute the first and the second substrates, polarizing plates and adhesive resins.
In the shipment inspection stage of the touch panel of the in-cell type liquid crystal display device, the metal plate with the area sufficient to cover the entire surface of the touch panel is disposed. If the difference values of all the intersections of the scanning electrodes and the detection electrodes in Raw data between the cases before and after disposing the metal plate are within the specified range, the touch panel may be considered as being acceptable.
The metal plate inspection may be carried out within a short period of time. Meanwhile, it is difficult to detect the adjacent short-circuit failure between the two adjacent detection electrodes. The aforementioned adjacent short-circuit failure includes the one which occurs in the wiring on a flexible wiring substrate connected to the two adjacent detection electrodes.
The adjacent short-circuit failure between the two adjacent detection electrodes may be detected through the point inspection for each intersection between the scanning electrodes and the detection electrodes. However, it takes time for the inspection, thus significantly deteriorating the production efficiency. The method of conducting an open short-circuit inspection with a test pad disposed on the wiring connected to the detection electrode on the flexible wiring substrate has a disadvantage of higher susceptibility to noise and static electricity, or increase in size of the flexible wiring substrate.


The present invention provides a method and system for providing facility-based aerial displays to field personnel in support of repairing outside network facilities. The invention relates to a method and system for displaying a series of selected frames to generate a display of surroundings within the vicinity of a cable break. Frames are selected and manipulated in accordance with a significance level which accepts or rejects the frame and in accordance with a set of display parameters selected by a dispatcher. The aerial display is compiled and displayed to support the assessment of the surroundings to be encountered by a repair crew.

The integrity of the public switched telephone network and related network based facilities is an issue of increasing concern to the public at large and to the telecommunications industry—particularly in the wake of recent network failures occurring in the United States, such as the fire that occurred at a local exchange in Chicago in May 1998 which caused the loss of telecommunications services to over 35,000 residential telephone, 37,000 trunks, and over 118,000 long-distance fiber optic circuits. Concern over network integrity has also been heightened by the ever increasing costs associated with the replacement of telecommunications equipment and the labor-intensive costs of deploying a repair and restoration work force to an affected site. Accordingly, telecommunication services providers are becoming more attentive to assessing and developing new ways to minimize service outages by preventing damage to existing facilities, finding alternative means of routing traffic and expediting the repair and restoration process.
Telecommunication services providers such as AT&T and other local and long-distance carriers maintain an extensive network of copper-based, coaxial, and fiber optic cables to carry the nation's telecommunications traffic. Despite the care given to protect and maintain these cables, such cables can and do sustain damage. These cables are damaged for a number of reasons, ranging from acts of nature, in the form of floods, fires and earthquakes, to contractor mistake or carelessness in severing cables during excavation. Regardless of the cause of the damage, service disruption can have an immediate and lasting effect on the businesses that depend upon such services. Moreover, a service disruption may also have significant financial consequences on the service providers. More specifically, service providers face the prospect of significant loss of revenue as well as and perhaps most importantly, a loss of goodwill in its ability to provide and maintain quality, reliable and survivable services. To minimize such financial and perceptual damage to the service providers, a rapid and reliable restoration plan and process must be in place.
Present-day outside plant cables are monitored by various systems that are capable of detecting the disruption of traffic on a cable-by-cable basis. Upon detection of a broken or damaged cable, a dispatcher will dispatch one or more field technicians to the location of the break to perform a preliminary assessment of the site and to conduct the necessary repairs. However, the mere detection of a break in a cable or the fixation of the location of the break on a cable is often insufficient to assess the magnitude and degree of effort necessary to restore service. Often, cables are buried or hidden from view by natural and made—made structures such as trees, poles, apartment buildings, sewer ducts, bridges and roadside guardrails and passageways.
To facilitate a damage assessment and the extent of the repair effort necessary, the dispatcher must first assemble a team of field inspectors to assess the extent of the damage and potential obstacles in the way of repair and restoration. This first stage of assessment is rather inefficient in that it relies heavily on the assessment of cable damage by field personnel that may not have the best vantage point from which to assess the damage. Often, field personnel are only provided with a location and an identified cable or cables and related equipment that have been detected as the source of the problem. Under these circumstances, field personnel are often unable to fully appreciate the routing of damaged cables, the location of related equipment that must be replaced or tested, and the alternative solutions to the problem. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and system which would inform the dispatcher and the assigned field personnel of the terrain, cable routing, and related equipment associated with or within the immediate vicinity of the damaged cables or equipment. In particular, there is a need for the provisioning of structural and up-to-date mapping information about the routing of the affected cables and related equipment. Moreover, the mapping and display information is necessary to facilitate the advanced assessment of the potential damage and the effort necessary to repair and restore service.

Method and system for provisioning facility-based displays in support of repairing outside network facilities


One example includes an OP-AMP circuit system. The system includes a signal amplification path comprising a signal amplification path comprising a signal amplifier and an output stage. The signal amplification path can be configured to amplify an input voltage received at an input to provide an output voltage via the output stage. The system also includes an offset-reduction path coupled to the input of the signal amplification path and to an output of the signal amplifier. The offset-reduction path includes a transconductance amplifier and at least one chopper that are configured to mitigate noise in the signal amplification path and a noise-filtering feedback path configured to provide chopper feedback with respect to an offset voltage associated with the offset-reduction path, the noise-filtering feedback path comprising a feedback path input coupled to the input of the transconductance amplifier via a resistor.

Frequency chopping is a technique that can be implemented in high-precision complementary-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) amplifier circuits to improve low-frequency accuracy and to achieve a low offset. As an example, a chopper can be configured as a switching device to convert fixed DC input voltages to an AC output. For example, a chopper can be configured as an electronic switch system that is used to interrupt one signal under the control of another. Choppers can be implemented in a variety of applications, such as signal-sensing applications in which errors at DC voltages and/or low-frequency can be highly detrimental. However, typical chopper implementations may not eliminate noise and offset conditions, but may instead merely shift the noise and offset conditions to a frequency associated with control of the choppers. Frequency control of the choppers can be implemented to mitigate such deleterious effects, but increasing frequency can often increase input currents. Such increases in input currents can result in a sacrifice of accuracy of the amplifier system based on an introduction of DC errors.

Chopped operational-amplifier (OP-AMP) system


The present disclosure provides an opening-closing type microwave catalytic reaction apparatus, including a microwave system, a microwave cavity, a protective cover, a cooling system, and a vertical furnace tube, where two ends of the furnace tube are respectively stretched out of the microwave cavity, the microwave system includes a plurality of microwave transmitting units, and the microwave transmitting unit includes a microwave transmitter; the furnace tube is provided with a gas inlet on a top and a gas outlet on a bottom; a compression hinge and a cavity cover capable of being opened or closed are arranged on the microwave cavity, a convex edge plate is disposed at an edge of the cavity cover, the compression hinge can compress the cavity cover such that the convex edge plate is tightly attached to a concave edge plate on the microwave cavity, and the protective cover can cover the entire cavity cover.

Typically, only 10-40% of light oils such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel are attainable from the crude oil through atmospheric and vacuum distillation, with the rest being heavy distillate and residual oil. To obtain more light oils, the heavy distillate and residual oil must be processed for the second time. Catalytic cracking is a process in which heavy oil takes place a cracking reaction with a catalyst under a certain temperature and pressure and is converted into cracking gas, gasoline, diesel and so on. The gasoline, presents a high octane number (about 80 motor octanes in the motor method) and a good stability, and the cracking gas (refinery gas) contains much propylene, butene and isohydrocarbon. The catalytic cracking is the most common process for producing the gasoline and diesel, and also the most important link in production for ordinary petroleum refining enterprises.
Concerning the catalytic cracking of petroleum, a high-temperature environment is required. Since the conventional heating is the external heating, and it transfers heat to the surface of a heated material first by use of heat conduction, convection and radiation, then gradually rises the central temperature through the heat conduction, and makes a central part reach the desired temperature over a certain heat conduction time, the catalytic efficiency low; and moreover, the heating often generates pollutants, which is disadvantageous to environmental protection.

Opening-closing type microwave catalytic reaction apparatus

KUNMING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


Provided is a biosensor that uses multiple organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) as light sources. The biosensor includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of OLEDs which are disposed on a first surface of the transparent substrate and are electrically separated from each other, and a photo detector above the transparent substrate that receives light emitted from a specimen disposed on the transparent substrate, wherein the specimen is disposed on a region of a second surface which is a surface opposite to the first surface of the transparent substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a biosensor using multiple light sources, and more particularly, to a biosensor that uses a plurality of organic light emitting diodes as light sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
Biosensors or biological detecting systems convert information obtained from an object into recognizable signals such as colors, fluorescence, or electrical signals by using biological elements or by imitating biological elements.
Biosensors have been compactly designed to be easily used by users, and studies have been carried out to increase the sensitivity of the biosensors. In particular, there are many kinds of dyes which attach to a material to be detected to emit photo-luminance (PL) in a biosensor. However, there are limitations in actually using many kinds of dyes in the biosensor due to the limitation of spectrums generated by a light source which is a light emission unit. Accordingly, in a biological detecting system, a light source must be able to generate various spectrums to widen the selectivity of dyes.
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a conventional biosensor. Referring to FIG. 1, after disposing a plurality of dyes 11 on a substrate 10, light emitted from a light source 13 is radiated onto a specimen (not shown), for example, a protein specimen dropped on the substrate 10. At this point, the dyes 11 generate PL by absorbing a portion of a light spectrum received from the light source 13, and a light receiving unit 15 or a photo detector detects the amount of PL received. An optical filter 17 is installed on the light receiving unit 15, and the optical filter 17 transmits the intensity of light with respect to PL having a predetermined wavelength.
In the conventional biosensor, a plurality of optical filters 17 are used in the light receiving unit 15. Thus, the structure of the light receiving unit 15 is complex, and the optical filters 17 reduce the intensity of light which results in the reduction of measuring sensitivity of the biosensor, and accordingly, in order to increase the intensity of light, the amount of a specimen must be increased. The increased number of optical filters 17 limits the selectivity of dyes 11, and thus, measurement with respect to various specimens is difficult. In addition, the increased number of optical filters 17 increases manufacturing cost of biosensors.


Provided is a compact optical element that secures an optical path length and improves manufacturing precision economically. The optical element includes a transparent member having a first and second refracting surface, and reflecting surfaces. Light entering the transparent member from the first refracting surface is reflected by the reflecting surfaces to the second refracting surface. An optical path from the first to second refracting surface crosses itself inside the transparent member seen from a direction perpendicular to light entering the first refracting surface and exiting the second refracting surface. The transparent member guides the incident light from the first to the second refracting surface while reflecting the light alternately by at least one first and one second reflecting surface is in a first and second region respectively. The first and second regions and, respectively, are on opposite sides of a plane passing through the transparent member taken as a boundary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical element and to an optical system used in a variety of optical devices, such as video cameras, still cameras, portable device cameras, and other image pickup apparatuses, and head mounted displays, projectors, and other display devices.
2. Related Background Art
Design methods and design examples for sufficiently correcting aberrations in a decentered optical system by introducing an idea referred to as a reference axis, and making a constituent surface of the optical system into an asymmetric non-spherical surface, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,560, U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,887, U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,866, U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,309, U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,411, and the like.
The decentered optical system is referred to as an off axial optical system. Consider the reference axis across a light ray that passes through the center of an image and the center of a pupil. The decentered optical system is defined as an optical system that contains a curved surface (off axial curved surface) where a surface normal at an intersection between the reference axis and the constituent surface is not on the reference axis. The reference axis takes on a bent shape in the off axial optical system.
The constituent surface generally becomes decentered in the off axial optical system, and vignetting does not develop even in a reflecting surface. It is thus easy to build the optical system that uses the reflecting surface. Further, the optical path can be relatively freely drawn around, and it is easy to make an integrated optical system by using the method of integrally forming the constituent surface. Accordingly, reflecting optical elements that are compact, freely shapeable, and that utilize space efficiently can be configured.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,963 and U.S. Pat. No. 2003-063400 disclose compactly structured optical prisms that secure a sufficient optical path length by making the optical path. (reference axis) cross itself in an inner portion of the optical prism.
However, for cases where the number of reflecting surfaces of the optical prism increases due to a reason such as correcting aberrations in the optical prism, the influence of errors during manufacture of each reflecting surface, such as surface shape errors or surface peculiarities, accumulates. The tolerances in error in each of the reflecting surfaces become smaller and more severe as the number of reflecting surfaces increases. Accordingly, high precision must be secured for the surface shape of each of the reflective surfaces.
The manufacture of such optical prisms has been carried out using metallic molds in recent years mainly due to the demand for lower manufacturing costs. Further, it is necessary to provide a projecting portion to both sides of an optical element, and hold the optical element by a holding member using the projecting portions or the like when the optical element is attached to an actual optical device. However, the projecting portions are generally formed in split portions of a mold that has been split into two pieces.
FIG. 8 shows a reflecting optical element P disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2003-063400. Further, FIG. 9 shows optical surfaces R11 to R15 of the optical element P of FIG. 8, a center principal light ray (reference axis) PR, and normals RV1 to RV5 to the optical surfaces R11 to R15, respectively. The normals RV1 to RV5 of the optical surfaces R11 to R15 extend in mutually different directions.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram that shows a state where the optical element P of FIG. 8 is formed by a metallic mold that is split into two pieces. In FIG. 10, the metallic mold is split in the Y-direction shown in FIG. 8, and the mold is opened in the Y direction after the optical element P is formed. Symbol UM here denotes an upper mold, and symbol DM denotes a lower mold.
Referring to FIG. 11, mold surfaces RM11 and RM12, which correspond to the optical surfaces R11 and R12, respectively, are either substantially parallel to, or inclined at a steep angle with respect to, a direction in which the mold opens (the Y direction). The optical element P consequently tends to deform during removal from the mold.
Further, FIG. 12 shows a state when the mold surfaces RM11 and RM12 are machined when manufacturing the upper mold UM. Symbol B here denotes a cutting tool that is attached to a cutting machine. The cutting tool B is normally brought into contact with mold surfaces from a direction normal to the surfaces during manufacture of the mold. However, as can be understood from FIG. 12, a position of the cutting tool B when cutting the wall RM11 differs from a position of the cutting tool B when cutting the surface RM12 by an angle of nearly 180° C. However, normal cutting machines cannot handle such a large change in the position of the cutting tool. Rather, it is only possible for the cutting machines to change the cutting tool position by an angle on the order of 80° to 120° at most. Further, the smaller the gap between the surface RM11 and the surface RM12, the more difficult it becomes for the cutting tool B itself to enter between the surface RM11 and the surface RM12. Accordingly, it becomes impossible for the cutting tool B to perform cutting.
Considering the deformation upon removal from the mold, the machining of the mold, and the like, it is preferable that the angle between the normals of the optical surfaces and the directions in which the mold is removed be small.
Problems such as these are more or less resolved by splitting the mold into three or four pieces instead of two. However, it becomes more difficult to maintain positional precision of the mold pieces when the mold is split into three or four pieces, and the mold is thus not suited for forming a reflective surface for which higher precision is required than that of a light transmitting surface. In addition, the structure of a molding apparatus becomes more complex compared to that used when the mold is split into two pieces. This leads to higher costs.
In other words, the parting plane of the mold must be designed carefully in order to manufacture the optical element such as that-described above in which the reference axis crosses itself in the inner portion of the optical element. The same applies to the optical element disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,963.

Optical element, optical system, and optical device


An interconnect delay fault test controller and a test apparatus using the same wherein an update operation and a capture operation may be carried out in one interval of a system clock or a core clock when carrying out an interconnect delay fault test between an IEEE P1500 wrapped cores in a SoC as well as an interconnect wire on a board based on an IEEE 1149.1, and wherein the interconnect delay fault test using different system clocks or core clocks may be carried out simultaneously in one test cycle corresponding to each system clock or core clock even when multiple system clocks or core clocks exists is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interconnect delay fault test controller and a test apparatus using the same, and in particular, to an interconnect delay fault test controller and a test apparatus using the same wherein an update operation and a capture operation may be carried out in one interval of a system clock or a core clock when carrying out an interconnect delay fault test between an IEEE P1500 wrapped cores in a SoC as well as an interconnect wire on a board based on an IEEE 1149.1, and wherein the interconnect delay fault test using different system clocks or core clocks may be carried out simultaneously in one test cycle corresponding to each system clock or core clock even when multiple system clocks or core clocks exists.
2. Description of Prior Art
A board level test checks a fault in a chip mounted on a board and a fault in an interconnect wire between the chips. The test of the board gets more difficult to carry out as a design technique of the board progresses. In order to facilitate the test, an IEEE 1149.1 standard was established. A detail of the IEEE 1149.1 standard may be referenced from IEEE standard (IEEE Standard 1149.1-2001, "IEEE Standard Test Access Port and Boundary-Scan Architecture," IEEE, June 2001).
In addition, in design of a SoC, even when the design of the SoC enables a complex system design by integrating perfectly developed cores, an integration of test between internal cores requires a lot of time and effort. In order to enable a reuse of the test as well as the design, a standard for testing the internal cores referred to as an IEEE P1500 in an aspect of a test integration has been announced. IEEE P1500 is a preliminary version of the standard for the test of the internal cores. IEEE P1500 working group proposes core test description language, a core wrapper, various TAMs (Test Access Mechanisms) in the IEEE P1500.
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram illustrating an IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan using the IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan to test a interconnect delay fault in accordance with a conventional art.
A TAP (Test Access Port) comprises a TCK (Test Clock), a TMS (Test Mode), a TDI (Test Data Input; not shown) and a TDO (Test Data Output; not shown), and may further comprise a TRST (Test Reset; not shown) port. The TCK is a clock used when the test is carried out, and the TMS is a signal for controlling a state transition of the TAP controller.
The IEEE 1149.1 specification requires two data registers including a boundary-scan register and a bypass register, and may optionally comprises a device identification register and a user-defined data register.
During a scan operation of the data register, an addressed scan register receives a data register shift enable signal ShiftDR and a data register clock signal ClockDR. In addition, a data register update signal UpdateDR updates a shadow latch.
A detailed description of the test is disclosed in the IEEE 1149.1 specification.
FIG. 1 illustrates the timing diagram of TCK, MS, ClockDR, ShiftDR and UpdateDR of the above-described signals.
The drawback of the conventional art is that a unique problem of the TAP controller wherein an update operation in an output sell and a capture operation in an input cell of the interconnect wire during the test of the interconnect delay fault using the conventional IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan takes 2.5 TCK prevents an efficient test of the interconnect delay fault.
In order to solve the problem of the conventional art, various technologies have been disclosed.
For instance, a paper by K. Lofstrom, titled "Early Capture for Boundary Scan Timing Measurements", Proceedings of IEEE International Test Conference, pp. 417-422, 1996 discloses a method wherein an early latch is added to an input terminal of the boundary cell. That is, the TAP controller is maintained at a state of UpdateDR using the TCK and TMS, a signal EarlyCaptureClock is applied to the latch at a timing to be captured after a rising edge of the UpdateDR signal being outputted by the TAP controller. In this case, the delay fault test is possible by adjusting a time gap for applying the signal EarlyCaptureClock. However, despite the simple scheme, a method for generating the signal EarlyCaptureClock is not disclosed in detail. Moreover, a measurement of an accurate area overhead is difficult, and a design modification of the boundary cell is required when the method is employed.
A paper by J. Shin, H. Kim and S. Kang, titled "At-Speed Boundary Scan Interconnect Testing in a Board with Multiple System Clocks", Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conf., pp. 473-477, 1999 disclose a method wherein an ECCR (Early Capture Control Register) generates the signal EarlyCaptureClock for the interconnect using different clocks by adding the ECCR to the method disclosed by Lofstrom to be able to test a board employing multiple system clock.
Contrary to Lofstrom, a paper by Y. Wu and P. Soong, titled "Interconnect Delay Fault Testing with IEEE 1149.1", Proceedings of IEEE International Test Conference, pp. 449-457, September 1999 discloses two methods wherein a programmable delay circuit similar to the ECCR disclosed by Shin is employed instead of extending the state of UpdateDR using the TCK and the TMS. The two methods include early capturing in the UpdateDR state in the input cell and late updating in the CaptureDR state in the output cell. A ClockDR signal for the early capture signal or an UpdateDR signal for the late update are applied after a desired time gap from the programmable delay circuit. While the paper by Wu discloses a signal generating circuit and a waveform in detail, a structure is complex and the area overhead requires an optimization.
A paper by S. Park and T. Kim, titled "A New IEEE 1149.1 Boundary Scan Design for The Detection of Delay Defects", Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference, pp. 458-462, 2000 discloses a method wherein UpdateDR is applied trailing by 1.5 TCK by temporarily replacing the system clock with the TCK to transit a state of the TAP controller. In accordance with the method by Park, while one system clock cycle is lapsed from the UpdateDR signal to the ClockDR signal, a generation and a synchronization of a TMS pattern according to a frequency of the system clock are difficult. Accordingly, the method by Park is not completely compatible to the IEEE 1149.1.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an IEEE P1500 and a WSP (wrapper serial port) in accordance with a conventional art.
A TAM provides an electrical access of I/O port in an I/O of a system chip, denoted as TAM-In and TAM-out.
A WBC (Wrapper Boundary Cell) is a wrapper boundary cell. A detailed description of a WSI (Wrapper Serial Input), a WSO (Wrapper Serial Output), a WSC (Wrapper Serial Control) and a WIR (Wrapper Instruction Register) may be referred from related standard. The WSC includes a WRCK (wrapper clock), a WRSTN (Wrapper Reset Low), a SelectWIR, a CaptureWR, a ShiftWR and an UpdateWR.
A detailed description of the IEEE P1500 wrapper and the WSP may be referred from the related standards.
In case of the test using IEEE P1500, the update operation in the output WBC and the capture operation in the input WBC of the interconnect wiring are also delayed.

Interconnect delay fault test controller and test apparatus using the same


A seating unit includes a spring unit mounted in a frame, the spring unit having spring structures with end and middle stacked arches and interconnected to one another by tie bars, the spring unit being mounted in a frame having side rails, bottom slats, a continuous front rail, side rails, reinforcing blocks and brackets formed and arranged as a space frame.

A need exists for a new and improved seating unit, such as a sofa, loveseat, chair or the like which includes a frame adapted to support a spring unit and also receive supplemental frame components and upholstery of selected and varied configurations. Accordingly, a fabricated wooden frame with floor support, beam and brace structures receives a spring assembly having end and center support with linked leaf springs utilizing a stacked arch spring system and individual tie bars linking horizontal spring bands, the spring assembly also having improved frame mounting.


A fuel supply unit (40) for vehicles includes a flange assembly (28) and a reservoir assembly (38). The flange assembly includes a flange (36), at least a pair of metal struts (26) extending from the flange, and electrically conductive spring structure (20). The spring structure includes a first and second spring members (24, 26) having coils. Each coil receives at least a portion of an associated strut. A central leg member (30) joins the first and second spring members. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir (42), a fuel pump (44) in the reservoir, a fuel filter (46) in the reservoir and associated with the fuel pump for filtering fuel. The fuel filter has an electrically conductive portion (48). The struts are coupled with the reservoir with the spring members being disposed between the flange and the reservoir. The central leg member contacts the electrically conductive portion of the fuel filter.

With reference to FIG. 6, a typical fuel supply unit for a vehicle includes a steel or plastic flange 10 configured to be sealed to a wall of a fuel tank. The flange is interconnected with a fuel pump assembly 12 by a pair of metal struts 14. The flange 10 also provides various pathways into and out of the tank for fuel and electrical wiring.
Recently, there has been a greater focus on Electro Static Dissipation (ESD) in such fuel supply systems. It is known that as fuel flows through various components of the fuel supply system, such as the fuel pump assembly, the fuel filter, and various valving and tubing, there is the potential for static electricity to be generated in the various conductive components of the fuel supply system. To dissipate this static electricity, fuel supply systems electrically ground the components through electrical interconnection.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, some systems employ a separate cable harness 16 which grounds through the pump negative. Other systems employ grounding clips (not shown) that touch the inline filter.
Accordingly, there is a need provide for ESD without the need to use additional components such as a separate harness or clips to achieve grounding.

Electrostatic discharge solution for grounding struts and spring in fuel supply unit


An impregnation resin composition comprising an alicyclic epoxy compound, an acid anhydride, an aluminum compound having an organic group, and butylglycidyl ether, wherein the alicyclic epoxy compound contains not more than 30 ppm in concentration of Na ion component.

This invention relates to an impregnation resin composition, and in particular, to an impregnation resin composition which is suited for use in an insulation coil of a revolving electric equipment for vehicle or general industry, and of a stationary induction electric apparatus such as a transformer.
With the current trend to further miniaturize a revolving electric equipment for vehicle or general industry, an insulation coil of the revolving electric equipment is increasingly required to be excellent in insulating properties.
The insulating layer for such an insulation coil has been manufactured as follows. Namely, a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric consisting of an inorganic fiber such as a glass fiber and polyamide fiber, or of an organic fiber; or an organic polymer film is employed as a base material. Then, a laminated mica is superimposed on the base material to obtain a mica sheet, which is then employed, together with a binder and a mica tape made from the mica sheet, to cover the surface of the coil conductor thereby to form a covering layer of desired thickness. This covering layer is then impregnated in a vacuum or under a pressurized condition with a thermosetting impregnation varnish of low viscosity, such as unsaturated polyester, epoxy resin or silicone resin, the impregnated varnish being subsequently cured to obtain an insulating layer.
As for this impregnation varnish, epoxy-based resins are generally employed because they are well-balanced in various properties. On the other hand, as for the binder for the mica insulating tape, a material which is not so sticky or a solid material is preferred in view of workability. It has been proposed, for the purpose of improving the heat resistance of the insulating layer, to employ, as an insulating tape for winding around the coil conductor, a mica insulating tape comprising a mixture of a solid epoxy resin compound exhibiting a high heat resistance, maleimide and a binder, or a mixture of epoxy resin, maleimide and a binder, and to employ an epoxy/acid anhydride-curing type varnish for the impregnation of this mica insulating tape.
When an acid anhydride is employed as a cure accelerator for epoxy resin, it is possible to decrease the viscosity of epoxy resin and also to form a cured resin layer which is excellent in electric properties as well as mechanical properties.
In the manufacture of an insulation coil of electric equipment where high heat resistance is demanded, a varnish of relatively high viscosity is employed with a view to enhance the heat resistance of the insulating layer. However, in order to improve the impregnation property of varnish in relative to an insulating tape, the varnish is generally heated in an actual impregnation step so as to lower the viscosity of the varnish. However, once a varnish is heated in this manner, it is impossible to avoid the problem that the storage life of the varnish would be shortened.
On the other hand, in the case of the aforementioned epoxy/acid anhydride-curing type varnish, although the pot life thereof is relatively long because of its low viscosity, a relatively high temperature and a long time are required for the curing of the varnish. Therefore, a cure accelerator is generally incorporated into the varnish. However, when a cure accelerator is directly incorporated into the varnish, the viscosity of the varnish is caused to increase, thus leading to the shortening of storage life as in the case of a varnish of high viscosity.
In the process of impregnating the insulating layer of electric coil with a varnish, a coil is dipped into the varnish filled in a tank for a predetermined period of time, after which another coil is dipped likewise into the varnish, i.e. the same varnish is repeatedly used in this dipping operation. Therefore, the impregnation varnish is desired to be long in storage life, and hence a search for a latent cure accelerator for the impregnation varnish, which does not give bad influences to the storage life of the varnish is now extensively studied.
There are known various kinds of latent cure accelerator, such for example as a quaternary phosphonium compound, an imidazole compound, boron tetrafluoride amine compound, an adduct of tertiary amine with epoxy, a tetraphenyl boron complex and a metal acetylacetonate.
There is also proposed as a means for prolonging the storage life of varnish to microcapsulate a cure accelerator before it is dispersed in a varnish. In this case, the varnish containing the microcapsulated cure accelerator is heated at a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature thereby to melt the capsule, thus allowing the cure accelerator to elute into the varnish to promote the curing reaction of the varnish. However, the aforementioned method is accompanied with the following problems.
Since an impregnation varnish is to be penetrated into an insulating layer of high density, the cure accelerator is required to be completely dissolved into the varnish at an impregnation temperature. However, since the microcapsulated cure accelerator is granulated to have a predetermined particle diameter, it may not penetrate sufficiently into the interior of the insulating layer if the insulating layer is relatively large in thickness. In that case, the interior of the insulating layer may not be sufficiently cured due to an insufficiency of cure accelerator at the occasion of heat-curing. In the worst case, the resin in the varnish may be foamed, thus producing a cured product which is extremely poor in electric properties.
As mentioned above, since the storage life of varnish is shortened or the properties of cured product is deteriorated if a cure accelerator is directly incorporated into an impregnation varnish, a method of incorporating a cure accelerator into the insulating layer in advance instead of varnish has been proposed. Specifically, a method of incorporating a cure accelerator in a binder for an insulating tape, or a method of impregnating a solution of cure accelerator into an insulating tape which has been wound in advance around a coil conductor has been proposed. According to these methods, the insulating tape containing a cure accelerator is dried and then impregnated with a varnish and heat-cured.
However, there is still problems in the curing of the insulating layer impregnated in advance with a cure accelerator in that the varnish in the space (the varnish not containing the cure accelerator) between the insulating layers is caused to cure later than the curing of the portion of insulating layer (insulating base material layer) containing the cure accelerator. As a result, it is difficult to form a uniform cured insulating layer, and at the same time, the resin on the outer surface of the coil may not be satisfactorily cured.
Moreover, there is also a problem that during the process of curing the resin penetrated into the insulating base material layer by heat-treating it in a thermostatic chamber after the insulating base material layer of the coil is impregnated with a resin in an impregnation tank, the resin penetrated into the insulating base material layer may flow out before the resin is cured.
Since a thermosetting resin to be employed as an impregnation resin such as epoxy resin has a property that the viscosity thereof is temporarily lowered due to an increase in temperature thereof at the occasion of heat-curing, the run-out of the varnish in a degree during the aforementioned process of heat-curing cannot be avoided. However, if the resin is allowed to run out of the insulating base material layer, it becomes difficult to form a dense insulating layer. Additionally, if the resin is allowed to run out of the insulating base material layer, voids may be generated in the interior of the insulating layer, so that the electric properties such as corona discharge or the heat dissipation property of the coil would be extremely deteriorated.
Meantime, in view of enhancing the productivity of electric equipment, the impregnation resin is required to be not only excellent in impregnation property and in short-time curability, but also capable of forming an excellent insulating layer irrespective of the kinds of a binder-backed insulating tape.
Because of this, there has been proposed a method of incorporating a powdery latent cure accelerator not only into an insulating layer but also into an impregnation varnish in the manufacture of an insulation coil. However, even with this method, it is accompanied with the problem that the dispersion stability of cure accelerator in the varnish is poor, thus generating a sedimentation during a long period of storage.
If a cure accelerator is added in advance to a binder for the insulating layer, a solution containing the binder resin and the cure accelerator for the manufacture of an insulating tape would be gelled during a repeated use of several times. Furthermore, when an insulating tape is manufactured in this manner, the reaction of the binder would be gradually proceeded during a long period of storage, whereby the tape would become hard, thus making it difficult to wind the tape round the coil.
If an insulation coil is manufactured using such an insulating tape of poor winding workability, not only the external appearance of the resultant coil would be damaged, but also the electric and mechanical properties of the insulating layer would be deteriorated, thus deteriorating the reliability of the insulation coil. Therefore, the insulating tape prepared according to the aforementioned method is required to be stored in a low temperature atmosphere or otherwise required to be employed immediately after the manufacture thereof.
As explained above, the resin composition to be employed as an impregnation varnish for an insulation coil is required to be provided with various properties. However, an impregnation resin composition having such desired various properties as mentioned above is not available up to date.


A shock absorber for cycles which is adapted to be coupled to the fork of a cycle frame and is provided with an oil circulation system which is controlled by the driver through a lever which controls a stabilizing spring controlling the oil flow from one cylinder to another cylinder of a shock absorber. The invention includes a pair of telescoping cylinders with oil flow from one chamber into the other being controlled to effect delay in the movement to absorb road shocks due to a change in the road.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shock absorbers for cycles. More particularly, the invention is concerned with shock absorbers for bicycles and motor-cycles for use on rough and uneven roads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In their normal use, two-wheeled vehicles of the cycle type are conventionally made with rigid forks because usually they are not able to deaden stress forces imparted to the frame, due to road-bed unevenness, and therefore, rigid forks are used only on level and substantially even roads.
There has now arisen on the market a new type of bicycle and motor-cycle which are primarily used in a sales directed to the realization of bicycles and motor-bicycles for sport activity and are usable on mixed roads, such as an uneven hilly ground. These types of bicycles and motor-bicycles have brought into use devices known as telescopic re-entry front forks which are equipped with shock absorbers for impact stress absorption. One form of prior art, which uses spring mechanical members to obviate a kick back effect that such springs cause on the frame, is the use of hydraulic shock absorbers which provide for a soft damping. These type of shock absorbers provide for a non-variable damping effect, are adjustable from the ground by setting of a throttle valve. Consequently, with these types of shock absorbers, it is not possible to adjust the damping effect as occasion may require. Furthermore, these shock absorbers which use an oil circulation system with a sole pipe and which act with different types of valves are subject to a quick deterioration because a jamming action may arise which is caused by flow residues, or a possible shortcoming between the different parts and, therefore, they are hindered in their operation.