Method of establishing a radio link at the interface between a base station and an access network controller in a mobile telecommunication network including forming a request message for establishing the link by concatenating a message of the control protocol of the radio link and a plurality of messages of the transport protocol on the link; transmitting the request message by the access controller to the base station; and receiving a response message sent back by the station.

The present invention concerns in general terms a method of establishing a radio link in a mobile radio telecommunication network. More precisely, the invention concerns a method of establishing a radio link between an access network controller (RNC) and a base station (B node) of the UMTS network.
FIG. 1 depicts highly schematically the access network in the context of UMTS, known as UTRAN (standing for UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network). The access network provides the link between the mobile terminal of the user (UE, standing for User Equipment) and the interconnection network (CN, standing for Core Network). It has access network controllers (RNC, standing for Radio Network Controller) and base stations (B nodes), each RNC controller being able to control a plurality of B nodes. The interface between a B node and the RNC which controls it is referred to as the Iub interface.
The RNC controller is responsible for managing the radio resources and controlling the handover. For this purpose, the RNC controller establishes or releases AAL2 connections to the Iub interface. When a mobile terminal is in a soft-handover situation, it communicates simultaneously with several base stations, these base stations being able to be controlled by the same RNC controller or different controllers. When the mobile terminal moves, it is therefore necessary to create new AAL2 connections and to release others, and this rapidly, so as not to create an interruption for the user.
FIG. 2 depicts the different protocol planes used on the Iub interface, as specified by the 3GPP working group on the UTRAN access network. The Iub interface has recourse to two distinct protocol layers: a transport layer (I) and a layer related to the radio functions (II).
The first protocol plane (RNCP standing for Radio Network Control Plane) concerns the transportation of UMTS control messages. It includes the NBAP (standing for Node B Application Part) application protocol for negotiating radio resources between the B node and the RNC controller in order to support the communications of the users. The messages of this protocol are transmitted over the ATM link via adaptation layers.
The second protocol plane (TNCP standing for Transport Network Control Plane) concerns the transportation of the control messages of the transport layer. It comprises the ALCAP (Access Link Control Application Part) protocol providing independence between the control plane (RNCP) and the user plane. The messages of the ALCAP protocol are transmitted on the ATM layer via adaptation layers.
The third protocol plane (UP standing for User Plane) concerns the user traffic flows. It comprises logic channels (LCH), common or dedicated, and an AAL2 layer providing the adaptation to the ATM layer.
FIG. 3 depicts schematically the procedure for establishing a radio link. The NBAP protocol layer of the RNC initiates the procedure by transmitting a request (NBAP: RL Set-up Request) specifying the number of AAL2 connections to be established on the Iub interface. The base station (B node) responds in return by means of a response message (NBAP: RL Set-up Response) supplying to the controller an ATM connection identifier. The content of the messages RL Set-up Request and RL Set-up Response is described in the document 3GTS25.433 from the 3GPP Special Working Group on the Radio Access Network entitled "UTRAN Iub Interface NBAP Signalling".
The ALCAP protocol layer of the RNC next generates AAL2 connection requests equal in number to the number required by the NBAP layer. More precisely, each of the requests (Q.AAL2(ALCAP): ERQ) is transmitted by the RNC in accordance with Q.2630.1 signalling, also referred to as Q.AAL2, and gives rise to a corresponding confirmation (Q.AAL2(ALCAP): ECF) on the part of the base station, each confirmation including the identifier for the connection.
The procedure for establishing a radio link between a base station and an RNC controller is therefore relatively cumbersome since it requires the intervention of two protocol levels (NBAP and ALCAP) and the exchange of 2(N+1) messages, where N is the number of AAL2 connections to be established to support the said link. However, as has been seen, this establishment procedure must be rapid.

Method of establishing a radio link between an access controller and a base station


A high precision pressure transducer system for checking the reliability of a second pressure transducer system used to monitor the level of a fluid confined in a holding tank. Since the response of the pressure transducer is temperature sensitive, it is continually housed in an battery powered oven which is configured to provide a temperature stable environment at specified temperature for an extended period of time. Further, a high precision temperature stabilized oscillator and counter are coupled to a single board computer to accurately determine the pressure transducer oscillation frequency and convert it to an applied pressure. All of the components are powered by the batteries which during periods of availability of line power are charged by an on board battery charger. The pressure readings outputs are transmitted to a line printer and a vacuum florescent display.

The use of a differential pressure transducer to measure the difference in pressure between a bubbler probe located at the bottom of a liquid filled holding tank and the air pressure above the liquid of the holding tank is one method often used to determine if the depth of the liquid in the tank is changing and thus, if the holding tank is leaking liquid. Use of this type of liquid depth monitoring system can, over the short term, determine changes in the liquid depth of as little as 0.06 inches; this degree of accuracy becomes particularly important when hazardous liquid waste is contained in the holding tank. Over the long term, the accuracy of a depth monitoring system of this type can degrade due to changes in the specific gravity of the liquid brought on by such occurrences as the precipitation of solids from within the fluid; however, this effect is minimal when using a differential pressure system to determine tank leaks since the pressure changes are monitored on a short term basis. But even in the short term, it is necessary to check the calibration of the pressure transducer associated with the monitoring system to insure the reliability of the transducer.
The differential pressure transducer used both by the applicants in their invention and as part of the instrumentation used to monitor the depth of the fluid in the holding tank is based on the very repeatable changes which occur in the output frequency of a quartz crystal in response to an applied pressure. The pressure transducer common to both of these systems experiences a frequency drop of approximately 4 kHz when a pressure of 20 psi is applied to the differential pressure transducer crystal.
The output of the differential pressure transducer used in both applicants' invention and in the monitoring system for the holding tank is, also, temperature dependent, and as a result, when the pressure transducer is exposed to changes in the ambient temperature, the output frequency of the pressure transducer under a set load varies in response to these temperature changes. Thus, in order to insure uniform pressure differential readings, the preferred method of maintaining the pressure transducer would be in a uniform temperature environment.
The holding tank is at a remote location with respect to the source of calibration. Moving the holding tank differential pressure transducer to the calibration location would expose the transducer to temperature cycles resulting in undesirable calibration changes and changes in the calibration fit. As a result, it would be desirable to monitor the accuracy of the holding tank transducer in place. One way of accomplishing this is through the use of a portable high precision pressure measurement system for which the environmental temperature is controlled at all times.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable high precision pressure measurement system which is capable of checking the performance of the pressure transducer associated with a holding tank monitoring system on site rather than having to move the monitoring system transducer to a remote location for testing.
A further object of this invention is to provide a constant temperature environment for the differential pressure transducer associated with the portable high precision pressure measurement system.
A further objective of this invention is to automate the output of the portable high precision pressure measurement system and to allow for variable pressure measuring periods.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Portable high precision pressure transducer system

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


An access control method controls access to a storage medium in a storage apparatus, by obtaining key data valid information which indicates whether or not a key data is valid, and enciphering data to be recorded in the storage medium using the key data only when the key data valid information is turned ON.

This application claims the benefit of a Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-024236 filed Jan. 31, 2002, in the Japanese Patent Office, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to access control methods and storage apparatuses, and more particularly to an access control method for controlling access to a storage medium which is recorded with enciphered information and to a storage apparatus which employs such an access control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In information processing apparatuses such as personal computers, information is recorded in and reproduced from various kinds of storage media. The storage media may roughly be categorized into a fixed type which is fixed within a storage apparatus, and a portable type which is loaded into and unloaded from the storage apparatus. Examples of such storage media include card-shaped or disk-shaped magnetic storage media, optical storage media and magneto-optical storage media, semiconductor memory devices such as RAMs, and the like. The kind of information recorded in and reproduced from such storage media is not limited to a specific kind, and for example, includes document information, image information, audio information, program information or arbitrary combinations of such information.
Conventionally, various methods have been proposed to prevent unauthorized access to the storage medium. For example, there is a proposed method which prohibits access to the storage medium unless the user is confirmed to be a legitimate (or authorized) user by making a password authentication. According to this proposed method, an access to the storage medium cannot be made unless a password input to the personal computer matches a password recorded in the storage medium.
In other words, the information cannot be reproduced from and the information cannot be recorded in the storage medium, unless it is confirmed through password authentication that the user attempting to access this storage medium is the legitimate user. More particularly, if the user is not the legitimate user, a recording and reproducing means for recording information in and reproducing information from the storage medium is controlled to a non-operational state. Accordingly, a third party other than the legitimate user cannot illegally acquire the information recorded in the storage medium. Furthermore, a third party other than the legitimate user cannot illegally record information in the storage medium or erase recorded information from the storage medium.
However, even in the case of the storage medium which requires the password authentication when making access, no measures are taken to prevent reading of the information itself recorded in the storage medium. This is because the access to the storage medium is prohibited by controlling the recording and reproducing means to the non-operational state. For this reason, there is a problem in that, once the storage medium is acquired, a person familiar with physical conditions and the like of the storage medium may read the information recorded in the storage medium using a reading unit or the like with relative ease.
Moreover, there is also another problem in that illegal or unauthorized copies can be created with ease, since the recorded information can be read from the storage medium.
Therefore, with respect to the information recorded in the storage medium, problems related to security or problems related to copyright are generated.

Access control method and storage apparatus


Disclosed is an exposing apparatus which projects an image of a pattern by a projection optical system, comprising a measuring unit having a sensor which measures a positional relationship between the projection optical system and a member which is positioned in relation to the projection optical system, and a first support device which has a first soft structure and which supports the measuring unit in a hanging manner separately from the projection optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposing apparatus which projects an image of a predetermined pattern by a projection optical system, and an exposing method using this exposing apparatus. In a lithography step for producing various devices such as a semiconductor device and a liquid crystal display, the invention is suitably used for transferring a mask pattern onto a substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
In a lithography step which is one of producing steps of a semiconductor device, an exposing apparatus such as a full field exposing type projection exposing apparatus like a stepper, and a scanning exposing type projection exposing apparatus like a scanning stepper is used for exposing and transferring a pattern formed on a reticle (or photomask) as a mask onto a wafer (such as a glass plate) as a substrate on which a photoresist is applied.
In such exposing apparatuses, rigidity of a stage which positions or moves a reticle and a wafer, rigidity of a support mechanism of the stage, and rigidity of a mechanism portion of a support mechanism of a projection optical system exert a great influence on performance of apparatus such as vibration isolating performance and exposure precision (superposing precision), the weight of the mechanism portion and producing costs of the exposing apparatus. Generally, an exposing apparatus having a mechanism portion of high rigidity has high apparatus performance, but there is a tendency to increase the weight of the mechanism portion and to increase the producing cost. Hence, to reduce the weight of the entire mechanism portion while maintaining high rigidity of necessary portions of the apparatus, there is proposed an exposing apparatus which independently supports bases such as a reticle stage and a wafer stage by a parallel link mechanism having a plurality of rods which can extend and contract (e.g., see an International Patent Application Publication Laid-open No. 01/022480).
Lately, to enhance a resolution, there is also developed an immersion type exposing apparatus which supplies liquid between a projection optical system and a wafer (see an International Patent Application Publication Laid-open No. 99/49504).
According to the conventional method using the parallel link mechanism having the plurality of rods which can extend and contract, it is possible to reduce the weight of the mechanism portion and to enhance the control precision of a moving portion of a stage, but there is a fear that the structure of the mechanism portion becomes complicated, and the positioning of the stage and control at the time of acceleration and deceleration become also complicated.
In the exposing apparatus, a sensor for measuring a positional relationship between the projection optical system and the wafer stage is used. In the conventional technique, the sensor is integrally supported together with the projection optical system. Even if the projection optical system and the sensor are integrally supported using a support member having high rigidity, however, there is a fear that the positional relationship between the projection optical system and the sensor is varied beyond the permissible range due to influence of vibration from a floor or irradiation heat of illumination light for exposure. Further, according to the structure in which the projection optical system and the sensor are integrally supported, there is a problem that the adjusting time required until the positional relationship therebetween is set to a predetermined target positional relationship is increased when the exposing apparatus is assembled and adjusted, and time required for maintenance of the projection optical system and the sensor is also increased.
In the conventional immersion type exposing apparatus, since a portion of an device which supplies liquid between the projection optical system and a wafer is integrally supported together with the projection optical system, there is a fear that vibration generated in the liquid supply device is transmitted to the projection optical system, and exposure precision is deteriorated.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices to be changed in compliance with the moved object, so that the multi-slices positionally track with the object within the imaging range. Accordingly, a multi-slice imaging technique can be provided, which is executable during even continuous movement of the object.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for medical use, and in particular, to a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a plurality of selective regions, such as multi-slice regions, while an object to be imaged is continuously moved in a certain direction.
2. Related Art
In general, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be defined as the imaging technique that magnetically excites nuclear spins of an object placed in a static magnetic field with a radio-frequency signal at a Larmor frequency and reconstructs an image from MR signals generated due to the excitation.
Recently, in the field of the magnetic resonance imaging, there has been proposed a technique for imaging an object laid on a tabletop moved continuously in its longitudinal direction, in order to obtain an image whose field of view is wider than a system's own fixed imaging range. For instance, the "imaging range" is composed of a slice of several centimeters in thickness, and the "wider imaging range" than the fixed imaging range is composed of a region of some 40 centimeters assigned to the abdomen of an object.
A magnetic resonance imaging system based on a fundamental technique directed to such imaging is equipped with a radio-frequency oscillator. This oscillator is used to adjust the carrier frequency of a radio-frequency excitation pulse for selective excitation, depending on a slice-directional position of a specified section (single slice) to be imaged of an object, in cases where imaging is carried out while the object is moved.
Concretely, when a central frequency corresponding to magnetic intensity created by a magnetic resonance imaging system and a carrier frequency of an RF pulse to be applied to an object P is f0+Δf, Δf is adjusted depending on a movement of the object P. One example is to acquire an axial image while the tabletop of a patient couch is moved. To perform such imaging, the adjustable frequency Δf is given by a formula ofΔf=(γ·Gs·V·TR)/2π [Hz],in which γ is a gyromagnetic ratio, Gs is a magnitude of strength of a slice-directional gradient pulse [T/m], V is a moving speed of the tabletop [m/s], and TR is a repetition time [s].
This way of adjustment enables the position of a selectively excited slice to track a desired particular section in a continuous manner during a movement of the object. This will lead to an improved throughput, because the imaging can be done with the object moved.
The above imaging technique is also provided by another example, which is shown by the paper "A H Herlihy et al., "Continuous scanning using single shot fast spin echo on a short bore neonatal scanner," ISMRM '98, p. 1942. This paper provides a continuous imaging technique through the control of the carrier frequency for selective excitation in connection with movement of a tabletop in performing a single shot FSE sequence.
The carrier frequency for the single shot FSE sequence is controlled on the following formula ofΔfk=Δf0+(γ·Gs·V·ETS*(k+½))/2π [Hz],in which Δf0 is an offset amount of the carrier frequency of the first excitation pulse, Δfk (≧1) is an offset amount of the carrier frequency of the k-th refocusing pulse, and ETS is an echo spacing [s].
The foregoing conventional MR imaging involving a continuous movement of an object (actually a tabletop) shows single slice imaging or sequential multi-slice imaging, which is carried out in a state where a moving direction of an object is made to agree with a direction of a slice selection axis. However, conventional MR imaging does not show the way of multi-slice imaging involving simultaneous selective-excitation of a plurality of slices. In addition, there have been no teachings about oblique imaging of multiple slices, which is one modification from multi-slice imaging, in which a slice selection axis is obliquely set to a moving direction of an object. As understood from the above, the conventional MR imaging that involves a continuous movement of an object is short of various imaging modes that will be frequently required in actual diagnosis. Thus this leads to the problem that it is difficult to perform speedy imaging, because data cannot be acquired with efficiency.
Furthermore, conventional MR imaging that involves a continuous movement of an object does not provide practical ways to reduce artifacts, which will normally be caused due to constant-speed movements of the tabletop (that is, an object).

Magnetic resonance imaging for a plurality of selective regions set to object continuously moved


A wireless charging system for a vehicle. The system includes a wireless power transmitter, a detector device associated with the wireless power transmitter, and a controller operatively associated with the wireless power transmitter. The controller senses whether a vehicle control signal is present using the detector device, stops transmission of electromagnetic energy from the wireless power transmitter to a receiving device if a vehicle control signal is present, and resumes transmission of electromagnetic energy from the wireless power transmitter to the receiving device after a predetermined period of time.

The present invention relates to control systems for wireless electrical charging units.
Wireless charging systems have been developed for automotive environments, e.g. for recharging batteries on devices such as cell phones, laptop computers, and flashlights. However, such systems can interfere with signaling required for other vehicle systems such as fobs for remote entry and vehicle starting.

Signal discrimination for wireless key fobs and interacting systems


A physical quantity sensor according to the invention includes a first member, a second member, a sensing member, a temperature detector, a correcting circuit, and a heat conduction path thermally connecting the sensing member and the temperature detector. The sensing member is interposed in contact between the first and the second members and configured to generate an electrical signal as a function of a physical quantity applied thereto through one of the first and the second members. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the sensing member. The correcting circuit corrects the electrical signal generated by the sensing member using the temperature detected by the temperature detector and outputs the corrected electrical signal. The heat conduction path is formed through the second member such that the second member has a thermal resistance along the path less than that of the first member in an application direction of the physical quantity.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to physical quantity sensors for sensing physical quantities such as force, pressure, torque, velocity, acceleration, impact strength, weight, mass, degree of vacuum, turning effort, vibration, and noise. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved structure of a physical quantity sensor which enhances the temperature compensation capability of the physical quantity sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Physical quantity sensors, such as pressure sensors employing pressure-sensitive elements and load sensors making use of piezoresistive materials, have been widely used. The piezoresistive materials here denote materials which have the piezoresistive effect that when a stress, such as a compression stress, a tensile stress, a shearing stress, and a hydrostatic stress, is applied to the material, the electrical resistance of the material changes as a function of the stress.
Generally, a physical quantity sensor includes a physical quantity sensing element that senses a physical quantity as a pressure, generates an electrical signal representative of the sensed pressure, and outputs the generated electrical signal to external devices or circuits.
However, the value of the physical quantity sensed by the physical quantity sensor varies in response to a change in the temperature of the physical quantity sensing element of the sensor. Therefore, to obtain an accurate value of the physical quantity, it is necessary to perform a temperature compensation for the sensed value of the physical quantity.
Accordingly, a number of physical quantity sensors have been configured to detect not only the physical quantity to be sensed but also the temperature of the physical quantity sensing element of the sensor so as to correct the detected value of the physical quantity depending on the detected temperature.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0164047 A1, the Japanese equivalent of which is Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-214962, discloses such, a physical quantity sensor.
FIG. 14 shows a sensor from U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0164047 A1. This sensor has a load sensor 50, which is made of a ceramic material, has a sandwiched structure. The load sensor 50 includes a load detecting element 51 and a pair of temperature compensating elements 52 and 53. All the three elements of the load sensor 50 have the same structure and share a common insulating pedestal 55.
The detection of the temperature of the load detecting element 51 is made by means of the pair of temperature compensating elements 52 and 53. The two temperature compensating elements are arranged to be close to the load detecting element 51 so as to minimize the differences in temperature between the load detecting element 51 and the two temperature compensating elements 52 and 53.
However, in the load sensor 50, there exist two air gaps, which have the widths W5 and W6 respectively, between the load detecting element 51 and the pair of temperature compensating elements 52 and 53. Further, the insulating pedestal 55, which thermally connects the three elements 51, 52, and 53, is made of a material having a low thermal conductivity. Moreover, the three elements 51, 52, and 53 may show different thermal behaviors.
Accordingly, with such an arrangement, it may be difficult to accurately detect the temperature of the load detecting element 51. As a consequence, the load sensor 50 according to the disclosure cannot sense the load with sufficiently high accuracy.

Physical quantity sensor having enhanced temperature compensation capability


A piece of jewelry comprises one or more half-tubular members which have a main curvature lying in the primary plane of the jewelry. The half-tubular member has an outer, highly polished concave surface and an inner, highly polished convex surface where both surfaces lie or extend in the primary plane. This produces the illusion that the half-tubular members are in fact fully tubular and thus, produces jewelry that has a heavier look and impression even though it is made with half the precious metal.

The present invention relates in general to jewelry, and in particular to a new and useful piece of jewelry, in the form of an earring, a broach, a pendant, or other similar jewelry to be worn, which has elements that appear to be full and tubular but in fact are only half tubes.
U.S. Pat. No. 169,993 (1875) discloses elongated concave elements for use in a decorative fringe. The elements are straight and not curved in a main plane of the fringe nor do they include inner and outer highly polished surfaces. As will be more apparent with a full reading of this Specification, U.S. Pat. No. 169,993 would not produce the tubular appearance and illusion of the present invention, which, with only half as much material, produces the appearance that the jewelry is made of fully tubular elements having the corresponding size and mass.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,372 discloses a pair of half-tubular members which are permanently attached to each other to form a pierced earring hoop. There is no hint or suggestion that the inner surface of the half-tubes should in anyway be treated since they are not visible when the jewelry is worn.
Other patents that disclose the use of tubular elements in jewelry are U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,009 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,481.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it has been known to manufacture jewelry, in particular earrings, using a ring-shaped element designated 20 having a half-tubular cross section best shown in FIG. 2. This jewelry could only be used with the half-tubular sections lying in a plane which is transverse to the primary plane of the piece of jewelry. The plane of the ring is the plane of the page shown in FIG. 1 or plane P in FIG. 2. Jewelry made with ring 20 must be oriented to have a main plane which is transverse to the plane P, that is the plane of the page in FIG. 2. In this way, the viewer sees the outer convex surface of the ring only and does not see the edge of the ring, for example, if viewed in direction A in FIG. 2. If the jewelry is seen from direction A, the viewer immediately perceives that the ring 20 is not a fully tubular member but rather a half-tubular member. Thus, in all jewelry using one or more rings 20 of the prior art, the rings are always oriented to be substantially edge-wise to the viewer.
Since fine jewelry is made of precious metals, it is always advantageous to find ways of reducing the amount of metal in a piece of jewelry while still maintaining an appearance of substantial size and mass.


A collector for an electron beam tube comprises a plurality of electrode stages. The electrode stages are spaced from one another by a non-conductive spacer. The non-conductive spacer is located between portions of electrodes and extends into the collector on a first side and out of the collector on a second side. The non-conductive spacer has an inner portion extending into the collector and an outer portion extending out of the collector and a waisted portion there between. The spacer is held at the waisted portion.

The present invention relates to collector arrangements for electron beam tubes. In particular, the invention relates to arrangements for efficiently collecting electrons whilst avoiding negative effects due to secondary emission of electrons.
Electron beam tubes are used for the amplification of RF signals and are typically linear beam devices. There are various types of linear electron beam tube known to those skilled in the art, two examples of which are the klystron and the Inductive Output Tube (IOT). Linear electron beam tubes incorporate an electron gun for the generation of an electron beam of an appropriate power. The electron gun includes a cathode heated to a high temperature so that the application of an electric field between the cathode and an anode results in the emission of electrons. Typically, the anode is held at ground potential and the cathode at a large negative potential of the order of tens of kilovolts.
Electron beam tubes used as amplifiers broadly comprise three sections. An electron gun generates an electron beam, which is modulated by application of an input signal. The electron beam then passes into a second section known as the interaction region, which is surrounded by a cavity arrangement including an output cavity arrangement from which the amplified signal is extracted. The third stage is a collector, which collects the spent electron beam.
In an inductive output tube (IOT) a grid is placed close to and in front of the cathode, and the RF signal to be amplified is applied between the cathode and the grid so that the electron beam generated in the gun is density modulated. The density modulated electron beam is directed through an RF interaction region, which includes one or more resonant cavities, including an output cavity arrangement. The beam may be focused by a magnetic means to ensure that it passes through the RF region and delivers power at an output section within the interaction region where the amplified RF signal is extracted. After passing through the output section, the beam enters the collector where it is collected and the remaining power is dissipated. The amount of power which needs to be dissipated depends upon the efficiency of the linear beam tube, this being the difference between the power of the beam generated at the electron gun region and the RF power extracted in the output coupling of the RF region.
The difference between an IOT and a Klystron is that in an IOT, the RF input signal is applied between a cathode and a grid close to the front of the cathode. This causes density modulation of the electron beam. In contrast, a klystron velocity modulates an electron beam, which then enters a drift space in which electrons that have been speeded up catch up with electrons that have been slowed down. The bunches are thus formed in the drift space, rather than in the gun region itself.
In IOT, Klystrons and other linear beam tube types such as TWTs, the efficiency of collection of the electron beam can be improved by using a multi-stage depressed collector. In such an arrangement, there is a plurality of electrically isolated stages or electrodes, each operating at a potential at or between ground and the cathode potential. In one such typical arrangement, a collector has five stages, the difference in potential between the various stages being 25% of the beam voltage. By using such a multi-stage depressed collector, the electrons in the beam are slowed down before impacting on the electrode surfaces, thus leading to greater recovery of energy. Collectors may, of course, have a different number of stages operating at different potentials. The term "depressed" is used in the sense that the voltage at which each electrode is held is "depressed" in relation to ground potential.
We have appreciated the need to improve the efficiency of electron collection in an electron beam tube.


An apparatus for rapidly displacing an object comprises a lever with an object end and a power end. The lever is mounted to a fulcrum between the ends. A driven cam has a trunnion attached proximal to an outer edge thereof, and a tie rod member has an end pivotally attached to the power end of the lever and a second end pivotally attached to the trunnion such that about 180° of rotation of the cam causes about 90° displacement of the power end of said lever. Also, a tension member is coupled to the power end such that restorative force of the tension member contributes to displacement of the power end in one direction. A motor drives rotation of the cam.

Military and law enforcement groups receive substantial benefit from training by simulating missions that require the use of firearms in a staged scenario. The greater the realism of the scenario, the better the experience for the trainees. Such missions often require trainees to achieve the mission objective while working against human adversaries. However, obviously, the use of live weapons is dangerous, and destructive. Such groups often using human adversaries with both trainees and aggressors armed with weapons configured with blank firing apparatus. This training can be expensive to provide. One expensive solution is the use of deployable target mannequins, or silhouettes.
A shortcoming of the current target mannequin systems is that to be rugged enough for continued use, the mannequins are constructed from heavier materials. This means that apparatus used to deploy and re-stow the target mannequins must meet the lifting demand. Conventionally, the result is a bulky, heavy, relatively costly, apparatus for displacing the mannequin.
A low cost, compact apparatus for displacing such mannequins is needed. At the same time such an apparatus may be used to displace any number of other objects using the principals described herein. Further, a system which employs a plurality of such machines is needed.

System, apparatus, and method for rapidly displacing an object


A touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback is provided which includes a first layer with a mechanically flexible display medium, a second layer with a least one receptor, wherein the second layer is disposed in such a way that the receptor detects a contact in at least one section of the first layer and generates at least one first signal, a third layer with at least one controllable actuator, wherein the third layer is disposed in such a way that the controllable actuator mechanically manipulates the first layer at least in some points of the section, and a control device which contacts the second layer and the third layer in such a way that, in an initial stage, at least one second signal for controlling the actuator is generator, and at least one modified second signal is generated on the basis of the first signal.

Touch-sensitive displays, or "touchscreens," are used predominantly in so-called touchscreen terminals which can be operated by a user touching the screen with a finger, whereby the keyboard and mouse known from the PC are generally dispensed with.
A confirmation that an input effected by a user has actually taken place is, in general, obtained by means of audiovisual feedback; for example, by means of a beep sound or a change of color of the display area when the display is touched.
Touchscreen terminals are set up at trade fairs, presentations or in the reception areas of companies in order to enable dialog with customers. Touchscreen terminals also can be found at airports and in city centers as information terminals for tourists, and in manufacturing facilities for data entry and control purposes in production processes.
One disadvantage experienced with the above mentioned applications are loud and irregularly occurring ambient noises which occur at airports and in streets and production facilities, with the result that there is a danger of audible feedback being masked by the ambient noises and going unnoticed by the user.
Visual feedback is similarly dependent on ambient influences. For example, direct or reflected sunlight can cause irritation, with the result that the visual feedback does not achieve the desired effect. In addition, situations also occur whereby users obscure areas of the display intended for the visual feedback with their hand.
Furthermore, a touch-sensitive monitor is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,565, in which tactile feedback is initiated when an input is made by a user touching the screen. To this end an oscillating coil is driven in such a way by a microprocessor that it triggers a mechanical stimulus which causes the housing of the monitor to vibrate so that the user can also feel that his/her input has been detected in addition to receiving the audiovisual feedback.
The disadvantage of this solution is that regardless of which input has been made by the user touching the screen, the same tactile feedback always occurs and a differentiation is only possible when taken in conjunction with the audiovisual feedback which is still present as before.
An object to which the present invention is directed is, therefore, to set down a touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback which resolves the disadvantages of the prior art.

Touch-sensitive display with tactile feedback


A protectively packaged connector for connecting multiple conductors is disclosed. The connector has multiple parts, each of which is provided with a protective covering of heat shrink thermoplastic film. The connector is assembled in the normal manner but with the film in place. This protects the connector from outside contaminants and is especially useful for filled connectors which readily attract contaminants because of the sticky waterproof filling compound.

In the communications industry it is commonplace for two cables to be connected at one or more splice locations. Typically, each cable comprises a multitude of individual conductors which must be spliced to join the cables. It has been estimated that over two billion splice connections are made each year in the telephone industry, with the labor costs alone being staggering. It is obviously important for these splice connections that they be durable and, preferably, permanent so that the need for replacement splices is minimized.
Typically, the individual conductor ends to be spliced are brought and held together in multiple contact connectors such as one which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,158 to Henn et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. To protect the spliced conductors, the connector is commonly packed with a filling compound which is meant to prevent the conductors from contacting or being contacted by water and other contaminants, inasmuch as exposure of spliced conductors to water and other contaminants lowers the lifetime of the connections by causing deterioration and corrosion of the connector, its filling compound and the conductors. Not only is the capacitance balance of transmission lines and hence the electrical performance upset by such exposure but also serious corrosion may occur and telephone company personnel are forced to spend many hours at considerable expense repairing lines and restoring telephone service following such damage to connectors and conductors. These filling compounds have been shown to be, at times, inadequately. protective of the individual conductors and spliced ends against corrosion, and the filling compound itself oftentimes becomes contaminated from contact with water, fungus, insects, insect droppings, dust, dirt and other contaminants. In addition, it is not always desirable to add filling compound to the connector. For example, adding filling compound raises the manufacturing costs of the connector and hence the cost of splicing.
Thus, it is apparent that a method and/or material for preventing contamination and corrosion of multiple conductor connectors is needed, which will protect the connector and conductors even if filling compound is not present and will protect the filling compound as well, if it is present. One technique which has been developed to decrease the contamination of the filling compound and corrosion of the conductors is the inclusion of a fungicide and corrosion inhibitor in the filling compound, as taught in a co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/489,423 to Bair et al., filed Jun. 12, 1995.
A technique for use in protection of the spliced portions of an optical fiber is taught by Murata et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,820, and involves wrapping the fiber in a heat shrinkable polymeric tube capable of shrinking in the radial direction. The heat shrinkable tube is then heated by application of an electrical resistance heating element, whereupon the heat shrink material shrinks and forms a protective coating around the optical fiber. This simple technique would not work for connectors because the many conductors connected to the connector would get in the way and would not allow the film to adequately cover the connector.
Heat shrinkable thermoplastic films have been used for various applications, probably most typically for packaging of food products such as meat, cheese, poultry and the like. A heat shrinkable film is a film that is stretched and oriented while it is being cooled so that later, when used for packaging, it will, upon being rewarmed, shrink tightly around the package contents. Blown film made from plasticized polyvinylchloride (PVC) is the most widely used heat shrink film. Other commonly used thermoplastics are polyethylenes and polypropylenes. The manufacture of a single layer heat shrink film may generally be accomplished by extrusion of a thermoplastic resinous material which has been heated to or above its flow or melting point from an extrusion die in, for example, either tubular or planar (sheet) form, followed by postextrusion cooling. The stretching or orienting of the film may be conducted at some point during the cool-down while the film is still hot and at a temperature within its orientation temperature range, followed by completion of the cooling. Alternatively, after the postextrusion cooling, the relatively thick extrudate is then reheated to a temperature within its orientation temperature range and stretched to orient or align the crystallites and/or molecules of the material, and then cooled again.
The heat shrink film may then be formed into a pouch or bag, perhaps utilizing an appropriate adhesive, and the product inserted into the pouch or bag. Alternatively, a sheet of the material may be utilized to overwrap the product. The enclosed product is then subjected to elevated temperatures, for example, by passing the enclosed product through a hot air tunnel or by placing it in hot water. This causes the enclosing heat shrinkable film to shrink around the product to produce a tight wrapping that closely conforms to the contours thereof. Such packaging methods, and others, are well known to those of skill in the art.
The above general outline for manufacturing heat shrink films is not meant to be all-inclusive and other such processes are well known to those in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,274,900, 4,299,241, 4,194,039, 4,188,443, 4,048,428, 3,821,182, 3,022,543 and 5,079,051. The disclosures of these patents are generally representative of such processes and are hereby incorporated by reference.
As is apparent from the foregoing discussion, it is a problem in the industry that spliced cable connectors are oftentimes contaminated by exposure to water, dirt dust, fungus, insects, and other contaminants. Contamination is certain to occur in connectors that contain filling compound, inasmuch as the compound is greasy and is readily contaminated with dirt, insects, insect droppings, etc. These contaminants then migrate through the filing compound, contact the metal surfaces and cause corrosion. This contamination is, eventually, likely to cause decay of the filling compound and corrosion of the conductors. Loss of telephone service will result along with the need for expensive repair by the telephone company. The present invention is a way to avoid such problems by protectively wrapping the connector and thus eliminating contact with contaminants. The wrap is a barrier that prevents contaminants from contacting the surface of the sticky filling compound.

Protective wrappings for spliced cable connectors


A communications node for an optical network is disclosed. The node includes a tunable wavelength receiver for receiving optical data from source nodes at a plurality of source wavelengths and a tunable wavelength transmitter for transmitting optical data to destination nodes at a plurality of destination wavelengths. The node also includes a media access controller which creates at least one reservation map for reserving time slots and wavelengths for transmitting data to and receiving data from a plurality of nodes, made up of the source nodes and destination nodes, based upon available time slots and wavelengths in the optical network, the reservation map being based upon demand data or other data from the plurality of nodes.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to optical networks, such as MAN (metropolitan area networks), SAN (storage area networks), access optical networks, and enterprise networks. The invention further relates to optical networks and optical fabric-switches. In particular, the invention relates to various implementations of a reservation based Media Access Control (MAC) network/switch fabric.
2. Description of Related Art
Fiber-optic infrastructure is a vital part of today's rapidly changing worldwide networks. The drive for interconnectivity as well as the exponential growth in data traffic as a result of new applications leads to the adoption of new optical solutions. Carriers and service providers are looking to increase their revenue by deliver new services such as storage area networks (SAN) and IP based services to customers. Similar to that, enterprises are looking to enhance their enterprise area networks to supply the bandwidth demands to the increasing needs. Technologies are needed that can leverage existing networks as well as increase the economic viability of new network applications. Recent advances in optical technologies (such as wavelength division multiplexing, tunable lasers, tunable receivers, and high-speed optical/electronic components) have led to new developments in the optical networks area.
The traditional optical networks were mainly used in the long-haul area networks; however, new optical networks are being introduced in the regional, metropolitan, access and enterprise area networks. The new optical networks, whether they are built as an all-optical network or as a central network with optical switch fabrics, are facing different demands. Optical networks require sustaining high bandwidth while maintaining mesh connectivity and supporting multiple services and multiple classes of service. For example, metropolitan area networks (MANs) can transport voice traffic, SAN traffic and IP traffic. Voice traffic demands low bandwidth with guaranteed latency, while IP traffic is burst traffic and requires large bandwidth. Switch fabrics, which are the core of the network switches/routers, are required to support low latency, while sustaining high bandwidth and many ports.
All optical networks or switch fabrics are basically packet-switched; in other words, routing of packets from a source optical element to a destination optical element is done optically, without the need for optical-electrical conversions outside the source and destination optical elements.
A sub-group of the all-optical networks/fabric-switches is the all-optical multi-ring. All-optical multi-ring networks/fabric-switches are based on a fiber ring topology, in which the fiber-ring is a shared optical medium. The network/fabric-switch nodes (optical elements), located around the fiber-ring, are equipped with either a tunable optical receiver or with a tunable transmitter or with a tunable receiver and transmitter. An addition sub-group of the all-optical networks/fabric-switches is the all-optical star coupled. All-optical star coupled networks/fabric-switches are based on an optical star coupler to which all the optical elements are connected. Nodes, connected to the coupler, are equipped with either tunable optical receiver or with tunable transmitter or with tunable receiver and transmitter.
Many such prior art networks are referred to as synchronous and slotted networks, where the fiber ring is essentially divided into a plurality of time slots, with the time slots rotating uni-directionally around the ring. In some cases, two rings can be used with each node transmitting the same data on each ring, but in opposite directions. Nodes can transmit a packet only within the boundaries of a time slot. The length of the time slot is typically fixed. Scheduling of packets is typically performed through the scheduling of wavelengths and time slots. In order to avoid collisions in time slots, only one node can transmit on each wavelength. Once a time slot has a packet at a particular wavelength, no other node can transmit in that time slot at that wavelength thereby freeing the wavelengths at that time slot.
The MMR and the SRR works (By Marco Ajmone Marsan, Andrea Bianco, Emilio Leonardi, A. Morabito, and Fabio Neri) deal with a slotted all-optical multi-ring topology. The MAC algorithm presented in these works is based on carrier-sense ability of each node and a fairness algorithm to prevent nodes starvation. The carrier-sense feature gives the network the ability to adapt transmission resources according to the traffic. Thus, the network bandwidth can be used more optimally. However, this approach has also a drawback that the algorithm lacks the ability to reserve bandwidth; consequently, the network does not support constant bit-rate traffic.
One version of this issue was being dealt in the SR3 algorithm developed by the same authors ("SR3: A Bandwidth-Reservation MAC Protocol for Multimedia Applications over All-Optical WDM Multi-Rings", Marco Ajmone Marsan, Andrea Bianco, Emilio Leonardi, A. Morabito, Fabio Neri). The SR3 algorithm is also based on the carrier-sense idea with additional capability of reserving bandwidth between two nodes. The reserve bandwidth between from source node to a specific destination node can be up to 1/N of the bandwidth (N is the number of nodes). Although the SR3 algorithm supports reservation and thus supports constant bit-rate traffic, the reservation limitation, which increases as the number of the nodes increases, limits the bandwidth that can be allocated to constant bit-rate traffic. Furthermore the carrier-sense approach requires a fairness algorithm in order to avoid node starvations. The fairness algorithm base on the SAT token can cause large delays. The delays created by the fairness algorithm causes that a fairness-based networks cannot transport delay sensitive traffic, such as voice/video traffic. In order to improve the fairness algorithm and minimize the delays an improved fairness algorithm was proposed by I. Cidon, L. Georgiadis, R. Guerin, and Y. Shavitt ("Improved Fairness Algorithm for Rings with Spatial Reuse").

Enhanced reservation based media access control for dynamic networks and switch-fabrics


A vertical inverted drill press apparatus configured to extend a drill about a vertical support having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is configured to telescope out and away from the bottom portion when manipulated via a lever. The lever pivots about a pivot point. The lever amounts to a handle disposed in communication with an actuator which manipulates a swing arm. The swing arm is connected to the telescoping top portion. When the handle is pulled down, the top portion is forced upwards in a straight line along the primary axis of the body. A drill mount is configured to secure a drill in an inverted, drill-bit-up orientation to facilitate the drilling of holes in ceilings and similar locations.

It is common to use a drill in an inverted position in order to drill holes from the bottom of a stationary object. For example, a drill is used in an inverted position to provide drainage holes to a flooded roof, to affix brackets to rafters, or to drill pilot holes in structural supports.
Unfortunately, these activities require drilling multiple holes in multiple locations, each of which is generally far above the head of the operator of the drill. As such, to drill these holes, the user is generally required to either have a scaffold and/or use a ladder. With the use of a ladder, this quickly becomes a very cumbersome activity as the user must first move the ladder to a first desired location for a hole, ascend the ladder, drill the hole, descend the ladder, and then move the ladder to a second location. This process must be repeated until the requisite number of holes have been drilled. If there were a way to elevate the drill and safely operate it remotely while the user remains on the ground, the process of drilling many holes quickly with a drill in an inverted position would be much easier and faster, and no ladder would be required.
While various drill accessories are presently available on the market, these devices are limited in scope, and do not offer adequate height adjustment mechanisms, nor are they usually well stabilized during use in an inverted position away from the hands of the user. Instead, these devices are configured to merely protect the user from injury, or amount to a modified handle for different uses.
Thus, there is a need for a new form of drill accessory configured to facilitate the inverted and elevated use of a conventional, off-the-shelf drill while exhibiting a compact and foldable design. Such an apparatus is preferably equipped with a telescoping stabilizing component configured to contact the floor or ground. Likewise, such an apparatus preferably employs a pivoting swing arm configured to facilitate the controlled extension and contraction of the drill into and out of a target upon drilling a hole. A comfortable horizontal handle is preferably included, which functions as a lever to facilitate the raising and lowering of the drill in a vertical orientation.
Some similar devices have been found in the art, however none of these devices function in the same manner as that of the present invention, nor do they include a hard switch to facilitate safe activation and deactivation of the drill remotely. For example, Klaus (DE20009819U1) teaches a device for lifting a tool, such as a drilling machine, via an upright vertical body. While Klaus teaches a similar mechanism by which the drilling machine may raise and lower as that of the present invention, unlike the present invention, Klaus does not teach the integration of a switch, and has a fundamentally different pivoting mechanism by which a top portion of the present invention is raised via a swing arm. The top portion of the present invention telescopes outwards, extending the overall height of the apparatus, and raising the drill and drill bit into the target in a vertical orientation.
Likewise, Perry teaches a device for drilling holes in a ceiling in US2004240952(A1) which is similar in scope to the present invention. However, Perry fails to teach the implementation of a switch, unlike the present invention. Additionally, the invention taught by Perry employs wheels to facilitate movement of the device. This makes the device more cumbersome than the present invention. Additionally, an actuator taught by Perry is disposed at a bottom of the device, near the floor, and is therefore not as easy to use as the comfortable, hand-height handle of the present invention. Similarly, the apparatus taught by Perry is not adjustable in its overall height, unlike the present invention.
Cousineau et al. teaches an Extendable Arm for Power and Impact Tools in U.S. application No. 19920960492 which appears to function similarly to that of the present invention. However, Cousineau et al. fails to teach the use of swing arms, a switch, and telescoping portions of the device, unlike the present invention. Additionally, the invention taught by Cousineau et al. is configured to be manipulated by the foot of the user. This is unlike the present invention, which is comfortably manipulated in height by the hand of the user.


An aerosol generator includes a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, a heater arranged relative to the flow passage for heating the flow passage, a source of material to be volatilized in communication with the inlet of the flow passage, a valve to open and close communication between the source of material and the inlet of the flow passage, and a pressurization arrangement for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the flow passage when the valve is in an open position. The aerosol generator further includes a source of power for operating the heater and the valve, and a control device for controlling supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve. A metering device in an inhaler includes a pressurized source of medicated fluid and a metering chamber configured to deliver a predetermined volume of fluid to a heated flow passage in the inhaler. The metering chamber can be part of a rotary valve having a bore and a displacement member moveable within the bore from a first position where the fluid is loaded into the bore to a second position where the predetermined volume is ejected out of the bore. Another metering chamber has an elastic portion of a delivery passage in fluid communication with the pressurized source of liquid and the elastic portion of the delivery passage is deformed to eject the predetermined volume.

The present invention relates generally to aerosol generators and, more particularly, to aerosol generators able to generate aerosols without compressed gas propellants and methods of making and using such aerosol generators. The present invention also relates generally to metering valves in inhalers and, more particularly, to metering valves which deliver a predetermined volume in inhalers including aerosol generators able to generate aerosols without compressed gas propellants.
Aerosols are useful in a wide variety of applications. For example, it is often desirable to treat respiratory ailments with, or deliver drugs by means of, aerosol sprays of finely divided particles of liquid and/or solid, e.g., powder, medicaments, etc., which are inhaled into a patient's lungs. Aerosols are also used for purposes such as providing desired scents to rooms, applying scents on the skin, and delivering paint and lubricant.
Various techniques are known for generating aerosols. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,731 and 4,627,432 both disclose devices for administering medicaments to patients in which a capsule is pierced by a pin to release a medicament in powder form. A user then inhales the released medicament through an opening in the device. While such devices may be acceptable for use in delivering medicaments in powder form, they are not suited to delivering medicaments in liquid form. The devices are also, of course, not well-suited to delivery of medicaments to persons who might have difficulty in generating a sufficient flow of air through the device to properly inhale the medicaments, such as asthma sufferers. The devices are also not suited for delivery of materials in applications other than medicament delivery.
Another well-known technique for generating an aerosol involves the use of a manually operated pump which draws liquid from a reservoir and forces it through a small nozzle opening to form a fine spray. A disadvantage of such aerosol generators, at least in medicament delivery applications, is the difficulty of properly synchronizing inhalation with pumping. More importantly, however, because such aerosol generators tend to produce particles of large size, their use as inhalers is compromised because large particles tend to not penetrate deep into the lungs.
One of the more popular techniques for generating an aerosol including liquid or powder particles involves the use of a compressed propellant, often containing a chloro-fluoro-carbon (CFC) or methylchloroform, to entrain a material, usually by the Venturi principle. For example, inhalers containing compressed propellants such as compressed gas for entraining a medicament are often operated by depressing a button to release a short charge of the compressed propellant. The propellant entrains the medicament as the propellant flows over a reservoir of the medicament so that the propellant and the medicament can be inhaled by the user. Since the medicament is propelled by the propellant, such propellant-based arrangements are well-suited for those who might have difficulty inhaling. Nonetheless, aerosols generated by propellant-based arrangements have particles that are too large to ensure deep lung penetration.
In propellant-based arrangements, however, a medicament may not be properly delivered to the patient's lungs when it is necessary for the user to time the depression of an actuator such as a button with inhalation. Moreover, such arrangements tend to be poorly suited for delivery of materials in large quantities. Although propellant-based aerosol generators have wide application for uses such as antiperspirant and deodorant sprays and spray paint, their use is often limited because of the well-known adverse environmental effects of CFC's and methylchloroform, which are among the most popular propellants used in aerosol generators of this type.
In drug delivery applications, it is typically desirable to provide an aerosol having average mass median particle diameters of less than 2 microns to facilitate deep lung penetration. Most known aerosol generators are incapable of generating aerosols having average mass median particle diameters less than 2 to 4 microns. It is also desirable, in certain drug delivery applications, to deliver medicaments at high flow rates, e.g., above 1 milligram per second. Most known aerosol generators suited for drug delivery are incapable of delivering such high flow rates in the 0.2 to 2.0 micron size range.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,251, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an aerosol generator, along with certain principles of operation and materials used in an aerosol generator, as well as a method of producing an aerosol, and an aerosol. The aerosol generator disclosed according to the '251 patent is a significant improvement over earlier aerosol generators, such as those used as inhaler devices. It is desirable to produce an aerosol generator that is portable and easy to use.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generator includes a flow passage such as a tube having an inlet and an outlet, a heater arranged relative to the flow passage for heating at least a portion of the flow passage, a source of material to be volatilized, the inlet of the flow passage being in communication with the source of material, and a valve operatively located between the source of material and the flow passage, the valve being openable and closeable to open and close communication between the source and the outlet of the flow passage. A pressurization arrangement is provided for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the flow passage from the source of material when the valve is in an open position. A source of power is provided for operating the heater and for the valve, and a control device is provided for controlling supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of making an aerosol generator is disclosed. According to the method, a heater is arranged relative to a flow passage for heating of the flow passage, the flow passage having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the flow passage is connected to a source of material to be volatilized. An openable and closeable valve is provided between the source of material and the flow passage. A pressurization arrangement is provided for causing material in the source of material to be introduced into the flow passage from the source of material when the valve is in an open position. The valve is connected to a source of power for opening and closing the valve. The heater is connected to the source of power. The source of power is connected to a control device for controlling a supply of power from the source of power to the heater and the valve.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of generating an aerosol is disclosed. According to the method, a first signal indicative of a user's intention to generate an aerosol, is generated and sent to a control device. With the control device and responsive to the first signal, a second signal is sent to a source of power to cause the source of power to open an openable and closeable valve, the valve being disposed between a source of material to be volatilized and a flow passage, opening of the valve permitting material from the source of material to flow from the source of material and into the flow passage. Material from the source of material is thus caused to flow from the source of material and into the flow passage. With the control device and responsive to the first signal, a third signal is sent to the source of power to supply power to a heater disposed relative to the flow passage to heat the flow passage. Material from the source of material is heated in the flow passage with the heater to a vaporization temperature such that the material volatilizes and expands out of an outlet of the flow passage.
The present invention also provides a metering device in an inhaler having a pressurized source of medicated fluid and a metering chamber in fluid communication with the pressurized source of fluid. The metering chamber is configured to deliver a predetermined volume of fluid to a heated flow passage in an inhaler.
In accordance with one embodiment of the metering device, the metering chamber is a rotary valve including a bore and a displacement member located within the bore. The displacement member is movable from a first position where the fluid is loaded into a load portion of the bore to a second position where the predetermined volume of fluid is ejected out of the bore.
In accordance with another embodiment of the metering device, the metering device includes a delivery passage including an elastic portion. The metering chamber is located in the elastic portion of the delivery passage. The elastic portion of the delivery passage is compressed to eject a predetermined volume of liquid.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inhaler preferably includes an aerosol generator wherein a flow passage has an inlet and an outlet and a pressurized source of fluid, a heater is arranged relative to the flow passage for heating at least a portion of the flow passage; and a metering chamber is in fluid communication with the pressurized source of fluid and is configured to deliver a predetermined volume to the flow passage.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of dispensing a predetermined volume of medicated fluid in an inhaler is provided wherein the inhaler includes a metering device having a pressurized source of fluid which is in fluid communication with a metering chamber. According to the method, the metering chamber is filled with fluid from the pressurized source and a predetermined volume of the fluid is ejected from the metering chamber into a heated flow passage.

Aerosol generator and methods of making and using an aerosol generator


A mixer-injector to improve the mixing and solution of treatment substances into a water stream. The mixer-injector has a constricting portion, a cylindrical injection portion, and an expanding portion in that order in the direction of flow, with an injector port entering the injection portion. The twisting vanes are formed on the wall of the constricting portion, and straightening vanes are formed on the wall of the expanding portion. The twisting vanes give a rotary component of motion to an outer portion of the water stream in the injection portion, and the straightening vanes remove at least some of it in the expanding portion, both to cause more pronounced vigorous movement of bubbles, and improved solution of the treatment substances.

Apparatus to inject treatment substances, which may be liquids or gases, is well-developed. One well-known device is an aspirating injector of the type shown in Mazzei patent No. 4,123,800, issued Oct. 31, 1978, which is incorporated herein by reference for its showing of injection of treatment substances into water, and an injector for doing so.
The purpose of such an injector is to bring a proportioned amount of the substance into a stream flowing through a pipe in which it is plumbed. In addition to this metering objective, it is desired to have the treatment substance well-dissolved, and distributed throughout the flowing stream of water. This is especially important when gases are introduced. The efficiency of dissolving a gas into a stream is heavily dependent on the surface area of the bubbles after the gas is injected, and of the movement of the bubbles in the stream. A vigorous movement of bubbles, and reduction in their size, will accelerate the solution of the gas. Vigorous movement also assists the distribution and solution of liquids.
This accelerated distribution of gas, and breaking its bubbles into smaller bubbles to increase the total gas liquid interface can also improve a stripping action in which one gas is entrained in the water stream for the purpose of removing a different gas from the stream. An example of this action will be found in Mazzei patent No. 5,674,312 issued Oct. 7, 1997.
Nozzles made according to the said Mazzei patent continue to perform to high standards of accuracy in metering and mixing of treatment substances into a water stream. However, it has been found that the Mazzei device can be improved so as to accelerate the solution and mixing of the treatment substances into the water stream without an appreciable sacrifice of energy. This can provide important advantages, among them a reduction in capital cost and size of the installation. Because the treatment substance--especially for gases but also for liquids--can be dissolved (gases) and mixed (both gases and liquids) more quickly, the size of the installation and its components can be reduced because there is less need for system volume downstream from the injector for completion of the solution and mixing.
It is an object of this invention to provide a more efficient mixer-injector of the general type shown in the said Mazzei patents.

Mixer-injectors with twisting and straightening vanes


A positive portion (52) of k-space and a negative portion (56) are both divided into n segments (FIG. 2 ). In each cardiac cycle, a multiplicity of field echoes (106) are generated, which multiplicity of gradient echoes are divided into groups of n contiguous echoes. Within each group, the echoes are all from either the positive portion of k-space or the negative portion of k-space. Preferably, every group of each cardiac cycle has the same views in the same order to generate like, time displaced frames of a cine image sequence. Within each group, the views from the central-most segment n are collected in the middle of the group, views from progressively less central, higher frequency segments are progressively less centrally located within each group with views of the most peripheral, highest frequency segments being collected at the ends of the group. The total number of segments is an integer multiple of four times the number of views per group to facilitate 0.degree.-180.degree. phase cycling. Quantitative flow images are generated by expanding each group to include corresponding views from the k-space for reference image data and a flow sensitized image data. The echo signals for the reference and flow sensitized images for each frame are separated and reconstructed into reference and flow sensitized images for each frame. The reference and flow sensitized images are subtracted to generate a quantitative flow image for each frame.

The present invention relates to the art of magnetic resonance cine imaging. It finds particular application in conjunction with quantitative flow cine imaging and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention will also find application in conjunction with cardiac, angiography, circulatory, black blood cine, and other examinations in which flowing fluid is imaged.
Cine images have commonly been acquired using field echoes. Field echoes permit a rapid repetition rate, e.g. 64 sequence repetitions in 600 msec. In cardiac imaging, this enables a view of data for each of 64-100 frames or images to be collected in a single cardiac cycle. Each frame is displaced by about 10 milliseconds. When displayed sequentially, the frame images illustrate the cardiac cycle with a resolution of about 10 msec.
Generally, optimal cardiac gated cine images are achieved if all the views are collected within a single breath hold. Collecting all the views within a single breath hold eliminates the motion artifacts attributable to pulmonary motion. In the cardiac region, misrepresentation of heart position between breath holds can be significant.
A single breath hold is typically 16-20 heartbeats. Acquiring only one view per frame image in each cardiac cycle of a single breath hold would limit each frame image to 16-20 views. To increase the number of views per frame, data acquisition could be continued for several breath holds. However, the heart and surrounding tissue move with each pulmonary cycle and typically do not return accurately to the same position in subsequent breath holds.
One technique described in "Cineangiography of the Heart in a Single Breath Hold with a Segmented TurboFLASH Sequence", Radiology, Vol. 178, pp. 357-360, Atkinson and Edelman (RSNA, 1991), 128 lines or views of k-space were grouped into 8 segments of 16 views each. The resultant magnetic resonance echoes of each cardiac cycle were grouped into 16 groups of 8 views each. The number of groups are dependent on the patient's heart rate. The 8 views within each group of 16-20 consecutive heart beats were differently phase encoded and processed as 128 views (16.times.8) of the same frame image. In this manner, multiframe images of the cardiac cycle, each with 128 views per image, were generated. More specifically, in the first heart beat, views or lines 1, 17, 33, etc. were collected; in the second heart beat, lines 2, 18, 34, etc. were collected; and so forth. The raw data from these sets was combined or interleaved to form the 128 view data set for reconstruction into each of the multiple frames.
One of the drawbacks of the Atkinson and Edelman segmentation of k-space was that the resultant frames suffered from blurring. The present inventor has recognized that this blurring is attributable to the acquisition of the central views, the views with the most signal power and image information, at different times in subsequent cardiac cycles. In the above-illustrated 8 segment, 16 heart beat sequence, the central views in each group alternated between two different time displaced points in the cardiac cycle.
A common problem in magnetic resonance scanners is that eddy currents are generated in the cryostat by rapidly changing magnetic gradients, e.g. the phase encode gradients. These eddy currents cause a number of different image artifacts and distortions. Commonly, the effects of eddy currents are minimized by using sequences that have gradients of alternating polarity such that the eddy currents tend to cancel. One problem with the Atkinson technique is that it acquired views from both positive and negative k-space in a single heartbeat or repetition. If there is a rewind pulse, this resulted in two phase encode gradients of the same polarity being applied back-to-back. The back-to-back applications of two gradients of the same polarity tended to cause the gradient currents to add, rather than cancel, increasing gradient current artifacts and distortions.
In order to push DC artifacts and un-encoded signals from the center to the edge of an image, it is common to perform 0.degree.-180.degree. phase cycling of the RF. For example, the phase of the RF pulse is offset 180.degree. in alternate views and cycles. With the Atkinson and Edelman technique, with some group and segment sizes, each group had both even and odd numbered views with even numbered views or odd numbered views back-to-back. This made 0.degree.-180.degree. phase cycling impossible.
In accordance with the present invention, a symmetric, centrally-ordered phase encode grouping of the views is provided which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others. The present invention further provides for a quantitative flow imaging technique which uses the symmetric, centrally-ordered phase encode grouping, as well as other segmentations of k-space.

Reduced scan time cardiac gated magnetic resonance cine and flow imaging


A peg hook support structure is provided. The peg hook support structure includes two mating bodies that are preferably substantially similar. A vertical support supports the two mated bodies in a vertical orientation. The support may vertically support may support the mated bodies from the bottom in an upright orientation or from the top in a hanging orientation. The mated bodies include a plurality of peg hook mounts for securing peg hooks to the mated bodies. When mounted to the mated bodies, the peg hooks project laterally outward from the mated bodies such that merchandise may be supported thereto. The bodies may be configured such that they are identical.

Retail merchandise display is very important to the retail industry. Products need to be displayed in a visually appealing manner and the display device must be able to hold an adequate volume of product such that the display does not become quickly emptied. Typical means of displaying retail merchandise for sale includes shelving or display hooks connected to a vertical support. However, in many instances, retail establishments will attach additional strip display devices to a shelving unit or at an end of aisles and stock these devices with impulse goods or other point-of-purchase product such as, for example, small toys or candy. These devices will typically hang from a support hook or device that is cantilevered from the shelf or the end of the aisle.
Many strip merchandising devices are known in the art. Among the many strip merchandising devices include elongated plastic support strips that include a plurality of axially spaced attachment tongues that extend outward from the strips. The tongues are typically integrally formed with the plastic strips and are merely cut out of the strip material. However, the tongues may be subsequently attached to the elongated support strips. Such plastic support strip devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,070 to Jaynes. These devices are cheap to manufacture but are limited to a relatively small volume of light weight product because the tongues are typically short and can be flimsy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,422 to Shea attempted to provide a larger volume strip-type merchandise display. For example, the Shea patent discloses the use of a more rigid corrugated elongated strip having a plurality of holes for securing rigid peg hooks to the elongated strip. Unfortunately, when a single strip according to the teachings of Shea is used, the peg hook mounts are visible on the opposite side of the strip as the support arm of the peg hooks. If two strips are used in a back-to-back configuration the peg hook mounts are visible from the side of the strips. Additionally, in the back-to-back configuration, the positioning of the peg hook mounts between the two back-to-back strips causes interference between the strips causing them to separate from one another further degrading the visual appearance of the device.
There is therefore a need in the art for an improved strip-type display device that is strong enough to support peg hooks for large quantities of product while remaining visually appealing. Such a device would preferably be modular, practical and reliable.


A generally cylindrical shaft has upper and lower ends and a handle at the upper end. A putter head has a forward face plate and a rear, a sole plate below and a weight plate above, a toe and a heel. The weight plate and the sole plate each have an upper and lower surface. The lower end of the shaft is coupled to the upper surface of the weight plate adjacent to the heel. An alignment assembly includes an upper line on the upper surface of the weight plate and a lower line on the upper surface of the sole plate parallel with and spaced from the toe and the heel. The upper line is located above and parallel with the lower line. The lower line extends rearwardly a greater distance than the upper line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a true putter alignment system and more particularly pertains to ensuring the correct alignment of a golf ball with respect to a hole, the alignment being cone in a reliable, repeatable and economical manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of alignment putter systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, alignment putter systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of aligning a golf ball with respect to a hole are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,612 issued Feb. 26, 1991 to Finney discloses a Golf Clubhead in a Corner-Back Configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,950 issued Oct. 29, 1991 to Finney discloses a Corner-Back Clubhead. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,259 issued Apr. 30, 2002 to Opie discloses a Golf Putter.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe true putter alignment system that allows ensuring the correct alignment of a golf ball with respect to a hole, the alignment being cone in a reliable, repeatable and economical manner.
In this respect, the true putter alignment system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of ensuring the correct alignment of a golf ball with respect to a hole, the alignment being cone in a reliable, repeatable and economical manner.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved true putter alignment system which can be used for ensuring the correct alignment of a golf ball with respect to a hole, the alignment being cone in a reliable, repeatable and economical manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A torque pulsated variable cam timing camshaft arrangement for a reciprocating piston, internal combustion engine is provided. The arrangement includes a sprocket. A torque pulsated phaser unit is operatively associated with the sprocket. A camshaft is operatively associated with the sprocket and the camshaft torsionally powers the phaser unit. The camshaft has a cam lobe engaged with a first cam follower for controlling a position of a spring biased valve. A spring biased second cam follower is engaged with the cam lobe providing a torsional input to the camshaft.

Variable camshaft timing for reciprocating piston internal combustion engines has been brought forth to modify the emissions characteristics of engines. One type of variable camshaft timing (VCT) camshaft arrangement is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,023 Butterfield et al. Butterfield et al. provides a camshaft timing arrangement wherein pressurized fluid used in powering a phasing of the intake camshaft is powered by torsional differences experienced by the engine's exhaust camshaft. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,805 Butterfield et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,749 Simpson described methods to increase the magnitude of torque pulsations in the camshaft to provide a camshaft arrangement which is more advantageous to take advantage of the torque pulsated phaser VCT system previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,023. It is desirable in some applications to provide a camshaft arrangement with augmented magnitude of torque pulsation without the requirement of adding additional cams to the camshaft thereby possibly increasing the camshaft's ultimate length. This is particularly relevant when attempting to use a variable camshaft timing with a torque pulsated phaser wherein the camshaft is being utilized on a straight 6 cylinder type internal combustion engine in a transverse mounted front wheel drive vehicle.

Additional spring and follower mechanism built into valve cover or bearing bridge


A measuring device includes a square ruler body provided with a plurality of scales, a plurality of marking lines, and a plurality of counting numbers. Each of the counting numbers has a corresponding numeral which is located under the respective the counting number for measurement of different directions. Thus, the measuring device is used to measure the size of the workpiece at any direction and any start point, thereby greatly saving the measuring time and the manual work. In addition, the counting numbers have a two-dimensional corresponding manner so that the measuring device can obtain the size of the workpiece instantaneously from left to right or from right to left without having to rotate or change the direction of the ruler body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring device, and more particularly to a measuring device for measuring the size of a workpiece to be measured.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional ruler is used to measure the size of a workpiece, such as a cloth, a paper pattern or the like. The conventional ruler includes a transparent ruler body made of acrylic material, and a plurality of scales mounted on the ruler body. However, the user has to measure the size from a start point of the scales, thereby wasting the measuring time and the manual work. In addition, the marking lines of the scales are too clear to shelter the user's sight of view, so that the user cannot align the marking lines of the scales exactly. Further, in the metric measuring system, the basis unit of each of the scales is one millimeter (1 mm). Thus, the scales have too many marking lines, so that the scales are made vague and the user cannot distinguish the scales easily, thereby causing inconvenience to the user in measurement of the size of the workpiece.


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability. A flow of cleaning air through the powder spray gun prevents powder from collecting on the front surface of an offset nozzle secured to the spray gun. The gun assembly is affectively grounded to prevent arcing, and has an exterior shape which has been geometrically configured to improve powder coating of the can. A collector hood surrounds an input conveyor on which cans are transported while being spray coated and an output conveyor which removes the cans at a higher speed than at which they traveled on the input conveyor. The collector hood has two operating conditions for collecting oversprayed powder from between the cans during the spraying operation or directly from the gun when the cans are not being sent down the line.

The process of manufacturing three-piece metal cans typically involves forming a cylindrical can body from a sheet of precoated metal and then attaching two precoated lids to the opposite ends of the can body. In constructing a cylindrical can body, a sheet or blank of metal is formed around a mandrel or stubhorn. The edges of the sheet are either butted or overlapped and then secured together by welding. The welded seam is covered with a protective coating to protect the contents of the can, e.g. food, against metal contamination. The welded seams are coated with either a liquid or powder coating. If a powder coating is used, oversprayed powder is typically recovered from within the container bodies by a vacuum device.
After covering the seam with the protective coating, the can is subjected to heat for a preset period of time to cure the coating material. Where powder coating is used, it is important that a uniform layer of the powder coating, typically a dry resin powder, is deposited on the seam so that the powder melts and fuses to form a smooth adherent coating within the preset period of curing time. If the coating is too thick in some area, it might not completely fuse within the curing time and can later contaminate the contents of the can.
According to the prior art, a coating of liquid material is typically applied to the interior welded seam of a can body as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,526,027, 4,215,648, 4,259,923 and 4,346,667, with a coating gun attached directly to the end of the welding arm or stubhorn. Other patents which teach the application of coating powder onto a welded seam of a can body with a powder applicator that is secured to the end of the welding arm include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,215,648, 4,259,923 and Re 33,394.
It is desirable to coat the entire interior of the can with powder to avoid solvent emissions given off from can blanks which are precoated. In addition, liquid coatings typically must be applied in thin layers requiring the application of two coats with a curing step after each coat. This process requires a high amount of energy utilization since two curing ovens, or two passes through a single curing oven, are required. Powder coatings, on the other hand, have no solvent emissions and can be uniformly applied and cured in one step as a thicker coating. Other advantages can also be obtained by coating the interior surface of cans on the welding arm of a can forming machine powder. Up to the present time, however, the industry has not satisfactorily developed commercially suitable equipment to powder coat cans at the end of a welding arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,436, describes applying a coating of powder to the interior of a hollow can with a spray gun mounted on the end of a welding arm so that a thicker coating is applied to the welded seam as compared to the remainder of the interior surface of the can. This concept, as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,436 , is deficient, for example, because it does not describe how the amount of air-entrained powder needed to coat the entire interior surface of the can be transferred through the narrow passage of the welding arm at satisfactory flow rates without excessive transport air which then has to be removed from the interior of the can.

Apparatus for powder coating welding cans


The disclosure relates to a method and a device for collecting garbage. The method includes acquiring a garbage type of garbage to be collected; determining a garbage collector for recycling garbage of the garbage type; and controlling the garbage collector to output a first prompt message to prompt a user to put the garbage to be collected into the garbage collector.

Garbage classification is beneficial to the recycling and utilization of resources and reducing environmental pollution. However, due to lack of knowledge about garbage classification and the indifference of energy conservation and environmental protection, people cannot effectively identify the class of garbage, and recyclable and non-recyclable garbage is often put together into a trash can, which may cause great inconvenience for subsequent garbage sorting, and may also cause a significant waste of resources.

Method and device for collecting garbage

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