The present invention relates to a method for querying a specification feature arranged in, at or on a medical technical functional means, the method comprising the step of: querying the specification feature by means of a medical device functionally coupled to or to be coupled to the medical technical functional means or by means of a device or means connected to or being arranged in signal transmission with the medical technical treatment apparatus. The invention further relates to a medical technical functional means, a medical device and a control unit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a digital storage medium, a computer program product and a computer program.

Medical technical functional means are regularly suitable for being used in certain treatments. This suitability can be identified by means of a specification feature located on the functional means.
One object of the present invention is to provide a method by means of which safety may be enhanced in that, in performing a treatment using a medical technical treatment apparatus, a medical technical functional means is used which is actually apt therefor and not a functional means which is not apt or not sufficiently compatible. Furthermore, a medical technical functional means usable for this purpose, a suitable medical technical treatment apparatus, a suitable control unit, a suitable digital storage medium, a suitable computer program product and a suitable computer program are included herein.
All advantages obtainable by means of the method according to the invention may in certain embodiments according to the invention undiminishedly also be achieved by means of the medical technical functional means according to the invention and/or by means of the medical device according to the invention and/or by means of the control unit according to the invention. In some embodiments according to the invention, this also applies for the digital storage medium according to the invention, the computer program product according to the invention and the computer program according to the invention.

Method for querying a specification feature of a medical technical functional means, a medical technical functional means, a medical device and a control unit


A signal processing device is disclosed, which includes a plurality of channel receivers, a plurality of time code processors in one-to-one correspondence with the channel receivers, a timing generator, a signal processor and a transmitter, wherein each channel receiver is configured to parse an audio-video signal which has a data format defined by the SDI protocol and including a time code that characterizes time information. Each time code processor is configured to extract the time code from a parsed audio-video signal obtained by a corresponding channel receiver, and form first frame image data including a frame time code. The signal processor is configured to form an absolute frame output image based on multiple channels of the first frame of image data, frame time codes therein, and an internal clock signal generated by the timing generator. The transmitter is configured to transmit the absolute frame output image for display.

At present, signal processing devices applied to transmission of audio-video signals usually employ four 12G-SDI (serial digital interface) wires to transmit 8K ultra-high-definition audio-video signals, or four 3G-SDI wires to transmit 4K ultra-high-definition audio-video signals, so that the signal transmission rate is very fast. However, during the actual use process, due to different qualities or lengths of the wires, delays of signals reaching an external display terminal may be different. Therefore, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or SOC (System-on-a-Chip, system on chip) needs to be used to perform synchronization of input video signals.
Currently, an adjacent frame synchronization mechanism is mostly used in synchronization processing. The situation where there is excessive signal delay between lines may result in misaligned and spliced display.

Signal processing device, audio-video display device and processing method


It is known by the inventor that a universal synthetic lubricant additive that can greatly enhance the performance standards of existing lubricants, petroleum based or synthetic, imparts a new and desirable property not originally present in the existing oil or it reinforces a desirable property already possessed in some degree can greatly benefit the consumer. Although additives of many diverse types have been developed to meet special lubrication needs, their principal functions are relatively few in number. This universal synthetic lubricant additive (invention) with micro lubrication technology, when used as directed will reduce the oxidative or thermal degradation of the host oil, substantially reduce the deposition of harmful deposits in lubricated parts, minimize rust and corrosion, control frictional properties, reduce wear, temperature, sludge, varnishes and prevent destructive metal-to-metal contact, reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions while improving performance through increased horsepower and torque.

(1) Field of Invention
This field of invention relates to the latest technology in the development of a universal synthetic lubricant that can successfully be added to host oils based for mineral or synthetic base stocks. The product has shown to substantially reduce energy, wear and temperature along with harmful emissions with usefulness from heavy-bunker-c to turbine lubricants.
(2) Description of Prior Art
Over the years a host of terms has arisen to identify additives and briefly denote the intended use and limited function. Thus the trade recognizes improvements when the synthetic lubricant additive is used such as an improved anti-oxidant (oxidation inhibitor), corrosion inhibitor, extreme pressure agent, anti-foaming agent, anti-wear agency, V.I. improver, pour point depressant, improved detergency and dispersant, anti-squawk agent in automatic transmissions and anti chatter agent when added to automatic transmission. The synthetic lubricant additive has beneficial results when used as directed in gasoline and diesel engines, gear boxes, automatic transmission, limited slip differential, steam and gas turbines, railroad and marine diesel engines, stationary piston engines, gasoline, diesel or steam, 2-cycle air-cooled and water cooled engines, hydraulic pumps and rams, cutting oils and industrial and marine reduction gear units. The synthetic lubricant additives contributes to many engineering advances, which contribute to quieter operation (reduce decibels), improved horsepower and torque, reduced wear, friction (energy consumption) heat and harmful emissions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Universal synthetic lubricant additive with micro lubrication technology to be used with synthetic or miner host lubricants from automotive, trucking, marine, heavy industry to turbines including, gas, jet and steam


A beam deflector for scanning performs deflecting of a charged particle beam having a regular trajectory in a vacuum space to thereby periodically change the trajectory of the charged particle beam. The beam deflector comprises a pair of deflection electrodes disposed so as to confront each inner electrode surface having a symmetrical concave extending in a direction of a beam trajectory.

This invention relates to a deflecting method for scanning and a deflector for deflecting a charged particle beam such as an ion beam with scanning. This invention particularly relates to a deflecting method and a deflector suitable for deflecting a charged particle beam with a relatively large current or a charged particle beam with a relatively large diameter. The charged particle beam with the relatively large diameter represents, for example, a charged particle beam having a flattened cross-sectional shape in which its horizontal width is greater than its vertical width. Note that "horizontal" which will hereinafter be referred to represents one axis in a plane in a direction perpendicular to a center axis of a beam trajectory and does not necessarily represent a horizontal axis. Likewise, "vertical" represents one axis in the plane in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the beam trajectory and does not necessarily represent a perpendicular or vertical axis, and specifically represents the axis that is perpendicular to the foregoing axis of the horizontal direction in the plane in the direction perpendicular to the center axis of the beam trajectory. This invention is suitable for application to an ion implantation method and an ion implantation system but is not limited thereto.
Description will be briefly given about a structure of the ion implantation system. In this specification, an ion beam falls under the category of a charged particle beam and the charged particle beam may hereinafter be referred to simply as a "beam".
As is well known, in the ion implantation system, a beam is extracted from an ion source through an extraction electrode. The extracted beam is analyzed by a mass analysis electromagnet device and a mass analysis slit. As a result of the mass analysis, only a necessary ion species is selected. The selected ion is implanted into a substrate such as a silicon wafer.
Normally, the ion implantation system is provided with a deflector for deflecting the beam in order to scan the surface of the substrate with the beam. Deflectors of this type include a magnetic deflector and an electrostatic (electrical field) deflector. Description will be briefly given about structures, merits and demerits of the magnetic deflector and the electrostatic deflector.
The magnetic deflector comprises an electromagnet composed of at least two magnetic pole pieces confronting each other through a gap defined therebetween and a coil. A current supplied to the coil generates in the gap a magnetic field that deflects the beam. By changing the current supplied to the coil, the beam passing through the gap is magnetically deflected. The magnetic deflector has a merit of facilitating uniform generation and distribution of a magnetic field over a wide region as compared with the electrostatic deflector. However, the magnetic deflector has a demerit that a structure thereof tends to be large and complicated and further the power consumption thereof is large. In addition, the magnetic deflector also has a demerit that the magnetic field tends to leak and, as a scanning frequency increases, it becomes more difficult to generate the magnetic field. Moreover, in the magnetic deflector, there is an instant when a deflection angle of the beam becomes zero (i.e. the beam goes straight on) and, in this instant, the magnetic field disappears. While the magnetic field disappears, secondary electrons neutralizing the beam are dispersed so that a diameter of the beam increases. As a result, the beam diameter differs between when the deflection angle is zero and when the deflection angle is other than zero.
On the other hand, the electrostatic deflector comprises at least two opposite electrodes confronting each other through a gap defined therebetween. A scanning voltage is applied across the two opposite electrodes. The scanning voltage generates in the gap an electrical field that deflects a beam passing through the gap. By changing the scanning voltage, the beam passing through the gap is electrostatically deflected (e.g. see JP-A-2003-513419). The electrostatic deflector has a merit that it can be more compact in structure and requires less power consumption as compared with the magnetic deflector. However, the electrostatic deflector has a demerit that a uniform electrical field is difficult to generate and the beam after deflection is inferior in quality as compared with that in the magnetic deflector.
Incidentally, in the deflection of the beam, when a beam current is large or the beam has a flattened cross-sectional shape, i.e. a cross-sectional shape that is horizontally elongated, it is difficult for the conventional electrostatic deflector to cope with it and, therefore, improvement in performance of the deflector is essential.
Specifically, when a beam having a horizontally elongated cross-sectional shape is deflected in its major-axis direction (horizontal-width direction), it is required that the beam be deflected at substantially the same deflection angle at any portions of the cross-section of the beam. Note that even if variation in deflection angle occurs in the deflection of the beam, it is assumed that no problem is raised when the variation is sufficiently small or can be easily corrected.

Beam deflecting method, beam deflector for scanning, ion implantation method, and ion implantation system


In order to provide a positioning mechanism that can be processed easily and accurately by press forming and a frame structure having the same, especially a main frame and a method of manufacturing the same, the invention provides a frame structure of the flexible disk drive including a pair of projections fitted into a pair of corresponding positioning holes on the inserted flexible disk. The pair of projections is formed by cutting and raising.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible disk drive, FDD, for writing and reading data on a flexible disk, FD, and, more specifically, to a positioning mechanism for the flexible disk, which is stored in a case.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a flexible disk drive is a device for writing and recording data on a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium, that is, a flexible disk (hereinafter also referred to as a "medium") inserted therein. The flexible disk drive is installed in mobile electronic equipment, such as laptop computers, notebook computers, and notebook word processors.
The flexible disk drive of this type includes a pair of upper and lower magnetic heads for reading data from/writing data to a magnetic recording medium in a flexible disk, a carriage assembly for supporting the magnetic heads at the extremity thereof so as to be capable of moving in a predetermined radial direction with respect to the flexible disk, a stepping motor for moving the carriage assembly along the predetermined radial direction, and a DD (direct drive) motor such as a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic recording medium in the flexible disk while holding the same.
The flexible disk inserted into the flexible disk drive is held on a disk table in a state in which the revolving shaft coincides with the center axis of the flexible disk. The disk table is supported so as to be rotatable on the surface of a main frame. The disk table is rotated by the spindle motor, which is mounted in a recess formed on the main frame, whereby the magnetic recording medium in the flexible disk rotates. A control printed circuit board on which a number of electronic components are mounted is attached to the underside of the main frame.
The stepping motor is fixed to a sidewall of the main frame on the underside. The stepping motor drives the carriage assembly linearly along the radial direction.
The flexible disk drive in the related art further includes an eject plate for ejecting the inserted flexible disk, and a holder for storing the inserted flexible disk. The main frame, the eject plate, and the disk holder are formed by punching, press forming, or bending metal plates.
The flexible disk in the related art includes a plastic case having a case body and a shutter, and a flexible disk body including a hub at the center thereof. The flexible disk is accommodated in the plastic case. The case body of the flexible disk has positioning holes on both sides near one end thereof, one of which is circular and the other one of which is oval.
In the related art, positioning of the flexible disk inserted into the flexible disk drive has been performed by aligning the positioning holes on the flexible disk with dowels formed on the main frame for positioning the flexible disk.
As described above, the main frame of the flexible disk drive in the related art is formed by press forming metallic plates such as steel plates. However, most frames are formed by press forming, as in the case of the flexible disk drive described above, and thus formation of the dowel for positioning the flexible disk by a drawing process is very difficult.

Frame structure and flexible disk drive having the same


A wire, strip or reshaped part is produced from an alloy based on platinum, palladium or a mixture of platinum and palladium and hardened by oxide dispersion. The wire, strip or reshaped part cross-section exhibits a peripheral zone in which at least one relatively easily volatilized oxide generator is depleted by at least 25%. In addition, a process is provided for production of such a wire, strip or reshaped part, in which a porous skin is produced thermally on the wire, strip or reshaped part, and the porous skin is compacted by conversion into a soft or impermeable skin.

The present invention relates to strips, wires or reshaped parts made of alloys of platinum and/or palladium as the base metals, particularly for use as electrodes in spark plugs. The invention also relates to processes for production of such strips, wires or reshaped parts.
The metals of the platinum group and their alloys have been used for many years as electrodes for spark plugs in combustion engines. Frequently, alloying additions of high-melting non-noble metals (e.g., W) and embedded oxides of the rare earth metals are used in order to minimize wear and tear due to spark erosion in use.
Materials which are particularly suitable for this application are alloys based on Pt with additions of Ir, Ru, W, Mo and/or Re. These alloying elements possess the common characteristic that they oxidize considerably more easily than platinum and form volatile oxides during oxidation.
Pt—Ir alloys hardened by oxide dispersion and other Pt alloys are known, which can be produced by the internal oxidation of non-noble metal components (see, for example, German published patent applications DE 197 14 365 A1 and DE 100 46 456 A1 and German Patent DE 197 58 724 C2). However, it has been found in the course of investigations that these materials have substantial disadvantages, if they are to be used as electrode materials in spark plugs.
Pt alloys containing both proportions of volatile oxide generators ≧5% by weight and proportions of incorporated oxides >0.1% by weight tend to form cracks during processing into thin strips or wires and into electrode tips, which typically have a diameter of <1 mm. In addition, the numerous annealing operations in an oxidizing atmosphere, which are necessary for the manufacture of strips or wire and reshaped parts, lead to undesirable losses of the alloying elements.

Pt/Pd alloy wires, strips or reshaped parts hardened by oxide dispersion, and process of producing the same


The present invention relates to a system for managing and diagnosing a state of a facility apparatus, and an object thereof is to provide a system for diagnosing the facility apparatus wherein, if information falling under a level of abnormality is extracted from gathered information on an operating state of the facility apparatus, an advanced analysis and diagnosis section on a facility diagnosis center side performs an advanced analysis and diagnosis process and promptly notifies a user side of the information on the best way of dealing with the facility apparatus determined to be abnormal, and further uploads a facility management data analysis program from the advanced analysis and diagnosis section to a facility monitoring section on the user side so that raw information of a large information amount can be analyzed on the user side without sending it to the facility diagnosis center side.

In the past, as for management of a facility apparatus of a plant and so on of a common enterprise, it was general that, while constantly watching operating situation of the facility apparatus, a person in charge of managing the facility apparatus further monitored a state of the facility apparatus at the site when an abnormality occurs as to vibration, sound, pressure, temperature and so on thereof, and stopped its operation, as the case may be, to investigate the cause and urgently repair it or replace a part, or to refer it to a facility apparatus manufacturer and consider countermeasures comparing with it when the situation further became serious.
In the aforementioned example in the past, however, a judgment was made based on personal knowledge and experience to the extent that the person in charge of managing the facility apparatus can deal with it, so that the judgment result was not necessarily correct and there were the cases, according to circumstances, where a wrong judgment was made and the judgment result lacked objectivity.
On the other hand, it has been increasingly demanded in recent years to reduce total costs of the plant, for the sake of safe operation and improvement in productivity thereof, by means of improved accuracy of facility management, increased efficiency of technically trained personnel for the facility management, and improved reliability of the facility apparatus. In addition, it is becoming a common understanding that predictive diagnosises and steady maintenance planning should be thoroughly performed for various facility apparatuses, particularly for key apparatuses.
For instance, as for the plant in which a large number of rotating apparatuses and so on are placed, the person in charge of managing the facility apparatus periodically performs maintenance work while performing daily operating work. However, it requires expertise in its own way to solve problems related to predictive maintenance such as facility diagnosis, predictive diagnosis and optimum operating conditions of the rotating apparatuses or a grasp of remaining life thereof, and so there is a limit to what can be done only by the person in charge of managing the facility apparatus.
Therefore, it is desirable to have the technically trained personnel with such expertise stationed in the plant, and yet it is difficult in many cases in consideration of the cost aspect of the plant operation such as the increased efficiency of the personnel.
The present invention solves the above described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a system for diagnosing the facility apparatus, wherein minimum operating situation of the facility apparatus is grasped and controlled by constantly measuring it with a device or manually to gather various kinds of data, and if information falling under a level of abnormality is extracted from the gathered information, the information is promptly sent to a facility diagnosis center which is a specialized technological group, where an advanced analysis and diagnosis section performs an advanced analysis and diagnosis process to the information and promptly notifies the facility apparatus management side of the information on the best way of dealing with the facility apparatus determined to be abnormal, and uploads a facility management data analysis program from the advanced analysis and diagnosis section to a facility monitoring section on the user side in the case where it is necessary to further analyze various kinds of detailed on-site data, so that raw information of a large information amount can be analyzed on the user side without sending it to the facility diagnosis center side.

System for diagnosing facility apparatus, managing apparatus and diagnostic apparatus

Abstract: A facility management data processing section (3a) signal-processes facility state detecting information detected by facility state detectors (2a, 2b) mounted on a facility apparatus (1), a facility state determining section (4) determines a level of the signal-processed information comparing with a management reference value and outputs it, the facility monitoring section (5) gathers and processes the information related to the level-determined facility apparatus (1) and sends it to the advanced analysis and diagnosis section (6) via a communication network (10), and the advanced analysis and diagnosis section (6) performs an advanced analysis of the information and identifies a cause of the abnormality of the facility apparatus (1) concerned and improvement measures thereof to send the identified results to the facility monitoring section (5). In addition, it is characterized in that the facility management data analysis program is uploaded from the advanced analysis and diagnosis section (6) to the facility monitoring section (5) so that the advanced analysis can be performed on the user side B.


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a segmented antenna system. The method includes determining an orientation of a first antenna, the first antenna including a plurality of segments for transmitting and receiving signals, determining a direction from the first antenna to a second antenna capable or at least one of transmitting and receiving signals, and selecting at least one of the plurality of segments of the first antenna using the determined orientation of the first antenna and the determined direction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a radio network, and, more particularly, to a segmented antenna system for an offshore radio network used in marine seismic surveying.
2. Description of the Related Art
Underwater seismic exploration is widely used to locate and/or survey subterranean geological formations for hydrocarbon deposits. A survey typically involves deploying one or more seismic sources and one or more seismic sensors at predetermined locations. For example, a seismic cable including an array of seismic sensors may be deployed on the sea floor and a seismic source may be towed along the ocean's surface by a survey vessel. The seismic sources generate acoustic waves that travel to the geological formations beneath the ocean floor, where they are reflected back to the seismic sensors. The seismic sensors receive the reflected waves, which are then processed to generate seismic data Analysis of the seismic data may indicate probable locations of geological formations and hydrocarbon deposits.
Seismic surveys often use more than one survey vessel. For example, a recording vessel may be dedicated to receiving data collected by one or more survey vessels. For another example, a first survey vessel, sometimes referred to as a shooting boat, may be coupled to a seismic source that generates the acoustic signal. A second survey vessel, sometimes referred to as a recording boat, is coupled to at least one seismic sensor that receives the reflected wave. For yet another example, a deployment vessel may be used to deploy the seismic cable including one or more seismic sensors, a positioning vessel may be used to position and/or re-position the deployed cables, a source vessel may be used to tow one or more seismic sources near the deployed cables, and a recording vessel may be used to record the data. One advantage to using multiple vessels is that a given survey area may be mapped in less time than would be required if the same area was mapped by a single vessel.
When a plurality of survey vessels is used to conduct a marine seismic survey, a large volume of information may be transmitted among the survey vessels. For example, seismic data recorded and at least partially processed by a survey vessel may be transmitted to the recording vessel, where the seismic data may be stored for later processing. For another example, seismic data may be transferred between the shooting boat and the recording boat. Physically connecting the vessels, e.g. by wires or cables, is difficult, or impracticable, because of the large and variable distances separating the various vessels. Consequently, wireless data links are used to transfer data among vessels in the network. For example, radio transmitters and receivers located on the vessels are typically used to form high-speed wireless data links to transfer data between the vessels in the network.
The high-speed wireless data links are typically formed using conventional omni-directional antennas. Vessels separated by a distance larger than the range of the omni-directional antenna may not be able to exchange data via the high-speed wireless link. The range of the high-speed wireless data link may be further reduced by a number of physical effects such as "fading." Fading of the radio signal is caused by reflection of the radio signal from the sea surface. The phase-shifted reflected signal fades out the direct signal in regions of reduced sensitivity called "dead zones" around the vessels. For example, fading of a 2.4 Ghz radio signal may create a dead zone at a range of about 9-10 kilometers.
Interference with other signals and/or noise may also reduce the range of the transmitters and/or receivers. For example, traditional high-speed wireless data links may use unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency bands. The unlicensed ISM bands may also be used by other transmitters, such as those on board other ships in the vicinity of the survey vessels. The signals broadcast by the other transmitters may interfere with the high-speed wireless data link and degrade the quality of the connection. The interference may corrupt the transferred data and/or interrupt the transfer of data altogether. In some cases, the data corruption and/or the interruption of the data transfer may force a suspension of the seismic survey.
Rotating single-segment antennas have been used to extend the range of high-speed data links by increasing antenna sensitivity in a reduced range of angles in the direction of a target. However, the single-segment antennas suffer from at least three drawbacks. First, the position of the target must be continuously monitored. If the target is lost, the data transfer may be interrupted, and in some cases the survey may be stopped, while the target is re-acquired. This problem is exacerbated in marine seismic surveys that use rapidly moving survey vessels, which may also be carried by unpredictable water currents. Second, rotating single segment antennas have large numbers of moving parts, which may reduce the operational lifetime of the rotating single-segment antenna and increase maintenance costs and downtime. Third, the rotating single-segment antenna can only acquire a single target at a time.

Segmented antenna system for offshore radio networks and method of using same


Systems and methods are provided for a variable cooling capacity cryocooler for a superconducting magnetic resonance imaging device having a liquid cryogen pressure vessel to provide cryogenic temperatures to a magnet assembly, a vacuum vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and a radiation shield spaced from the cryogen pressure vessel, and a pressure sensor positioned inside the cryogen pressure vessel pressure boundary for sensing pressure variations. A controller for varying the heat removal rate of the cryocooler based on the pressure variations in the cryogen pressure vessel and where the cooling capacity of the cryocooler is adjusted by modifying the speed of the electric power drive (DC or AC motors) or by changing the mechanical transmission ratio between the constant speed electric power drive and the cryocooler displacer/piston to adjust the cooler oscillating frequency of the gas flow. The invention can be adapted to magnets or non magnets systems using Stirling, Gifford-McMahon (“GM”) and Pulse Tube (“PT”) cooler systems. The system will extend component end of life and provide a controllable constant pressure improving image quality for superconducting MRI magnets.

In conventional systems, a superconducting magnet becomes superconductive when placed in an extremely cold environment, such as by enclosing the magnet in a cryostat or pressure vessel and surrounding the magnet with a liquid cryogen such as liquid helium for cooling.
The zero boil-off 4.2K magnet cooling system briefly consists of vacuum insulated liquid helium reservoir integrated into a cryostat with a radiation shield with temperature having a range of 40K to 70K and a liquid helium recondencing system in which saturated helium gas is recondenced into liquid causing the reservoir to be at saturated operational condition around 4.2K. The helium reservoir is subjected to a heat load caused by a combination of heat conducted through the structural supports and radiation from its surroundings. Recondencing systems must be able to overcome the applied heat load in order to achieve saturated equilibrium conditions. The main component of the recondencing system is the cryocooler, which is the heat sink or the heat removal source of this system thru a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the cryogen. The current helium zero boil off system is based on a cryocooler design with an excess of cooling capacity to overcome variable heat load condition due to component manufacturing process variations, performance degradation due to component orientation and to be able to satisfy heat loads requirement at the end of the component life.
The conventional cryocooler during normal steady state (pressure and temperature) operational condition removes heat from the liquid helium reservoir and radiation shield (for two stage systems) at a constant rate to keep gas recondencing and therefore maintaining the liquid helium at a saturated condition. Typical cryocooler selection and use is driven by the maximum cooling capacity of the component at given temperature that is achieved thru an optimal constant oscillating frequency of the gas flow (thru constant cryocooler displacer/piston strokes frequency). High oscillation rates designed for maximum cooling capacity increase wear on the sealing components of the cryocooler leading to a reduction in component life. Magnets manufacturing component variations and component cool down (transients) demands high heat load removal by the cooler (maximum cooling capacity operational condition) but as the system (environment, radiation shield, cryocooler and cryogen reservoir) achieves steady state, the cooling capacity requirements are reduced. Since the cooling capacity of the cryocooler can not be change, the excess cryocooler cooling capacity is balanced by additional heat provided by electric heaters in the cryogen pressure vessel which is activate by low and high setting pressure limits creating pressure oscillation in the pressure vessel.
Large pressure variation in the cryogen pressure vessel can produce oscillating stresses in the superconducting magnet coils affecting the homogeneity of the magnetic field and therefore affecting image quality for MRI superconducting magnets. The invention will provide a more stable pressure environment for superconducting MRI magnet systems.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for variable heat load capacity cryocooler. There is also a need for an improved method and apparatus for controlling a cryocooler in a zero boiloff cryogen cooled recondensing superconducting magnet assembly including superconducting magnet coils suitable for magnetic resonance imaging.

Apparatus and method for controlling a cryocooler by adjusting cooler gas flow oscillating frequency


The use of a centralized version table allows for efficient object switching. Rather than synchronizing all database agents to recognize a newly created file as containing the most recent version of a given object, database agents requiring access to the given object need only consult the centralized version table to learn file identity information. That is, the database agents consult the centralized version table to determine which of the files associated with a given object contain the most recent version of the given object. Mechanisms associated with the use of the centralized version table also provide for efficient recovery from a failure that has occurred during an object switching transaction.

Data object shadowing is a known method for directing a database management system (DBMS) operating on a data processing system to switch objects in a database stored in a memory associated with that data processing system. However, known data object shadowing methods used by the DBMS in response to queries being processed by that DBMS cause the interaction between the DBMS and the database to slow down. Consequently, the DBMS may appear to respond poorly to these queries. In this sense, the DBMS working in conjunction with the database is said to suffer from "low availability". This is a significant drawback for users that desire "high availability" from DBMSs operating with databases.
The operational combination of a DBMS operating with a database may be called a database system. The combination of known data object shadowing methods and other DBMS operations such as data loading or index reorganization can create and build a shadow object on the side, i.e., placing that shadow object in some other memory location. Concurrently, the DBMS maintains an original object that is continuously made available to users during the entire duration of the DBMS operation. At some future time, the DBMS operation may include steps for replacing the shadow object with the original object so that the shadow object then becomes what may be called the "real" object. This process of allowing a shadow object to become a real object may be called "object switching".
In a large-scale database system, there may be hundreds of agents working concurrently. Each agent is likely working for a different user to access data such as objects stored in a database of the large-scale database system. Given this scenario, several different users could attempt to access the same database object simultaneously. A database object handle (for example, DB_Obj_Hdl) identifies each object stored in the database. Eventually, data are stored in a file system of the large-scale database system. Each file is identified in the file system by a file handle (for example, FS_File_Hdl). As such, database agents may maintain a local mapping of a database object handle to a file handle (such as, DB_Obj_Hdl to FS_File_Hdl).
Assume a particular object, object1 already exists and is stored in a particular file, file1.0. The object handle for object1 is DB_Obj_Hdl=object1 and the file for storing object1 is FS_File_Hdl=file1.0. A local mapping (object1->file1.0) may be maintained by each database agent that had performed input or output (I/O) operations on object1. Where one of the database agents creates a shadow object of object1, a different file, such as file1.1, must be used to store this shadow object in the file system. Note that the physical file name containing the object is coupled to the version of the object (file1.1 as opposed to file1.0).
When this database agent has completed acting upon the shadow object, the object is assumed to have changed. To enable access by other database agents to the most up-to-date object, there is a need to perform an object switching transaction, that is, to make the shadow object the real object.
This object switching transaction is performed by informing all other database agents to map object1 to file1.1 rather than to file1.0. Future I/O operations (sometimes called IO operations) performed by any database agents against object1 will therefore be directed to file1.1 instead of being directed to file1.0. Informing other database agents about the switch may be called synchronization. However, an immediate synchronization among all database agents may be extremely expensive to realize when measured in terms of database system performance, especially in a large-scale database system. Extra processing time is expended by the DBMS to effect the synchronization, that is, to make each agent aware of the current "real" data object.
Thus, there is need for a system and associated method for monitoring or otherwise providing the location of shadow and real database objects without using synchronization among all database agents. The need for such system and method has heretofore remained unsatisfied.

System and method for decoupling object identification for the purpose of object switching in database systems

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a program containing a browser capable of dealing with highly functional multimedia content in a straightforward manner, and a multimedia content. A reception terminal 113 accesses a server on a network 112 corresponding to an input URL. The server 124 distributes distribution software 243 to the reception terminal 113 via the network 112, the distribution software 243 being constituted of browser software 251 having specifications to be satisfied in order for a component to receive predetermined services, and a multimedia content 252 having a predetermined configuration. The reception terminal 113 displays the distributed multimedia content 252 on the distributed browser. The present invention is applicable to personal computers, digital electronic home appliances and the like.

In recent years, the dissemination of information networks, particularly the Internet, have been striking. W.W.W (World Wide Web) among others is essential for services not only for businesses but also for general home users. W.W.W is services allowing a reception terminal to access a variety of content (home pages) existing on the Internet and obtain necessary information.
In recent years, general users also use W.W.W as a tool for not only collecting content but also for enjoying the content rich in entertainment or presenting their own content. It is expected that the number of users is increasing more and more in the future.
W.W.W is a software architecture developed by the CERN (Conseil Europ'en pour la Recherche Nucl'aire) in 1989. W.W.W is the communication system constituted of a software group constituted of a so-called HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server and an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) browser interconnected by the Internet, and is supported by software HTTP and HTML. HTTP is the communication protocol between an HTTP server and an HTML browser, and HTML is the format of (homepage) data exchanged between an HTTP server and an HTML browser.
FIG. 1 shows a mechanism of producing a W.W.W content (homepage) of this type.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a W.W.W system 1, a reception terminal 11 and an HTTP server 13 are interconnected by the Internet, the reception terminal being constituted of an HTML browser 22 and a platform 21 made of a predetermined OS (Operating System), hardware and the like.
Description will be made on a process of reproducing content on the HTTP server 13 by the reception terminal 11.
Upon reception of an URL (Uniform Resource Locater) of a homepage from a user as shown by an arrow 31, the HTML browser 22 of the reception terminal 11 accesses the HTTP server 13 designated by the input URL via the Internet 12 as shown by an arrow 32 to request for the data of the homepage designated by the URL.
In response to the request, the HTTP server 13 transmits the data file (hereinafter called an HTML document) 33-1 of the homepage described in the HTML format via the Internet 12. The HTML browser 22 of the reception terminal 11 displays the received HTML text 33-1 on a display (not shown) of the reception terminal 11, for example, in the format of a display 34. The HTML browser 22 acquires related data 33-2 such as a bitmap file (image file), when necessary, from the HTTP server 13, and displays it in a predetermined area of the display 34.
The HTML browser 22 is therefore essential software for general users utilizing W.W.W. HTML has been developed in order for researchers to share text data such as technical documents via information networks, and has distinctive characteristics that documents are structured by using an approach called Markup.
FIG. 2 shows an HTML text and its display example.
In the HTML text 33-1, the portion sandwiched between "<" and ">" is called a tag which is used for Markup.
The contents of the portion sandwiched between HTML tags ( and ) indicate HTML data. The portion sandwiched between BODY tags ( and ) indicates the main text of the document. A portion 41 "
PLEASANT FOOD SHOP IN KAMAKURA
" sandwiched between H1 tags (
 and
) indicates that the character string "PLEASANT FOOD SHOP IN KAMAKURA" is a headline of the document. Portions 42 and 43 sandwiched between P tags (
 and
) indicate sentences of the documents. Standardization of such tag types is managed by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
A display 34 provides the content in conformity with the structure of the HTML document 33-1.
A character string corresponding to the portion 41 sandwiched between H1 tags is displayed in the upper area 51 of the display 34, a sentence corresponding to the portion 42 sandwiched between the P tags is displayed in the lower area 52, and a sentence corresponding to the portion 43 sandwiched between the P tags is displayed in an area lower than the area 52.
Since the HTML document 33-1 is expressed by text, HTML is not dependent upon a platform such as OS. Since HTML is a text format, a user and the like can create a content in a relatively straightforward manner by using HTML with some learning.
HTML can insert an image into a document by using  tags. For example, an image 33-2 is displayed in an area 54 in the area 52 of the display 34, the image 33-2 corresponding to an image file (food.jpg) corresponding to a portion 44 sandwiched between  tags in the portion 42 sandwiched between the P tags in the HTML document 33-1.
Since HTML is provided with tags for expressing media other than the text, HTML can deal with a combination of a plurality of media such as texts, images (still images and moving images) and audio. The content of this type is hereinafter called a multimedia content. Therefore, most of W.W.W data known as so-called homepages are a multimedia content.
As above, since HTML is characterized in that it does not depend upon a platform, it can deal with multimedia information, and it can create content in a relatively straightforward manner.
Services for distributing a multimedia content are prevailing and HTML derivative technologies have been adopted in information networks for digital electronic home appliances such as mobile phone networks and digital broadcasting, in addition to the Internet. For example, BML (Broadcast Markup Language), Compact HTML and the like are known, BML being adopted for data broadcasting services of BS (Broadcasting Satellite) and Compact HTML being used by the i-mode for mobile phones by the NTT DoCoMo, Inc. These services are often supplied nowadays on the assumption that they are used only by particular digital home electronic appliances or particular information networks, and mutual distribution of content is not possible or limitative.
It is expected in the future that all digital electronic home appliances including computers are interconnected by one information network. In such a case, it is requested that any terminal can receive services of the same content and that the content is highly entertaining, has sophisticated functions, high performance as well as being apt to be developed under reduced cost.
As described earlier, however, HTML has been developed in order for researchers to share text data, and is not developed as a system for satisfying the needs expected to become essential in the future. As solutions for satisfying such needs, HTML has therefore the following issues left to be solved.
Namely, as described above, HTML is the format for expressing a structured document, i.e., text media. In HTML, therefore, media (images and the like) other than the text is inserted into a text (document).
However, if other media are inserted into a document, there arises a first issue that consistency of presentation is not guaranteed.
More specifically, although the position of media inserted into a text is determined by the text layout, the text is returned when it reaches the end of the window (for example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the area 52 of the display 34, the text is returned at "PASTER HOUSE" and the following "HAS BEEN FOUND" is displayed in the next row). The display position of media is not determined therefore until the window size of an HTML browser is determined (until a user displays content).
A display 34-1 shown in FIG. 3 and a display 34-2 shown in FIG. 4 are examples of presentations having different media display positions because of different window sizes, even with the same HTML document, i.e., the displays are examples of presentations not guaranteeing presentation consistency.
In other words, although a layout method of a display by HTML is a suitable method of displaying media such as images as part of a document, it is not a suitable method of displaying a combination of various media as a multimedia content.
The reason for this is that considerable attention is paid to the design of a multimedia content in many cases, and that a content creator often desires that the positions of respective media to be presented can be designated by absolute values and the content of the same design can be presented irrespective of the window size of an HTML browser. Namely, the content creator does not desire to display differently the created multimedia content as in the display 34-1 (FIG. 3) or display 34-2 (FIG. 4) depending upon the window size of an HTML browser. The content creator desires that, as shown in a display 34-3 of FIG. 5 each of a title text, two main texts and an image is displayed by designating the absolute positions (in the example of FIG. 5, absolute values from the upper left corner) of the fixed coordinate system of the display 34-3.
In addition, since the HTML format defines only the text structure, the layout details such as a font type, a space between characters and a space between rows, a hyperlink expression method (although expression is made often by using blue fonts and underlines, definitions thereof do not exist) and the like are fundamentally dependent upon an HTML browser, when HTML data is actually displayed. If the same HTML document is presented by HTML browsers developed by different vendors, it may be displayed minutely different. This shows that presentation consistency is not guaranteed.
Under such circumstances, CESS (Cascading Style Sheets) has been proposed as a mechanism of designating the style of an HTML document. By utilizing CESS, it is possible to unanimously designate the layout of a text. However, CESS is used persistently for the layout of a document, HTML browsers of companies support in different manners and as will be later described, CESS does not provide services for 3D (3 Dimensional). Further, CESS has its own grammar (different from HTML) and content creators are required to be familiar with it.
As above HTML is associated with the first issue that presentation consistency is not guaranteed which is the essential condition of multimedia expression.
Further, HTML is associated with a second issue that no synchronizing mechanism between media is provided, from the view point of multimedia expression.
The synchronizing mechanism between media is a means for controlling the presentation timings when a combination of media having a time axis, such as audio, moving images and animation, is presented. Use of the synchronizing mechanism between media allows expressions, for example, reproduction of animation synchronized with music and concurrent or continuous reproduction of a plurality of moving images. As above, the synchronizing mechanism between media is a function essential for realizing a multimedia content.
Further, HTML is associated with the third issue that there is no compatibility of the content between different types of apparatuses (e.g., between a personal computer and a digital electronic home appliance).
Namely, although HTML has no specification regarding the interface for manipulating a content, many HTML browsers on personal computers are realized by the interfaces of personal computers, e.g. by a window provided by the Windows (registered trademark) OS.
Since the size of a window can be changed, the size of an HTML browser can also be changed. Namely, the size in a browser horizontal direction is not definite so that the content unable to be displayed is developed downward and not displayed. In order to display it, a scroll in the vertical direction is used. A mouse is used for a content manipulation such as a jump to another HTML document through hyper link. A content is created on the assumption of a manipulation performance dependent upon the personal computer.
In contrast, although an HTML text can be displayed on a digital electronic home appliance, the display size of an HTML browser is generally fixed and a scroll function is not provided in some cases. Since it is necessary to be accustomed to the manipulation of a moving cursor such as a mouse, the moving cursor is considered unsuitable for electronic home appliances, so that the function corresponding to a mouse is not provided in many cases. Therefore, when HTML is applied to digital electronic home appliances, the HTML format is generally modified or extended in some way, in order to allow the interface of a digital electronic home appliances to use HTML.
This difference between a personal computer and a digital electronic home appliance results in a possibility that compatibility is not ensured if an HTML content distributed on the Internet is distributed to a network of digital electronic home appliances. In order to absorb this difference, conversion software is used in a partial field. Since an HTML content on the Internet is created based upon an interface of a personal computer as described above, even if the HTML content converted by the conversion software is produced, the content may become meaningless presentation.
As above, HTML is associated with the third issue of no compatibility between contents.
HTML has also a fourth issue of a limit in function extension.
Namely, as described above, HTML is primarily structured document data and is not an application program. An HTML browser can therefore display only the data prepared in an HTTP server. The types (media) of data capable of being displayed is limited to only those defined by the HTML format.
For example, when newly developed media are used, it is necessary to perform extension of the media with regard to the HTML format standardized by the above-described W3C. In order also for the media to be used, the HTML browser of each company is required to support a software module for reproducing the new media and correctly recognize the extended portion, i.e., tags.
However, in practice, the HTML browser of each company extends tags often in an independent manner, and there may be no compatibility between these browsers. Also in some cases, an HTML content itself is dependent upon specific extension of a particular HTML browser.
There is a plug-in function as another method of extending the function of an HTML content. A plug-in is a software module of extending a function of an HTML browser. If a plug-in realizing an optional function is installed in an HTML browser, this function can be executed by HTML content. However, in order for a user to use the plug-in, it is necessary to perform in advance its download, install and upgrade. The plug-in is required to be developed for each of OSes and browsers, and the HTML browser not supporting the plug-in cannot display the HTML content using the plug-in.
More correctly, the extension function by a plug-in incorporates the mode that another application runs in a partial region of an HTML content, and the function is not contained in the content itself and the HTML itself is a structured document unchangeably.
There is Java(R)Script as an extension aiming at making an HTML document itself execute an optional logic. Java(R)Script is a script language, and similar to a C language and a Java(R) language, has a grammar considering that even a content producer such as a designer and a content creator can write in a relatively straightforward manner, while supporting the control structure such as conditional branch and iteration. Code of Java(R)Script is characterized by ease of use such as not requiring advanced compilation since it is executed by an interpreter. Since Java(R)Script places importance to use easiness, it is inferior to the C language and Java(R) language in terms of an execution performance, a program size and program structuralization.
From these reasons, although Java(R)Script is suitable for media and a plug-in provided by HTML and a relatively simple application such as manipulating a browser itself, it is often unpractical to realize a complicated function (e.g., decoding particular media, and GUI components) by Java(R)Script itself.
As above, HTML is associated with the fourth issue of a limit in its extension function.
HTML has also a fifth issue of inferior productivity of content.
Namely, as described above, HTML has been developed in order to allow researchers to share structured document data. Being limited to the usage of this kind, it can be said that writing a content with a tool such as a text editor in accordance with the HTML format is a relatively easy work for researchers well grounded in software.
In contrast, when designers and creators form a content which is rich in entertainment and complicated, it is rare that an HTML document is written directly by using a text editor or the like, but dedicated authoring software is generally used. This software presents a graphical content forming environment so that the content having a relatively complicated layout can be formed without knowledge of HTML.
The HTML format itself is, however, not designed by considering affinity with the authoring software. Harmful influences of this include an overhead of a data size to be caused by the software mechanically forming an HTML document, difficulty in compatibility between authoring software and in fine adjustment at the content finishing stage, low readability of formed HTML documents, and the like, thus leading to the situation that advantages of HTML become rather disadvantages.
As described earlier, when the extension function is mounted in an HTML content, a script language such as Java(R) Script is often used and designers and content creators often write code of Java(R)Script by themselves even for a more or less complicated content.
However, from the viewpoint of content productivity, the extension functions of this type are preferably developed by programmers having high skills of software by using a program language such as a C language and a Java(R) language. Also from the viewpoint of content productivity, it is preferable that designers and creators pay attention to how the extension functions are customized and combined and which kind of services are realized, and that the script language such as Java(R)Script is used when designers and content creators combine and control these extension functions.
However, presently, specialization in the production of an HTML content is still not established, and in addition the HTML format itself is not designed by considering affinity with development flows of this type.
From the viewpoint of content productivity, although the extension function once developed should be reused, it cannot be said that the script language such as Java(R)Script sufficiently supports the function regarding software modularization (easy to customize, capsulated mount, software module distribution and the like), and it is therefore difficult to reuse.
As above, HTML has the fifth issue of inferior content productivity.
HTML has also a sixth issue of difficulty in sufficient manifestation of a hardware performance.
Specifically, it is expected that the function and performance of hardware of digital electronic home appliances including personal computers are improved more and more in the future. There is a large possibility that highly sophisticated 3D graphics functions as realized in some home games, among others, are adopted in other products in the near future.
In contrast, HTML is software aiming primarily at sharing structured documents, and is unsuitable for expressing a content assuming 3D. As described above, although it is possible to extend the function of an HTML content by using a plug-in or a plug-in such as Java(R)Script, they are associated with the above-described issues and HTML is not always a proper solution to manifest the expected hardware performance that digital electronic home appliances have in the near future.
As above, HTML is a software architecture developed in order to meet the needs of sharing document data among researchers. From the viewpoint of sharing document data, it can be considered that HTML is one of the most refined solutions even at the present time. However, the needs of content distribution on present information networks are sophisticated-function-orientated and multimedia-orientated, and it is required that content producers of an occupation type such as designers and content creators can produce a content in a straightforward manner.
In order to deal with a change in the needs of this kind, although extension of various functions has been made heretofore to HTML, since it does not follow the design idea inherent to HTML, the fundamental solution is still not reached in the context of content compatibility, productivity and the like and HTML is associated with the above-described first to sixth issues.

Browser and program containing multi-medium content


Method and apparatus for mixing gases while providing a substantially constant gas-to-gas ratio while increasing or decreasing the flow of the mixture, wherein the flows of gases introduced into the mixing step are turbulent and have a Reynolds number of above about 2000.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing gases such as a combustible gas and air, and further relates to a mixer capable of maintaining the gas-to-gas or air-to-gas ratio substantially constant even while the total of flow of the mixture considerably increases or decreases.
The invention is particularly beneficial as a mixing device in providing fuel burners with an advantageous "turndown" range, which is the range extending from maximum to minimum total fluid flow, through which range the mixing device is capable of maintaining the gas-to-gas or air-to-gas ratio substantially constant.
2. Prior Art
There are many needs for effective mixing of gases of various types. Examples include:
Mixing a fuel gas with air for combustion in a burner. PA1 Mixing gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide in order to provide a so-called carburizing medium. PA1 Mixing various gases such as propane and air in order to form a so-called blended gas to be used as a backup fuel for a system that normally uses natural gas.
In most instances there is a need not only to produce a mixture of different gases in predetermined ratios, but also to vary the total flow rate of the mixture without causing a significant change of the desired ratios.
Frequently, mixing devices are combined with fans, blowers, or compressors so that the mixture that is produced can be delivered at a controlled, elevated pressure. For combustion applications, the combination is called a mixing machine.
Many kinds of mixing devices have been commercialized. In all of them two or more fluid streams are brought together in some kind of device and leave as a single, mixed stream.
The most basic kind is called a mixing tee. FIG. 1 shows a conventional mixing tee as it would be applied to mixing fuel gas with air. For simplicity, the safety devices that normally would be present are not shown. A blower 12 takes in ambient air and raises its pressure in order to force it through the downstream elements of the system. An orifice 2 establishes a definite relationship between the flow rate of the air and a pressure drop across the orifice. Fuel gas is received from the mains, at a pressure greater than atmospheric, by a gas governor 10.
The gas governor reduces the pressure of the fuel gas, in a pipe 8 just upstream from an adjustable orifice 6, to a value equal to the air pressure measured just upstream from the air orifice 2. As the fuel and air pressures must be equal at the pipe tee 14 where the gas and air come together, the pressure differences across the two orifices must also be equal. Insuring that these two pressure differences are equal is the purpose of the gas governor. The composition of the air-fuel mixture, usually expressed as an air-fuel ratio, can be set to a predetermined value by adjusting orifice 6.
The conventional mixing tee has certain inherent problems that limit the range over which it can maintain a sufficiently constant mixture air-fuel ratio. These are:
1. The gas governor cannot set the inlet pressures of the two gases to be precisely equal. As the pressure differences for the air and the fuel gas become very low at low demand, the mixture composition fails to stay constant because the pressure drops of the gases become increasingly unequal with decreasing demand. This can be compensated by using a smaller air orifice. The pressure drop at minimum demand is then increased enough to make the effect of the gas governor error negligible. Replacing the air orifice with another of just the right size is a nuisance at best if field adjustments become necessary. More likely, there will be a serious delay while the correct orifice is being made.
2. The flow coefficient through an orifice or valve tends to have a constant value at high flow rates, or, more accurately, at high Reynolds numbers. (Reynolds number is a dimensionless quantity which, for the purpose of this invention, may be defined as the gas velocity multiplied by the gas density multiplied by the pipe diameter, just upstream of the valve or orifice, and divided by the gas viscosity.) Conversely, at low Reynolds numbers, the flow coefficient will vary rapidly with changes in the flow rate. As the Reynolds number and the dependency of the flow coefficient on the Reynolds number will be different for the fuel gas and the air, the air-fuel ratio tends not to stay constant at low demand.
3. The basic equations governing a mixing tee show that it cannot normally hold the air-fuel ratio constant if the temperature and composition of the air and fuel gas do not remain sufficiently constant. Weather is a major factor influencing the temperature and composition (humidity) of the air. The blower adds heat of compression to the air and can be a further reason for inconstancy of the air temperature.
A number of devices have been proposed to overcome the limitations of the conventional mixing tee. FIG. 2 shows one of these, a blender valve. Blender valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,980,770 and 2,243,704, for example. The two orifices and the pipe tee of FIG. 1 have been merged into a single device, the blender valve, construction shown in FIG. 2. The gas governor 10 is still present to insure equal pressure differences for the two gases being mixed together. The blender valve body 30 contains a rotatable sleeve 31 which cannot move up and down and a movable piston 32 which cannot rotate. The sleeve 31 and piston 32 each have three openings (a mixture opening, an air opening and a gas opening). The three openings are aligned to form two inlet ports for the two gases to be mixed and a single outlet port for the mixture. Rotating the sleeve 31 changes the relative area of the two inlet ports and consequently changes the ratio of the two gases in the mixture. As the piston 32 rises or falls in the cylinder all three ports vary in area, but the relative areas of the ports stay constant.
The piston 32 is automatically positioned vertically by a diaphragm 36. An impulse tube 34 connects one side of the diaphragm to the valve's air inlet. An opening 33 connects the other side of the diaphragm to the interior of the piston. The pressure difference across the diaphragm 36 drives the piston 32 up or down to maintain a constant pressure difference across the inlet ports. The pressure difference is set at a value large enough so that the effect of the gas governor error, discussed in problem 1 above, is negligible. However, the movable piston 32 does not solve problems 2 and 3 which were previously discussed herein. Problem 3 may be partially alleviated in the typical installation of a blender valve by the placement of the blower downstream from the blender valve so that the air temperature is not changed by the heat of compression. This is called a pull-through system. The conventional mixing tee uses a push-through system because the blower is upstream.
The blender valve of FIG. 2 is expensive to make because it requires a substantial amount of precision machining. The close fitting surfaces increase the need for maintenance because of fouling by dirty fuel, air, or corrosion. The lack of a perfect fit between the valve body and the sleeve and between the sleeve and the piston causes leakage between the air and fuel streams that will change the mixture composition at low demands. The result is that the initial and maintenance costs of a blender valve system will be higher than for a conventional mixing tee and the constancy of the mixture composition will not be as great as expected.
Another type of mixing device uses a characterized valve. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,286,173 and 2,536,678. With these, as demand increases, a motor drives the air valve farther open in order to maintain a constant air pressure difference across the valve. The air valve, in turn, is mechanically linked to a characterized fuel gas valve. The characterized fuel valves have a complex mechanism that permit them to be adjusted to match the air valve so that the air-fuel ratio will stay constant as the demand changes. These overcome the mixing tee problems 1 and 2 previously discussed herein. However, it is difficult and time consuming to characterize them. The characterization is specific to the fuel and the air-fuel ratio. If either is changed, the valve has to be recharacterized. Again, this is expensive compared to a conventional mixing tee.


A thickness of a bonding material (8) is varied in a radial direction orthogonal to a central axis (P) of the tubular anode member (6), the bonding material (8) being used for bonding a transmitting substrate (7) for supporting a target layer (9) and a tubular anode member (6) in a direction along the central axis (P). Thus, a region in which a circumferential tensile stress of the bonding material (8) is alleviated is formed in the direction along the central axis (P) to prevent a crack from developing in the bonding material (8).

A transmission type X-ray generating tube including a transmission target is known. The transmission target uses an X-ray emitted from a side thereof, which is opposite to a side on which an electron beam bombards the target. The transmission type X-ray generating tube may include a target as an end window of the X-ray generating tube. Such a transmission type X-ray generating tube has advantageous features in that a radiation angle can become wider, heat dissipation performance can become higher, and an X-ray generating apparatus can be downsized. The target in such a transmission type X-ray generating tube is hermetically bonded to a tubular anode member via a bonding material such as a silver brazing material formed on a periphery of the target.

Anode, and x-ray generating tube, x-ray generating apparatus, and radiography system using the same


A handheld rangefinder device operable to determine ballistic hold over information is disclosed. The rangefinder device generally includes a range sensor operable to determine a first range to a target, a tilt sensor operable to determine an angle to the target relative to the device, and a computing element, coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor, operable to determine a hold over value based on the first range and the determined angle. Such a configuration facilitates accurate firearm and bow use by providing ranges and hold over values without requiring time-consuming and manual user calculations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to handheld rangefinders that assist a user in compensating for deviations in projectile trajectory. More particularly, the present invention relates to a handheld rangefinder that utilizes a range sensor and a tilt sensor to determine hold over ballistic information corresponding to projectile trajectories.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hunters and other firearm and bow users commonly utilize handheld rangefinders to determine ranges to targets. Generally, handheld rangefinders utilize lasers to acquire ranges for display to a hunter. Utilizing the displayed ranges, the hunter makes sighting corrections to facilitate accurate shooting. Unfortunately, due to variations in elevation and slope, the ranges determined by handheld rangefinders often are not accurate representations of the horizontal distances projectiles must travel.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a hunter positioned above or below a target may be provided a range, 9 yards for instance, that is different than the actual horizontal distance to the target, 5 yards for instance, thereby resulting in inaccurate shooting. Further, handheld rangefinders fail to determine hold over ballistic information corresponding to the amount by which hunters must vary their aim, thereby forcing hunters to manually perform hold over calculations.
Devices operable to compensate for slope and elevation utilizing lasers and inclinometers have been developed to alleviate some of these problems. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/867,429 and 10/964,206, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose telescope sights and other optical devices having a laser range sensor and an inclinometer. Unfortunately, these devices have a limited field of vision, must be attached to a firearm or bow, or are unable to provide hold over ballistic information. Thus, hunters are unable to avail themselves of the beneficial aspects of handheld rangefinders, such as increased field of vision, maneuverability, and portability, while correcting for range, slope, elevation, and rangefinder orientation utilizing hold over ballistic information.

Handheld rangefinder operable to determine hold over ballistic information


A shock isolator device for use in a downhole tool attenuates axial shocks to a protected structure and maintains that structure's rotational orientation to the tool while reducing damage to, maintenance costs of, and wear on, the device components. The shock isolator device interposes an internally- and externally-splined key between an internally-splined sleeve on an anti-rotation section and an externally-splined plunger attached to a connector. The key is less wear-resistant than the sleeve or plunger and can be replaced. The meshed sleeve, key, and plunger force the protected structure attached to the connector to maintain its rotational orientation. The sleeve of the anti-rotation system is attached to a shock damper, which damps axial shocks between the plunger and the sleeve, and is connected to a second connector. The shock damper includes a spring assembly and a viscous damper using a piston in an oil-filled cylinder forcing oil through an orifice.

The invention relates generally to down-hole sensors and equipment and to a system to dampen vibrations that can damage down-hole sensors.
In the drilling of deep bore holes, the rotary drilling technique has become a commonly accepted practice. This technique involves using a drill string which consists of numerous sections of hollow pipe connected together and to the bottom end of which a drill bit is attached. By imparting axial forces onto the drilling bit and by rotating the drill string either from the surface or using a hydraulic motor attached to the drill string, a reasonably smooth and circular bore hole is created. The rotation and compression of the drilling bit causes the formation being drilled to be crushed and pulverized. Drilling fluid is pumped down the hollow center of the drill string through nozzles on the drilling bit and then back to the surface around the annulus of the drill string. This fluid circulation is used to transport the cuttings from the bottom of the bore hole to the surface where they are filtered out and the drilling fluid is recirculated as desired. The flow of the drilling fluid also provides other secondary functions such as cooling and lubricating the drilling bit cutting surfaces and exerts a hydrostatic pressure against the borehole walls to help contain any entrapped gases or fluids that are encountered during the drilling process. To enable the drilling fluid to travel through the hollow center of the drill string, the restrictive nozzles in the drilling bit and to have sufficient momentum to carry cutting and debris back to the surface, the fluid circulation system at the surface includes a pump or multiple pumps capable of sustaining sufficiently high pressures and flow rates, piping, valves and swivel joints to connect the piping to the rotating drill string.
The need to measure certain parameters at the bottom of a bore hole and provide this information to the driller has long been recognized. These parameters include, but are not limited to the temperature, pressure, inclination and direction of the bore hole, vibration levels, inclination, azimuth, toolface (rotational orientation of the drill string), but also include various geophysical and lithological measurements and formation geophysical properties such as resistivity, porosity, permeability, and density as well as in situ formation analysis for hydrocarbon content. The challenge of measuring these parameters in the hostile environment at the bottom of a borehole during the drilling process and conveying this information to the surface in a timely fashion has led to the development of many devices and practices.
It is an advantage to be able send data from the bottom of a bore well to the surface, while drilling, and without the use of wires or cables, and without the continuous and/or frequent interruption of drilling activity. Thus, tools commonly referred to as "measurement while drilling" or "MWD" tools have been developed. Several types of MWD tools have been contemplated in the prior art and are discussed in brief below.
MWD tools may transmit data in several ways, including: creating EM (low frequency radio waves or signals, currents in the earth or magnetic fields) waves to propagate signals through the earth; imparting high frequency vibrations to the drill string which can be used to encode and transmit data to the surface; and creating pressure pulses to encode and transmit data to the surface of the earth from the bottom of a borehole.
MWD tools using pressure pulses can operate in a number of ways, such as: closing or opening a valve in the drill string so as to create a substantial pressure pulse that is detectable at the surface when a particular parameter reaches a pre-selected or particular value or threshold, or creating a series or group of pulses depending upon the parameter's value, or by using the time between the pressure pulse signals in addition to the total number of pressure pulse signals to encode information. Opening and closing and sensing may be accomplished mechanically or electronically or electromechanically, or by a combination thereof.
An MWD drilling tool may include a pulsing mechanism (pulser) coupled to a power source (e.g, a turbine generator capable of extracting energy from the fluid flow), a sensor package capable of measuring information at the bottom of a well bore, and a control mechanism that encodes the data and activates the pulser to transmit this data to the surface as pressure pulses in the drilling fluid. The pressure pulses may be recorded at the surface by means of a pressure sensitive transducer and the data decoded for display and use to the driller.
A pulser may create pressure pulses in a number of fashions. In one embodiment, a servo mechanism opens and closes the main pulsing mechanism indirectly. U.S. Pat. No. 9,133,950 B2 discloses servo pulser mechanisms, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Here, the difference in pressure caused by changes in the fluid flow do most of the work of opening and closing the main valve to generate pulses to transmit data. Such a servo mechanism assisted pulser may also be called a hydraulically assisted pulser.
A hydraulically assisted pulser of a lifting knob type typically has an obstruction, or poppet, used to create a controllable obstruction in an orifice (and a resultant pressure drop thereacross), such hydraulically assisted pulsers are driven by a servo or pilot valve.
In many cases, operators may also desire to use logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensors, which entails including one or more well logging tools downhole into the well borehole as part of the downhole tool. LWD can permit the properties of a formation to be measured during the drilling process. LWD sensors traditionally reside below (downhole or downstream of) the MWD platform to be as close as possible to the bit.
A MWD or LWD platform typically must be locked rotationally (about the longitudinal axis of the drill string) to maintain it in a known/fixed rotational orientation to elements of the drill string (such as the drill bit). This permits the platform to accurately measure/record data such as inclination and direction of the bore hole, inclination, azimuth, and toolface (rotational orientation of the drill string).
A problem encountered in MWD and LWD systems is that the drilling process involves creating axial vibrations and shocks that can interfere with signal transmission and equipment damage of signals generated by the sensors. Another problem encountered in MWD and LWD systems is that the drilling process involves rotation, slow, steady, fast, and jerky, of the drill string, and the MWD and LWD systems must maintain the known/fixed rotation despite these. MWD and LWD systems are typically mechanically fixed to and supported by a part of the drill string that experiences these mechanical vibrations and shocks.
Devices known as dampeners have been developed in efforts to address these problems. Dampeners and related peripheral technologies have been described in US Patent Publication Nos. US 20170328142 A1 and International Patent Application No. WO 2014121377 A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Shock isolator device and related methods


Disclosed are various embodiments for locally searching a search string in network content. A user accesses network content through a client device and enters a search string through the client device. Once the local search is performed on the network content by a client application or a search application through a network, the result would be encoded and displayed for the user to view. Furthermore, a content modifying application modifies the content of one or more network contents or pages based on the stored local search data. The content modifying application may also make recommendations as to what information should be included in the network content.

Users often look for particular information about an item when they view network content featuring the item. However, it can be difficult for the users to find the information especially when the information is provided in a context not easily detectable for the users who may skim through the content.


For conserving bedding material such as wood shavings when cleaning livestock environments such as horse stalls, a manure fork is combined with an air blower directed into the working region of the fork. The air flow is directed to blow the loose bedding material past the fork tines and onto surrounding regions of the stall automatically, while the worker simply works with the fork in the normal manner to remove the manure. The bedding material remains in the stall, thus saving a substantial portion of the usual replenishment costs. The invention thus accomplishes substantial overall cost savings and environmental conservation without requiring special supervision or unusual diligence on the part of the worker.

The present invention relates to the field of hand-held material-handling implements and more particularly to an improvement in manually-deployed forks for cleaning livestock facilities such as horse stables.
Manual cleaning of horse stalls or other livestock facilities, as conventionally practiced, is typically performed utilizing a commercially-available specially-shaped fork as shown in plan view in FIG. 1A, side view in FIG. 1B and three-dimensional view in FIG. 1C. Fork 10 consists of a scoop portion 12 configured with a row of tines extending as shown, typically molded from plastic. A handle 14, typically made of wood with a circular cross-sectional shape, is attached to scoop portion 12.
In conventional practice of stall cleaning, there is substantial waste because much of the wood shaving bedding material becomes removed and discarded along with the manure, thus necessitating frequent costly replenishment that can amount to many bags of shavings per week per animal, representing a substantial cost factor.
The main approach presently available to control this cost factor is to train, motivate and supervise workers to take the extra time and diligent effort to salvage the wood shavings; however such special training and effort is likely to be merely a tradeoff, shifting the cost to labor and supervision, and could result in zero or negative savings overall. The cost of wasted bedding material is particularly high in prestigious operations and expensive boarding sites where the stalls must be kept in top condition by frequent cleaning and where wood shavings are utilized plentifully for aesthetic and show purposes.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved manure fork for cleaning livestock stalls and pens, that automatically separates bedding material such as wood shavings during the process of stall cleaning so that the bedding material can be retained and recycled repeatedly.
It is a further object that any mechanism incorporated in the improved manure fork be made to operate in a manner that there is no excessive sound or other disturbance that could frighten or alarm nearby livestock.
It is a further object that the improved manure fork be made to operate safely without requiring an AC power line cord and without exposing the user or livestock to risk of electrical shock.
It is a further object that any motor driven mechanism including associated batteries be sufficiently small and light in weight so as not to appreciably increase the work effort normally required in conventional stall-cleaning activity.
The present invention combines a manure fork with an air blower that is directed in a manner to blow bedding material such as wood shavings off the fork and back into surrounding regions of the stall automatically while the worker simply performs the cleaning operation and removes the manure in the normal manner. The wood shavings are then easily recycled into the stall, thus saving a substantial portion of the conventional replenishment costs without imposing extra diligence on the part of the worker or extra supervision on the part of the supervisor.
Electrical powering of the blower keeps the operation quiet so as to not alarm the horse or other livestock. Instead of operating the blower from the AC power line, on-board battery operation is utilized to avoid the potential nuisance factor of an AC line cord and to eliminate any risk of electrical shock.

Combined manure fork and shavings blower


A method and apparatus for authenticating currency and other important documents. A preferred embodiment may contain both a substrate, such as paper, and an embedded RFID transponder. An embedded RFID transponder or electronic watermark may contain multiple hierarchical layers of electronic passwords that are used to electronically protect the host currency from counterfeiting, or unauthorized modification. In addition, such intelligent RFID tags may uniquely identify a particular document and data related to the document. The authenticating agency can utilize a public or private Electronic Product Code database as a means for the authenticating agency and third parties to authenticate documents and data in documents. The intelligent interactive Electronic Product Code can be used as an anti-counterfeit mechanism enabling third parties requested to provide services, benefits or monetary payments to authenticate documents and prevent counterfeits.

Automatic identification ("Auto-ID") technology is used to help machines identify objects and capture data automatically. One of the earliest Auto-ID technologies was the bar code, which uses an alternating series of thin and wide bands that can be digitally interpreted by an optical scanner. This technology gained widespread adoption and near-universal acceptance with the designation of the Universal Product Code ("UPC")—a standard governed by an industry-wide consortium called the Uniform Code Council. Formally adopted in 1973, the UPC is one of the most ubiquitous symbols present on virtually all manufactured goods today and has allowed for enormous efficiency in the tracking of goods through the manufacturing, supply, and distribution of various goods.
However, the bar code still requires manual interrogation by a human operator to scan each tagged object individually with a scanner. This is a line-of-sight process that has inherent limitations in speed and reliability. In addition, the UPC bar codes only allow for manufacturer and product type information to be encoded into the barcode, not the unique item's serial number. The bar code on one milk carton is the same as every other, making it impossible to count objects or individually check expiration dates.
Currently cartons are marked with barcode labels. These printed labels have over 40 "standard" layouts, can be mis-printed, smeared, mis-positioned and mis-labeled. In transit, these outer labels are often damaged or lost. Upon receipt, the pallets typically have to be broken-down and each case scanned into an enterprise system. Error rates at each point in the supply chain have been 4–18% thus creating a billion dollar inventory visibility problem. Only with RFID does the physical layer of actual goods automatically tie into software applications, to provide accurate tracking. Also, none of the information of these barcodes is protected or "hidden" from unauthorized readers, making counterfeiting and fraud easy and raising concerns about the loss of privacy.
The emerging RFID technology employs a radio frequency ("RF") wireless link and ultra-small embedded computer chips, to overcome these barcode limitations. RFID technology allows physical objects to be identified and tracked via these wireless RFID tags, or "tags". An RFID tag may function like a bar code that communicates to a reader automatically without needing manual line-of-sight scanning or singulation of the objects. Applied RFID technology promises to radically transform the retail, pharmaceutical, military, and transportation industries, as well as many product or document distribution methods.
An RFID system begins with a reader sending out electromagnetic signals to find a tag. When the radio wave hits the tag and the tag recognizes the reader's signal, the reader decodes the data programmed into the tag. The information is then passed to a server for processing. By tagging a variety of items, information about the nature and location of goods can be known instantly and automatically.
An RFID system may consist of two primary components, an RFID tag ("tag") and a "tag reader". The tag typically includes an IC chip and an antenna. The IC chip may include a digital decoder needed to execute the computer commands that the tag receives from the tag reader. The IC chip also includes a power supply circuit to extract and regulate power from the RF reader; a detector to decode signals from the reader; a transmitter to send data back to the reader; anti-collision protocol circuits; and at least enough EEPROM memory to store its EPC code.
Certain prior art RFID systems use reflected or "backscattered" radio frequency (RF) waves to transmit information from the tag to the reader. Since passive (Class-1 and Class-2) tags get all of their power from the reader signal, the tags are only powered when in the beam of the reader.
Semi-passive and active tags have a battery to provide power to the chip. This greatly increases read range, and the reliability of tag reads, because the tag doesn't need power from the reader. Class-3 tags only need a 10 mV signal from the reader in comparison to the 500 mV that a Class-1 tag needs to operate. This 2,500:1 reduction in power requirement permits Class-3 tags to operate out to a distance of 100 meters or more compared with a Class-1 range of only about 3 meters.
In 2003, the worldwide total RFID market size was $1.5 B in 2002 and has been growing rapidly. The total RFID market will grow to $7.25 B by the year 2008.
National government agencies, authorized financial institutions or their authorized agents are often responsible for creating, publishing, and authenticating financial instruments. A financial instruments is defined herein to include an electronic document or a hard copy document that is, represents, or is materially related to a financial record, money, a monetary value, an exchange value, currency, a payroll check, a personal check, a cashiers check, a certified check, a negotiable bond, a registered security, a credit card, a debit card, a credit note, a debit note, a promissory note, a title document and/or other suitable documents known in the art that contain or relate to a financial document, an ownership right or a title. The term financial instrument as further defined herein includes coupons, tickets, airline tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, rebates, rebate coupons, credits, credit notes, debits, debit notes, or other documents having financial relevance and issued by public or private persons, organizations, entities, associations, institutions, trusts or corporations. The term document is defined herein to include a financial instrument.
RFID circuit tags, also referred to herein as RFID circuits and RFID tags are presently manufactured and used to track a plethora of items and materials, from items of apparel to volumes of coal as stored by grade and quality. Alien Technology, mentioned as one exemplary manufacturer, provides a 915 MHz RFID tag with 64 bits of field programmable memory and 16 bits of CRC. Yet the prior art fails to suggest or anticipate the use of RFID tags with Electronic Product Codes for federal, state or local government to certify a financial instrument, a legal documents or another suitable document known in the art with a unique digital intelligent codes or the ability for third parties to use an intelligent Electronic Product Code to assure that a document is not counterfeit. More information about RPC codes may be found in published MIT reports and posted on websites like "EPCglobal" and "RFID Journal".
It is an object of the present invention to provide new processes to protect against counterfeiting of financial instruments.

Hierarchical electronic watermarks and method of use


A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes positioning a core of overlapping stacked sheets of fiberglass mat in an envelope of impermeable barrier material. The core is pressed into a predefined three dimensional shape by pressing first and second mold parts together. The core is evacuated, and the envelope is sealed to form a three dimensional core having an airtight envelope around the core. The three dimensional vacuum core is positioned between a wrapper and a liner, and the wrapper and the liner are interconnected to form a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure.

Various types of vacuum insulated refrigerator structures have been developed. Known vacuum insulated structures may include a core panel that is positioned between a wrapper and a liner. The core panel may comprise a simple rectangle of uniform thickness with flat inner and outer surfaces, and flat edge surfaces that extend transversely between the inner and outer surfaces. However, the flat two dimensional ("2D") shapes of these core panels may limit the applications of these types of panels.

Vacuum insulated refrigerator structure with three dimensional characteristics


A method of manufacturing a touch panel includes forming a first touch electrode layer including first touch electrodes, first touch traces and first pins, and the first pins are located in the first pin bonding area of the touch panel. The method further includes depositing an interlayer insulating layer by using a first mask including a first shielding structure, and the first shield structure is configured to shield a first pin bonding area. The method further includes forming a second touch electrode layer including second touch electrodes, second touch traces and second pins, and the second pins are located in a second pin bonding area of the touch panel.

A touch display device is a device which can achieve both display and touch. The touch display device generally includes a display panel and a touch panel. According to the positional relationship between the touch panel and the display panel, the touch display device can be divided into a built-in touch display device and an out-cell touch display device (Out-cell). The built-in touch display device can be further divided into an in-cell touch display device (In-cell) and an on-cell touch display device (On-cell). Since the on-cell touch display device (On-cell) has the advantages of facilitating light weight and thinning of the touch display device and preventing the interaction between the display unit and the touch panel, it has been widely studied and applied.

Method of manufacturing a touch panel and touch panel

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