An accessory is disclosed for use in a human-computer interface gaming or other application. The accessory can be held or otherwise interacted with by a user, where the accessory is sensed and displayed as a virtual object on a display. The virtual representation of the accessory may be an accurate recreation of the accessory, or it may be displayed as a virtual object appropriate to the gaming or other application. The real world accessory is flexible and may be morphed into a variety of forms to better suit a wide array of uses. This accessory may also serve as a platform upon which other accessories can be mounted to enhance user experience.

In the past, computing applications such as computer games and multimedia applications used controls to allow users to manipulate game characters or other aspects of an application. Typically such controls are input using, for example, controllers, remotes, keyboards, mice, or the like. More recently, computer games and multimedia applications have begun employing cameras and software gesture recognition engines to provide a human computer interface ("HCI"). With HCI, user gestures are detected, interpreted and used to control game characters or other aspects of an application.
In conventional gaming and multimedia applications, users often hold or otherwise interact with an in-game prop, such as for example a racquet, sword, stick, etc. However, these virtual props may have no corresponding real world object, which can often lead a user to feel disconnected from a gaming experience. Additionally, when the in-game prop is itself used to interact with other in-game props, such as an onscreen bat hitting an onscreen ball, having no real world counterpart can make that action more difficult for a user to coordinate.

Reshapable connector with variable rigidity


The present provides impervious shoccovers primarily for use in medical applications. The shoecovers have a boot which define an inside area, and an elastic band attached to an ankle section of the boot. The boot has a top which defines a foot opening to the inside area, and a bottom opposite of the top. The ankle section is positioned between the top and the bottom. The elastic band is attached to a flap at the ankle section of the boot which extends beyond a fluid resistant seal and thus, leaves the ankle section free of perforations to the inside area. The shoecover is made from a fluid resistant or impervious material.

Protective shoecovers are commonly used for medical applications. For example, protective shoecovers have been used during surgical procedures to protect the wearer. The shoecovers protect the wearer's foot, ankle, and lower leg by reducing the potential of surgical fluids and other surgical debris from coming into contact with those parts of the wearer's body.
Existing protective shoecovers for use in medical applications have included an elastic strip sewn into the shoecover around an ankle area. When the shoecover is worn the sewn-in elastic strip gathers the shoecover around the wearer approximately in the area of the wearer's ankle. Because the elastic strip is sewn into the shoecover holes or perforations are created in the shoecover. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a protective shoecover in which an elastic ankle strip is attached to the shoecover without creating perforations through the shoecover.


An attachment and support system is provided for supporting a flame arrestor and cover at a preselected position relative to a throttle body which, in turn, is attached to an air intake manifold. A support member is attached, by four bolts, to the air intake manifold. The four bolts, or alternative attachment components, simultaneously attach the throttle body to the air intake manifold and the support member to the throttle body. Both the flame arrestor and cover are attached, by a stud, to the support member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a component mounting system and, more particularly, to an arrangement which supports a flame arrestor and a cover on a throttle body structure and the intake manifold of a marine engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Those skilled in the art of marine engine design are familiar with various types of flame arrestors that are used in conjunction with engines of all types and, in particular, engines used in conjunction with marine propulsion systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,296, which issued to Hart on Apr. 20, 1993, describes a flame arrestor having a helical flame arresting member. The arrestor comprises a continuous flame arresting member in the form of a helix having offset interstices between adjacent turns of the helix. The flame arrestor further comprises a mechanism for housing the flame arrestor member. Upon installation of the flame arrestor on a carburetor, air intake system, or any source of flammable gases, any backfire or flame passing through the flame arrestor will be extinguished.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,289, which issued to Polaner on May 19, 1981, describes a flame arresting air filter element. The element is intended for use with an air intake system and has an outer ring of pleated filtering paper and an inner, concentric ring formed of expanded metal foil, longitudinally stretched and laterally compressed so as to be adapted to diffuse and quench flames resulting from engine backfire. The inner ring is coated with a relatively inert, cohesive substance to provide a unitary structure. The two rings are provided with resilient end caps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,187, which issued to Jaeger et al. on Jan. 20, 1998, discloses a flame arrestor. The flame arrestor is for a marine engine and includes an air box mounted to the combustion air intake, and a uniplanar flame arresting element mounted to the air box and passing combustion air therethrough in a first direction into the air intake and blocking flame propagation in a second opposite direction out of the air intake. Air flow from the flame arresting element to the air intake is rectilinear.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,913, which issued to Okumura et al. on Oct. 25, 1994, describes a flame arrestor arrangement for a marine propulsion engine. A pair of embodiments of flame arrestor arrangements for marine propulsion engines are described wherein the flame arrestor is positioned vertically above the thermostat housing at one end of the engine and the plenum chamber for the intake is manifold is disposed above the exhaust elbow of the engine so as to provide good induction efficiency and compact size. Different configurations of flame arrestors are disclosed and they provide large effective inlet areas and, at the same time, good flame protection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,707, which issued to Alhamad on August 18, 1998, describes a flame arrestor. An efficient flame arrestor is adapted for use in preventing an external flame from backflashing upstream in a pipe, or a conduit, or a stream carrying a flammable substance. The flame arrestor comprises a contained layer of nested spheroids formed from expanded metal sheets made from magnesium alloy foil. The arrestor is useful in fuel tanks, combustion systems, seagoing tankers, hot water or space heaters, and the like.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
It would be significantly beneficial if an improved mounting method could be provided in which a flame arrestor is robustly supported by a throttle body and intake manifold in such a way that it is easily removable from the throttle body. In addition, it would be significantly beneficial if a cover could be supported over the flame arrestor by the same structure which attaches the flame arrestor to the throttle body. It would be also significantly beneficial if a structure could be provided that maintains the flame arrestor and the throttle body in a coaxially aligned relationship during operation of a marine engine.

Component mounting system for a marine engine


Antennas are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material with conductive wrapping, embedding, and/or center-fusing. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are formed from non-metals, such as carbon, graphite, that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from metals such as stainless steel, nickel, copper, silver, aluminum that may also be metallic plated, or the like, or from a combination of non-metal, plated, or in combination with, metal powders. The micron conductor fibers preferably are of nickel plated carbon fiber, stainless steel fiber, copper fiber, silver fiber, aluminum fiber, or the like.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to antenna devices and, more particularly, to antenna devices molded of conductive loaded resin-based materials comprising micron conductive powders, micron conductive fibers, or a combination thereof, homogenized within a base resin when molded. This manufacturing process yields a conductive part or material usable within the EMF or electronic spectrum(s).
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Antenna devices are generally classified as any structures capable of receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic energy. Antennas typically comprise conductive materials capable of converting electromagnetic field energy into electrical currents and visa versa. Of particular importance in the design of useful antenna devices are the concepts of resonance frequency and bandwidth and antenna gain or attenuation. Each antenna structure exhibits characteristic responses to different frequencies of electromagnetic energy. The frequency at which the antenna device exhibits highest gain, or lowest attenuation, is the resonance frequency for the antenna. The range of frequencies around the resonance frequency for which the antenna device exhibits a most useful response, typically defined at −3 dB of resonant gain or the like. These response features depend greatly on the antenna material, shape, size, and signal coupling means. It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved antenna device that incorporates a unique antenna material, a unique signal coupling and resonance tuning approach, and unique fabrication methods.
Several prior art inventions relate to antenna elements and tuning methods. U.S. Patent Application Publication Us 2003/0030591 A1 to Gipson et al teaches a sleeved dipole antenna with a method to reduce noise utilizing a ferrite sleeve disposed radially around the coaxial feed line. This invention also teaches that the conductive radiators are constructed of aluminum, steel, brass, stainless steel, titanium or copper. U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,841 to Sakamoto et al teaches a wide-band antenna and tuning method utilizing a rod, a movable coil connected to the rod, and a cylindrical conductive holding section. U.S. Patent Application Publications 2001/0050645 A1 to Boyle, 2002/0089458 A1 to Allen et al, and 2003/0160732 A1 to Van Heerden et al teach various antenna devices embedded into fabrics.

Low cost antenna devices comprising conductive loaded resin-based materials with conductive wrapping


A façade (100) comprising at least one façade panel (112) having a front face (131) and a rear face (113) and at least two panel support elements (108). Each panel support element (108) comprises a first arm (110), a second arm (109) wherein at least a portion of the second arm (109) is attached to the rear face (113) of the façade panel (112). The panel support element (108) also comprising at least two panel retaining elements (101), each comprising a first flange (104) and a channel 106, wherein at least a portion of the second arm (109) of the panel support element (108) is restrained within the channel (106) and each panel retaining element (101) is attached to a building structural substrate (102).

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
Façade systems for new buildings are widely known. Façade panels of various types of materials, including coated aluminium and polymer composite materials are fixed to a structural frame, generally a metal frame, to provide a weather tight exterior envelope on a building. Such panels are conventionally attached to the structural frame by face fixing through the panel using securing means such as nails, screws and the like. Such securing means require secondary on-site processing to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish. It is known to provide concealed fixing for panels in façade systems to avoid secondary on-site processing. The concealed fixing system usually utilises a clip or bracket system which is attachable to the rear face of the façade panel. However, the clip or bracket system only provides point supports to the panel. This can cause further difficulties in extreme weather conditions particularly when the façade panel is trimmed to fit specific wall dimensions.
Furthermore, whilst façade systems are effective when providing a weather tight exterior envelope they provide little or no thermal insulation performance. Exterior insulated foam systems are known for providing a thermally efficient exterior façade system, whereby a thick insulation layer is formed on the exterior of a budding structure and a thin layer of weatherproofing render is applied over a support mesh attached to the insulation. These systems are more effective at providing thermal insulation performance, but, if the screed is breached, they lose their ability to provide a weather tight exterior envelope resulting in water ingress causing a reduction in thermal performance and possible damage to building structural elements.


There is provided a microfluidic device capable of preventing the flow of a fluid from being interrupted by bubbles generated in a micro flow passage. In a microfluidic device 10 wherein a micro flow passage 16 having a substantially constant height is formed for allowing a fluid to flow therein and wherein a narrow portion is formed in a portion of the micro flow passage by forming a columnar portion 12c or the like in the micro flow passage, an extending recessed portion 14c for extending the micro flow passage upwards is formed upstream of the narrow portion, and a plurality of raised portions extending in substantially parallel to longitudinal directions of the micro flow passage are formed on a portion of the bottom face of the micro flow passage facing the extending recessed portion if necessary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a microfluidic device. More specifically, the invention relates to a microfluidic device in which a micro flow passage, such as a microchannel, is formed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, there is known a technique called integrated chemistry for using a microfluidic device, such as a microchip, wherein a micro flow passage (a fine flow passage) having a width and depth of about tens to two hundreds micrometers is formed in a substrate of a glass or plastic, to utilize the micro flow passage as a fluid passage or a reaction vessel, to integrate a complicated chemical system in the microfluidic device. According to such integrated chemistry, a microchip capable of being used in various tests is called μ-TAS (Total Analytical System) if the use of the microchip is limited to analytical chemistry, and the microchip is called micro reactor if the use of the microchip is limited to a reaction. When any one of various tests (any one or combination of operations and means, such as analysis, measurement, synthesis, decomposition, mixing, molecular transportation, solvent extraction, solid phase extraction, phase separation, phase combination, molecule acquisition, culture, heating and cooling) is carried out, integrated chemistry has advantages that the time to transport diffuse molecules can be short since the space in the microchip is small and that the heat capacity of a liquid phase is very small. Therefore, integrated chemistry is noticed in the technical field wherein a micro space is intended to be utilized for carrying out analysis and chemical synthesis.
As such microfluidic devices, there are known microfluidic devices wherein a micro flow passage having any one of various shapes is formed (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2002-1102, 2002-239317 and 2003-220322). As methods for forming a micro flow passage in such a microfluidic device, there are known various methods (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-230647).
However, when a fluid is allowed to pass through a micro flow passage in such a microfluidic device, there are some cases where air having stayed in the micro flow passage and/or air generated by a pump or the like forms bubbles in the micro flow passage to interrupt the flow of the fluid in the micro flow passage. Particularly in a microfluidic device wherein a narrow portion (a portion having a small flow passage cross-sectional area) is formed in a part of a micro flow passage by providing a columnar portion (a pillar) or the like for allowing the mixing of fluids, a vital reaction or the like in the micro flow passage, there are some cases where bubbles stay in the narrow portion to interrupt the flow of the fluid.

Microfluidic device for trapping air bubbles


Methods and systems are described for automatically linking a cursor to a hotspot in a hypervideo stream comprising a plurality of video frames that are associated with at least one user selectable hotspot. One method includes establishing an association between a selectable hotspot in a first activation region of a first video frame received for presentation in a video presentation space and a cursor when a first position of the cursor is within the first activation region corresponding to the selectable hotspot. The method also includes receiving a second video frame that includes the selectable hotspot in a second activation region different from the first activation region, and determining whether a second position of the cursor is outside of the second activation region of the second video frame. Responsive to the determination, the second video frame is presented with a visual indicator associating the cursor with the selectable hotspot based on the association between the cursor and the selectable hotspot.

Hypervideo is a displayed video stream that includes user selectable anchors, referred to as "hotspots," that are linked to ancillary information. When a user views a hypervideo clip and selects the hotspot, the user can navigate from the video clip to the linked ancillary information. For example, a hotspot can be associated with an element in the video clip, such as a red automobile, and when selected, additional information about the automobile can be presented to the user, or a different video clip or a different segment of the same clip can be shown to the user.
In order to associate hotspots with elements in a hypervideo stream, it is necessary to track the position of the individual elements within the video clips used. Thus, when the exemplary red automobile is moving, the hypervideo media player system must be able to determine when the hotspot associated with the automobile has been selected, regardless of where it is on the screen when the selection is made. For video clips created artificially, e.g., by computer graphics, element tracking is relatively simple because the position of an element is specified on a coordinate system and that information can be then used to track the element. For video clips created from or based on live footage, however, element tracking is more complex. The video clip comprises a plurality of video frames, where each frame represents a still picture or "snapshot" of a particular moment in time. While each video frame contains visual information sufficient to permit the human brain to distinguish individual elements, such visual information does not generally enable a computer system to recognize the elements.
Nevertheless, several hypervideo authoring systems have been developed that support element tracking through the generation of hotspots that move with the element. FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate three (3) exemplary video frames, 10A, 10B, and 10C, of a hypervideo stream that includes moving elements. In FIG. 1A, the first video frame 10A includes a first element, e.g., an automobile, that is associated with a first hotspot 12A. As is shown, the first hotspot 12A can be a defined region, referred to as an activation region, that can be similar in shape and size to the first element with which it is associated.
For the sake of clarity, the first hotspot 12A is represented by a rectangular box that generally encompasses the first element. In other instances, the defined region of a hotspot associated with an element is not displayed to the user. Rather, the appearance of a cursor 100, or any pointer indication, can change when the cursor 100 position is within the activation region of a hotspot. For example, when the cursor 100 is within a hotspot, the cursor 100 can appear as a pointing finger, otherwise the cursor 100 can appear as an arrow. Typically, when a viewer places the cursor 100 over the first element and selects the first element, the viewer effectively activates the associated first hotspot 12A. In this example, when the first hotspot 12A is activated, information 14A about the first element associated with the first hotspot 12A is presented.
In FIG. 1B, the second video frame 10b includes the first element and a second element, the rear automobile, that is also associated with a second hotspot 12b. As is shown, the first hotspot 12A is in a different location and has a different shape/size because the first hotspot 12A is tracking the location and shape/size of the first element. Generally, because the first element is "moving" away from the camera, its relative size is decreasing and thus, the size of the first hotspot 12A is also decreasing. As the size of the hotspot 12A decreases with each successive video frame (assuming the first element continues to travel away from the camera), it can be increasingly difficult for the viewer to place the cursor 100 on the first element to activate the associated first hotspot 12A. Thus, in FIG. 1C, while the viewer has placed the cursor 100 near the first element and selected what the viewer thinks is the first element, the cursor placement and selection actually has activated the second hotspot 12B, which is associated with the second element. As a result, information 14b about the second element associated with the second hotspot 12B is presented.
For some users, positioning the cursor 100 over a stationary graphical display element, such as an icon or hypertext link, can be difficult. In some instances, a user may exhibit diminished visual or physical abilities, or lack training and practice to correctly position the cursor 100. This difficulty is exacerbated in a hypervideo stream because elements captured in video clips, and their associated hotspots, are typically moving, and even if the element itself is physically stationary, the camera may be panning or zooming, thereby resulting in perceived movement.
Moreover, difficulties in positioning the cursor 100 properly can be attributable to the computer system itself. For example, a computer display can provide a high density presentation of material, rendering graphical display elements relatively small. Similarly, small computer displays, such as those for palm-held devices, may make graphical display elements difficult to select. In addition to user abilities and hardware limitations, the content displayed may include small elements, such as jewelry, with correspondingly small hotspots, making user selection with a pointing device difficult.
As illustrated above, inaccurate cursor positioning can result in mistakenly activating a hotspot associated with another element. With hypervideos, this mistake is particularly frustrating because the video stream continues for a specified time. To correct the mistake, the user must either replay the video clip or stop the presentation of the video clip and/or rewind it to some point. Moreover, the mistakenly activated hotspot can produce completely unintended results, which can be detrimental to the user. For example, in FIG. 1C, the viewer can mistakenly believe that he is reading information 14B about the front automobile, when in fact, the information 14B pertains to the rear automobile.
Accordingly, there exists a need for methods, systems, and computer program products for helping a user to track and activate a hotspot associated with an element in a hypervideo.

Method and system for automatically associating a cursor with a hotspot in a hypervideo stream using a visual indicator


A process and an apparatus for the cooling of a welding seam area during laser welding of plates or strips, preferably used in car body construction in automotive engineering. It is described how expediently the cooling agent supply and also the supply of an inert gas veil built up between the focus and liquid coolant is achieved so that the liquid coolant is prevented from entering the welding seam area and causing detrimental effects there.

Moreover, the invention relates to an apparatus required for the implementation of this process. During the laser welding of plates and strips that, for example, are used in car body construction, the quality of the welding seam is of great significance. During butt welding the width of the gap is instrumental in assuring the quality of the weld. If the gap is too wide, the laser beam "falls through" or the weld quality deteriorates to an extent that scrap is produced. Due to the high volume of energy applied at the laser beam focus there is a risk that as a result of thermal expansion in the plate this applied energy causes a gap ahead of the focal point that severely impedes the quality of the welding seam. For that reason, cooling of the welding seam area is of great importance since an effective cooling will prevent gap formation.
During laser welding a cooling action by ambient air is well known as is the injection of cooling air through nozzles or the infeed of gases such as helium or argon. Furthermore, cooling methods involving clamping jaws or copper ledges have also been employed. For example, cooling a weld area with gaseous media during laser welding is known as prior art from EP 0 450 349.
The processes covered by prior art are partly unsatisfactory as far as their cooling performance is concerned, to some extent they require substantial expenditure for equipment. When the cooling process involves gases considerable gas volumes have to be blown onto the welding seam to obtain results that can viewed as fairly, if at all acceptable. If cooling of the weld seam area is to be effected by means of clamping jaws, e.g. for copper ledges (EP 01 89 806), these have to be carefully controlled and arranged. Moreover, cooling by clamping jaws is not feasible in the event of continuous welding processes.
From DE 40 10 077 a process is known for the continuous welding of abutting strips (plates) by means of a laser beam without adding filler metal. This process provides for the strips to be cooled in the area of the welding seam immediately after the welding focus so that the cooling intensity is controlled as a function of the width of the gap formed directly before the welding focus by the abutting edges of the strip in strip running direction in such a manner that this gap width remains within a tolerance range. From this process it is also known that cooling can be effected on both sides of the strip. For cooling, a gaseous medium is proposed, preferably air. To get as close as possible to the welding focus the narrow tip of the injection nozzles is envisaged to project into the gap between the clamping rollers. The blowing direction of the injected gaseous medium is away from the welding focus. Controlling the cooling intensity of the injected gaseous medium is achieved by way of its flow rate. In connection with this process an apparatus for the continuous welding of abutting strips (plates) by means of a stationary welding beam acting on the abutting strip edges is proposed that includes clamping rollers arranged in pairs vertically to the running strip direction at both sides of the strips to be welded, said clamping rollers forming a gap in the area of the joint of the strip through which the stationary laser beam hits the abutting edges to be welded. For this purpose a control apparatus is employed that has a measuring unit located in the direction of strip travel immediately ahead of the welding focus monitoring, as actual value, the width of the gap formed by the abutting strip edges and a cooling unit arranged in the direction of strip travel behind the welding focus and acting on the strips in the area of the weld seam, the cooling intensity of this unit being adjusted as a function of the actual value representing the gap width being constant within prescribed tolerance limits and being furnished by the measuring unit. The measuring unit consists of a radiating source arranged on one strip side and a radiation receptor arranged on the other. This radiating source can be a laser whereas the radiation receptor is a diode line camera.
Furthermore, the cooling unit has blowing nozzles for the gaseous medium. The gas cooling process requires a considerable consumption of gas and its cooling capacity is only limited.
DE 30 37 981 relates to a process for fusion and cutting welding, welding, sublimation cutting, drilling, marking as well as fine machining of materials by means of a laser beam with such beam being generated, directed, focused through a lens and projected onto the surface of the workpiece to be processed. Moreover, an inert or reactive gas is admitted to the focused spot thus generated coaxially to the laser beam. The focused spot can be displaced without an additional lateral correction of the workpiece coordinates and/or a nozzle opening of the laser beam in the direction of the laser beam axis relative to a fixed reference point on the axis, with the workpiece surface in the focused spot and in its immediate vicinity being cooled by a gaseous or liquid coolant stream concentrically applied to this surface. In this case the arrangement shall provide for a coolant of the workpiece in the form of at least one liquid jet located on an envelope of a cone coaxial to the laser beam the tip of which being located at least approximately in the focused spot.
From DE 41 33 350 a process is known as prior art that provides for the cutting of a prescribed pattern through the wall of a hollow metallic workpiece by means of a laser, with a liquid coolant being pumped through the workpiece supporting fixture and metallic workpiece so that the coolant passes through the workpiece during pattern cutting by means of a laser cutting apparatus and during this process contacts at least some part of the inner workpiece surface with a view to purging out slag particles that may form during cutting which minimizes or rules out an adherence of such slag particles to the inside of the workpiece. A water/oil mixture in the range of 50 parts of water and 50 parts of oil up to approximately 90 percent of water and 10 percent of oil, each based on volume, is to be used as coolant. When applying this liquid cooling method danger exists that liquid enters the focus or runs into a molten pool.

Process and device for cooling the area of a weld during laser welding


A flexible seal ring includes a first sealing face and a rear face is disposed opposite the front sealing face, the rear face is axially offset relative to the front sealing face. An upper face disposed between the front face and the rear face, the upper face extending from the rear face towards the front face such that an interior angle between the upper face and the rear face is greater than 110 degrees. Another flexible seal ring includes a first front sealing face, a rear face, at least one downwardly disposed upper face disposed between the front face and the rear face, at least one downwardly disposed lower face, and a second front sealing face disposed between the downwardly disposed lower face and the first front sealing face. A cartridge seal includes a flexible seal ring and an upper retaining ring.

A typical control valve has a linear motion closure member commonly referred to as a plug (or piston), one or more ports, and a body typically distinguished by a globular shaped cavity around the port region. The body is the part of the valve which is the main pressure boundary. The body typically provides the pipe connecting ends and the fluid flow passageway. In a control valve, the closure member is a movable part of the valve that is positioned in the flow path to modify the rate of flow through the valve.
The plug closure member is a part, often cylindrical in nature, which moves in the flow stream with linear motion to modify the flow rate. It may or may not have a contoured portion to provide flow characterization. It may also be a cylindrical or conically tapered part. In other types of valves, the closure member includes ball, disk and gate.
A flow orifice in the flow passageway (path) interacts with the closure member to close the valve. The orifice may be provided with a seating surface, to be contacted by or closely fitted to the closure member, to provide tight shut-off or limited leakage, i.e., to close the valve.
A cage, guide or liner is typically a part in a control valve that generally surrounds the closure member to provide alignment and facilitate assembly of other parts of the valve trim. The cage may also provide flow characterization and/or a seating surface. Control valve trim typically includes the internal parts of a valve which are in flowing contact with the controlled fluid. Examples of valve trim are the plug, seat ring and cage. The body is not considered part of the trim.
FIG. 1 illustrates a standard prior art control valve 80 manufactured and sold by Dresser, Inc.'s Masoneilan® division. A valve stem 1 extends through a valve bonnet 7 to a valve plug 15. Valve plug 15 is received in a cage 16. A seal 30 is disposed between the plug 15 and the inner wall of cage 16. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate different embodiments of the seal 30 between the plug (piston) 15 and the inner wall of cage 16. FIG. 2B shows a two-part seal with an inner member 31 that can be formed of Ni-Resist metal and an outer member 32 that can be formed of structural graphite. In this valve, the seal is located in a seal groove (gland) on the plug. In other variations, the seal may be located in a seal groove on the cage wall.
TABLE 1Seat Leakageper IEC534-4 andValveValve SizeTemperature Range(1)ANSI/FCIModelSeal TypeinchesMmMinimumMaximum70.2 Class41305Pressure2-1650-400 −50° F. +450° F. (+232° C.)IV (standard)Energized (−46° C.)V (optional)PTFE SealRing41405Auxiliary Pilot2-4 50-100−320° F. +850° F. (+454° C.)(2)IV (standard)Plug with(−196° C.)V (optional)Metal Seal6-16150-400 −320° F.+1050° F. (+566° C.)Ring(−196° C.)41505Metal Seal2-4 50-100−320° F. +850° F. (+454° C.)(2)IIRing(−196° C.)6-16150-400 −320° F.+1050° F. (+566° C.) III(−196° C.)41605PTFE Seal2-1650-400 −20° F. +300° F. (+149° C.)IVRing (−29° C.)41905Graphite Seal2-4 50-100−320° F. +850° F. (+454° C.)IVRing(−196° C.)6-16150-400 −320° F. +850° F. (+454° C.)(−199° C.)Notes:(1)See Materials of Construction Tables for other temperature limitations.(2)Maximum temperature limit for the 2° (50 mm) size is +1050° F. (+566° C.)
Table 1 includes information on the manufacturer's suggestions regarding selection of the particular type of seal depending on the temperature range of the fluid flowing through the valve. In high temperature service, the prior art valves use rigid graphite seals. These rigid seals include a split or break in the circumference that allows the seal to conform to the diameter of the sealing surface. Such a split ring seal is similar to a piston ring used to seal an internal combustion engine piston in the engine cylinder. Because the circumference of the seal ring is split, fluid leaks across the seal.
Other prior art high temperature seals may be-formed of compressed flexible graphite. This flexible graphite prior art seal results in a high sliding friction, and a high rate of wear makes it unsuitable for automated positioning/throttling applications of control valves.


An off-carriage printing system with high performance tubing. The printing system includes a media transporting system for transporting a print medium along a medium path to a print area, a scanning carriage for holding a printing structure including a printhead, and a scanning apparatus for scanning the carriage along a scanning axis transverse to the media path at the print area. The system further includes fixed ink supply station including an ink reservoir. A fluid conduit for the flow of ink, interconnects between the ink reservoir of the fixed ink supply station and the printing structure, the fluid conduit including a length of hollow flexible multiple layer tubing routed such that a flexible loop is formed therein. The multiple layer tubing comprises at least one inner barrier layer to water vapor transmission from the ink, at least one barrier layer to oxygen permeability, and at least one outer barrier layer to water vapor transmission from the atmosphere.

Thermal inkjet hardcopy devices such as printers, graphics plotters, facsimile machines and copiers have gained wide acceptance. These hardcopy devices are described by W.J. Lloyd and H.T. Taub in "Ink Jet Devices," Chapter 13 of Output Hardcopy Devices (Ed. R.C. Durbeck and S. Sherr, San Diego: Academic Press, 1988) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,490,728 and 4,313,684. The basics of this technology are further disclosed in various articles in several editions of the Hewlett-Packard Journal [Vol. 36, No. 5 (May 1985), Vol. 39, No. 4 (August 1988), Vol. 39, No. 5 (October 1988), Vol. 43, No. 4 (August 1992), Vol. 43, No. 6 (December 1992) and Vol. 45, No. 1 (February 1994)], incorporated herein by reference. Inkjet hardcopy devices produce high quality print, are compact and portable, and print quickly and quietly because only ink strikes the paper.
An inkjet printer forms a printed image by printing a pattern of individual dots at particular locations of an array defined for the printing medium. The locations are conveniently visualized as being small dots in a rectilinear array. The locations are sometimes "dot locations", "dot positions", or pixels". Thus, the printing operation can be viewed as the filling of a pattern of dot locations with dots of ink.
Inkjet hardcopy devices print dots by ejecting very small drops of ink onto the print medium and typically include a movable carriage that supports one or more printheads each having ink ejecting nozzles. The carriage traverses over the surface of the print medium, and the nozzles are controlled to eject drops of ink at appropriate times pursuant to command of a microcomputer or other controller, wherein the timing of the application of the ink drops is intended to correspond to the pattern of pixels of the image being printed.
The typical inkjet printhead (i.e., the silicon substrate, structures built on the substrate, and connections to the substrate) uses liquid ink (i.e., dissolved colorants or pigments dispersed in a solvent). It has an array of precisely formed orifices or nozzles attached to a printhead substrate that incorporates an array of ink ejection chambers which receive liquid ink from the ink reservoir. Each chamber is located opposite the nozzle so ink can collect between it and the nozzle. The ejection of ink droplets is typically under the control of a microprocessor, the signals of which are conveyed by electrical traces to the resistor elements. When electric printing pulses heat the inkjet firing chamber resistor, a small portion of the ink next to it vaporizes and ejects a drop of ink from the printhead. Properly arranged nozzles form a dot matrix pattern. Properly sequencing the operation of each nozzle causes characters or images to be printed upon the paper as the printhead moves past the paper.
The ink cartridge containing the nozzles is moved repeatedly across the width of the medium to be printed upon. At each of a designated number of increments of this movement across the medium, each of the nozzles is caused either to eject ink or to refrain from ejecting ink according to the program output of the controlling microprocessor. Each completed movement across the medium can print a swath approximately as wide as the number of nozzles arranged in a column of the ink cartridge multiplied times the distance between nozzle centers. After each such completed movement or swath the medium is moved forward the width of the swath, and the ink cartridge begins the next swath. By proper selection and timing of the signals, the desired print is obtained on the medium.
Color inkjet hardcopy devices commonly employ a plurality of print cartridges, usually either two or four, mounted in the printer carriage to produce a full spectrum of colors. In a printer with four cartridges, each print cartridge contains a different color ink, with the commonly used base colors being cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In a printer with two cartridges, one cartridge usually contains black ink with the other cartridge being a tri-compartment cartridge containing the base color cyan, magenta and yellow inks. The base colors are produced on the media by depositing a drop of the required color onto a dot location, while secondary or shaded colors are formed by depositing multiple drops of different base color inks onto the same dot location, with the overprinting of two or more base colors producing the secondary colors according to well established optical principles.
For many applications, such as personal computer printers and fax machines, the ink reservoir has been incorporated into the pen body such that when the pen runs out of ink, the entire pen, including the printhead, is replaced.
However, for other hardcopy applications, such as large format plotting of engineering drawings, color posters and the like, there is a requirement for the use of much larger volumes of ink than can be contained within the replaceable pens. Therefore, various off-board ink reservoir systems have been developed recently which provide an external stationary ink supply connected to the scanning cartridge via a tube. The external ink supply is typically known as an "off-axis," "off-board," or "off-carriage" ink supply. While providing increased ink capacity, these off-carriage systems also present a number of problems. The space requirements for the off-carriage reservoirs and tubing impact the size of the printer, with consequent cost increase. Moreover, pressure drops through the tubing can reduce printer throughput and affect printing quality. Another problem is that of vapor losses from the tubing and air diffusion into the tubing system. In the past, tubing such as LDPE (low density polyethylene) has been used, since it is a low modulus material which is easy to bend. This low modulus material suffers from relatively high vapor losses out of the tube and air diffusion into the tube. As a result of the vapor losses, the ink can change properties, degrading print quality and eventually causing tube or printhead clogging. As a result of air ingestion, the printhead can fill with air. During thermal fluctuations, the air can expand, causing printhead drool. In addition, the air can cause printhead starvation. Further problems include the force exerted on the carriage by the tubing, and the stresses on the tubing that tends to cause buckling or fatigue failures. These problems are exacerbated with a low end off-carriage printing system with its relatively small form factor.
It would therefore be an advantage to provide a compact, low end off-carriage printing system.
It would further be advantageous to provide such a printing system which permits high throughput printing, with relatively high flow rates through the tubing.
Still other advantages would be provided by an off-carriage printing system with high reliability due to low vapor losses and air diffusion, yet with minimal tubing pressure drops while minimizing the force exerted by the tubing on the carriage to maintain accurate printhead alignment.

High performance tubing for inkjet printing systems with off-board ink supply


The invention relates to a dispenser for transferring layers of goods from a pallet onto a receiving surface and then down a discharge conveyor. The dispenser incorporates a vertically movable platform capable of bringing a first tier of goods in alignment with a rotary table. Sweeper arm moves the goods on to the table as it rotates. Goods accumulate on the rotary table and then become guided down a discharge conveyor for further processing.

Manufacturers of beverages or other products require empty containers that are typically sold in bulk pallet form. The containers are arranged on a pallet in a stack of superimposed layers that have separating inserts positioned between each layer. Containers need to be taken from the pallets and uniformly delivered in single file down a line for further processing such as washing, decorating operations (including the use of labels, shrink sleeves, or direct printing) filling, etc. An apparatus that takes containers from a bulk pallet for processing is typically called a depalletizer, and dispensing containers from a pallet is referred to as depalletizing.
At low speeds, pallets can be manually depalletized. This process typically requires several operators to individually move containers from the pallet to the packaging line. However, this is a tedious process that leads to high labor costs, low morale, errors, and poor quality of the product due to the employee's dirty hands and fingers touching the inside of the container.
At high speeds, robotic machinery can be used to feed containers onto a packaging line. These dispensers involve expensive machinery that is generally large in size and therefore not a viable solution to a large segment of manufacturers.
An affordable, reliable alternative is a fully automated apparatus that vertically moves a layer of containers to a height where they can be pushed off in quantity onto a collection area, which could be a static plate, or a conveyance. Ultimately, the containers must be moved into a single file line for downstream processing.
Examples of depalletizers are found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,021 discloses a depalletizer for unloading layers of goods from a pallet onto a takeoff surface. The depalletizer comprises a vertically movable platform, lift means for aligning the individual layers of containers with the takeoff surface, and a sweeper that moves with the layers of containers for transferring the successive layers of containers from the pallet to the takeoff surface when the takeoff surface is level with each respective layer. This depalletizer unloads individual layers of the pallet to the takeoff surface. Such a depalletizer fails to teach accumulating and isolating containers and aligning the containers in a single file for further processing.
Depalletizers designed to accumulate layers of containers and then isolate and align containers into a single file line for further processing exist in the prior art. The short comings of these devices are the need for additional features to keep the containers moving or additional space for conveyor systems to accumulate and isolate containers into a single file line. The former category of devices often requires a receiving surface that can tilt, vibrate, have an air knife, or other additional features to move the container forward down the line and eventually force containers into a single file. The latter category of devices feeds containers through a series of constricting conveyors until the containers align in single file, but such a configuration requires significant space and additional expense and often needs to incorporate the additional features discussed above. The prior art depalletizer design limitations increase the expense, size, and hazards related to depalletizers. What is therefore needed is an apparatus that removes containers from a bulk pallet and discharges the containers in single file for processing that is inexpensive, reliable, and compact.

Rotary discharge of containers from a depalletizer


An electronic device comprises a first plurality of configuration elements connected as a shift register for programming a subset of the programmable functions of the electronic device. The subset of programmable functions may be reprogrammed by loading configuration data into the first plurality of configuration elements such that the subset of programmable functions may be reprogrammed without necessarily reprogramming other programmable functions of the electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a configuration shift register for use in configuring programmable logic devices or other similar devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Programmable logic devices ("PLDs") (also sometimes referred to as CPLDs, PALs, PLAs, FPLAs, EPLDs, EEPLDs, LCAs, FPGAs, or by other names), are well-known integrated circuits that provide the advantages of fixed integrated circuits with the flexibility of custom integrated circuits. Such devices are well known in the art and typically provide an "off the shelf" device having at least a portion that can be electrically programmed to meet a user's specific needs. Application specific integrated circuits ("ASICs") have traditionally been fixed integrated circuits, however, it is possible to provide an ASIC that has a portion or portions that are programmable; thus, it is possible for an integrated circuit device to have qualities of both an ASIC and a PLD. The term PLD as used herein will be considered broad enough to not necessarily exclude such devices.
PLDs typically include blocks of logic elements, sometimes referred to as logic array blocks ("LABs"; also referred to by other names, e.g., "configurable logic blocks," or "CLBs"). Logic elements ("LEs", also referred to by other names, e.g., "logic cells") may include a look-up table (LUT) or product term, carry-out chain, register, and other elements. LABs (comprising multiple LEs) may be connected to horizontal and vertical conductors that may or may not extend the length of the PLD's core and connect to input/out ("I/O") blocks.
I/O blocks include buffers, registers, and may include other elements. I/O blocks (sometimes referred by other labels, e.g., I/O elements, or "IOEs", I/O buffers, I/O cells, "IOs", etc.) perform I/O functions that may include, for example, implementing I/O standards (e.g. LVTTL, LVCMOS, 2.5V, 1.8V, etc.) that define the requirements for transmitting/receiving a logical "1" or "0." I/O functions also may include, for example, buffering data, routing data to and from the various LEs of the PLD, the demultiplexing of signals, and other functions. I/O blocks and other circuitry such as, for example, phase locked loops (PLLs), delay locked loops (DLLs), and other clock circuitry may benefit from being proximate to the periphery and pins of the device.
PLDs have configuration elements that may be reprogrammed. Configuration elements may be realized as RAM bits, flip-flops, EEPROM cells, or other memory elements. Placing new data into the configuration elements programs or reprograms the PLD's logic functions. It is also becoming increasingly desirable to provide programmable I/O blocks that also contain configuration elements.
In some PLDs, the configuration elements are located in a dedicated memory region or regions. In other PLDs, the configuration elements are dispersed throughout the device. In either case, the configuration elements are typically treated together as an addressable array, or grid, that may be programmed with configuration data.
As the quantity of LEs, LABS, I/O blocks, and configuration elements in PLDs grows, the grid of configuration elements can become quite large. Today there is an increasing need for PLDs with a larger number of configuration elements. However, providing a PLD that has a large grid of configuration elements, for example, as large as 2,000×2,000 configuration elements organized in rows and columns, can create time inefficiencies during testing when particular subsets functions of the PLD may need to be repeatedly reprogrammed.
Applying a typical architecture and programming scheme to such a 2,000×2,000 grid of configuration elements would involve connecting the columns (or, alternatively, the rows) of such an array to, for example, a 2,000 row shift register for column-by-column (or alternatively, row-by-row) loading of configuration data into the configuration elements. Specifically, data for a column is loaded serially into a data shift register, and then the configuration data is loaded in parallel into all the rows (or in some instances a subset of all the rows) of a column. To reprogram the entire device, this process is repeated until new data is loaded into all of the configuration elements.
In those PLDs where the I/O blocks are programmable, the configuration elements for the I/O blocks are programmed along with the rest of the configuration elements. Those configuration elements that are relevant to configuration of I/O operations in a PLD would typically be located near the I/O pins which are dispersed around the edge of the PLD. Thus, I/O configuration elements may exist near the top and bottom of many columns across an entire grid of configuration elements. Thus, to reprogram all of the I/O elements, the entire grid of configuration elements must be reprogrammed.
For purposes of regular operation of a PLD by an ultimate end user, it generally does not pose a problem that the entire PLD must be programmed in order to reprogram a particular subset of functions performed by the PLD. Generally the end user would not need to frequently reconfigure the PLD by reprogramming the configuration elements. However, when testing the PLD, it may be necessary to frequently retest the PLD with different configurations. In particular, it may be necessary to frequently reprogram the PLD for purposes of testing the PLD with different configurations of its I/O elements. As the number of configuration elements in a PLD grows, this repeated reprogramming can become increasingly burdensome, particularly when testing multiple PLDs, and particularly given the increasing need to test a PLD with several different configurations of its I/O elements. In addition, it is desirable to be able to reprogram a portion of or the entire periphery of the chip while the core function is left intact. Alternatively, the core could be reprogrammed and the I/O blocks would still be programmed in a specific pattern to allow maintenance of system level functionality.
Therefore, a configuration element organization is needed that will make it possible to reprogram configuration elements relating to a subset of functions, such as, for example, I/O functions, without necessarily reprogramming an entire configuration grid containing other configuration elements not relating to the particular subset of functions. In addition, it is desirable to be able to reprogram a portion of or the entire subset of configuration elements while the grid containing the other configuration elements is left intact. Alternatively, it may be desirable for the grid to be reprogrammed and not the I/O functions, allowing system level functionality to be maintained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis. The resonator includes two Brewster's angle retroreflector prisms, each having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces. The prisms are disposed in alignment along the optic axis of the resonator. One or both of the prisms can be rotated so that light rays enter and leave a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster's angle to the normal of the prism surface. This feature maintains alignment between the prisms and allows the resonator to be tuned. One of the total internal reflection surfaces of at least one of the prisms may be a curved surface (either a ground curved surface or a surface curved by the addition, through optically contacting or gluing, of a plano-convex lens to the surface). Alternatively, an astigmatic lens may be centered in one arm of the resonator and tilted at Brewster's angle with respect to the optic axis of the resonator. In a preferred embodiment, each of the prisms has an apex angle of about 135.degree. minus Brewster's angle, a second angle of about 90.degree., and a third angle of about 180.degree. minus two times Brewster's angle.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates the electromagnetic spectrum on a logarithmic scale. The science of spectroscopy studies spectra. In contrast with sciences concerned with other parts of the spectrum, optics particularly involves visible and near-visible light--a very narrow part of the available spectrum which extends in wavelength from about 1 mm to about 1 nm. Near visible light includes colors redder than red (infrared) and colors more violet than violet (ultraviolet). The range extends just far enough to either side of visibility that the light can still be handled by most lenses and mirrors made of the usual materials. The wavelength dependence of optical properties of materials must often be considered.
Absorption-type spectroscopy offers high sensitivity, response times on the order of microseconds, immunity from poisoning, and limited interference from molecular species other than the species under study. Various molecular species, but especially simple molecules such as water, can be detected or identified by absorption spectroscopy. Thus, absorption spectroscopy provides a general method of detecting important trace species. In the gas phase, the sensitivity and selectivity of this method is optimized because the species have their absorption strength concentrated in a set of sharp spectral lines. The narrow lines in the spectrum can be used to discriminate against most interfering species.
In many industrial processes, the concentration of trace species in flowing gas streams must be measured and analyzed with a high degree of speed and accuracy. Such measurement and analysis is required because the concentration of contaminants is often critical to the quality of the end product. Gases such as N.sub.2, O.sub.2, H.sub.2, Ar, and He are used to manufacture integrated circuits, for example, and the presence in those gases of impurities such as water--even at parts per billion (ppb) levels--is damaging and reduces the yield of operational circuits. Therefore, the relatively high sensitivity with which water can be spectroscopically monitored is important to manufacturers of high-purity gases used in the semiconductor industry. Various impurities must be detected in other industrial applications.
Spectroscopy has obtained parts per million (ppm) level detection for water in high-purity gases. Detection sensitivities at the ppb level are attainable in some cases. Accordingly, several spectroscopic methods have been applied to such applications as monitoring water content in gases, including: absorption measurements in traditional long pathlength cells, photoacoustic spectroscopy, frequency modulation spectroscopy, and intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy. These methods have several features, discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,040 issued to Lehmann, which make them difficult to use and impractical for industrial applications. They have been largely confined, therefore, to laboratory investigations.
In contrast, cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) has become an important spectroscopic technique with applications to science, industrial process control, and atmospheric trace gas detection. CRDS has been demonstrated as a technique for the measurement of optical absorption that excels in the low-absorbance regime where conventional methods have inadequate sensitivity. CRDS utilizes the mean lifetime of photons in a high-finesse optical resonator as the absorption-sensitive observable.
Typically, the resonator is formed from a pair of nominally equivalent, narrow band, ultra-high reflectivity dielectric mirrors, configured appropriately to form a stable optical resonator. A laser pulse is injected into the resonator through a mirror to experience a mean lifetime which depends upon the photon round-trip transit time, the length of the resonator, the absorption cross section and number density of the species, and a factor accounting for intrinsic resonator losses (which arise largely from the frequency-dependent mirror reflectivities when diffraction losses are negligible). The determination of optical absorption is transformed, therefore, from the conventional power-ratio measurement to a measurement of decay time. The ultimate sensitivity of CRDS is determined by the magnitude of the intrinsic resonator losses, which can be minimized with techniques such as superpolishing that permit the fabrication of ultra-low-loss optics.
At present, CRDS is limited to spectroscopic regions where high reflectivity dielectric mirrors can be used. This has significantly limited the usefulness of the method in much of the ultraviolet and infrared regions, because mirrors with sufficiently high reflectivity are not presently available. Even in regions where suitable dielectric mirrors are available, each set of mirrors only allows for operation over a small range of wavelengths, typically a fractional range of a few percent. Further, construction of many dielectric mirrors requires use of materials that may degrade over time, especially when exposed to chemically corrosive environments. Because these present limitations restrict or prevent the use of CRDS in many potential applications, there is a clearly recognized need to improve upon the current state of the art with respect to resonator construction.
The article by A. Pipino et al., "Evanescent wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy with a total-internal reflection minicavity," Rev. Sci. Instrum. 68 (8) (August 1997), presents one approach to an improved resonator construction. The approach uses a monolithic, total internal reflection (TIR) ring resonator of regular polygonal geometry (e.g., square and octagonal) with at least one convex facet to induce stability. A light pulse is totally reflected by a first prism located outside and in the vicinity of the resonator, creating an evanescent wave which enters the resonator and excites the stable modes of the resonator through photon tunneling. The absorption spectrum of matter located at the totally reflecting surfaces of the resonator is obtained from the mean lifetime of a photon in the monolithic resonator, which is extracted from the time dependence of the signal received at a detector by out coupling with a second prism (also a totally reflecting prism located outside, but in the vicinity of, the resonator). Thus, optical radiation enters and exits the resonator by photon tunneling, which permits precise control of input and output coupling. A miniature-resonator realization of CRDS results and the TIR-ring resonator extends the CRDS concept to condensed matter spectroscopy. The broadband nature of TIR circumvents the narrow bandwidth restriction imposed by dielectric mirrors in conventional gas-phase CRDS. The work of A. Pipino et al. is only applicable to TIR spectroscopy, which is intrinsically limited to short overall absorption pathlengths, and thus powerful absorption strengths. In contrast, the present invention provides long absorption pathlengths and thus allows for detection of weak absorption strengths.
It is also possible to build a resonator out of two Brewster's angle roof prisms with crossed axes, as described in Gould et. al., "Crossed Roof Prism Interferometer," Appl. Opt., Vol. 1, 533-34 (1962). The advantage of this resonator is that it remains aligned for any small angle deviation of the prisms. The disadvantage is that the Brewster's angle of one of the prisms must be set by construction, i.e., the Brewster's angle cannot be adjusted for wavelength by rotation of the prism. There are applications (e.g., at specific wavelengths) where the robust alignment of such a resonator is sufficiently desirable that the loss of the ability to tune the Brewster's angle can be tolerated. The inability to adjust Brewster's angle, however, restricts its application. Furthermore, the resonator described by Gould et. al. is not optically stable, and thus cannot be used to produce a low-loss resonator, due to diffraction.
To overcome the shortcomings of the known approaches to improved resonator construction, a new high-finesse resonator (or optical resonator) for CRDS is provided. An object of the present invention is to replace the conventional dielectric mirrors with Brewster's angle prism retroreflectors, thereby providing an improved resonator. A related object is to circumvent the narrow bandwidth restriction of conventional dielectric mirrors used in CRDS. Another related object is to expand the variety of potential applications for CRDS.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a resonator which incorporates materials that do not degrade significantly over time, even in chemically corrosive environments. An additional object is to enable "tuning," or alignment, of the resonator by rotating the prisms of the resonator. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an innovative CRDS resonator design that achieves a low intrinsic energy loss and a well-defined relationship between photon decay time and absorption.

High-finesse optical resonator for cavity ring-down spectroscopy based upon Brewster's angle prism retroreflectors


A slam latch is provided which includes a housing which receives a planar slide which is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A spring biases the slide toward the extended position. The housing forms a part of a divider which is hingedly mounted to a trailer body to form compartments in the trailer. Preferably, the housing is made of metal, and the slide is made of plastic. The housing has a hole in each side of the housing allowing access to the slide. Preferably, the slide includes a hole therethrough defining a hand slot. The trailer body includes a receiver post which receives the end of the slide in the extended position to latch the divider in place. Preferably, the receiver post has a continuous cross-section from floor to ceiling and is flush with the wall of the trailer body.

Latches are useful for temporarily closing doors, moveable walls and space dividers. Horse trailers include one or more hinged dividers for use in creating temporary compartments in the horse trailers for the horse or horses in each trailer and for equipment. The divider keeps the horse contained in a defined compartment within the trailer. Slam latches are known for use in latching the dividers in the closed position in the horse trailer.
Various concerns arise in the case of automatic latches, particularly in the case of slam latches used for dividers in horse trailers. It is desirable that the latches be easy and cost effective to manufacture and easy to use. Also, it is desirable that the latches be reliable, durable and not require excessive maintenance. In the particular case of the slam latches for horse trailers, trailer owners and horse attendants are concerned that the latches not come loose from vibrations or bumps during travel, or if the horse bumps into the divider or the latch. If the divider unintentionally moves, the horse may be unsafely contained in the trailer. There is also a concern that the slam latches not harm or catch on the horses that happen to contact the latches. Also, it is a concern that the slam latches not catch on a person in the trailer walking by the latches. There is a need in the art for slam latches that address the above concerns and other concerns.


The invention relates to a method for operating a PEM or DMFC fuel cell in the minimal- or partial-load region. According to the invention, the size of the cell surface, on which the fuel cell reaction takes place, is altered by means of opening or closing of feed channels, which serve to supply reaction medium to the cell surface.

The present invention relates to a method for operating a PEM (proton electrolyte membrane) or DMFC fuel cell (direct methanol fuel cell) in the minimal or part load range.
In fuel cell systems which have a large number of cells, problems occur with distributing the reaction media from cell to cell and within a cell in the minimal or part load range. On account of the smaller quantity of reaction media required in these load ranges, the active cell surface is under-supplied, resulting in cell failures. Moreover, there are moisture problems at the active cell surface since, on account of the low flow rate caused by the small quantity of reaction medium, it is impossible for sufficient water to be discharged from the fuel cell. To avoid these cell failures in the lower load ranges, the fuel cell systems are usually operated in higher load ranges and thereby with a greater quantity of reaction media than is necessary.
Furthermore, in the case of DMFC fuel cell systems, methanol breakthrough occurs in low load ranges. In the process, the fuel methanol diffuses through the active cell surface (membrane), with the result that the efficiency is reduced in this load operation.

Method for operating a fuel cell in the minimal-or partial-load region


Adaptive irrigation of vegetation is achieved with a probe implanted into the soil for detecting rootage wetness needs by measuring soil impedance with contacts distributed along the probe. When a dryness threshold indicating rootage needs is met at a depth ZBEGIN previously entered into a control logic coupled to the probe, then irrigation is started. Irrigation is stopped when a wetness front is detected at depth Zend(i) automatically provided by the control logic. The depth of arrest of the drainage front Zfinal(i) descending below the depth Zend(i) is compared with a depth ZFINAL, also previously entered into the control logic. The depth Zend(i) is adapted at each irrigation cycle i for the drainage front to stop at the depth ZFINAL. The probe may be used to determine the depth ZBEGIN where resistance drops are detected first, by measuring resistance over time.

For the benefit of water resources conservation, methods, systems, and devices for optimal irrigation have been developed. Previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,341,831 and 6,618,673, issued to the present inventor, are referred to below as, respectively, the '831 patent and the '673 patent, and are incorporated herewith in whole by reference.
The terms water and irrigation fluid, which may contain additives, are used interchangeably.
Even though AC current is applied and impedances are measured, the word resistance is used below and considered to have the same meaning.
Vegetation, plants, and flora are used below as synonyms.
As described in the '673 patent, optimal irrigation wets the soil in the root zone range. Water or irrigation fluid that descends to a depth below the roots of the vegetation is wasted, since all benefit to the plants is lost. Moreover, water penetrating below the roots endangers the water table, which may become polluted by the agrochemicals carried along with the descending water.
At the beginning of irrigation, water descends from the ground level, starting from depth zero, and creates a wetness front that penetrates downwards into the soil. In FIG. 1 of the prior art described in the '673 patent, there is shown vegetation 10 with roots 12. Also illustrated is a probe 26, with electrodes 36, which sense the arrival of an irrigation wetness front created by the descent of the irrigation water into the soil. Sensing is achieved by measuring electrical resistance between two electrodes. The wetter the soil, the lower the resistance, and vice versa. The arrival of a wetness front at a certain depth is thus witnessed by a decrease in resistance measured over the couple of electrodes 36 located at that certain depth.
A first soil depth ZI indicates the initial depth reached by the wetness front at the time irrigation is halted. Below that depth ZI the wetness front continues to drain downwards but is now called a drainage front, which comes essentially to a stop at the drainage front arrest depth ZF, or the final drainage depth ZF. In repetitive irrigation cycles, the initial depth ZI is adaptively adjusted for the irrigation to stop at the depth from where water will drain to reach the depth ZF but not lower down, which is defined as the bottom of the root zone range, below which water is not beneficial to the plants. Although the purpose of the '673 patent is valid in general terms, the basis for the control of the successive irrigation cycles remains deficient: The '673 patent does not provide a rational criterion related to any plant or rootage associated parameter for commanding the start of a first and of a next irrigation cycle, but waits for an empirical dwell period D between successive irrigation cycles. Such a dwell period D cannot be regarded as a quantitative soil, roots, or wetness driven parameter but is merely a best guess, chosen as an independent absolute time factor.
Furthermore, with the '673 patent no measure are taken for the reset of the impedance measurement taken by the probe 26, which is necessary in response to changing soil and conditions, such as the change of soil resistivity following the use of agrochemicals. A lack of adjustments to the measurements of resistance impairs the adaptive efficiency expected from the successive irrigation cycles.
Moreover, with the '673 patent, the circuitry for sampling the measurements derived from each couple of electrodes 36 distributed on the probe 26 requires massive wiring and a great number of switches, all preventing the realization of cheap and affordable equipment. The term switch, as used below, refers to an electronic switch, even though representation as a mechanical switch is used to ease the description.
For example, as shown for the electric circuit depicted in FIG. 3 of the '673 patent, four couples of electrodes, hence eight electrodes 36, or eight contacts numbered 361 to 368, require eight switches marked SW1 to SW8, to operate in parallel, thus as many switches as electrodes 36, with each switch requiring the necessary accompanying electrical conductors 413.
In other words: with the example above, the eight contacts 36, numbered 361 to 368, define seven measurement intervals. Hence, for n intervals there are needed n+1 switches.
In addition, the structural implementation of the probe 26 of the '673 patent is complex and intricate, and involves multiple production steps, making the probe quite expensive. The probe 26 needs first to be extruded out of insulating material, with electrical leads 68 imbedded therein. Then, a tapered tip 64 is machined, and so are grooves 71 and 74, which are later potted. Next, for each single electrode, a groove 78 is cut, and a conductive band is wrapped inside the groove, and secured by a screw 80. It turns out that the manufacture of a probe 26 is an intricate and expensive process.

C.I.T. Controlled Irrigation Technologies Ltd.


An automated car wash system includes a device for recognizing the types of vehicles passing through the system. The vehicle type recognition device includes two ultrasonic sensors positioned above the vehicle pathway to determine a vehicle profile. A computer recognizes the vehicle profile and type by monitoring a relationship between signals present at each sensor. The computer communicates the vehicle type information to a dryer controller that controls the position of the dryer relative to the vehicle.

This invention generally relates to a device for determining the number and types of vehicles passing through an automated car wash system. More specifically, this invention relates to a device and method for determining the number and types of vehicles passing through an automated car wash using ultrasonic sensors that determine the height of different portions of each vehicle.
Current automated car washes typically include dryer bags that provide a flow of air over the vehicle surface as the vehicle approaches the exit of the car wash. A variety of dryer bag arrangements are known. Some arrangements include controllers that position the dryer bags at a preselected distance from the surface of the vehicle to ensure sufficient drying. Such controllers typically include sensors mounted on the end of the bag that detect the presence of the surface of the vehicle as the vehicle moves through the drying stage of the automated car wash.
While such conventional systems are useful, they are not without shortcomings and drawbacks. For example, such systems do not distinguish between vehicle types and, therefore, cannot provide any special dryer position control that may be desirable under certain circumstances. For example, when an open bed pick-up truck is moving through the automated car wash, it is often possible that the open bed contains mud or other substances when the vehicle is approaching the drying stage in the car wash. With conventional sensors, a dryer bag typically is positioned very close to the horizontal surface of the open truck bed. This introduces the likelihood that the dryer bag will become dirty as the mud or other substances are blown about within the truck bed. Further, the mud or other substances may contaminate the sensors positioned on the bag, which results in faulty operation of the bag position controller as subsequent vehicles pass through the drying stage of the car wash.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system that controls the position of a dryer within an automated car wash based upon a recognition of the type of vehicle that is currently entering the dryer stage of the car wash. This invention addresses that need by providing a system where sensors are positioned above the pathway of the vehicle that facilitate recognizing the type of vehicle. Vehicle type recognition systems have been proposed in the past. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,692. That system includes ultrasonic sensors that measure the heights of various portions of a vehicle, which information is used to determine the number and type of vehicles passing beneath the sensors. Prior to this invention, however, no one has suggested using a vehicle type recognition system for controlling an automated car wash as will be described below.

Automated vehicle wash system with vehicle type recognition


Apparatus and methods to characterize and measure fruit pieces in food products are provided. A sample is spread on a viewing cell and illuminated. The image is captured by a camera and fed to a computer with imaging software. Information useful for quality control purposes and process control is obtained.

The production of food products such as fruit fillings and toppings for use in, for example, yogurt and baked goods involves the cooking of fruit pieces with a variety of ingredients to produce a product with fruit pieces in a matrix of sugar, starch and/or other materials. The fruit pieces used may be fresh, frozen or cooked. Typically, the fruit and other materials in the recipe are cooked at temperatures up to 190° F. while agitated in a jacketed kettle. Quantities up to 300 gallons are not uncommon. The processed fruit product is cooled and packaged and may pass through piping and pumps before entering the final package.
The appearance and size of the fruit pieces is an important attribute for customer acceptance in many instances. The processing of the fruit generally degrades the physical appearance of the fruit pieces.
One current test for fruit identity in cooked food products containing fruit particles such as those used in yogurt is a "Fruit Retention Test". The food product is washed on a screen to remove the matrix. The fruit retained on the screen is weighed and reported as a percentage fruit retention. The intention of the test is to measure the amount of complete fruit pieces above selected size and maintain a fruit identity based on this test. However, the "Fruit Retention Test" has been shown to have wide variability and it is difficult to obtain consistent results.
Computer imaging is believed to have many advantages for use in the measurement of fruit particles in a matrix. The use of computers to analyze images from a camera has developed rapidly in the last few years as increased speed and memory has permitted detailed examination of large numbers of images at a high rate. The technology has been driven by the need for high speed 100% inspection systems for applications outside the food industry and has been used as a method for quality inspection in such applications as contact lenses, semiconductor wafers, electronics, pharmaceuticals and others. The camera image is analyzed by the computer software and then measured against preselected criteria. The images can be examined by particle size, shape and area using pattern recognition and blob analysis to produce statistical data, particle size distribution tables, aspect ratios, graphs and for other methods of data presentation. It is proposed that such systems could be used for fresh fruit, frozen fruit and cooked fruit pieces containing food products.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simple and quick method of analyzing fruit particles for food products.
Another object is to provide economical and easy to construct apparatus for the analysis of fruit particles for food products.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.


The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrogen feed stream and a liquefier for carrying out such a method in which ortho-species of hydrogen contained in a hydrogen feed stream is converted to the para-species in higher and lower temperature catalytic converters. An adsorption unit, located between the higher and lower temperature catalytic converters, adsorbs a portion of the ortho content of the feed stream. The adsorbed portion is desorbed during regeneration of an adsorbent bed of the adsorption unit and is recirculated back for treatment in the higher temperature catalytic converter to reduce the degree to which the ortho-species are converted to the para-species in the lower temperature catalytic converter and at lower temperatures.

Hydrogen is liquefied for many purposes that include the storage and the transport of the hydrogen. Although insulation is provided in connection with vessels used to store and transport hydrogen, as with any cryogen, heat leakage will cause the hydrogen to vaporize and its consequent loss. Another mechanism for the vaporization of hydrogen concerns the fact that the hydrogen to be liquefied normally contains both ortho-species and para-species of the hydrogen that are respectively, triplet and singlet states of hydrogen resulting from a magnetic moment associated with the spin of the proton making up each hydrogen atom. Under ambient conditions, hydrogen will contain roughly 75 percent of the ortho-species and when hydrogen is liquefied, such proportion will be preserved in the liquid hydrogen. The ortho form of the hydrogen is unstable at low temperatures and the ortho form will eventually form the para-species. However, such formation is exothermic and will accelerate the vaporization of hydrogen during transport and storage.
The problem set forth above has been identified in the prior art and liquefiers have been disclosed that incorporate catalysts to catalytically convert the ortho-species of the hydrogen to the para-species of the hydrogen. Since such conversion is exothermic, refrigeration, in addition to that required in liquefying the hydrogen, must be supplied. Practically, since this will require more energy for generating the refrigeration, it has been recognized in the art that the catalytic conversion can take place in both higher and lower temperature locations of the liquefier to avoid catalytic conversion taking place solely at the colder temperature levels. If the exothermic catalytic conversion were to take place only at the colder temperature levels of the liquefier, the liquefaction of the hydrogen would be a particularly energy intensive if not expensive process because a greater proportion of the refrigeration is expended in achieving the colder temperatures that are required for the liquefaction of the hydrogen.
Liquefiers incorporating catalytic conversion of the ortho form of the hydrogen in both higher and lower temperature catalytic converters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,095,274, U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,809 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,813. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,813, the hydrogen is liquefied in a series of heat exchangers that operate at successively lower temperatures. Refrigeration is imparted to the heat exchangers by a closed circuit neon refrigeration loop and externally supplied liquid and gaseous nitrogen streams. A hydrogen feed stream is compressed and combined with a recycle stream that is compressed in a compressor and initially cooled in a warm end heat exchanger and then successively cooled in downstream heat exchangers in which a catalyst is provided within the colder heat exchangers in which mechanically generated refrigeration streams are supplied to convert some of the ortho-species content of the feed into the para-species. After being discharged from the cold end heat exchanger, the resulting stream, enriched in the para-species, is expanded in a dense phase expander into a two-phase stream. The two-phase stream is fed to a converter-separator to separate the two-phase stream into a liquid phase and gaseous phase and to further convert the ortho content of the liquid phase into the para-hydrogen. The further converted liquid phase is removed as the liquid hydrogen product and the vapor phase is recycled as the recycle stream to help cool the hydrogen.
In Vol. 3 International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, "A Study of the Efficiency of Hydrogen Liquefaction." by Baker et al., pp 321-334 (1978), a liquefier is disclosed in which a hydrogen containing feed is compressed and combined with a recycle stream and then cooled in three heat exchangers to form liquid hydrogen. The warmest of the heat exchangers cools the hydrogen to a temperature that is slightly above the liquefaction temperature of nitrogen and cold nitrogen gas is supplied to this heat exchanger to help in the cooling. Thereafter, part of the cooled hydrogen is introduced into a catalytic converter to convert the ortho-species into the para-species within a liquid nitrogen bath. The cold nitrogen vapor resulting from the vaporization of the liquid nitrogen is introduced into the warm heat exchanger. The resulting hydrogen stream, rich in the para-species is then sequentially cooled in two heat exchangers in which mechanical refrigeration is added by expanding the other part of the cooled hydrogen in two separate turboexpanders. The resulting exhaust streams are routed to the two heat exchangers and then the warm end heat exchanger. The exhaust is discharged from the warm end heat exchanger to form part of the recycle stream. After the hydrogen is liquefied, it is then introduced into another catalytic converter to convert more of the ortho-species into the para-species. A portion of the hydrogen introduced into the catalytic converter vaporizes and is recycled back through the heat exchangers to form a remaining part of the recycle to be combined with the hydrogen feed stream.
As will be discussed, among other features, the present invention provides a liquefier incorporating catalytic conversion of the ortho-species of the hydrogen to the para-species in both higher and lower temperature catalytic converters and an adsorption unit that adsorbs the ortho-species of the hydrogen and feeds it to the higher temperature catalytic converter or converters so that the catalytic conversion is driven towards the higher temperature conversion. This reduces the amount of refrigeration and therefore, the amount of energy and cost involved in generating the refrigeration over prior art liquefiers discussed above.

Hydrogen liquefaction method and liquefier


A hole closure device for use in medical applications, especially in treating cardiac septal defects, is provided that seals a hole by exerting pressure on an interior edge of the hole. The device includes a flexible tube that extends through a hole, and has an expansion ring disposed within it adjacent to the tissue on either side of the hole. The expansion rings, which have deployed diameters larger than that of the hole, cause the material of the tube in a mid-region of the tube to contact and conform to the interior edge of the hole. Methods for deploying the hole closure device to correct septal defects are also described.

Septal defects, holes in the septum dividing the right and left atria and right and left ventricles, are common congenital cardiac defects. Conventionally, such atrial and ventricular septal defects have been surgically corrected, requiring a thoracotomy and all of the attendant risks to the patient's health presented by open surgery.
In an attempt to overcome some of the risks attending surgical correction of septal defects, a number of percutaneously deliverable devices have been devised to seal cardiac septal defects. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,388 to King et al. describes a device comprising a pair of mechanically connected umbrella-like structures covered with a fluid impermeable material and having barbs that attach the device to the tissue surrounding the septal defect. The umbrella-like structures are closed for percutaneous delivery, and then expanded into position, one on either side of the tissue surrounding the defect, to close the hole.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,045 to Das, U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,301 to Kamiya et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,089 to Sideris all describe percutaneously medical hole closure devices having two closure members disposed on opposite sides of the hole and connected by a connecting member, such as a spring. These devices seek to seal a hole by holding the closure members tightly against the tissue adjacent to either side of the hole.
Previously known septal defect closure devices have a number of drawbacks. Foremost among these disadvantages is the inability of the devices to conform to the size of the septal defect. Such devices therefor require great care in placement, to ensure that the closure members entirely cover the hole. Because the previously known devices typically use expanding frames to support the closure members that can easily straddle the hole, or otherwise become caught, complications may arise during implantation of such devices.
Previously known devices also require that the closure members exert a high compressive contact force on either side of the tissue surrounding the hole. In many instances, there may be insufficient intact wall area surrounding the hole to permit placement of the closure members without interfering with other cardiac structures, such as the atrioventricular valves. The tissue surrounding a hole also may move, expand, or contract, during the cardiac cycle, making it difficult for the closure members to maintain a good seal, or the hole may deform over time.
In addition, the connecting member used to retain the closure members in intimate contact with the tissue surrounding the hole may experience stress relaxation and creep, phenomena whereby the connecting member loses its resiliency. The resulting loss in compressive contact force permits the closure members to leak. Previously known devices, such as described above, also present a risk of fatigue fracture under conditions commonly found in the heart.
It therefore would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods for percutaneously closing holes in the heart, and other tissue, in which the device conforms to the size of the hole.
It also would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods for percutaneously closing holes in the heart, and other tissue, in which the device may be easily deployed without complications associated with premature or mispositioned deployment of the closure members.
It further would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods for closing holes in the heart, and other tissue, which are able to seal a hole without requiring high compressive contact forces on tissue adjacent to the hole.
It yet further would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods for closing holes in the heart, and other tissue, which employ components that are not subjected to continual loading, and therefore present a low risk of leakage due to stress relaxation or fatigue fracture.

Medical hole closure device and methods of use


Low dielectric constant polyimides formed from an optionally fluorinated dianhydride and a fluorinated diamine are described. The fluorine containing constituents are sterically disposed so that the dipole moment of the constituents tend to cancel out. Since fluorine containing diamines are generally nonreactive, to achieve a polyimide of high enough molecular weight to be practically useful, a method of fabrication of a high molecular weight polymer from monomers of low reactivity is provided. The monomers, such as a diamine and dianhydride are provided in a solution within which a low molecular weight polyamic acid is formed. The solution is dried. The polyamic acid used is cured to a low molecular weight polyimide. The polyimide is redisolved, redryed and recured enough times to build up the molecular weight to a useful level. The method is applicable to fabricating other polymers of high molecular weight, such as polyamides, polyesters and polyurethanes.

Polyimides find extensive use in electronic applications where they are useful in forming dielectric films on electrical and electronic devices such as capacitors, semiconductors and semiconductor packaging structures. Typical uses for polyimides include protective coatings for semiconductors, dielectric layers for multilayer integrated circuits, dielectric layers for multilayer integrated circuit packages, high temperature solder masks, bonding multilayer circuits, final passivating coatings on electronic devices and the like.
It is well known in the polymer art that polyimides can be made by the condensation polymerization of dianhydrides and diamines to form polyamic acid. These polyamic acids are readily dehydrated to the corresponding polyimides by heating at high temperatures, e.g. 300.degree. to 400.degree. C.
Future progress in thin film package and chip performance is largely dependent on the development of new insulating materials that can simultaneously meet a host of challenging property criteria. It is often observed that changes made to the chemical structure of a polymer that improve one property degrades another. Thus simultaneous improvement of all target properties with a given structural change is virtually unknown. One pair of properties which often display such counter trends are the dielectric constant and the glass transition temperature, two of the most important properties for a thin film insulator.
Low dielectric constant is desired for future chips and packages which will have increasingly narrower spacing between adjacent conductors. Low dielectric constant is desired to avoid cross talk and capacitive coupling between these conductors which will carry rapidly switching transient signals. High molecular weight is desirable to form a polymer film having suitable properties for a thin film insulator such as mechanical toughness which enables it to withstand the considerable stresses experienced during manufacturing of electronic components.
Diamines containing fluorine generally have a slow rate of reaction with a dianhydride and therefore will not result in a polymer having high molecular weight when processed. Polyimides are fabricated by combining the dianhydride and diamine in a solvent to intermix the diamine and dianhydride. Typically, with normal polyimides, the condensation polymerization occurs exclusively in the solvent, usually at room temperature. With some fluorinated systems of low reactivity only a limited amount of polymerization occurs in solution and an additional polymerization occurs upon drying and heating to high temperature to form a solid. The nitrogen atoms of the diamine react with the anhydride end groups of the dianhydride to form the polymer by condensation polymerization. If the amine is very reactive with the dianhydride a polymer of high molecular weight is formed. If there is a low rate of reaction between the diamine and dianhydride, an oligomer of low molecular weight is formed. Fluorine containing diamines are relatively nonreactive with dianhydrides and therefore, standard processing forms low molecular weight fluorinated polyimides, especially when the fluorinated constituents are bonded to a position ortho to the nitrogen.

Low dielectric constant fluorinated polymers and methods of fabrication thereof

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