A printed circuit board includes a core layer, an insulation layer formed on the core layer and having a cavity formed on a part of the insulation layer, and a circuit pattern formed on the insulation layer, wherein the circuit pattern comprises one or more external terminals positioned above the cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board, and in particular to a printed circuit board with an external terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A printed circuit board has a structure configured by forming a conductive layer on an insulation layer, such as a core layer, and forming a circuit pattern on the conductive layer. Such a printed circuit board may be employed in an electronic apparatus, such as a computer, a portable electronic terminal, etc., in which a plurality of electronic parts are integrated.
The above-mentioned circuit pattern may include a plurality of internal terminals for connecting electronic parts, and one or more external terminals electrically connectable to an external electronic apparatus or a printed circuit board of a counterpart.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a printed circuit board according to the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional printed circuit board includes a core layer 110, an insulation layer 12 1 formed on the core layer 110, an elastic portion 122 inserted into the insulation layer 121, and a circuit pattern formed on the elastic portion 122 and the insulation layer 121.
The circuit pattern includes a plurality of external and internal terminals 131a and 131b; 132a and 132b, providing electric contacts. The external terminals 131a and 131b can be formed on the elastic portion so as to provide electric contacts with a counterpart printed circuit board or an external electronic apparatus.
The elastic portion 122 may be embedded in the insulation layer or exposed at the top thereof, and provides elasticity to the external terminals 131a and 131b so that the electric contacts with external devices are continuously maintained.
In the formation of printed circuit board 100, the insulation layer 121 is grown on the core layer 110, and then a part of the insulation layer 121 is selectively removed. The elastic portion 122 is formed in the previously removed portion of insulation layer 121. The elastic portion 122 may provide elasticity to the external terminals formed on the top of the elastic portion 122.
However, the elastic portion 122 and the external terminals 131a and 131b on the printed circuit board can peel off due to accumulation of fatigue and excessive physical force due to depressing and degradation of elasticity. In order to minimize this problem, a spiral contact process may be employed, which separately forms the circuit pattern and the core layer and assembles them with lamination. However, this process is difficult in alignment, and is complicated.

Printed circuit board, method of fabricating the same, and electronic apparatus employing the same

Maetan-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


An automated system for identifying a watering zone malfunction includes a sensor and a controller. The watering zone includes a valve that couples an input conduit to an output conduit. The output conduit terminates at one or more water distributors. The sensor is for capturing mechanical perturbations of the watering zone. The controller is configured to: store a profile defining at least one profile parameter based upon a transient operation of the zone in an intact state, receive the signal from the sensor during a watering operation when the zone is in an unknown state, compute a operation parameter based upon the signal for at least one time window of receiving the signal, determining a malfunction exists, and determine whether to take further action based upon the comparison.

Automated water irrigation systems are commonly employed for hydrating plants on consumer, commercial, and government properties. Consumer properties include single family homes as well as shared landscaping (e.g., "common areas" such as small privately owned parks). Commercial properties include golf courses, agriculture, and commercial property landscaping. Government properties are similar to commercial properties and often include parks, landscaping, and sometimes plants grown as firebreaks.
Automated water irrigation systems provide great convenience but suffer from occasional malfunction such as frozen valves, broken conduits, and electrical malfunction. There is a need to find an effective monitoring system that detects malfunctions but is also not cost prohibitive and can be quickly implemented for existing irrigation systems.

Automated irrigation malfunction diagnostic system


In a preferred embodiment, a gas generator system for providing underwater buoyancy, including: a housing for the placement therein of a solid chemical to produce a gas upon reaction of the chemical with water; an inlet in the housing to bring the water in contact with the chemical; a float attached to an upper portion of the housing to receive the gas and thereby to become inflated so as to effect the buoyancy; a pressure plate to continually bear against the upper surface of the chemical as the chemical is consumed by the reaction, the pressure plate having defined therethrough a plurality of apertures, the total area of the apertures being selected so as to control the rate of reaction of the chemical and being spaced so as to permit even distribution of water to the surface of the chemical; and a biaser to cause the pressure plate to continually bear against the upper surface of the chemical as the chemical is consumed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for providing underwater buoyancy generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel gas generator especially useful for providing buoyancy in deep water.
2. Background Art.
A need exists for jettisoning a device to the surface of a body of water within some period of time after deployment from a submarine or after descension from the surface of the water.
One approach to this is to discharge compressed gas into a volume. However, there are several problems with utilizing compressed gas for deep water buoyancy. These include the pressure of the stored gas, the container size required to hold the necessary volume, and mechanical activation and volume discharge control. To expel gas at depth, the internal pressure of the storage device must be significantly greater than the ambient water pressure. There must be a release mechanism that must be triggered from some external source. When the compressed gas is released, it either must be flow limited or the float assembly must be capable of releasing any excess at a flow rate consistent with the gas discharge rate from the container. Without flow limiting, it may be difficult to deploy an initially packaged float. The gas discharge rate needs to be variable as a function of ambient pressure, i.e., a greater flow rate is required at higher ambient pressures and a lesser flow rate is required at lower ambient pressures. Though the provision of variable flow rate is possible, it entails a relatively large and complex system.
Explosive gas generators also do not lend themselves well to this kind of application. The volume of gas generated, the pressure of the gas, and the size of the individual devices are within the requirements for deep water buoyancy, but there are major problems. These include safety, the speed of gas generation, activation from an electric source, and shelf life limitations. As indicated by its name, the gas is generated in an explosive burst. As with any explosive device, special safety handling requirements are necessary to avoid hazards to personnel and equipment. When activated, the gas is under very high pressure for a very short time. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to contain this gas in a packaged float assembly. Activation requires a pulse of electricity. This electricity must come from some energy storage device and be activated through a control circuit. These peripherals add expense and complexity. Most all explosive gas generators have a limited shelf life. This would not be acceptable in a unit that may sit idle for a long period of time prior to its required activation.
There a number of propulsion devices that could be employed, among them propeller drives, turbine water drives, and gas jet propulsion. They all have the same major drawbacks. They tend to be expensive, they utilize power from some source (electrical, thermal, etc.) and they require control means. The control means requires some level of complexity in order for the device to steer the unit to the surface via the most direct route. This entails the use of control circuitry with mechanically actuated control surfaces and may require some method of determining what is vertical. Using this technique to jettison a unit to the surface of a body of water would not be cost effective in most applications.
Chemical gas generation overcomes most of the foregoing problems. However, most chemicals that react with water do not generate gas quickly enough for this application. Two examples of chemicals that do are lithium hydride and calcium hydride. With both of these chemicals, there is a significant problem of containing the reaction so that it does not approach that of an explosive condition. This would generally entail the metering of the water to the chemical or vice versa. The problem with metering is that a mechanical device must be employed that will keep the chemical dry until it is required to be mixed with the water. An apparatus developed for this function may require significant complexity. Another potential problem is the heat generated by the reaction which may limit the possibility of material usage unless a cooling scheme is utilized to limit the heat build up within the device.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a gas generator system for underwater buoyancy that overcomes the limitations of prior devices and that provides for deployment at any depth from surface to maximum depth.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a generator that does not require power from an external source for gas generation.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide such a generator that is of minimum size and weight.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a generator that has relatively inexpensive material usage.
A further object of the invention to provide such a generator that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such a generator that does not cause any undue hazard to personnel or equipment.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a generator that provides for the selection of the rate of gas generation.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide such a generator that permits escape of excess gas due to expansion caused by pressure variation or by excess generation.
Yet an additional object of the invention is to provide such a generator that has a very long shelf life.
Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.

Gas generator system for underwater buoyancy


A yoke assembly includes two support members that are connected to one another, both of which include respective first ends and second ends. The support members are spaced apart enough to fit over existing hardware on a T-adapter at a dead end. In proximity to the first end of the two support members, a connection member is connected to the support members for securing the yoke assembly to the T-adapter. The yoke assembly includes a pole connector, which is pivotably positioned in proximity to the second end of each support member, wherein the pole connector is positioned between the two support members and secured thereto by the second pin. A pole can be secured between the pole connector of the yoke assembly and the power pole, reducing stress on an insulator for removing/repairing the insulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to power line tools and, more specifically, to a yoke assembly for reducing strain on an insulator string in a dead end power line arrangement.
2. Description of Related Art
Transmission power lines are wires or conductors through which high voltage electric power is moved from point to point. Transmission power lines are fastened to large transmission power poles. For safety reasons, this fastening typically occurs well above the ground. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a series of transmission power poles 100 carrying at least three conductors 105.
Transmission power poles 100 often include a number of dead ends, which are the termination of a power grid. An exemplary dead end is shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, such that between the transmission power pole 100 and each conductor 105 are an insulator string 110 comprising a plurality of insulators 112 and a connector adapter 115. The conductor 105 is not connected to another conductor, and thus terminates at the dead end. For example, the three conductors 105 of FIG. 2A terminate at the insulators 112.
Commonly, insulators 112 are made of a material that does not conduct electricity, such as glass, ceramic, porcelain, or rubber, which resist the flow of electric current. A purpose of the insulators 112 is to prohibit electricity passing from the conductor 105 to the pole 100, and is intended to support/separate electrical conductors without passing current therethrough. Because the transmission power pole 100 may be made of conductive material, e.g., metal, the insulator 112 must be positioned between the conductor 105, which is carrying the electricity, and the power pole 100. Otherwise, the power pole 100 could become conductive, such that the pole 100, itself, is powered with the electricity, which would be dangerous and hence is not desirable.
The adapter 115 connects the conductors 105 to the insulator string 110 and acts a bridge between same. Conventionally, the adapter 115 is T-shaped, such that the three conductors 105 are distanced from each other enough, as to not interfere with the transmission of power or compromise the safety of those in proximity to the power pole 100. Preferably, the three conductors 105 terminate roughly at the three endpoints of the "T." In this arrangement, the insulator string 110 must be taut in order to be connected to the T-adapter 115, and yet still support the conductors 105.
Unfortunately, some or all of the insulators 112 in the insulator string 110 can become damaged, and/or may need repair. In other situations, the insulators 112 may need to be replaced. Consequently, manufactures have designed assemblies to enable the removal of an insulator string 110 or individual insulators 112, while still maintaining the necessary strain on the conductor 105. Conventionally, a yoke plate, having one or two arms extending between the yoke plate and the transmission power pole, is used to generate the force required to slacken the strain on the insulator string 110, such that it can be repaired and/or removed.
Conventional yoke plates enabling the repair/removal of insulators slide between and around existing hardware on the T-shaped dead end adapter. The yoke plates depend on angled pins, bolts, and the like (herein referred as the "hardware") for securing to the T-shaped adapter to both the insulator string and the conductor(s). Certainly, by sliding the yoke between and around the adapter, it makes the installation of the yoke difficult. In fact, it can be awkward and problematic to obtain an accurate fit. When replacing/repairing transmission line insulator strings, an operator may be positioned a couple hundred feet above the earth, so it is desirable to enable the process of repairing/removing insulators to occur as safely, easily, and as quickly as possible.
What is needed, therefore, is a yoke assembly to safely and easily secure to an adapter to improve the repair/removal of an insulator string. It is to such a device, method, and system that the present invention is primarily detected.

Yoke assembly and method of installing same


A projection (9) is provided in a male connector (1). A lever (16) is rotatably provided in a female connector (2). The lever (16) has a curved groove (18). When the lever (16) is turned, the projection (9) is inserted into the groove (18). As the projection (9) is inserted into this groove (18), the connection between the male connector (1) and the female connector (2) is strengthened. At that time, the lever (16) provides leverage. Moreover, the distance between the fulcrum for this lever and a point of action gradually decreases. Furthermore, in this case, the groove (18) is formed in such a way as to extend to the turning center portion of the lever (16), so that the distance between the fulcrum for the lever and the point of action is reduced still more. Consequently, a larger connecting force can be provided thereto.

1. Technical Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a connector apparatus suitable for use as a multipolar connector.
2. Related Art
Generally, a connector apparatus for use in connecting electric wiring has a problem in which contact frictional resistance between contacts on connection of male and female connectors increases with increase in the number of contacts, so that a large operating force is needed for the connecting operation.
Thus, a multipolar connector having many contacts needs a larger force for performing the connecting operation.
The invention is accomplished in view of the aforementioned circumstances. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector apparatus enabled to reduce an operating force needed for connection between connectors.
To achieve the foregoing object, according to the invention, there is provided a connector apparatus comprising:
a male connector;
a female connector connectable to the male connector;
an engaging portion provided in one of the male and female connectors;
a lever, rotatably provided in the other connector, having a curved engaged portion, into which the engaging portion is inserted when the lever is rotated, wherein the curved engaged portion is extended to a turning center portion of the lever.
In the above construction, preferably, the curved engaged portion is formed into a part of spiral shape.
In the above construction, preferably, the curved engaged portion is a groove portion, the engaging portion is a projection insertable into the groove portion.
In the above construction, preferably, the engaging portion is on a rotation axis defined as the turning center portion of the lever when the male connector is completely connected to the female connector.
According to this apparatus, when the lever is turned after the male connector is fitted into the female connector until the engaging portion is placed at a curved starting end part of the curved engaged portion, the lever inserts the engaging portion into the curved engaged portion. As the engaging portion advances to the engaged portion, the connection between the male connector and the female connector is strengthened.
At that time, the lever provides leverage. Moreover, the distance between the fulcrum for the lever and a point of action gradually decreases. Thus, as the connection between the male connector and the female connector is strengthened, a large connecting force can be gradually provided thereto without increasing a force to be applied to the lever.
Further, in such a case, particularly, the aforementioned distance between the fulcrum for the lever and the point of action is reduced still more by forming the engaged portion in such a way as to extend to the turning center portion of the lever. Consequently, a larger connecting force can be provided thereto.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


A system and method for logging a formation adjacent to a borehole. The system includes a conveyance member, a memory module in communication with the conveyance member, a communications module in communication with the memory module, and a logging tool in communication with the communications module, wherein the communications module is configured to facilitate communication between the memory module and the logging tool.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the operation of instrumentation within a wellbore, and more particularly, to a system and a method for conveying and operating tools into a wellbore.
2. Description of the Related Art
The production of hydrocarbons from sub-surface locations typically includes the drilling of a borehole into the earth in a location where hydrocarbons are likely to be found, physically isolating the borehole from the earth surrounding the borehole by the placement of casing therein, cementing the casing in place, and penetrating the casing at zones known (or suspected) to have producible quantities of hydrocarbons. This enables the hydrocarbons to flow into the casing and then be pumped or otherwise flowed to the surface.
The location of zones likely to produce hydrocarbons is often determined by passing a tool, commonly known as a logging tool, along the length of the borehole. The logging tool may be conveyed into the borehole using a conveyance member, such as an electric wireline, a slickline, a coiled tubing or a jointed pipe. Certain logging tools, such as spectral saturation tools and gamma ray tools, are configured to operate with a particular conveyance member, such as slickline. Other types of logging tools, such as segmented bond tools, casing collar locator tools and sondes described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,351 and wireline logging tools described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,215 (both of which are incorporated herein by reference), are configured to operate with another type of conveyance member, such as wireline. Thus, each time a user wants to change one logging tool that is conveyable with slickline to another logging tool that is conveyable with wireline, the user would have to change not only the logging tool, but also the conveyance member. Such practice can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved system and method for logging formations surrounding a wellbore.

System for logging formations surrounding a wellbore


The present disclosure relates to a check rail for a rail suspension in a vehicle. The check rail may include a check rail body, and a ball-and-socket joint pan formed in the check rail body, wherein the ball-and-socket joint pan may include a circumferential inner wall and a receiving opening, with a ball-and-socket joint pin with an articulated ball in the ball-and-socket joint pan, and with a plastic injection layer configured to embed the articulated ball in the ball-and-socket joint pan between the circumferential inner wall of the ball-and-socket joint pan and the articulated ball.

The present disclosure relates to a check rail with a ball-and-socket joint for a wheel suspension in a vehicle, in particular a transverse rail with a ball-and-socket joint for a wheel suspension in a vehicle.
Check rails such as, e.g., transverse rails or longitudinal rails are part of the suspension of a vehicle and make it possible to guide and direct the wheels fastened to the wheel suspension. Check rails therefore ensure an effective support of the wheel suspension during longitudinal forces and/or transverse forces during travel. The connection of a check rail to the wheel carrier and/or to the structural body parts is ensured by supports such as, e.g., a ball-and-socket joint.
DE 10 2011 000 934 A1 discloses a ball-and-socket joint for a chassis of a motor vehicle, wherein the ball-and-socket joint comprises a ball of a ball pivot and wherein the ball is received in a recess which is open on at least one side. The ball-and-socket joint comprises a fastening part which is connected in a firmly bonded manner to two housing halves, and/or by a pressing connection and/or by being molded with plastic.
EP 2 803 512 A1 discloses a ball-and-socket joint for structural components of a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, wherein an articulated ball is received in a ball pan of a base body of the ball-and-socket joint. The articulated ball is held in the ball pan by a closing ring which has a flange section, wherein the flange section is connected to the base body by a welding seam running around the flange section.


A hydraulic lift for raising a boat out of water into a raised storage position is proposed. Pivoting booms are connected to a frame that is supportable by a bed of a body of water. A boat rack is provided at an upper portion of the pivoting booms. A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the frame and a lower portion of the pivoting booms. The pivoting booms are selectively adjustable between a lowered position wherein the rack is submerged in the water and a raised storage position wherein the rack is raised above the water. The position of the pivoting booms is controlled by a ram of the hydraulic cylinder. Importantly, the pivoting booms are maintained in the raised storage position when the ram is in a retracted position which protects the ram from corrosion and fouling. In the preferred embodiment, the pivoting booms are rotated over center when they are in the raised storage position.

This invention relates generally to lifts for boats, and more particularly to a lift that uses a hydraulic cylinder such that a ram of the cylinder retracts into the cylinder to move the lift into a raised storage position.
Devices for lifting boats out of water for storage are well known. One common design utilizes a frame that has a base which is rectangular in outline when viewed from above. Booms are pivotally attached to the base and are connected at their tops by a boat rack. The booms, the boat rack, and the base form a parallelogram when viewed from the side. The booms pivot from a position wherein the boat rack is below the water level for loading and unloading a boat, to a raised storage position wherein the boat is held above the water level. Typically a hydraulic cylinder is connected diagonally across the parallelogram between the booms and the base. As the ram of the cylinder extends, the boat rack is raised towards the storage position. As the ram of the cylinder retracts, the boat rack is lowered. An example of this design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,965.
In the traditional design some type of locking mechanism is generally required to hold the lift in the raised position. If these locking mechanisms fail, unexpected lowering of the boat or excessive stress on the hydraulic cylinder can occur. Furthermore the locks add to the mechanical complexity and inconvenience of the lifts. A solution to these problems has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,479 which suggests pivoting the booms over center to a raised storage position in which the weight of the boat helps hold the lift in the storage position. This solution has effectively eliminated many of the problems of prior art lifts.
However, all the aforementioned lifts have the disadvantage of having the ram of the hydraulic cylinder extended during storage. The primary disadvantage of this arrangement is that the ram is exposed when the lift is in a raised storage position. Because most lifts are in the raised storage position the majority of the time, this means the ram is exposed the majority of the time. Exposure of the ram to the water for extended periods of time allows fouling of the ram by the growth of algae, moss, barnacles, and similar aquatic life. The possibility of rusting and corrosion of the rod are also increased by exposure to water and elements present in the water.
The difficulties encountered in the prior art and discussed above are substantially eliminated by the present invention.


In the information recording an reproducing method and apparatus according to the present invention, a piece of picture image information is recorded as an analog quantity or a digital quantity an information carrying medium in a planar manner at a high density, charge potential is read for outputting electric signals to correspond to the recorded picture image information and then the outputted signals are printed out by means of various display unit or output device, with high quality and high resolution as well as ease processing of the information. The information carrying medium provides a long period of storage of information and enables stored picture image information to be repeatedly reproduced with a picture quality according to need. Particularly, it is, according to the present invention, possible to read and output local potential of an information carrying medium with predetermined scanning density at a desired time, and so pictures of high quality may be output as a silver salt photograph is taken and reproduced by optically scanning the film. Thus, the present invention may be applied to a wide field including photographing, copying and printing.

The present invention relates to a method for recording and reproducing input information, an apparatus for the same and a recording medium such as a card and a label.
Heretofore, silver salt photography is known as a high sensitivity photographing technology, in which a taken image is recorded on a film or the like material through a developing process, and then reproduced by using a silver salt emulsion on a photographic paper or by optically scanning the developed film to display it on a cathode ray tube (hereinafter referred to as CRT).
Also known is an electrophotography method in which a photoconductive layer which is deposited together with an electrode is fully charged by corona electric charging at a dark place, after which the photoconductive layer is exposed to intense light to thereby make exposed portions conductive. Charges of the exposed portions are leaked for removal to optically form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive layer, and then a toner which has electric charges opposite in polarity to (or the same as ) the remaining charges is adhered to the latter for development.
Although this technology is mainly used in photocopying, it cannot be generally used for photographing because of low sensitivity, and in photocopying the toner developing is carried out at once after an electrostatic latent image is formed since charge holding time is short.
In television photography, a picture image is obtained by a camera tube, which provides electric signals of the picture image by means of a photosemiconductor for outputting to a CRT or for video recording by magnetic recording or the like to output the image on a CRT as desired.
Silver salt photography is excellent for storing a taken object image, but it needs developing to form a silver salt image and further complicated optical, electrical and chemical processing for reproducing the image in a hard copy or a soft copy (CRT output).
Although electrophotography is easier and quicker in developing an electrostatic latent image than silver salt photography, the former is inferior to the latter in the storing period of a latent image, resolution of the developer and picture quality.
Television photography requires linear scanning for obtaining and recording electric picture signals provided by a camera tube. Linear scanning is carried out by an electron beam in the camera tube and by a magnetic head in video recording. Resolution of the television photography image depends on the number of scanning lines and hence it is considerably inferior to planar analog recording such as silver salt photography.
Television photography using a solid-state image device such a CCD is essentially the same in resolution as the above-described television photography.
In these technologies, there are disadvantages such that high quality and high resolution picture image recording requires complicated processing while simpler processing of picture images results in lack of storing function or degradation of picture quality. Gramophone records, cassette tapes or the like media are used for recording aural information, and video tapes, compact discs, optical discs are used for recording picture image information and aural information. Although records and cassette tapes are very convenient media for recording voice, they have too small memory capacity to record picture image information. Video tapes require linear scanning, and is quite inferior in resolution to planar analog recording such as silver salt photograph. Compact discs and optical discs have essentially the same poor resolution as video tapes.
In the field of printing, the image processing system includes an original scanning unit, computer and exposure recording. The original is scanned and subjected to picture image processing, such as color correction and sharpness processing, and a scanner is used for recording the image on a film. When a color scanner is used, in the original scanning unit a color original is photoelectrically scanned to provide unadjusted three-color (red R, green G and blue B) separation signals, which are stored in a magnetic disc or a magnetic tape. The computer reads data stored to apply various processing, such as color adjustment, tone adjustment and picture image composition, and then provide adjusted four color separation signals. In the exposure recording unit, a film is exposed to scanning exposure in synchronism with the original scanning according to the four-color separation signals to output an adjusted four-color separation picture image.
Picture image data, read from the original, are enormous and hence they are according to the prior art scanner system, temporarily stored in a magnetic disc or a magnetic tape, and are read as desired. However, the scanner system needs much time to record picture image data to and read them from a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape and furthermore requires a large space for storing a large number of magnetic discs or tape to store enormous image data, say tens MB of data. In addition, there is a disadvantage that data stored in a magnetic tape may be damaged during long term of storing.
In printing, positioning of an original is necessary for setting it on a reading cylinder; it is hard to set the original on the reading cylinder with accurate rotation angle for rotating it a predetermined angle. In addition, various kinds of processing, such as color adjustment, masking and sharpness processing, are performed by computer operation, which involves a great amount of processing. This requires a large computer, resulting in an expensive large-scaled system.
Usually in the printing process, the projecting department makes as the first step thereof instructions concerning an enlargement ratio of a lantern slide original and trimming as to what portion thereof to be printed. For example, in trimming indication a tracing paper is placed on a 35 mm film original for transferring the pattern thereof by pencil to make the indication, with a description of the enlargement ratio. The trimming indication is put on a bag containing the original by an adhesive tape and sent to a printing step together with a schedule sheet. During transportation of this documents, the tracing paper can separate from the original or can be spoiled.
In the conventional scanner, an original is applied to the drum and hence there are disadvantages such that finger prints may placed on the original, and such that the original may be broken in separation from the drum. For small enlargement ratio, an original is directly applied to the drum by spraying a power to it to avoid Newton ring due to partial difference in adhesiveness between the original and the drum. For high enlargement ratio, after dipped in paraffin, an original is applied around the drum by means of transparent polyester film for preventing image of the powder from appearing in the printed picture image. Thus, the scanner involves a problem of the original being spoiled due to spraying of the powder and dipping of the original in paraffin. In addition, these operations requires time consuming preparation which reduces productivity.
In the conventional photocopying machine, a photoconductive layer which is deposited together with an electrode is fully charges by corona electric charging at a dark place, after which the photoconductive layer is exposed to intense light to thereby make exposed portions conductive. Charges of the exposed portions are leaked for removal to optically form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive layer, and then toner which has electric charged opposite in polarity to (or the same as) the remaining charges.
The exposure process according to the prior art copying machine requires high voltage and large electric power since electrostatic latent images are formed by exposing intense light after corona charging is fully carried out at high voltage. Although electrostatic latent images obtained can be promptly developed by a toner with ease. However, the toner development must be carried out at once after formation, of the electrostatic latent image since the charge holding time is very short. Thus, it is not possible to perform toner developing the latent image in a considerable period of time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for recording and reproducing information, in which enables recorded characters, drawings, pictures, codes and binary information to be repeatedly reproduced in a quality according to need, with high resolution, ease in processing and relatively long term storing of the latent image. The method and apparatus may be used in various fields of technology.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an information recording and reproducing apparatus which records aural information.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information recording and reproducing method which improves sensitivity of recording.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an information carrying medium which is able to be repeatedly used by removing a latent image in it in an easy and positive manner.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information recording and reproducing apparatus which is capable of reducing time for recording and reading an original, storing semipermanently the original read and performing picture composition, color correction, masking, sharpness treatment and the like processing with ease.
Another object of the present invention to provide an information carrying medium containing information of a printing original and original processing, the medium being adapted to pass through each step of printing process, whereby the printing original may be positively protected from being spoiled.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information carrying medium which reduces preparation time for scanning with a color scanner, and which prevents an original from being damaged.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method, apparatus and recording medium which are capable of copying an original to the recording medium at a high speed with ease.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus which are capable of recording and reproducing information with high quality, high resolution, low voltage and low power consumption.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus which provide storing of information for a long period as compared to the prior art and is capable of toner development as desired.
With these and other objects in view, the present invention includes an information carrying medium, including a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, and an insulation layer arranged to face the photosensitive member. A piece of input information is stored in the information carrying medium for reproducing the piece of the input information in an electrical, optical or thermal manner.
One aspect of the present invention may perform the reproduction of information by reading charge potential.
According to the present invention, there may be provided electrostatic potential measuring means for reading an electrostatic potential of an information carrying medium having an electrostatic latent image recorded; control means for controlling scan driving of the information carrying medium or the electrostatic potential measuring means, whereby the electrostatic latent image is developed by scan driving the information carrying medium or the electrostatic potential.
The present invention may have a feature that there are provided a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer and an insulation layer arranged to face the photosensitive member, the information carrying medium being adapted to store an input information.
In a preferred form of the present invention, there are provided: a photosensitive member having a photoconductive layer provided with an electrode on a front face thereof; an information carrying medium having an insulation layer provided with an electrode on a rear face thereof, the insulation layer facing the photosensitive member, and the photosensitive member and the information carrying medium being arranged along an optical axis; and a switch for applying and removing voltage across the electrodes, an electrostatic latent image, corresponding to an incident optical image, being formed on the information carrying medium by actuating the switch, and wherein the photoconductive layer is made of a low resistant photoconductive material which is adapted to generate as carriers charges of the same polarity as the electrode of the photosensitive member.
In another preferred mode of the present invention, an information recording and reproducing method comprises the steps of: arranging a photosensitive member and an information carrying medium to face to each other; forming an electrostatic latent image on the information carrying medium thus arranged by exposure of light under application of voltage thereby to store information; and erasing the electrostatic latent image by exposure of light under application of a reverse voltage.
In a still another preferred form of the present invention, an information recording and reproducing method comprises the steps of: performing exposure of light under application of voltage for storing electrostatic latent image on an information carrying medium, the medium facing a photosensitive member, and wherein a dielectric member is interposed between the photosensitive member and the information carrying medium.
In a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided an information recording and reproducing apparatus using an information carrying medium in which picture image data read from an original are stored, the stored picture image data is read for picture image processing in a computer to produce data with a picture image processed, the data with the picture image processed is stored and then stored date is read for output to a recording medium, the improvement in which the computer includes the information carrying medium as an outer memory thereof for storing the picture image data.
Another preferred form of the present invention provides an information recording and reproducing apparatus in which rays of information light from an original, placed in position, are read by means of an input scanner, the improvement wherein an electrostatic latent image is formed on an information carrying medium by imposing rays of the information light, and wherein a piece of information of an original is read by reading potential of the electrostatic latent image formed.
A still another preferred of the present invention provides an information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising read means for reading data of an electrostatic latent image in an information carrying medium in which a piece of information of a printing original is recorded as the electrostatic latent image by exposure of light under application of voltage; signal processing means for processing the electrostatic latent image data read; display means for displaying an image according to the electrostatic latent image data; and recording means for recording the electrostatic latent image data, signal processed, in the information carrying medium, and wherein the information carrying medium is adapted to use as an original for printing.
In a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided an information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: electrostatic latent image reading means for reading electrostatic latent image in an information carrying medium to provide read signals; signal processing means for signal processing the read signals, the signal processing including a color correction operation; display means for displaying a color image according to the processed read signals; setting up means for setting up a scanner; and exposure means for exposing an engraving film to rays of light, whereby the electrostatic latent image is read for color display.
In a preferred mode of the present invention, there is provided an information recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of: arranging an original in contact or non-contact with an information carrying medium to face to each other, the original having a pattern, including a conductive portion and an insulating portion, formed thereon, the information carrying medium having an insulation layer formed on an electrode substrate; and applying d.c. voltage between the conductive portion and the electrode of the information carrying medium for forming an electrostatic latent image on the information carrying medium to correspond to the pattern of the original.
Another preferred mode of the present invention provides an information recording and reproducing method, in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on an information carrying medium by exposing a photosensitive member to rays of light while voltage is applied between the photosensitive, member and the information carrying medium, the improvement wherein the information carrying medium is in the shape of a drum, and wherein a strip of the photosensitive member is used whereby the exposure is carried out by using rays of scanning light or slitted light.
A preferred form of the present invention provides an information recording and reproducing apparatus wherein there are provided a light source for illuminating a plane of an original to obtain rays of information light, a photosensitive member on which rays of information light are imposed, an information carrying medium arranged to face the photosensitive member, and a developer for toner developing the information carrying medium, wherein an electrostatic latent image is formed in the information carrying medium by the exposure while voltage is applied between the photosensitive member and the information carrying medium, and wherein the electrostatic latent image is toner developed.
Preferably, the information recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention may comprise a photosensitive member, having a photoconductive layer formed with an electrode at a front face thereof, and an information carrying medium having an insulation layer provided at a rear face thereof with an electrode, and wherein: the information carrying medium is arranged to face the photosensitive member, image exposure is carried out from the side of the photosensitive member or the information carrying medium while voltage is applied across the electrodes, then the information carrying medium is separated from the photosensitive member, and the separated information carrying medium is subjected to toner development for forming a toner picture image.
The information carrying medium is preferably formed in the shape of a card, and data are stored as an electrostatic latent image.
In a preferred form, there are provided information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising irradiating means for applying rays of information light and a photosensitive member including a photoconductive layer, wherein an electrostatic recording card is arranged to face the photosensitive member for storing data as an electrostatic latent image in the electrostatic record card.
Preferably, the information carrying medium is adapted to record in part thereof a hologram image or a specified electrostatic latent image for preventing forging.

Method for recording and reproducing information, apparatus therefor and recording medium


A technique for locking a cache memory device (or portion thereof) which includes the following actions: (i) writing full traversal branching instructions in a cache way of a cache memory device; and (ii) subsequent to the writing step, locking the cache way. The locking action is performed by adjusting cache locking data to indicate that data in the cache way will not be overwritten during normal operations of the cache memory device. The writing action and the locking action are performed by a machine.

The Level 2 (or L2) cache is part of a multiple level storage strategy for data stored by computer central processing units (CPUs). The multiple level caching scheme bridges the gap between: (i) the relatively fast CPU; and (ii) the relatively slow random access memory (RAM). The L2 cache is typically built into the motherboard, but some CPUs now incorporate an L2 cache. Typically, L2 caches are associative and characterized by a number of "ways" and a number of "sets."
The L2 cache may be locked using a Replacement Management Table (RMT). The cache has a copy of recently fetched instructions, or recently accessed data in memory which enables the processor to access these locations faster. Sometimes for performance enhancement it would be required to maintain certain memory locations in cache permanently so that accesses to these locations will always get cache hits. Cache locking prevents replacement of instructions or data entries stored in the cache. Cache locking can be done for the entire cache or for individual ways in the cache.
A Replacement Management Table (RMT) is typically used for cache locking when one or more of the n ways of an n-way associative cache are not eligible to be replaced for a given classID, which is specified in range registers. The number of ways to be locked is typically specified using RMT setup registers. The general validation process of RMT locking and the phases involved in RMT cache locking, in order, are as follows: (i) test case generation; (ii) test case execution; and (iii) error checking. Some embodiments of the present disclosure focus on the foregoing phases (i) and (ii), and allow for the use of any checker method in phase (iii), so long as the checker method is supported by the validation support tool.
Bringing addresses from memory to cache, as "instruction fetches" using instruction range registers, entails many challenges. Some conventional techniques will now be described in the following paragraphs.
Normal code execution happens sequentially, thus executing all instructions in a current cache line (depending on the cache line size) before proceeding to the next cache line. Bringing a line to cache requires execution of only one instruction per line. Loops in the code stream will lead to the same instructions being executed repeatedly. For this reason, execution of a set of bulk instructions in sequential mode can be a less than optimal approach for creation (also called "population") of valid lines in the to-be-locked cache way.
The following table shows the number of sequential instructions to be executed, in the worst case scenario for population of an 8-way associative, 1 megabyte (MB) L2 cache with cache line size of 128 bytes (that is, 1024 bits per cache line):
Number of ways to beNumber of sequentialpopulated and lockedinstructions to be executed132*1024264*1024
As will be appreciated from the above table, writing specific code of a sequential nature for verification of L2 Cache Locking can make the entire validation tool (that is, the executable file used to implement the tool) more bulky and less scalable, depending on the coverage required.
Another technique for validation of L2 cache locking is re-execution of a random test case, first for locking and then for verification. However, this approach does not guarantee that all the cache lines, in the way to be locked, are populated with test case information. For example, in random test cases, pages in the virtual memory may be mapped to discontinuous pages in the real memory. The L2 cache is populated based on the real address of the instruction/data to be fetched. For this reason, cache lines can potentially be fetched in a disordered manner. This technique also does not necessarily allow a systematic approach for post-locking verification of the content in a locked way.
Another technique for validation of L2 cache locking is execution of loads and stores of data for populating valid lines and locking the valid lines in the L2 cache. This technique does not use instruction side registers and corresponding locking mechanisms. For this reason, this technique prevents validation of the instruction side facility provided for purposes of L2 cache locking.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Validation of cache locking using instruction fetch and execution


Method for identifying geologic features from seismic data (11) using seismic anomaly detection by a double-windowed statistical analysis. Subtle features that may be obscured using a single window on the data are made identifiable using two moving windows of user-selected size and shape: a pattern window located within a sampling window larger than the pattern window (12). If Gaussian statistics are assumed, the statistical analysis may be performed by computing mean and covariance matrices for the data within the pattern window in its various positions within the sampling window (13). Then a specific measure of degree of anomaly for each voxel such as a residue value may be computed for each sampling window using its own mean and covariance matrix (14), and finally the resulting residue volume may be analyzed, with or without thresholding, for physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential (15).

Seismic datasets often contain complex patterns that are subtle and manifested in multiple seismic or attribute/derivative volumes and at multiple spatial scales. Over the last several decades, geologists and geophysicists have developed a range of techniques to extract many important patterns that indicate the presence of hydrocarbons. However, most of these methods involve searching for either known or loosely defined patterns with pre-specified characteristics in one data volume, or two volumes at the most. These "template-based" or "model-based" approaches often miss subtle or unexpected anomalies that do not conform to such specifications. These approaches will not be discussed further here as they have little in common with the present invention except that they address the same technical problem. It is therefore desirable to develop statistical analysis methods that are capable of automatically highlighting anomalous regions in one or more volumes of seismic data across multiple spatial scales without a priori knowledge of what they are and where they are.
PCT Patent Publication WO 2010/056424 discloses a method to perform such statistical analysis to highlight anomalies automatically in multi-volume seismic analysis using a single moving window on the data to gather statistics. See also PCT Patent Publication WO 2011/139416. Both of these patent application publications are incorporated by reference herein in all countries that allow it. However, the single-windowed approach has some limitations arising from a lack of adaptivity, which biases the results towards prominent detection of obvious and dominant anomalies with weaker or suppressed response for subtle anomalies. Accordingly, there is a need for a method that mitigates these limitations, and the present invention satisfies this need.

Seismic anomaly detection using double-windowed statistical analysis


An amphibious water bomber float plane, wherein the water bomber plane is equipped with a pair of floats for landing and taking off on water, with wheels for use on land, and having pair of floats secured for supporting the plane on water, water tanks within the floats for accumulating water for water bombing, scoops mounted in each float for lowering and raising between lowered and raised positions, and, when in the lowered position, the scoops entering the surface of the water causing water to flow upwardly into the tanks, dump doors mounted in each float, in communication with the tanks, the dump doors being swingable between an open dumping position and a closed sealed position, and controls by which the dump doors may be operated from the plane. Also disclosed is a method of water bombing from an amphibious float plane.

Controlling of forestry fires by means of aerial bombing with water, or by water with fire retardant, has proved to be particularly successful. It enables fire control personnel to start dealing with a new fire within a matter of a few hours from when it is first detected, even though the fire may be located in remote bush country which is inaccessible by land.
In the past, water bombers have usually been relatively small sea planes or large amphibious aircraft. Such amphibious aircraft usually have a central fuselage which is equipped with a profile or hull having a lower shape which is adapted to land on the water, and is equipped with wing tip floats to balance the aircraft when on the water. Small sea planes in the past have been equipped with external water bombing tanks fitted to the floats of the aircraft, or with integral tanks located within the floats.
In most cases, either water is taken into the plane, in an integral compartment in the main hull of the plane, or in external tanks by skimming or taxiing across the surface of a lake. The water is then released by flying over strategic points of the fire, and opening doors in the main hull, or in each aircraft pontoon, or in tanks. Older sea planes equipped with external tanks released water by mechanically rolling the tanks over and dumping water out of the tanks.
Amphibious water bombers are relatively large and represent a substantial investment, and are costly to maintain and costly to operate.
Sea planes must normally be located at central water base facilities, where such planes can be maintained and such facility must also have access to water for take-off and landing of the aircraft.
It has been found to be desirable to provide a more versatile form of water bomber, which is adapted as an amphibian, so that it has wheels to land and take off from a runway, and floats to land and take off on the water, and which is somewhat smaller and less expensive to buy and operate. In addition, such aircraft can be dispersed somewhat more widely in the locality of smaller lakes or landing strips where fires may be expected, so that the flying time from the take-off point to the fire may be greatly reduced. This will also give the aircraft greater endurance time over the fire before it must return to its base to refuel.

Water bomber float plane and method of water bombing

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources


Systems and methods are disclosed, and one includes a computer-implemented method for predicting quality of experience (QoE) for application downloading a webpage from a server stack, including determining a stat data corresponding to a traffic through a network node, generating a feature vector using the stat data, estimating a download performance metric for the application in a downloading of the webpage, using feature vector data, and estimating a QoE value, using the estimated performance metric.

When an Internet user clicks on a webpage, the time required for the webpage to load on the user's device can weigh significantly in the user's rating of the experience. Therefore, entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can desire accurate estimation of the webpage load time. Various techniques for such estimation are known, but all have shortcomings. For example, one technique is to indirectly estimate webpage load time using readily obtainable health metrics of the network. However, page load times can be unacceptable regardless of such metrics being within an acceptable range. For example, long webpage load time can be due to client device problems.
Another technique for estimating webpage load times is to count user complaints. This technique, however, has shortcomings. One can be a time lag between network conditions causing poor page load times and receiving user complaints. Another can be negative bias due to users tending to not report "good" webpage load experience.
Another technique is to directly measure webpage load times, by installing a webpage load time measurement application on the user's Internet access device. However, the measurement application may be perceived by users as encroachment upon privacy, and as being susceptible to misuse.
Another technique is installation of a Java script on the webpage. For example, Java script can be inserted at the start of the webpage request to monitor the subsequent HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) requests for webpage. Once all the objects on the webpage have finished loading, the Java script can determine the webpage load time. However, for websites using HTTP Secure (HTTPS), object requests are generally encrypted (e.g., by Transport Layer Security (TLS)) and it may be not possible to see encrypted requests except at the user's web browser or at the webpage content servers.
Another technique is via active tests. However, such tests cannot operate continuously and, when operating, can introduce additional network traffic.

System and method for estimation of quality of experience (QoE) for web browsing using passive measurements


This invention describes an adaptation system providing terminal-specific uniform resource locators (URLs) of downloadable software allowing a receiving terminal to render originally unsupported components of multimedia messages. The URLs are provided to the receiving terminal by a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) which identifies the URLs from its database using information on the receiving terminal capabilities (i.e. based on terminal model and software release) and possibly multipurpose internet mail extension (MIME) types of originally unsupported components in multimedia messages.

A problem in multimedia messaging services is that terminals have very different capabilities (supported media formats, maximum image resolution, maximum message size, etc.). This creates interoperability problems. To reduce this problem, multimedia messaging service centers (MMSC) can adapt messages to the specific terminal capabilities. These capabilities are obtained through UAProf or deduced from HTTP/WSP headers such as a User Agent header (UAHEADER) and Accept headers. However, there are cases where the MMSC cannot adapt without significantly deteriorating the quality of the content or it does not have the functionality to do so. An example of the first case is converting a video clip to an image (e.g. extracting the first frame of the video clip). An example of the second case is if the message contains an image in PNG format (not supported by the receiving terminal) and the MMSC cannot convert PNG to an image format supported by the terminal (e.g. converting PNG to GIF). In these cases, user experience is drastically reduced.
In the current state of the art, the MMSC tries its best to adapt each media component to a format that is supported by the terminal (based on the reported capabilities). However, the MMSC transcoding capabilities may be limited only to a small set of formats. For example, the Nokia MMSC can convert GIF to JPEG and video to JPEG but those are about the only image format conversions supported so far. When the message quality is reduced too much, the message can also be forwarded to an e-mail address or legacy terminal support (some Web server for messages). Nevertheless usability is significantly reduced at a receiving terminal (e.g. when converting a video clip to a single image). For many other formats (PNG, PBM, etc.), the MMSC cannot perform the adaptation at all. Those components are still sent to the terminal if they fit within the multimedia messaging service message size restriction, but they may be unusable on the terminal side.
Thus, it is desirable to increase interoperability between terminals by providing an easy way for terminals to render originally unsupported components of the multimedia messages. It is also desirable to improve the user experience by providing easy assurance that messages can be adapted and to avoid cases where the MMSC just sending an unsupported component (with which the terminal doesn't know what to do) or dropping it. It is further desirable to increase performance of already deployed mobile phones.

System for rendering multimedia messages by providing, in a multimedia message, URL for downloadable software to receiving terminal


A height adjustable furniture piece includes a device for connecting a belt to the furniture piece. The device includes two support elements, each including a first extension member and a second extension member that is telescopically arranged with respect to the first extension member. The belt is fixed to the first extension member and a spring element connects the belt and the first extension member. The belt is deflected by pulleys such that a relative displacement between the first extension member and the second extension member of the first support element results in a synchronous relative displacement between the first extension member and the second extension member of the second support element. The spring element includes a spring force that assists lifting of the second extension member against the force of gravity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for connecting a belt of a height adjustable furniture piece and, in particular, it relates to a device for connecting a belt of a height adjustable furniture piece to a spring element for supporting a lifting operation of the movable part of the furniture piece against the force of gravity.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
From prior art, there is known a furniture piece with a device for a movement synchronization of supporting elements. FIG. 1 shows an example for a known furniture piece according to EP 1 987 734 A1 with a device for movement synchronization of supporting elements. In particular, EP 1 987 734 A1 discloses a device including two support elements 1,2, each support element comprising a first extension member 4 and a second extension member 5, wherein the first extension member 4 and the second extension member 5 are arranged displaceable with respect to each other in a telescopically manner. Furthermore, the device includes at least a first belt 6 with one end of which being fixed to the first extension member 4 of the first support element 1 and the other end of which being fixed at the first extension member 4 of the second support element 2. A deflection of the first belt 6 by means of pulleys 8,9,10 is carried out in a manner, such that a relative displacement between the first extension member 4 and the second extension member 5 of the first support element 1 results in a synchronous displacement between the first extension member 4 and the second extension member 5 of the second support element 2, relative to each other. Furthermore, the belt 6 is a steel belt and each of the pulleys 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 are supported by only one ball bearing and the admissible tilt of the ball bearing supports centering the steel belt 6, 7.
Furthermore, there is known a furniture piece with a device for movement synchronization of supporting elements as shown in FIG. 2. In comparison with the prior art mentioned above, the device shown in FIG. 2 discloses a spring element 30 connected to a belt 6 to assist lifting of the movable part of the furniture piece against force of gravity.
The disadvantage of the connection between the spring element 30 and the belt 6 as shown in FIG. 2 is subsequently explained:
As shown in FIG. 2, a rope 40 is provided between the spring element 30 and the belt 6. If the movable part of the furniture piece is lifted, due to the kinematical interaction of the belt 6 and the pulleys 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, the rope 40 which connects the spring element 30 and the belt 6 is moved. Thereby, the point of connection connecting the rope 60 and the belt 6 is moved with the belt 6 as well. Thereby, the spring element 30 is tensioned and the spring force acts against the force of gravity of the movable part of the furniture piece. Because of the pulley block (interaction of belt 6 and pulleys 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13), the moving distance of the point connecting the rope 40 and the belt 6 is twice as large as the moving distance of the movable part of the furniture piece while moving up or down. Therefore, the rope 40 needs a sufficient dimension in length. Furthermore, there is a problem since the spring rate of the spring element 30 is not constant and changes as a function of the height of the movable part of the furniture piece. Furthermore, the possible elongation of the spring element 30 has to be sufficient for covering the entire height change of the movable part of the furniture piece. Furthermore, as a further disadvantage since the belts 6 are heavy and expensive, the belts 6 are quite long in such a construction as shown in FIG. 2.

Device for connecting a belt of a height adjustable furniture piece


The present invention is a process for the preparation of hydrolyzable .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. More particularly, this invention relates to the catalytic addition of organohydrosilane to .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated olefinic nitriles to form B-cyanoalkylsilanes. The present process employs a catalyst comprising a ruthenium compound. The preferred catalyst for the present process is a ruthenium compound having at least one tertiary phosphine ligand. The process is conducted at a temperature within a range of about 50.degree. C. to 300.degree. C.

The present invention is a process for the preparation of hydrolyzable .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. More particularly, this invention relates to the catalytic addition of organohydrosilanes to .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated olefinic nitriles to form .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. The present process employs a catalyst comprising a ruthenium compound. The preferred catalyst for the present process is a ruthenium compound having at least one tertiary phosphine ligand.
Beta-cyanoalkylsilanes having hydrolyzable chlorines bonded to the silicon atom are useful for the production of polyorganosiloxanes containing the .beta.-cyanoalkyl substituent. The silicon-bonded .beta.-cyanoalkyl substituent is extremely resistant to hydrolysis and cleavage under hot, humid conditions and imparts these characteristics to the polyorganosiloxane of which they are a substituent. The presence of the silicon bonded .beta.-cyanoalkyl substituent on polyorganosiloxanes also tends to stabilize the polyorganosiloxanes against swelling induced by liquid hydrocarbons. In addition, .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes having hydrolyzable chlorines are useful reactive intermediates for forming, for example, gamma-aminoorganotrialkoxysilanes which are useful as surface treating agents.
A number of catalyst have been reported useful in the preparation of .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. Saam, U.S. Pat. No. 2,860,153, issued Nov. 11, 1958, describe a process for preparing .beta.-cyanoethyltrichlorosilane by heating at a temperature less than 150.degree. C. a mixture of acrylonitrile and organohydrosilane with a catalytic amount of an amine.
Jex et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,906,764, issued Sep. 29, 1959, describe a process where organosilanes having at least one hydrogen and one hydrolyzable group bonded to silicon are reacted with an alkene nitrile in the presence of a diarylamine catalyst to produce preferentially .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes.
Jex et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,907,784, issued Oct. 6, 1959, describe a process where organosilanes having at least one hydrogen and one hydrolyzable group bonded to silicon are reacted with an alkene nitrile in the presence of a trihydrocarbylphosphine catalyst to produce preferentially .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes.
Bluestein, U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,970, issued Feb. 14, 1961, describes a multiple component catalyst system useful for the production of .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes by the reaction of alkene nitriles with organosilanes having at least one hydrogen. The catalyst comprises a cuprous compound, a diamine, and a trialkylamine.
Rajkumar et al., Organometallics 8:549 (1989), describe a two-component catalyst effective in hydrosilation of acrylonitrile leading to the .beta.-addition to the double bond of the acrylonitrile. The catalysts consist of cuprous oxide and tetramethylethylenediamine.
Bank, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,468, issued Jun. 30 1992, describes a process for the preparation of hydrolyzable .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. The process employs novel catalysts comprising a diamine and non-activated copper, selected inorganic copper compounds, and di-coordinate organic copper compounds.
Bank, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,469, issued Jun. 30, 1992, describes a process for the preparation of hydrolyzable .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes. The process employs a catalyst comprising a diamine and supported copper or a supported copper compound.

Process for preparation of .beta.-cyanoalkylsilanes using ruthenium catalyst


A light-emitting device can include a blue LED chip that is covered in a sealing resin composed of a filling resin mixed with a wavelength conversion material, such as a yellow fluorescent material. Light from the blue LED chip is mixed with a light from the yellow fluorescent material to obtain white light emission having a mixed color. The sealing resin has a light emission surface, which can be symmetrical about the normal line passing through the center of the blue LED chip. An optical multi-layered film including layered high- and low-refractive index films can be provided on the light emission surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an LED lamp, and more particularly to a light-emitting device including a blue LED chip and a wavelength conversion material in combination. The light-emitting device is configured such that light emitted from the LED chip excites the fluorescent material. The light from the LED chip is mixed with light from the fluorescent material to obtain white light or a middle color light.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 5 shows a conventional art structure employed to obtain a pseudo-white LED lamp 90 with a blue LED chip 91 and a yellow fluorescent material 92 in combination. An element substrate 93 formed of a printed circuit board has two-polarity circuits 93a with positive and negative polarities formed thereon by appropriate means, such as etching. The LED chip 91 is die-bonded to the one polarity.
The LED chip 91 is wired through a gold wire 94 to the other polarity to supply power to the LED chip 91. The LED chip 91 is molded in a transparent sealing resin 95 such as epoxy to form a case 96 to protect both the LED chip 91 from humidity and the gold wire 94 from breaking due to mechanical stresses.
For formation of the white LED lamp 90 in particular, an appropriate amount of the fluorescent material 92 is mixed in the transparent resin 95 because the light emitted from the LED chip 91 is blue. In this case, the fluorescent material 92 causes yellow fluorescence when excited by the light emitted from the LED chip 91. As a result, the light discharged externally from the case 96 can be seen as white light after mixture of blue and yellow light which have a complementary relation therebetween (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,664, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference).
In the white LED lamp 90 having the above-described conventional art structure, as shown in FIG. 5, different directions from which the LED lamp 90 is viewed results in differences in distance over which the light emitted from the LED chip 91 travels within the case 96 to the viewer. Therefore, depending on the viewing direction, blue light may collide with the fluorescent material 92 a different number of times.
As a result, the light seen at an angle, which makes a longer transmission distance in the sealing resin 95, is strongly tinged with yellow, and the light seen at an angle in which a shorter distance is traveled, is strongly tinged with blue. Thus, the color may feel as if it changes depending on the viewing direction, and variations in color may be felt depending on the shapes even when viewed in a single direction.


A sensor setup structure includes a pair of front side frames that are provided on vehicle widthwise opposite sides of a vehicle front part, and extended along a vehicle lengthwise direction, a pair of upper members that are provided to the vehicle widthwise outsides from these front side frames, and extended from respective front pillars on vehicle widthwise opposite sides downwards to the front, a joining frame that joins in the vehicle widthwise direction between the vicinity of front ends of these upper members and the front side frames on the same sides in the vehicle widthwise direction, and satellite sensors of an airbag apparatus which, in plan view, are setup in positions that are to the vehicle widthwise insides from vehicle widthwise outer surfaces of the respective upper members, and are to the vehicle widthwise outsides from vehicle widthwise outer surfaces of the respective front side frames.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor setup structure for a satellite sensor of an airbag apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Satellite sensors which detect mainly frontal impact accidents of a vehicle in order to actuate an airbag apparatus, are normally attached to a pair of front side frames provided extendedly along the vehicle lengthwise direction, on vehicle widthwise opposite sides at the front of the vehicle body (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2001-219812).
However, in the above attachment structure, in the case of an offset impact where an impact occurs to the vehicle widthwise outside from the front side frame, the impact force does not act directly on the front side frame provided with the satellite sensor. Therefore, there is a possibly that it takes a longer time from impact occurrence until the impact is detected by the satellite sensor and a signal is transmitted to the controller of the airbag apparatus.


A homopolar machine for producing high voltage, direct current. The machine comprises a stator which supports the homopolar machine, a plurality of excitation coils disposed within the stator for producing magnetic flux so that the homopolar machine can produce direct current when in operation, a rotor rotationally disposed within the excitation coils for rotating through the magnetic flux when the homopolar machine is in operation to produce direct current, and a coil of a single length continuous conductor element disposed about the rotor such that a plurality of rotor conductor segments are formed wherein successive ones of the plurality of conductor segments are electrically connected such that an induced voltage and direct current are produced in the coil when the rotor and coil traverse through the magnetic flux during homopolar machine operation. Homopolar machines described herein are useful in a wide range of applications, operate with high voltages and allow straight transformation of a DC voltage. These machines also can operate as high voltage DC motors.

Magnetic machines, sometimes called "dynamos," are known for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, or for the reverse process, converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. In the first case, the magnetic machine is called an "electrical generator." In the second case, the machine develops mechanical power, and is thus called a "motor."
Whether acting as a generator or a motor, magnetic machines function because of a relative motion between electrical conductors on a rotor or armature and a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be stationary and the electric conductors revolve through it, or the electrical conductors may be stationary and the magnetic field structure may revolve. It is also possible for both the conductors and the magnetic field to be in motion in a functioning magnetic machine.
In case of generator function, the relative motion between the electrical conductors and the magnetic field produces an induced electro-motive force, sometimes called an "EMF" or voltage, and an associated current in the active conductors. Generally, the EMF and current that are produced are alternating in direction, and so sometimes a "commutator" is used to make the electric current unidirectional in the external circuit of the magnetic machine. However, there are certain magnetic machines which do not have a commutator and in which the associated currents and voltages are not alternating. These types of magnetic machines are called "homopolar" machines, and are sometimes also called "acyclic dynamos."
In a homopolar machine having coaxial rotor conductors, as well as in other types of magnetic machines, the instantaneous EMF induced in a conductor having a length, L, moving with a velocity, V, within and perpendicular to a magnetic field density, B, is generally given as: EQU E=BLV,
which is the well known Faraday induction law for the relative motion between the electrical conductors and the magnetic flux. See, e.g., R. G. Kloeffler et al., Direct-Current Machinery, Chapter 2, p. 13 (1948), the teachings of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
The generalized induction equation in prior homopolar machines is known by those with skill in the art as: ##EQU1## where .phi. is the magnetic flux which can be dependent in time. For homopolar machines having disc rotors and radial conductors, ##EQU2## alone, where.phi.=B.multidot.A, and A is the area of the disc rotor. This is the well known Faraday/Lenz law of induction. Thus for the disc rotor machine, the induced EMF can be written as where r is the length of one rotor radial conductor segment and m is the rotational speed of the disc in turns/second.
Because of the construction of typical homopolar machines, the conductors on the rotor are adapted to always cut magnetic flux in the same direction. Due to this arrangement, the generated EMF and the current flow are steady and in the same direction at all times, which eliminates the need for a commutator and which avoids the difficulties which arise from reactance voltages.
Since the lengths of several individual rotor conductors of a homopolar machine are usually extremely short, only low voltages and high currents can be produced with current homopolar machines. Thus, typical homopolar machines have had voltage ratings of 3 volts at 6000 amps, and 3 volts at 4500 amps, for example.
Thus while the homopolar machine has heretofore been useful in low voltage applications, it has been virtually useless when high voltages are necessary, thereby forcing the electrical engineer to utilize a standard multipolar magnetic machine having a commutator which is expensive and inefficient. Alternatively, electrical engineers have used rotary converters which operate only at low voltages, or solid state converters which are complicated and expensive. These options are therefore generally not realistic for many DC power generation and transmission requirements, and so there does not currently exist a simple magnetic machine to provide a solution for generation of high DC voltage, for straight transformation of DC voltage, and which is operable for a wide variety of voltage applications.

Homopolar machine which acts as a direct current (DC) high voltage generator or motor


A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material proximate to a body lumen, often of stenotic material or tissue in the luminal wall of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expendable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radically engage the luminal wall when the structure expands. Feedback using one or parameters of voltage, current, power, temperature, impedance magnitude, impedance phase angle, and frequency may be used to selectively control the delivery of energy.

The present invention is generally related to medical devices, systems, and methods. In exemplary embodiments, the invention provides catheter-based treatment for body tissues, which may further include treatment for luminal tissues, particularly for vascular stenosis and/or for delivery of energy proximate to a luminal wall. The methods, systems, and structures of the invention allow controlled delivery of tissue treatment energy, tissue remodeling and/or removal, often using both electrical diagnostic and/or control signals and electrosurgical energy.
Physicians use catheters to gain access to and repair interior tissues of the body, particularly within the lumens of the body such as blood vessels. A variety of means are known in the art for providing localized therapeutic effects in the area surrounding the target location. For example, balloon angioplasty, atheterctomy, laser, cryogenic ablation, stents, and other catheter-based treatments of the like often are used to open arteries that have been narrowed due to disease.
Balloon angioplasty is often effective at opening a stenosed blood vessel, but the trauma associated with balloon dilation can impose significant injury, so that the benefits of balloon dilation may be limited in time. Stents are commonly used to extend the beneficial opening of the blood vessel.
Stenting, in conjunction with balloon dilation, is often the preferred treatment for stenotic disease such as atherosclerosis. In stenting, a collapsed metal framework is mounted on a balloon catheter that is introduced into the body. The stent is manipulated into the site of stenosis and expanded in place by the dilation of the underlying balloon. Stenting has gained widespread acceptance, and produces generally acceptable results in many cases. Along with treatment of blood vessels (particularly the coronary arteries), stents can also be used in treating many other tubular obstructions within the body, such as for treatment of reproductive, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary obstructions.
Restenosis occurs when the treated vessel becomes re-blocked following its initial interventional treatment. It usually occurs within six months after the initial procedure. The mechanism of restenosis after balloon angioplasty is a combination of recoil, arterial vessel remodeling, and neointimal hyperplasia. Late lumen loss in stented segments is the result of intimal hyperplasia. Compared with balloon angioplasty alone, where the chance of restenosis may, for example, be estimated to be about 40%, stents have been shown to reduce the chance of restenosis in some cases to about 25%. Therefore, the majority of patients having angioplasty today are treated with stents. Restenosis can occur after the use of stents, and physicians refer to this as in-stent restenosis, which is typically seen three to six months after the stenting procedure. Several approaches have been developed to treat restenosis including ablation, atheroectomy, and drug eluting stents. In addition, work has also been initialed with systemic drug delivery (intravenous or oral) that may also improve procedural success rates. The existing available options for treatment of in-stent restenosis may have limitations such as procedural complexity, constraints caused by the pre-existing implant, limitations in long-term efficacy, extremely high product development costs and protracted regulatory pathways, costly medication regimens, and the challenges of vasclar biomechanics in places such as the leg.
In-stent restenosis involves the growth of new tissue within the arterial wall, and may be caused by a biological cascade mechanism of platelets, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and macrophage aggregation leading to the migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to the intima coupled with smooth muscle cell proliferation at the intimal layer.
The acute onset of in-stent restenosis can begin with relocation of plaque and reorganization of thrombus, in conjunction with an acute inflammatory response to injury of the endothelium that promotes fibrin and platelet deposition. Leucocytes gather in and around the injury caused by balloon dilation and stent implantation. As the biological cascade continues, leucocyte recruitment is further sustained.
As the in-stent restenosis process continues, smooth muscle cells in the medial layer modify and migrate from the medial layer to the intimal layer before further proliferation as neointimal tissue. The volume of stenotic neointimal tissue is increased by smooth muscle cell synthesis of extracellular matrix predominantly comprised of proteoglycans and collagens.
None of the available interventional modalities provides optimal acute results, and long-term results can be poor. This is especially true for diffuse in-stent restenosis lesions, which are common. For example, treatment of a diffuse, long, coronary artery lesion with overlapping bare metal stents has been known to be associated with high rates of restenosis. By way of example, drug eluting stents were thought to be a revolutionary method of significant and sustained suppression of neointimal proliferation in cases of diffuse, long coronary lesions requiring overlapping stents. However, hypersensitivity reactions or cytotoxicity have been shown to be serious problems with stents coated with an antiproliferative drug. Nebeker, et al. have recently published data suggesting that the window of thrombotic risk associated with drug eluting stents extends far beyond that seen with bare metal stents, thus, post-operative anti-platelet therapy may be requisite for drug eluting stent patients (J Am Coll Cardiol (2006), 47: 175-181), the full contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, United States Food and Drug Administration reports and autopsy findings suggest that drug eluting stents may be a cause of systemic and intra-stent hypersensitivity reactions that, in some cases, have been associated with late thrombosis and death. This hypersensitivity or cytotoxicity, possibly induced by the coating comprising the drug carrier, is associated with delayed healing and poor endothelialization (Virmani, et al., Coron Artery Dis (2004), 15:313-318.), the full contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The application of energy to tissue has been shown to promote beneficial therapeutic responses, including for the treatment of tissue in or proximate to a body lumen. For example, thermal energy in controlled dosages may play a role in tissue debulking after thermal therapy by activation of Heat Shock Proteins (HSP's). HSP's are proteins that exist in most living cells (i.e. mammals, plants, and yeast). The often act like "chaperones" to ensure that a cell's normal functional proteins are in the right place at the right time. Their concentrations can increase in response to stress, such as heat, cold or lack of oxygen. Their increased presence can be a signal to the immune system for sick or necrotic cells that require removal, and therefore play a role in tissue debulking after a thermal treatment. Beneficial thermally-induced tissue effects have been disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/975,474 the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The application of energy to tissue proximate to an energy source is not limited to inducing tissue debulking. For example, radiofrequency energy may be used to affect energy conduction in nervous tissue in the fields of electrophysiology and neuromodulation; common examples include cardiac ablation to regulate heartbeat, neuromodulation to affect an expansive array of efferent and afferent nerve activity in physiologic processes such as those of the brain, digestive system, excretory processes, kidney and other organ function, sensory function, and the like.
In the example of thermal treatment of nerve tissue, such treatments may be ablative or non-ablative, wherein ablation causes long-term tissue damage while non-ablative energy may be in the form of stimulation or disruption of nerve conduction. The disruption of nerve conduction may be achieved by means that block or interfere with the transmission of nerve signals, which may for example be accomplished by means that change the nature of nerve tissue properties. The duration and extent of disruption may be tailored to the particular biologic process and may be a function of the energy dosage applied to the target site.
In the example of in-stent restenosis, a controlled application of radiofrequency energy may be used to cause resistive heating, and as a result the hydrogen bonds of the collagen contained in the tissue may be broken. This breaking of bonds may result in a more compliant stenosis that may be made to reshape around a balloon catheter while applying low pressure to the vessel wall (6 or less atmospheres) as opposed to the relatively high pressure (about 10-15 atmosphere) typical of regular balloon angioplasty. Thereby, this may facilitate restenotic tissue compression by the balloon and may result in a larger vessel lumen. In addition, Brasselet et al. have reported that moderate heating represents a promising approach to reduced neointimal hyperplasia by a mechanism involving decreased smooth muscle cell proliferation (Eur Heart J. (2008) 29(3):402-12), the full contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide new devices, systems, and methods for diagnosing, characterizing, remodeling, and/or delivering therapeutic energy to tissue, which may further include stenosis of the lumens of the body, and particularly of the blood vessels. Specifically, it would be desirable to provide devices, systems, and methods for treating in-stent restenosis or energy delivery to other tissues proximate to a lumen where the delivery of energy in the form of a controlled dosage provides a means for interrupting biological activity. It would further be desirable to avoid significant cost or complexity while providing structures that could both characterize and remodel or remove target tissues such as plaques or other stenotic materials, nerve tissue, or other tissues such tissues found proximate to a lumen. It is further advantageous to avoid having to resort to the trauma known to be associated with dilation, excessive input of thermal energy to tissue, and the like, which may lead to chronic inflammatory response. It would also be beneficial if diagnosing and treating systems could provide some feedback on the progress of treatment.

Apparatus and method for treatment of in-stent restenosis