A liquid crystal display including: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer including a liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; a first electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a second electrode overlapping the first electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; and a first alignment layer disposed on the first electrode. The first alignment layer includes a photo-alignment layer, and the liquid crystal has negative dielectric anisotropy.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display.
2. Discussion of the Background
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat panel displays (FPD), and it is composed of two display panels on which field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and a common electrode are formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two display panels. A voltage is applied to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is determined and the polarization of incident light is controlled, through the generated electric field, to display an image.
To increase a display quality of the liquid crystal display, a high contrast ratio, a wide viewing angle, and a fast response speed may be utilized. In addition, a liquid crystal display should be configured to prevent stains due to the scattering of liquid crystal molecules by external pressure.
Types of liquid crystals include those having positive dielectric anisotropy and those having negative dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystals having negative dielectric anisotropy have a small splay angle with the surrounding liquid crystals, as compared with those having positive dielectric anisotropy. As such, such liquid crystals have a high rotation elastic energy, and thereby transmittance is relatively high. However, the liquid crystals having negative dielectric anisotropy include more ion impurities, as compared with those having positive dielectric anisotropy, such that there can be serious afterimage problems.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A solar energy system and method of cleaning photovoltaic panels is provided. Measurements relating to weather at a photovoltaic panel are received by the system. Measurements relating to output current and voltage at the photovoltaic panel are received by the system. Expected power of the photovoltaic panel is determined based on the measurements relating to weather. Actual power of the photovoltaic panel is determined based on the measurements relating to output current and voltage. In response to determining that the actual power is not within a predetermined range of the expected power (e.g. at least one photovoltaic panel is dirty), a cleaning of the photovoltaic panel is initiated.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity. PV panels are made up of solar cells that contain photovoltaic material. Solar cells produce direct current electricity converted from solar radiation. Examples of photovoltaic materials used in PV panels include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide, etc.
The electricity converted by PV panels can be used as a source of cleaner power when compared to other power sources (e.g. fossil fuels).

System and method for autonomous adaptive cleaning of PV panels based on high level control signals


A weight compensation system and a method of operating the system for compensating eccentric loading of an elevator car vertically movable in an elevator shaft. The elevator car has spring-mounted rollers engaging guide rails and the system includes sensors detecting a position of the elevator car relative to the guide rails. A control unit is connected to the sensors and a hydraulic compensating system for controlling movement of liquid to compensate for the eccentric loading of the elevator car.

The present invention relates to an elevator car with a compensating system for weight compensation in the case of eccentric loading and to a method for weight compensation of an elevator car.
Elevator installations usually comprise an elevator shaft in which guide rails for guidance of an elevator car are mounted or provided. The car is equipped with rollers which roll along the guide rails. In order to increase travel comfort, to compensate for unevennesses of the guide rails and to be able to more smoothly guide an eccentrically loaded elevator car, the rollers are resiliently suspended. The springs used, particularly in the case of high-performance elevators, typically have a progressive spring characteristic which is so designed that in the case of small spring strokes the springs produce a soft springing of the elevator car. In the case of larger spring strokes, the springs work in the hard range of the characteristic in order to be able intercept higher forces.
If an elevator car with spring-mounted rollers is now loaded eccentrically then a part of the springs operate in the hard range, which can lead to losses in comfort.
An elevator installation is known which provides a system for mechanical displacing of a compensating weight in order to counteract an eccentric loading. Such an elevator installation is shown in the Japanese patent application which is published under the number JP 08067465-A2. The compensating weight is arranged underneath the base of the elevator car and can be displaced. A load detector is provided which detects a non-uniform loading and ascertains a suitable position for the compensating weight. The compensating weight is then displaced into this position. A system of that kind is slow and depending on the respective form of embodiment causes noises during displacement of the compensating weight, which noises can be perceived as disturbing.

Elevator car with eccentric load compensation system


A magnetic curve for a chain conveyor having links at least partly made of a ferromagnetic material, comprises a base portion (11) to which an upper guide portion (12) identifying surfaces for the conveyor sliding is fastened. Magnets (17) are present at the lower part of the slide surfaces for attracting the links against said surfaces. Said magnets (17) are fastened to the base portion (11) and advantageously are made up of pairs of magnets (17a, 17b) mutually interconnected, at the lower part, by a plate (19) of a ferromagnetic material securing them to the base (11).

The present invention relates to a magnetic curve for chain conveyors.
Chain conveyors are known which are formed of a track having a central channel in which the articulation pivots of the conveyor link slide. In order to keep the links adhering to the track on bends as well, it has been since long suggested to provided the trank curves with magnets. Magnets act on the link portions made of a ferromagnetic material so as to counteract the lifting forces and keep the link plane adherent to the track.
Providing the track curves with magnets, however, makes accomplishment of same more complicated. For instance, magnetic curves have been proposed in which the curve is divided into two parts, an upper or slide part and a lower or base part. The upper part is comprised of seatings to which magnets are fixedly fastened. Fitting of the magnets into appropriate seatings and fastening of same thereto at the exact position, however, is in any case a relatively long and difficult operation.
For example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,298 seatings are disclosed which are open at the lower part thereof, i.e. the slide one, the magnets being fixed to the respective seatings by means of a strip of flexible material which is snug fitted into the opening of the seatings themselves.
In addition to difficulties encountered on the initial assembling, it is also to take into account the fact that curves are subjected to wear due to sliding thereon of the conveyor and therefore a periodical dismantling of the worn curves is needed for replacing them with new curves. Although a curve completed with magnets and accessory pieces for keeping magnets inside the respective seatings is relatively expensive, the operation involving opening of the seatings, drawing of magnets out and reassembling of same on the new curve is greatly time-consuming, which often makes reuse of said magnets uneconomic. In both cases therefore, that is if magnets are reused or if the whole curve is replaced, the maintenance expenses for the transportation system is relatively high.
In the Italian patent No. 1,215,730 it has been proposed, among other things, to create seatings which are open inwardly of the sliding channel in the track, said openings being covered with strips which advantageously perform an antifriction function. In spite of the advantages offered by this solution, magnet reuse is still a rather complicated operation.
It is a general aim of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a magnetic curve capable of making both the initial assembling and the replacement of the worn out sliding parts simple and economically advantageous, through reduction of the assembling and disassembling time and of the number of disassembled parts to a minimum.

Magnetic curve having an improved detachable structure


A user defines mutually exclusive inbox and spam folders to which emails are routed based on a rating assigned to each email. A variable user-defined range defines a mapping of the ratings to each folder. Incoming emails are routing to one of the folders according to the range. A reference set of emails is designated, each having a rating and either an inbox label or a spam label. A display indicates the number the reference emails in each folder if the reference emails are routed to one of the folders according to their ratings and according to the user-defined range.

As more companies and individuals rely on email systems to communicate, there has been a rapid increase in spam and other undesirable email messages. Spam email messages are unsolicited email messages that are not of interest to the recipient, usually sent to many recipients at one time. Examples of undesirable email messages include computer viruses, programs or piece of computer code that is loaded onto a user's computer without the user's knowledge and runs against the user's wishes; phishing attacks, where an e-mail is sent to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft; and pharming attacks where an email is sent requesting the user to visit a web site which appear legitimate, but the user is actually redirected to a web site where the user is encouraged to surrender private information that will be used for identity theft. Accordingly, methods have been developed to detect spam and other undesirable emails before they reach a user.
In one of the models in use today, an underlying classification engine maps each email to a value on a proprietary ordinal scale. In such prior models, the scale offers a finite number of buckets. To actually filter email, each value of that scale is mapped to an output device, such as inbox, junk email folder on the client side, junk email folder on the server side (also called quarantine folder), and recycle bin. When using the scale, emails with low scores are to be mapped to the inbox and emails with high scores to one of the three spam containers.
But, spam filtering is not an exact science. Mapping emails with middle scores is a matter of tradeoffs. Directing more email scores to the spam destinations will reduce the amount of spam that will reach the user, yet it will also filter out additional emails that should have reached the user. The table below illustrates the tradeoff.
Email is validEmail is spamEmail considered validGoodSpam in inbox(and sent to inbox)Email considered spamValid email filtered outGood(and filtered out)

Graphical interface for defining mutually exclusive destinations


An apparatus for treating a pavement surface with a plurality of layers in a single pass, including: a chassis having a forward end and a rear end; a plurality of rolling means spaced longitudinally along the chassis for supporting the chassis so it can roll along a particular direction of advance; a powerplant for moving the chassis along the direction of advance; a first storage tank mounted on the chassis for containing bituminous sealant; a second storage tank mounted on the chassis for containing bituminous emulsion; a main hopper mounted on the chassis for storing aggregate particles; a first mechanism in flow communication with the first storage tank for applying a layer of bituminous sealant at a predetermined temperature and application rate on the pavement surface; a second mechanism in flow communication with the second storage tank for applying a layer of bituminous emulsion at a predetermined temperature and application rate on the layer of bituminous sealant, wherein a thermal reaction occurs between the bituminous sealant and the bituminous emulsion so as to accelerate a material break and cure time for the layers; and, a third mechanism in flow communication with the main hopper for providing a layer of aggregate particles at a predetermined application rate on the layers of bituminous sealant and bituminous emulsion during the thermal reaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to treating a pavement surface and, more particularly, to an apparatus for treating a pavement surface which functions to repair points of distress in the pavement and provide a durable wearing surface in a single pass.
2. Description of Related Art
Modern roadways are usually paved in order to provide a more durable surface for vehicular traffic. Over time, existing roadways inevitably become worn and in need of repair. For example, cracks may develop so that the surface is no longer water resistant and deterioration of the roadway occurs at an accelerated pace. Alternatively, the surface may become overly smooth so that the skid resistance of the roadway is adversely affected. In either event, the existing roadway surface becomes dangerous to drive on and therefore presents a public safety concern. Accordingly, existing roadways should be periodically resurfaced or repaved in the course of proper maintenance.
As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,173 to O'Brien et al., one type of resurfacing process (known in the industry as "chipsealing") involves the dropping of aggregate material into a previously applied layer of adhesive material so as to bind the aggregate material to the surface. Typically, the two steps of the chipsealing process are performed by two different machines, an asphalt distributor and a chipspreader, making two separate passes over the same portion of roadway. While improvements have been made to overcome some of the inherent deficiencies of this process, including the ability to perform both steps in a single pass, it is a continuing goal in the industry to accelerate the material break and cure time of the completed product so as to permit traffic to resume use as soon as possible. Further, it is desired that additional improvements in the areas of reflective cracking and waterproofing over the current chipsealing process be achieved.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a method of treating a pavement surface which can be utilized as an interlayer prior to asphalt overlays or as a final preventive maintenance surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of treating a pavement surface that produces a membrane that dissipates crack propagation forces, waterproofs the pavement, and is durable to traffic.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of treating a pavement surface that reduces reflective cracking and provides a textured surface for asphalt paving.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating a pavement surface that produces a complete product in one pass, thereby reducing construction delays and costs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating a pavement surface that accelerates the material break and cure time of the completed product, thereby permitting use of the pavement surface more quickly.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating a pavement surface that improves adhesion between the completed product and the existing pavement surface.
These objects and other features of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

Apparatus for treating a pavement surface


Various approaches to ensuring safe operation of industrial machinery in a workcell include disposing multiple image sensors proximate to the workcell and acquiring, with at least some of the image sensors, the first set of images of the workcell; registering the sensors to each other based at least in part on the first set of images and, based at least in part on the registration, converting the first set of images to a common reference frame of the sensors; determining a transformation matrix for transforming the common reference frame of the sensors to a global frame of the workcell; registering the sensors to the industrial machinery; acquiring the second set of images during operation of the industrial machinery; and monitoring the industrial machinery during operation thereof based at least in part on the acquired second plurality of images, transformation, and registration of the sensors to the industrial machinery.

Industrial machinery is often dangerous to humans. Some machinery is dangerous unless it is completely shut down, while other machinery may have a variety of operating states, some of which are hazardous and some of which are not. In some cases, the degree of hazard may depend on the location or distance of the human with respect to the machinery. As a result, various types of "guarding" equipment have been developed to separate humans and machines, thereby preventing machinery from causing harm to humans. One very simple and common type of guarding is a cage that surrounds the machinery, configured such that opening the door of the cage causes an electrical circuit to place the machinery in a safe state (e.g., shutting down the machinery). This ensures that humans can never approach the machinery while it is operating in an unsafe state.
More sophisticated types of guarding may involve, for example, optical sensors. Examples include light curtains that determine if any object has intruded into a region monitored by one or more light emitters and detectors, and two-dimensional (2D) LIDAR sensors that use active optical sensing to detect the minimum distance to an obstacle along a series of rays emanating from the sensors (and thus can be configured to detect either proximity or intrusion into pre-configured 2D zones). In addition, 3D depth sensors have been recently employed in various machine-guarding applications for providing guarding improvement. Examples of the 3D depth sensors include 3D time-of-flight cameras, 3D LIDAR, and stereo vision cameras. These sensors offer the ability to detect and locate intrusions into the area surrounding industrial machinery in 3D, which gives them several advantages over 2D sensors. For example, a 2D LIDAR system guarding the floorspace around an industrial robot will have to stop the robot when an intrusion is detected well over an arm's-length distance away from the robot, because if the intrusion represents a person's legs, that person's arms could be much closer and would be undetectable by the 2D LIDAR. However, a 3D system can allow the robot to continue to operate until the person actually stretches his or her arm towards the robot. This allows for a much tighter coupling between the actions of the machine and the actions of the human, which provides flexibility in many applications and saves space on the factory floor, which is always at a premium.
Because human safety is at stake, guarding equipment (particularly the electronic versions) must comply with stringent industry standards regarding functional safety, such as IEC 61508 and ISO 13849. These standards specify failure rates for hardware components and rigorous development practices for both hardware and software components; a system is considered safe for use in an industrial setting only when the hardware and software components comply with the standards. Standards-compliant systems must ensure that dangerous conditions and system failures can be detected with very high probability, and that the system responds to such events by transitioning the equipment being controlled into a safe state. For example, safety systems may be tuned to favor false positives over false negatives in order to avoid hazardous consequences resulting from the false negatives.
Separation of humans and machines, however, is not always optimal for productivity. For example, some tasks are best performed by a human and machine working collaboratively; machines typically provide more strength, faster speed, more precision, and more repeatability, while humans may offer flexibility, dexterity, and judgment far beyond the abilities of even the most advanced machines. An example of a potential collaborative application is the installation of a dashboard in a car—the dashboard is heavy and difficult for a human to maneuver but easy for a machine, and attaching it requires a variety of connectors and fasteners that require human dexterity and flexibility to handle correctly. Conventional guarding technology, however, is insufficiently flexible and adaptable to allow this type of collaboration. Therefore, these situations are typically resolved either by automating aspects of the task best performed by a human, often at great expense and complication, or using a human worker to perform aspects of the task better done by a robot (perhaps using additional equipment such as lift-assist devices) and tolerating potentially slow, error-prone, and inefficient execution that may lead to repetitive stress injuries or exposure to hazardous situations for human workers.
Although improved guarding based on 3D sensing may enable industrial engineers to design processes where each subset of the task is optimally assigned to a human or a machine without sacrificing the safety of human workers, several challenges inherently exist in using the 3D sensors in a safety-critical environment. First, the sensor itself must meet functional safety standards. In addition, the raw output of a 3D sensor cannot be used directly in most applications since it is much richer and harder to analyze than the data provided by 2D sensors. 3D sensor data thus requires processing in novel ways to generate effective and reliable control outputs for industrial machinery. Another challenge with systems based on 3D data is the difficulty in configuring and registering the systems and 3D sensors. In fact, even with 2D sensors, configuring safety guarding can be challenging. First, specific zones are usually designed and configured for each use case, taking into account the specific hazards posed by the machinery, the possible actions of humans in the workspace, the workspace layout, and the location and field of view of each individual sensor. It can be difficult to calculate the optimal shapes of exclusion zones, especially when trying to preserve safety while maximizing available floor space and system throughput.
Thus, configuring guarding technology requires advanced skill sets or tools. Mistakes in the configuration can result in serious safety hazards, requiring significant overhead in design and testing. All of this work must be completely redone if any changes are made to the workspace. The extra degree of freedom presented by 3D systems/sensors results in a much larger set of possible configurations and hazards, thereby requiring higher levels of data processing in order to generate useful, reliable control outputs from raw 3D sensor data. Accordingly, there is a need for approaches that reliably monitor a workspace for providing human safety to operate around the machinery, while reducing the required processing time and complexity of the data acquired by the 3D sensors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for automatic sensor registration and configuration


A rare-earth permanent magnetic powder, a bonded magnet, and a device comprising the bonded magnet are provided. The rare-earth permanent magnetic powder is mainly composed of 7-12 at % of Sm, 0.1-1.5 at % of M, 10-15 at % of N, 0.1-1.5 at % of Si, and Fe as the balance, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group of Be, Cr, Al, Ti, Ga, Nb, Zr, Ta, Mo, and V, and the main phase of the rare-earth permanent magnetic powder is of TbCu7 structure. Element Si is added into the rare-earth permanent magnetic powder for increasing the ability of SmFe alloy to from amorphous structure, and for increasing the wettability of the alloy liquid together with the addition of element M in a certain content, which enables the alloy liquid prone to be injected out of a melting device. The average diameter of the rare-earth permanent magnetic powder is in the range of 10-100 μm, and the rare-earth permanent magnetic powder is composed of nanometer crystals with average grain size of 10-120 nm or amorphous structure.

The bonded rare-earth permanent magnet has been widely used in electronic equipment, office automation, automobile and so on, especially micro and special electric machines due to its advantages of well formability, high dimensional precision, high magnetic properties or the like. In order to meet the requirements for equipment miniaturization, it is necessary to further optimize the performance of bonded magnetic powder which used in the material.
Currently, the widely used magnetic powder is NdFeB magnetic powder prepared by rapid quenching method. It is not suitable for requiring the performance of the material under harsh environment due to its poor corrosion resistance and temperature resistance. The samarium-iron-nitrogen permanent magnetic powder effectively overcomes the above problems. The magnetic energy product of the prepared magnetic powder is above 17MGOe, higher than the rapidly quenched NdFeB magnetic powder. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance and temperature resistance of the prepared magnetic powder is better than the NdFeB, it is a relatively promising rear-earth permanent magnetic material which has attracted extensive attention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,573 discloses a rare-earth permanent magnetic material with a component of R1xR2yAzM100-x-y-z, which occupies the position of rare-earth element by addition of R2, i.e., Zr, Hf, and Sc, reduces the average atomic radius of rare-earth atomic site, thus increasing the concentration of M in the main phase, while accelerating the formation of TbCu7 main phase.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,462 discloses a rare-earth permanent magnetic material with a component of R1xR2yBzAuM100-x-y-z-u, which improves the residual magnetism by addition of element B, while, accelerating the formation of TbCu7 main phase by addition of elements Zr, Hf and Sc. M is only Fe or FeCo.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,918 discloses a samarium-iron-nitrogen permanent magnetic material with a component of SmxFe100-x-y-vM1yNv, which improves the square degree and coercivity by addition of M1 which is Zr and Hf, while reducing rapid quenching wheel speed by changing preparation process and rapid quenching copper wheel material.
However, the experimenter finds in the research that when the samarium-iron alloy is prepared by the rapid quenching method, the viscosity of samarium-iron alloy is a principal problem. Since the viscosity of the samarium-iron alloy is too large, the samarium-iron alloy can not be spouted out stably and continuously during the preparation process, which affects the formation of amorphous TbCu7 during rapid quenching, and the samarium-iron-nitrogen permanent magnetic material with excellent performance cannot be prepared stably.

Rare-earth permanent magnetic powder, bonded magnet, and device comprising the same


A tool-life prediction method, applicable to a machine tool having a machining end, includes steps of capturing a plurality of measurement data from a tool of the machining end, transforming each of the plurality of measurement data into a corresponding complex process capability index (Cpk), utilizing an artificial neural network being trained to generate a tool-life prediction scale with respect to the Cpk, and then based on the tool-life prediction scale to determine a remaining tool life of the tool. In addition, a tool life prediction system is also provided.

In various manufacturing processes, tools play important parts thereamong. Applications of tools, prediction of tool life or some other managements of tools form important factors to reduce production cost and time.
Currently, some machine tools include versatile sensors for detecting temperatures, vibrations, and/or displacements, so as thereby to monitor operations of the machine tools. However, it is always a hot issue to develop a method that can transmit data collected by the sensors to corresponding machining platforms so as to improve the machining performance, increase the machining efficiency, better the cutting lines and enhance the geometric accuracy of the workpiece.
In the art, a method is provided to confirm abrasion of the cutting tool by monitoring a ratio of total energy of an oscillation band within a high-frequency range to another total energy of another oscillation band within a low-frequency range. Another method is also developed to determine an instant state of the cutting tool by evaluating the actual loading torque of a spindle during the machining and the abrasion of the corresponding cutting tool. However, the aforesaid conventional methods can only collect dimensional changes of the cutting tool during the machining, loading variations of the spindle, or torque information. Thus, a user can be informed upon when abnormality in tooling dimension or spindle torque is met. Hence, in the art, the conventional methods can provide only an acknowledgement of tooling state, not a prediction of a tool life or cycles left for the instant tool. Further, in the art, a cutting test can be setup to provide information regarding the tool life by evaluating the instant loading torques and the corresponding variations during the test. Yet, an instant or real-time prediction for the tool life left for further machining jobs is still in vain. In addition, reliable tool-life information through such a test can be obtained only through a huge number of experiments, and is only useful for a single setup machining event. In particular, to light-duty or constant-loading machining, the aforementioned loading torque monitoring for evaluating the remaining tool life may be ineffective.

Tool-life prediction system and method thereof

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The invention relates to an interlacing device which can be used automatically to interlace long products on a transport pallet in an economical and optimum manner, which can be adapted to tubes of any length and which operates concurrently with the palletizing machine. The inventive interlacing device (10) is characterized in that it comprises at least one interlacing gantry (11) which extends parallel to the palletized products along at least part of the length thereof and which comprises at least one wire guide (20), the wire guide being fed by at least one interlacing (12′) link reel (12). The aforementioned interlacing device (10) also comprises drive means (14) which are connected to the interlacing gantry (11) in order to move same alternatively between at least two end positions such as to move the guide wire (20) alternatively from one side of the transport pallet (7) to the other in at least one interlacing plane (P) which is essentially perpendicular to the palletized products (2). The invention is suitable for palletizing any long product, e.g. cylindrical tubes.

Palletizing machines of this type for automatically or semi-automatically palletizing elongated products are well known, for example, machines to palletize cylindrical tubes directly and continuously as they exit the production line. Palletizing tubes is a delicate operation because when they are arranged side by side and in superimposed layers, they have a tendency to roll on top of each other. This problem can be resolved by interlacing the rows of tubes using a tie which may be a string, a ribbon, a strap, a band, a fabric strip, a film or other equivalent means made of fiber, wire, natural and/or synthetic material, said tie being woven, non-woven, extruded, or manufactured by any other method, and the function of said tie being to maintain the rows in place and prevent the tubes from falling before the pallet is encircled. This interlacing is usually done manually by an operator who must place the spool or spools of tie material on either side of the pallet as the rows advance. Since the tubes may reach up to ten feet in length, if they are very long the number of spools of interlacing required will double, necessitating more than one operator.
Publication No. WO 02/06121 by the same applicant describes a palletizing machine equipped with an interlacing device for automatically interlacing tubes while they are being palletized. This interlacing device comprises two supports located on either side of the transport pallet and designed to alternately receive one or more spools of interlacing material. This device also comprises a gripping means located on the device which grips the tubes or located on an additional gripping device, designed to displace the spool or spools of interlacing material from one support to the other while the rows of tubes placed upon the transport pallet are advancing. Since this interlacing device is integral with the palletizing machine, it does not offer an optimal industrial solution. Actually, if the gripping means are located on the tube gripping device, it is necessary to interrupt the palletizing cycle to move the spool of interlacing material from one support to the other, which has a negative impact on the global output of the palletizing machine. If the gripping means are located on a gripping device that is supplemental to the tube gripping device, manufacturing the interlacing device becomes complex and has a negative impact on the global cost of the palletizing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,601 proposes an interlacing device that is integrated with a palletizing machine and operating in the reverse manner of the machine that is the object of the invention. The tubes are moved to the upper portion of the machine by a conveyor and pushed onto a pallet by cylinders, forming a row. After each row, the pallet descends one level to permit formation of a new row. A winder moving in perpendicular translation to said tubes unfurls a strip of paper or plastic film between the rows of tubes to maintain them in place. This interlacing device is not transferable to the palletizing machine of the invention and does not permit interlacing of long tubes.

Interlacing device for a palletizing machine and palletizing machine equipped with one such device


Apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases comprise a housing, a gas permeable member and generating material. The housing includes an inlet adapted for connection to a tracheal tube and an outlet adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases. The inlet and the outlet are positioned so that respiratory gases passing through the housing pass therebetween. The gas permeable member, for example, a conventional heat and moisture exchanger member, is positioned in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and is adapted to exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases passing through the housing. The generating material, for example, a carbon dioxide absorbing component, is located in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and is adapted to generate water, and preferably heat, available to humidify, and preferably heat, respiratory gases passing through the housing.

The present invention relates to apparatus useful to exchange and generate heat and moisture in respiratory gas applications. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases which exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases and generate heat and moisture available to heat and humidify respiratory gases.
During surgery and other medical procedures, a patient is frequently connected to an anesthesia machine or ventilator to provide respiratory gases to the patient. The respiratory gases passed to the patient are advantageously heated and humidified so that the gases entering the patient are of a suitable temperature and humidity so as not to adversely impact the patient. Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) are often used to provide heat and humidity to the respiratory gases entering the patient. Typically, these HMEs are located so that respiratory gases from the patient pass through a tracheal tube into the HME, which is often a fibrous or other gas permeable material, which accumulates or collects heat and moisture from the exhaled gases. During the inhaling of respiratory gases, for example, from an anesthesia machine, the HME provides both heat and moisture to these respiratory gases prior to the gases entering the patient. Over a period of time, the HME is effective to maintain a certain level of temperature and humidity in the respiratory gases entering the patient.
Such HMEs do, however, have certain drawbacks. For example, during the initial or start up phase of the operation of a HME member, the amount of heat and moisture being exchanged out of the HME member to the respiratory gases being passed back to the patient is relatively low, for example, because the HME member is at a reduced temperature and a reduced moisture content. This "start up" problem can adversely affect the patient. One approach to overcoming at least a portion of this problem is to provide the HME member with a hygroscopic component, for example, calcium chloride and the like components, which is effective to generate a limited amount of heat as the exhaled gases leaving the patient pass through the HME member. This provides a "quick warm up" HME member and at least provides a heated respiratory gas stream to the patient relatively quickly. However, the degree of humidification of the respiratory gases being passed to the patient still is relatively low during the first portion of the HME member operation, in part because of the water held by the hygroscopic component.
In addition, the inefficiencies of the typical HME member are such that a certain portion of the heat and moisture collected by the HME is lost, for example, to the environment and otherwise, rather than being passed back to the patient by exchange with respiratory gases. The degree of heating and/or humidification of the respiratory gases varies, and in particular decreases, over time which can adversely impact the patient.
It would be advantageous to provide a system by which respiratory gases can be effectively, reliably, straightforwardly and controllably provided with both heat and moisture so that the comfort and safety of a patient undergoing surgery and/or other medical treatment is enhanced.

Heat and moisture exchanger and generator


A hard coat film comprises a hard coat layer formed by coating at least one face of a substrate with a coating fluid and curing the obtained coating layer by irradiation with an ionizing radiation. The coating fluid comprises a component for forming a hard coat layer comprising (A) a compound which is formed by bonding an organic compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group to fine particles of silica, (B) an ester of (meth)acrylic acid having an alicyclic structure and (C) a compound having at least two polymerizable unsaturated groups and at least one aryl group in a molecule. The hard coat layer comprises 20 to 60% by weight of silica and has a refractive index of 1.53 or greater. The hard coat film exhibits excellent scratch resistance, little shrinking by curing and little shrinking and curling under high temperature and humidity and forms no optical interference fringes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hard coat film. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hard coat film used for surface protection of touch panels of the resistance film type and optical disks.
2. Description of Related Art
Hard coat films have heretofore been used for protection of surfaces in various image display apparatuses such as LCD (liquid crystal displays), touch panels, CRT (cathode ray tubes), PDP (plasma display panels), EL (electroluminescence displays) and optical disks.
Touch panels are used as the input apparatus for portable information terminals which are being widely used in recent years. The touch panel is an apparatus for inputting data by directly touching the surface of a display by a finger or a pen. About 90 percent of the entire touch panels are the touch panels of the resistance film type. The touch panel of the resistance film type has, in general, a structure in which a plastic substrate of the touching side which has a transparent electrically conductive (referred to as "conductive", hereinafter) thin film such as a film of indium oxide doped with tin (ITO) laminated on one face of a transparent plastic substrate and a transparent substrate of the display side which has a transparent conductive thin film such as an ITO film laminated on one face of a transparent substrate material such as a glass plate are arranged with an insulating spacer placed between the two substrates in a manner such that the transparent conductive thin films in the two substrates are faced to each other. For the input operation, the face for input by touching (the face opposite to the face having the transparent conductive thin film) of the plastic substrate of the touching side is pressed by a pen or a finger and the transparent conductive thin film of the plastic substrate of the touching side and the transparent conductive thin film of the display side are brought into contact with each other.
However, the touch panel of the resistance film type has a problem in that the surface of the touching side is damaged and the transparent conductive thin film in the plastic substrate (the substrate material film) of the touching side is worn, has cracks or separated from the substrate after the transparent conductive thin film of the plastic substrate of the touching side and the transparent conductive film of the transparent substrate of the display side are repeatedly brought into contact with each other. To overcome the above problem, it is widely conducted that hard coat layers of a synthetic resin are disposed on the surface of the touching side and between the transparent plastic substrate and the transparent conductive thin film.
A polarizing film in which a film for prevention of reflection is disposed on a hard coat layer containing a resin curable with radiation or the like and ultra-fine particles of titanium oxide treated on the surface with a metal oxide or the like to improve the surface of the touching side is proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-171603).
Conventional hard coat films having a hard coat layer formed and kept on a substrate film by curing by heating or by irradiating an ionizing radiation exhibit shrinking by curing and shrinking under the condition of a high temperature and a high humidity markedly and tend to cause the curling phenomenon in which end portions of the hard coat films are curled up since the constituting components in the conventional technology are mostly polyfunctional acrylates. Moreover, optical interference fringes are occasionally formed due to the difference in the refractive index between the substrate film and the hard coat layer and a method to overcome the drawback is additionally required. The drawbacks of the conventional hard coat films are the shrinking by curing, the shrinking and curling under the effect of a higher temperature and a high humidity and the optical interference fringes.


A method is disclosed for providing a digital filter system for providing a low pass filter function to a digital input. The method includes the steps of determining a finite impulse response of the input, determining a transfer function of the finite impulse response and providing a polynomial, identifying a plurality of stopband roots of the polymonial that lie in a complex plane, identifying real and complex conjugate pairs for the plurality of stopband roots, and providing coefficients for a complex polynomial that realizes the real and complex conjugate pairs such that a plurality of adjusted stopband roots lie on a unit circle of said complex plane.

The invention generally relates to digital filters, and relates in particular to linear-phase finite impulse response (FIR) low pass filters for filtering digital data.
Digital filters may be used to reduce the amount of digital data to be transmitted, stored or processed in a digital signal processing system. In various applications, unfiltered data may be too voluminous to be transmitted, stored or processed, and in some applications, unfiltered data may even include unreliable or unwanted data that should be removed. The removal of certain of the digital data, however, presents the challenge that the desired information generally contained in the data should not be lost in the process.
Digital filters may remove or ignore data from a data input stream that is rapidly changing. For example, if input data may range from 100 to −100 at an input rate of x samples per second, then the fastest input changes would be a sequence of 100, −100, 100, −100 etc. for sequential bits. This may be considered a high frequency input stream and a digital filter may be used to remove the high frequency component of the input stream permitting less rapid changes in the data to pass through the filter.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,013 discloses a digital filter that employs multipliers, but the use of a many multipliers in circuits typically adds considerable complexity and cost.
There continues to be a need, therefore, for an efficient and economical linear-phase FIR low pass filter for filtering digital data.

Digital filter system whose stopband roots lie on unit circle of complex plane and associated method


A ferrule for insertion in an opening cut through a vertebral spinous process functions as a guide for a connecting cable, preventing cutting into the bone by the cable and protecting the cable from breakage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bone fixation systems which use wire or cable to lock two or more bone segments together, including the back, or spinous process of adjacent vertebrae together or locking a spinal bone to another fixation device. More particularly, the invention relates to a ferrule for protecting the bone from being cut by the cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
In spinal surgery, the surgeon often locks adjacent vertebrae together. In some cases, the surgeon additionally locks adjacent vertebrae together through the spinous process by a cable around bony edges or through holes drilled in the bone.
Stahurski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,178, shows a sublaminar wire for connecting a corrective device to the spinal column. A center portion is positionable under the lamina of a vertebra and has a varying cross-sectional area. The inventor notes that wire may tear through the lamina due to their small diameters. Howland, U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,220, discloses a spinal fixation system having pedicle screws and rods as well as sublaminar wires with a wire protector to protect the rod/wire interface. The wires are passed under the lamina and over the wire protectors which encase the serrated rod.
Klein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,929, describes the use of twisted wire connections for connecting bone fragments. He notes that apertures in the bone may cause breakage of the wires and reduces wire breakage by cutting the bone at the breakage point.
Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,022, discloses a method for fixing bone fractures by wire using an implant embedded in the cortex of a bone. The implant has a cylindrical body portion and a circular bore through which a wire may be passed. That device uses spikes into the bone to provide a raised member that prevents the wire from cutting into the bone.
The art described in this section is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is "prior art" with respect to this invention, unless specifically designated as such. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. .sctn. 1.56(a) exists.


A transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus and methods of controlling these apparatuses are provided. The transmitting apparatus includes: an input processor configured to process a plurality of input streams to generate a plurality of base band frames; a bit interleaved and coded modulation (BICM) processor configured to perform forward error correction (FEC) coding, constellation mapping, and interleaving on the plurality of baseband frames; a symbol generator configured to add signaling data to the plurality of baseband frames output from the BICM processor to generate an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol; and a transmitter configured to select at least one of a plurality of pilot patterns based on a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size and a guard interval fraction, insert a pilot in the OFDM symbol according to the selected pilot pattern, and transmit a stream including the pilot-inserted OFDM symbol.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and control methods thereof, and more particularly, to a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus which use an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, and control methods thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, broadcasting communication service has been characterized by a multifunction, wideband, and high quality. In particular, with development of electronic technology, a high-end broadcasting receiving apparatus such as a high-definition digital television (HDTV) and a mobile or portable devices such as a smartphone have been increasingly spread, and thus demands on various broadcasting signal receiving methods or supports for various broadcasting services have also been growing.
As one example to meet such demands, broadcasting communication standards such as the Digital Video Broadcasting the Second Generation European Terrestrial (DVB-T2) have been developed. The DVB-T2 is currently employed in 35 countries or more in the whole world including Europe. The DVB-T2 realizes increase in transmission capacity and high bandwidth efficiency by applying the latest technology such as a low density parity check (LDPC) coding method, a 256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) method, or the like, and thus the DVB-T2 may provide various services of high quality in a limited band such as an HDTV.
The DVB-T2 uses a guard interval fraction to prevent interference between adjacent signals. The guard interval fraction may be differently defined according to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size, and thus an inserted pilot pattern may be changed.
Thus, there is a need for new definition for the guard interval fraction differently set according to the FFT size, and the pilot pattern determined according to the guard interval fraction.

Transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, and control methods thereof


Various methods, apparatuses/systems, and media for implementing a generic parser module are disclosed. A repository that stores a plurality of files each having a corresponding file format. A processor accesses the repository to obtain the plurality of files and format each file into a class-based logical hierarchy. The processor also creates a Java model based on the formatted files having the class-based logical hierarchy, each file having a plurality of data and the Java model having file-level classes that contain a list of said plurality of data; generates Java annotations identifying each file type included in the file-level classes; injects the Java annotations into the file-level classes of the Java model to indicate how to process each file; calls a method along with the file containing the data; and parses the file to read the data into the Java model injected with the Java annotations.

Conventional tools lack framework or open source for parsing certain types of files, e.g., certain types of banking files, including but not limited to, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) files, Bank Administration Institute (BAI) files, Pascal (PAS) files, etc. An EDI file is a data file formatted using one of several EDI standards. The EDI file may contain structured data stored in a plain text format and may be used for transferring business data between multiple organizations, A BAI file format is a file format for performing electronic cash management balance reporting. PAS is an extension given to a program file that may contain source code written in Pascal or Object Pascal. PAS files may be edited with a Pascal development program or a basic text editor.
Although there may be some conventional tools that may be available for each individual file (e.g., EDI file, BAI file, or PAS file), such conventional tools fail to provide a generic framework for allowing parsing of any types of file having varying file formats. For example, a conventional tool that may parse an EDI file, may not be able to parse a BAI file or a PAS file, and vice versa. Similarly, a conventional tool that may parse a BAI file, may not be able to parse an EDI file or a PAS file, and vice versa. The conventional tool may provide extensible markup language (XML) configurations to represent what the file may look like logically, which may prove to be complex and time consuming. In addition, the conventional tool may not be configured to use the same configuration for both parsing and generation of files.

System and method for implementing a generic parser module


In a solid-state image sensor that detects an address event, the detection sensitivity for the address event is controlled to an appropriate value.

Conventionally, a synchronous solid-state image sensor that captures image data (frame) in synchronization with a synchronization signal such as a vertical synchronization signal has been used in an imaging device or the like. With this general synchronous solid-state image sensor, image data can be acquired only at every synchronization signal cycle (e.g., 1/60 second). Hence, it is difficult to deal with requests for higher-speed processing in fields such as traffic and robots. Against this background, an asynchronous solid-state image sensor has been proposed that detects a change in luminance as an address event in real time for each pixel address (see Patent Document 1, for example). Such a solid-state image sensor that detects an address event for each pixel is called a dynamic vision sensor (DVS).

Event image sensor, imaging device, and method of controlling event image sensor

Abstract: The solid-state image sensor includes a pixel array unit and a control unit. In the solid-state image sensor, multiple pixel circuits are arranged in the pixel array unit, each detecting a change in luminance of incident light occurring outside a predetermined dead band as the address event. The control unit controls the width of the dead band according to the number of times the address event is detected in the pixel array unit within a fixed unit cycle.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation


A construction element for limiting a fore part of a formwork consists of a prefabricated element having a width which corresponds to the thickness of the construction work to be erected and a modular length. The element comprises openings for being able to push through reinforcing irons, pipework or the like tubes. Because the element is foreseen to remain in the wall, it is produced preferably with a relatively fine concrete in which a reinforcing mesh of synthetic material is enclosed, which extends also over the openings and prevents the outflow of concrete at the time of pouring the latter into the formwork. Such a shuttering element allows a fast and precise limiting of the formwork in the case the construction work is not poured in one part or is needing recesses for a crane. It requires no cleaning off or pulling off wooden parts when the joining part is produced.

The invention relates to a construction element for limiting a fore part of a formwork, said element being prefabricated and of concrete having a width corresponding to the thickness of the concrete work to be erected and a modular length, comprising openings to allow the pushing through of reinforcing irons, pipework, or tubes and provided with a reinforcement mesh which extends also into the openings arranged in rows and preventing the outflow of concrete at the time of its pouring into the formwork.
It is often not possible to erect concrete works like walls, floorings or ceilings in a single pass, so that the formwork has to be limited, that is closed at the place until the concrete is provided. This happens particularly when erecting walls with wooden boards which are cut to the right dimensions in situ and which have to be provided there with openings for the pushing through of the reinforcing irons. Before pouring the concrete into the next element, these wooden boards have to be removed. This means in other words that a high amount of work is needed for the closing of the formwork and for the removal of the closing boards.
The element mentionned above, according to the European patent application No. 289 261 refers to a screed rail for the casting of floorings and it contains the idea to foresee openings for the pushing through of reinforcing irons and to provide the element with a steel mesh extending over the openings. However, this element is only foreseen for a narrow application range.
From DE-U-8 625 714 is known a joint formwork element corresponding to the prior art described in the above mentioned European patent application, that is, comprising relatively narrow openings through which it is difficult to pass reinforcing irons through. Also, this element is relatively heavy and only foreseen for the erection of ceilings and walls.

Construction element for limiting the fore part of a formwork


A medical waste treatment apparatus which comprises:                a processing chamber where medical waste is loaded and heated;        a combustion chamber having fuel burning means for burning a fuel to produce superheated water vapor by heating one of water and steam;        superheated water vapor supply means having the combustion chamber for supplying the superheated water vapor to the processing chamber;        a jacket surrounding at least a part of the processing chamber and forming a jacket space surrounding at least a part of the processing chamber between outer walls of the processing chamber; and        a combustion gas introduction path interposed between the jacket and the combustion chamber for introducing combustion gas generated by the fuel burning means into the jacket space.

Medical waste is sterilized and disposed. Conventionally, methods for applying steam and treating with an autoclave or treating with gases, such as formalin gas and ethylene oxide gas, or the like have been used as sterilization methods. However, there are fears of an incomplete sterilization when applying only live steam to medical waste and in addition, in many cases, a portion of the medical waste is decomposed or volatized by the application of steam, which may cause a bad odor and toxic components, so that such bad odor and toxic components become problems. Since a high-pressured container is used for an autoclave, the autoclave is so large-scale that its safety management is troublesome. Gas treatment is costly from the viewpoint of its apparatus and management in measures against leakage of gases because gases are harmful to body. Recent medical waste in various shapes may make it difficult to be dealt with after such sterilization treatment.


An imaging system (400) includes a subject support (412) configured to carry a subject being imaged in an examination region of the imaging system and a subject support controller (418) that positions the subject support and hence the subject in the examination region for scanning the subject based on a motion algorithm which reduces subject support vibration during scanning relative to a trapezoidal or s-curve motion algorithm, for a given translation duration and a given translation distance.

A computed tomography (CT) scanner includes a rotating portion rotatably supported by a stationary portion. The rotating portion supports an x-ray tube, which emits radiation that traverses an examination region and an object or a subject therein, and a detector array that detects radiation traversing the examination region and generates projection data indicative of the detected radiation. A subject support supports the object or subject in the examination region. A reconstructor reconstructs the projection data and generates volumetric image data indicative of the portion of the object or subject in the examination region. One or more images can be generated based on the volumetric image data.
The subject support generally includes a base, which is affixed to the floor of the examination room and configured to move vertically with respect to the floor, and a tabletop, which is affixed to the base and is configured to translate horizontally, with respect to the base, in and out of the examination region. Both axial and perfusion scans require frequent tabletop translation; an axial scan is an imaging mode in which the tabletop moves the object or subject to each axial position for scanning, but does not move the object or subject during scanning, and a perfusion scan is an imaging mode in which the tabletop cycles the object or subject back and forth in the examination region during scanning.
Traditionally, tabletop translation for both axial and perfusion scans is accomplished using a trapezoidal or an s-curve motion algorithm. FIG. 1 illustrates an example s-curve motion algorithm for axial (step and shoot) scanning over three steps. In FIG. 1(A), a y-axis 102 represents tabletop position, in FIG. 1(B), a y-axis 104 represents tabletop velocity, and in FIG. 1(C), a y-axis 106 represents tabletop acceleration. In all three figures, an x-axis 108 represents time. As shown in FIG. 1(C), tabletop acceleration and deceleration for the s-curve motion algorithm includes abrupt variable ramp up and ramp down, for each step.
FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively illustrate example trapezoidal and s-curve motion algorithms for perfusion (cyclic) scanning In FIGS. 2(A) and 3(A), the y-axis 102 represents tabletop position, in FIGS. 2(B) and 3(B), the y-axis 104 represents tabletop velocity, and in FIGS. 2(C) and 3(C), the y-axis 106 represents tabletop acceleration, and the x-axis 108 in all six figures represents time. FIGS. 2(C) and 3(C) respectively show tabletop acceleration and deceleration with constant ramp up and ramp down and abrupt variable ramp up and ramp down, during each cycle.
The acceleration and deceleration profiles of the trapezoidal and s-curve motion algorithms of FIGS. 1-3 generally will result in tabletop vibration and motion of internal organs and tissue of the patient being scanned. More particularly, the tabletop is a lightly damped steel and composite structure with one or multiple resonant frequencies. Upon the moment of trapezoidal or s-curve point to point motion in the horizontal direction, the tabletop resonance can be aroused by the resonant component of the primary motion, resulting in undesired secondary motion or diving board vibration in the vertical direction. High acceleration and jerk due to the primary motion, when used cyclically in perfusion scans, may cause excessive human organ motion, resulting in an unpleasant patient experience.
Unfortunately, with axial scans, as the tabletop moving and settling time between scans becomes shorter and the intermitted travel becomes longer with wider coverage, motion acceleration and jerk will become greater, and, with perfusion scans, as the coverage becomes wider and the cycle time becomes shorter, perfusion scans can introduce greater secondary vibration. The secondary motion can be mitigated by use of a rigid based structure. However, with the conventional trapezoidal and s-curve algorithms, even with a stiff base structure, the amount of human organ motion and undesirable patient feeling generally cannot be mitigated.

Imaging system subject support motion algorithm(s)


The present invention provides a process for stabilizing iron oxides and iron hydroxides in produced oil field waters. A water soluble polymer containing pendant N-substituted amide functionality units is added at a rate of about 6 parts by weight polymer to 10 parts by weight iron in the produced water.

The present invention relates to processes for controlling the deposition of iron oxides from produced oil field waters. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of water soluble polymeric compounds to keep iron oxide particles in produced water suspended.
Oil field produced water is generally saline and often contains significant amounts of dissolved solids, suspended debris from corrosion or the oil-bearing formation, and soluble metals such as iron. Commonly employed control chemicals such as phosphonates, phosphate esters, and a variety of low molecular weight vinyl polymers can help present massive deposition due to the scales such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate. The dispersing capability of some polymers can keep small particulate matter from settling in lines, tanks and other flow areas. Iron, which normally enters the produced water systems as the soluble Fe.sup.2+ species, can precipitate as the iron (hydr)oxide (a mixture of iron oxides and iron hydroxides). This precipitation, if allowed to go unchecked, can result in flow restriction or line blockage. Ultimately, concentration cells can develop under these deposits and generalized or pitting corrosive attack occurs.
Various systems have been developed in other scientific fields to control or stabilize iron (hydr)oxide in aqueous systems. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,828 assigned to Nalco Chemical Company. That system involves treating the aqueous system with from 1.0 to 50 ppm of a water soluble polymer having a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 100,000. The polymer contains from 5 to 85 mole percent pendant N-substituted amide functionality units and from 15 to 95 mole percent of acrylic acid units or a mixture of acrylic acid and (meth)acrylamide units. The N-substituted amide functionality includes amide substituted with sulfoalkyl.
As iron precipitates, it is believed that most of such precipitate is composed of ferric oxide and ferric hydroxide, wherein the iron is in its oxidation state of three, referred to as "iron (III)". For purposes of the present invention, the relative proportions of the precipitate between ferric oxide and ferric hydroxide is not important nor does it matter whether some, or even all, of the iron precipitate is ferrous oxide or ferrous hydroxide. Hence, the iron precipitate which is generally a mixture of ferric oxide and ferric hydroxide, possibly with some ferrous species therein, will be referred to hereinafter as iron (hydr)oxide. It is also to be understood that the term iron (hydr)oxide includes any and all hydrated forms of such oxides and hydroxides.
As petroleum products are produced from fields having high concentrations of iron in the produced water, it is important that a suitable process be developed for controlling deposition of iron precipitates. Additionally, if these fields are located in arctic areas, it would be important to develop a process in which the additive could withstand low temperatures. Such a process is disclosed and claimed herein.

Method of controlling iron in produced oilfield waters


Methods, systems, and devices for data processing are described. According to the techniques described herein, an application server may be used for real-time provisioning for features for a user. The application server may validate requests from the user for feature activation or deactivation and after validation, may communicate with a provisioning server, which may be non-local to the user or the application server, to indicate validation and activation or deactivation of a feature for the user.

A cloud platform (i.e., a computing platform for cloud computing) may be employed by many users to store, manage, and process data using a shared network of remote servers. Users may develop applications on the cloud platform to handle the storage, management, and processing of data. In some cases, the cloud platform may utilize a multi-tenant database system. Users may access the cloud platform using various user devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other computing systems, etc.).
In one example, the cloud platform may support customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. This may include support for sales, service, marketing, community, analytics, applications, and the Internet of Things. A user may utilize the cloud platform to help manage contacts of the user. For example, managing contacts of the user may include analyzing data, storing and preparing communications, and tracking opportunities and sales.
In some systems, a single provisioning server may handle feature provisioning (e.g., feature activation or deactivation) for a user or client. Such techniques for provision handling allow for secure transactions between the user and the provisioning server. In distributed environments, however, this architecture may introduce delays in the activation or deactivation of features for the user, and may be limited in the support of different types of feature activation (such as feature trials).

Real-time feature activation in distributed environment


Described are methods and devices for improving diastolic function with electrostimulation in heart failure patients who exhibit relatively normal systolic function. Such patients are characterized by impaired myocardial relaxation during diastole that prevents adequate filling of the ventricles during diastole to thereby reduce cardiac output. An implantable device is described for effecting strategic and periodic stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system to elicit myocardial adrenergic activation for improved myocardial relaxation.

Heart failure (HF) refers to a clinical syndrome in which an abnormality of cardiac function causes a below normal cardiac output that can fall below a level adequate to meet the metabolic demand of peripheral tissues. It can be due to a variety of etiologies with ischemic heart disease being the most common. Heart failure is usually treated with a drug regimen designed to augment cardiac function and/or relieve congestive symptoms. It has also been shown that some heart failure patients suffer from intraventricular and/or interventricular conduction defects (e.g., bundle branch blocks) such that their cardiac outputs can be increased by improving the synchronization of ventricular contractions with electrical stimulation. In order to treat these problems, implantable cardiac devices have been developed that provide appropriately timed electrical stimulation to one or more heart chambers in an attempt to improve the coordination of atrial and/or ventricular contractions, termed cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
The treatments for HF discussed above are most appropriately used to treat patients with systolic dysfunction. In such patients, the fraction of the blood accumulated during diastolic filling of one or both ventricles that is pumped out during systole, referred to as the ejection fraction (EF), is below normal. Some HF patients, however, are shown to maintain a normal left ventricular EF. Of the more than 5 million Americans who have heart failure (HF), 30% to 50% have HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF). HF-PEF is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and HF-PEF commonly occurs in elderly patients with comorbidities of hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, diabetes, myocardial ischemia, and obesity. Although the mechanisms of HF with a normal EF are incompletely understood, diastolic dysfunction is a central component, leading to it also being referred to as diastolic heart failure (DHF). Current treatment modalities have improved the prognosis among individuals with HF and a depressed EF but have not been as successful in patients with HF-PEF.

Sympathetic stimulation for improved myocardial relaxation


A device for distributing wine uniformly over a wine cap includes a T-joint member, an impeller and a shaft. The T-joint member has a top opening, a bottom opening, a side opening, a through-opening extending from the top opening to the bottom opening and a side-through-opening extending from the side opening to the through-opening. The impeller includes a one-piece conical shaped body that has a circular base, a cylindrical center, a conical-shaped outer surface, a central-through-opening extending through the cylindrical center, and a plurality of curved blades extending from the top of the cylindrical center along the inclined outer surface. The T-joint member is configured to allow wine to be pumped into the through-opening through the side opening and to exit through the bottom opening and then to flow onto the impeller. The impeller is configured to allow the wine to flow uniformly around and down the conical-shaped outer surface of the impeller and through the impeller.

Red wine is produced by first crushing red and black grapes and then fermenting the crushed grapes including their skins, seeds, grape juice and pulp (also called must).
Usually, yeast is added to the must to start the fermentation process. Fermentation may also occur naturally. During fermentation, the yeast converts the sugars in the grape juice into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The rising carbon dioxide pushes the grape skins to the top and forms a "cap" or "head" of grape skins on the surface of the fermenting red wine. The cap includes naturally occurring substances that are useful in the fermentation process and the overall quality and taste of the wine. Therefore, the free-run wine is pumped and sprinkled over the cap in order to extract and mix the naturally occurring useful chemicals with the free-run wine in the bottom of the fermentation tank.
Several devices have been used to facilitate the pumping and sprinkling of the free-run wine over the cap. Homogeneous distribution of the free-run wine over the cap is critical to the quality and taste of the wine. Also critical are the unobstructed flow of the free-run wine through the wine-pump over and sprinkling device, the droplet size of the wine exiting the sprinkling device and the ease of cleaning of the device.


A rigid track consisting of concrete, in particular pre-cast components, comprising a slab with traversing fixing elements, or a plurality of fixing elements arranged thereon, of rails for track-borne vehicles. The inventive rigid track is characterized by a pre-cast concrete component constituting a protuberance that is positioned on the slab, parallel to at least one rail and located on at least one side of the rail. The protuberance acts as a guard and a guide for the vehicle during derailment.

The present invention concerns a rigid track bed of concrete, especially made of precast concrete modules, with a slab and continuous fastenings or a multiplicity of fastenings for rails mounted thereon for track guided vehicles.
DE 198 50 617 A1 discloses cross ties for a rigid run of track. Individual ties are aligned in rows, thus forming a base substrate for rails which are subsequently laid thereon. The individual ties are separated from each other at a predetermined distance and are predominately not rigidly tied together. In order to enable the best possible disturbance-free travel of a rolling wheel of a track guided vehicle, the proposal is to place bearing elements upon the rails, which can be integrated into tie and concrete structure below. The concrete understructure is further molded with retaining grooves, wherein a derailed wheel can run. The concrete ties possess, in turn, a specified spacing from one another, so that a rail-borne wheel rolls from one tie to another. The ties and the track fastenings, as well as the bearing elements, are all subject to damage thereby.
DE 199 31 048 A1 teaches the placement of a rail for track guided vehicles on a rail bearing slab. On the slab are provided absorbent pads, which are affixed to the rail bearing slab by bolts. If derailment protection is required, then the absorption pads serve immediately to the affixing of the surface protection elements, on which the derailed wheel can roll. The absorbent pads serve, in such a case, as a noise control and as a fastening element for derailment safety equipment.
The positional arrangement of the derailment protection rails along the track has been made known by DE 44 38 397 A1, or by DE 199 41 060 A1. In a similar manner to DE 199 31 048 A1, a derailment protection rail made of iron is mounted along the track, in order, that in case of a derailment of a vehicle, the derailed wheel can be safely captured.


The connector clip for verifying complete connection integrally includes a clip body of U-shape in cross-section to receive a tubular holding portion and a connection verifying portion of U-shape in cross-section to receive an opposite axial side of an annular verification projection with respect to the pipe. The connection verifying portion has a verifying body and a snap-fit portion. The clip body and the verifying body are connected via a connection part, while the verifying body and the snap-fit portion are connected via a joint part. Reinforcement ribs are formed along an entire circumference of outer surface of the verifying body.

The present invention relates to a connector clip which is adapted to verify complete connection or fitting connection between a connector used in a joint of a piping, for example, a gasoline fuel piping of a vehicle, and a pipe inserted in the connector.
In a joint of a fluid piping, a connector having a tube connecting portion is applied to join a pipe and a tube. In such piping, for example, the pipe is provided with an annular engagement projection on an outer peripheral surface of one axial side or an inserting end portion, and the connector is configured with a retainer fitted in a pipe inserting portion or a holding portion of the connector. Then, the pipe is inserted into the retainer so as to allow the annular engagement projection to snap-engage with one axial end portion of the retainer providing a stop mechanism between the pipe and the connector with a tube connected to the tube connecting portion. Hence, if an operator does not take care sufficiently to complete connection between the pipe and the connector, the pipe might not be fully inserted into the retainer and the annular engagement projection of the pipe might not snap-engage with one axial end portion of the retainer, or the retainer might not be fitted properly in the pipe inserting portion or the holding portion of the connector. That is, the pipe might be in a half-fitting relation with respect to the connector. Meanwhile within a connecting portion between a connector and a pipe, a sealing member is disposed to prevent an internal fluid from leaking out. However, in case of a piping system subject to operation while the pipe is incompletely connected with the connector, usually sealing property by the sealing member between the connector and the pipe is insufficient or becomes lowered, and an internal fluid leaks out. In view of the foregoing aspect, it is preferred to adapt means for verifying complete connection and preventing incomplete connection between a connector and a pipe, in order not to subject a piping system to operation while the pipe is not fully inserted into the retainer, or the retainer is not properly fitted in the pipe inserting portion of the connector.
As for such means for verifying complete connection between a connector and a pipe, a connector connecting construction disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 is known. In the connector connecting construction, in addition to an annular engagement projection (first annular rib) for snap-engagement, an annular verification projection (second annular rib) is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the pipe so as to be located on an opposite axial side of or beyond an opposite axial end of the connector when the pipe is connected to the connector. Then, a connector clip for verifying complete connection between a connector and a pipe is put on and mounted to the connector and thus configured pipe. The connector clip includes a clip body (intermediate part) of U-shape in cross section having one-side wall portion (second lateral wall) and an opposite-side wall portion (first lateral wall) on opposite ends thereof. The opposite-side wall portion (first lateral wall) is provided with a connection verifying portion (protruding portion). One-side wall portion of the connector clip for verifying complete connection is provided with a fit-on recess (second cutaway recess) and the opposite-side wall portion thereof is also formed with another fit-on recess (first cutaway recess). The fit-on recess (second cutaway recess) is to be fitted on a portion of the connector on one axial side of a holding portion, and adjacent to the holding portion, while the another fit-on recess (first cutaway recess) is to be fitted on a portion of the pipe on an opposite axial side of the annular verification projection, and adjacent to the annular verification projection. And, the connection verifying portion is configured by a pair of restraining portions formed on opposite end portions or both widthwise sides of the another fit-on recess of the opposite-side wall portion. A distance between a pair of the restraining portions is designed equal to a width of an opening side (a side of a first guiding surface of the first cutaway recess) of the another fit-on recess.
If the pipe is correctly inserted in and connected to the connector and the annular verification projection is located in a fixed axial position, the connector clip for verifying complete connection is easily mounted to the connector and the pipe so as to clip or hold a held portion from the holding portion of the connector to the annular verification projection of the pipe by the one and the opposite-side wall portions from axially opposite sides thereof However, if the pipe is incompletely fitted in the connector and the annular verification projection is located relatively (relatively with respect to the connector) toward an opposite axial direction of or beyond the fixed axial position, the annular verification projection abuts the connection verifying portion, is not allowed to pass through the connection verifying portion, and therefore, the connector clip cannot be mounted to the connector and the pipe. Therefore, complete connection of the pipe to the connector can be verified by mounting the connector clip to the connector and the pipe. On the contrary, when the connector clip cannot be mounted to the connector and the pipe, incomplete connection of the pipe can be consequently verified.
Patent Document 1 JP, A, 11-6591
Meanwhile, in a connector clip for verifying complete connection between a connector and a pipe disclosed in the Patent Document 1, the connection verifying portion is constructed by a pair of thin-walled restraining portions. So, when the pipe is incompletely connected to the connector, if the annular verification projection is strongly pushed against the restraining portions, the restraining portions are possibly deformed so as to allow the annular verification projection to pass through therebetween. Such connector clip does not offer highly reliable function for verifying complete connection. In order to enhance reliability of the function for verifying complete connection, the connector clip may be formed hard. However, if the connector clip is formed hard, the connector clip might not be mounted without exerting excessive force thereto even when the pipe is completely connected to the connector. Moreover, considering factors of dimensional errors of the connector and/or the pipe, it is anticipated to be more difficult to mount the connector clip to the connector and the pipe.
Then it may be considered to construct the connection verifying portion to have a pipe receiving recess of U-shape in cross-section with width equal to or generally equal to an outer diameter of a body of the pipe. And, it is effective to form reinforcement ribs integrally on an outer surface or an outer peripheral surface of the connection verifying portion in order to increase widening resistance of the pipe receiving recess and more ensure that the annular verification projection is not fitted in the pipe receiving recess.
However, the clip body is typically constructed to clip a large diameter portion of the connector from widthwise opposite sides, or to have a connector receiving recess with width generally equal to an outer diameter of the large diameter portion of the connector. Therefore, if widening resistance is increased with respect to the pipe receiving recess of the connection verifying portion by forming reinforcement ribs thereon, the connector receiving recess of the clip body is restrained by the connection verifying portion, and thereby the widening resistance is increased also with respect to the connector receiving recess. As a result, it is also feared that favorable mounting property of the connector clip is lowered.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector clip having a highly reliable function for verifying complete connection between a connector and a pipe, and further having a favorable mounting property.

Connector clip for verifying complete connection between a connector and a pipe


An tissue retention spring for use with a surgical circular stapler used to perform an anastomosis. The tissue retention spring is mounted onto the anvil shaft of the stapler. The spring has a plurality of connected helical coils defining a member having an axial passage therethrough. The spring provides tissue retention, tissue and fluid venting, and improved stapler closing.

Surgical staplers have been long known in the surgical arts as a quick and efficient way of joining or repairing tissue. Stapling has become an accepted alternative to suturing. In certain types of surgical procedures the use of surgical staples has become the preferred method of joining tissue, and, specially configured surgical staplers have been developed for these applications. For example, intra-luminal or circular staplers have been developed for use in a surgical procedure known as an anastomosis.
Circular staplers are well known in this art. Circular staplers useful to perform an anastomosis are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,025 which is incorporated by reference. A conventional circular stapler typically consists of an elongated shaft having a proximal actuating mechanism and a distal stapling mechanism mounted to the shaft. The distal stapling mechanism typically consists of a fixed stapling cartridge containing a plurality of staples configured in a concentric circular array. A round cutting knife is concentrically mounted in the cartridge interior to the staples. The knife is moveable in an axial, distal direction. Extending axially from the center of the cartridge is a trocar shaft. The trocar shaft is moveable, axially, with respect to the cartridge and elongated shaft. An anvil member is mounted to the trocar shaft. The anvil member has a conventional staple anvil mounted to it for forming the ends of staples. The distance between the distal face of the staple cartridge and the staple anvil can be controlled by an adjustment mechanism mounted to the proximal end of the stapler shaft. Tissue contained between the staple cartridge and the staple anvil is simultaneously stapled and cut when the actuating mechanism is engaged by the surgeon.
An anastomosis is a surgical procedure wherein sections of intestine are joined together after a connecting section has been excised. The procedure requires joining the ends of two tubular sections together to form a continuous tubular pathway. Previously, this surgical procedure was a laborious and time consuming operation. The surgeon had to precisely cut and align the ends of the intestine and maintain the alignment while joining the ends with numerous suture stitches. The development of circular staplers has greatly simplified the anastomosis procedure and also decreased the time required to perform an anastomosis.
When performing an anastomosis using a circular stapler, typically, the intestine is stapled using a conventional surgical stapler with double rows of staples being emplaced on either side of a target section (i.e., specimen) of intestine. The target section is typically simultaneously cut as the section is stapled. Next, after removing the specimen, the surgeon typically inserts the anvil head (anvil member) into the proximal end of the lumen, proximal of the staple line. This is done by inserting the anvil head into an entry port cut into the proximal lumen by the surgeon. On occasion the anvil head can be placed transanally, by placing the anvil head on the distal end of the stapler and inserting the instrument through the rectum. Typically the distal end of the stapler is inserted transanally. The surgeon then typically ties the proximal end of the intestine to the anvil shaft using a suture or other conventional tying device. Next, the surgeon cuts excess tissue adjacent to the tie and the surgeon attaches the anvil to the trocar shaft of the stapler. The surgeon then closes the gap between the anvil and cartridge, thereby engaging the proximal and distal ends of the intestine in the gap. The surgeon next actuates the stapler causing several rows of staples to be driven through both ends of the intestine and formed, thereby joining the ends and forming a tubular pathway. Simultaneously, as the staples are driven and formed, a concentric circular blade is driven through the intestinal tissue ends, cutting the ends adjacent to the inner row of staples. The surgeon then withdraws the stapler from the intestine and the anastomosis is complete.
In order to assist the surgeon in performing an anastomosis, various accessories have been developed for use with a circular stapler. One such type of accessory is known as an anvil bushing and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,354. The anvil bushing disclosed in that patent consists of two flanges separated by a shank member. The shank member has a cylindrical pathway running therethrough. The diameter of the cylindrical pathway is sized so that the spool is in frictional engagement with the anvil shaft. The spool is used as a tissue attachment or retention means wherein intestine is sutured or tied about the spool, and, the intestine may be cut adjacent to the spool.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,917 discloses an improved intraluminal stapler having a clamping means disposed on the anvil shaft. The clamping means consists of a circular array of barbs extending outwardly to grasp the ends of the intestine.
Although conventional anvil bushings have many advantages and have proven to be beneficial when used with a circular stapler, it is also known that there are disadvantages associated with their use. The anvil bushings must be mounted by the surgeon or an assistant on the anvil shaft prior to use. It is often difficult to precisely position the bushings on the anvil shaft in an optimal position to facilitate tying. It is also known that the presence of the anvil bushing may increase the closing force necessary to position the anvil in proximity to the cartridge to effectively allow stapling and cutting. It is additionally known that it is sometimes difficult to locate the proximal edge of the anvil bushing when the surgeon attempts to cut the intestine. Furthermore, it is also known that the mucosa of the intestine is extremely slippery and that it is difficult to retain the intestine on a conventional anvil bushing.
Therefore, what is needed in this art are new devices for use with a circular stapler which facilitate the use of a circular stapler in an anastomotic procedure and eliminate the disadvantages of existing anvil bushings.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tissue retention spring for an anastomotic procedure which can be precisely located on an anvil shaft during a surgical anastomotic procedure.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tissue retention spring which decreases the force required to close an anvil by providing tissue and fluid venting.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a tissue retention spring which facilitates tissue cutting.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a tissue retention spring which has enhanced tissue grasping and retention and which provides additional length to which tissue may be tied.

Circular stapler tissue retention spring method