The invention utilize an inventive device being a small, portable, handheld self-contained operating unit for reading your private information (as smart card) and all your private biometric data (as from fingerprints, voice, eye-iris, face shape readers) to help you mixed together with its unique readable production series number to secure a special coded startup of all your private equipment and help you to connect safely to your bank account, your data storage on the clouds, your government files etc. The devise may also provide you with this unique safe series number mixed cryptic verification of your own identity to open your own home, your office, your car, your equipment, your bike, your boat, your MC and all your other digital locks. A portable system for authenticating you as a user trying to access your service (22, 32), said system including a device (11) with a CPU (12), ROM (13), RAM (14), at least one biometric reader (18, 114, 110), and communication means (112, 113), the device being operated only by data permanently stored in the ROM (13), the RAM (14) being flushed after each operating cycle.

In today's digital society with banks, governments, military, healthcare, hospitals and all companies need to protect their enormous amount of data from thieves, hackers and all unauthorized users. For decades smart inventors have developed several level of security for the central processing units (CPU) on all levels. To connect a user have to verify one or more personal cods as usernames, passwords, puck codes, social security numbers, birth date or biometric identification. In addition the safety systems may have to scan your user ID cards as smart card, bankcards, company issued access cards to verify the right to connect. Apart from the strain of having to remember a lot of personal codes, the exchange of information makes the user vulnerable for personal theft, for example by onlookers gleaning the codes entered into a banking automate or used for opening a door, criminals mounting skimmers on banking automates, phishing or obtaining ID codes in other ways, or by hackers breaking into computers or breaking codes for using a service. It is well known that criminals have emptied bank accounts of unlucky victims and even taken over their "Cyberworld" identity. There have been several attempts of solving this problem by using biometric readings for identifying a user for gaining access to an account on a computer. However, such systems requires all users to be registered on beforehand, and are also only as secure as the system itself, i.e. a hacker may break the system, "get inside", and get access to the ID codes and biometric data.
The last year's internet explosion has created many unsolved security levels. In addition to the old establishments securing your job access, your heath care data, your bank account and so on, but who secure your connection to your home net, net bank, stock-trade, travel and product shopping in addition to your integration in to the social digital world as You-tube, Face book, Twitter, MSN and Microsoft, Google, Dropbox, SmartClouds.

System and device for authenticating a user


A narrow directional microphone including a film for suppressing wind noise capable of being displaced by a wind pressure, a unidirectional microphone unit having a front acoustic terminal, a cylindrical acoustic tube having a prescribed axial length, and an acoustic resistor disposed at a position which is on an outward side of the film and at which the resistor does not come into contact with the film even when the film is displaced by the wind pressure. A rear end of the acoustic tube is coupled to a side of the front acoustic terminal of the unidirectional microphone unit, and a front end opening of the acoustic tube is covered with the film.

In a narrow directional microphone using an acoustic tube, a narrow cylindrical acoustic tube having a prescribed axial length is attached to a front acoustic terminal side, which is a front side of a diaphragm of a unidirectional microphone unit.
Air existing in an acoustic tube serves as an acoustic mass in a low frequency band. The acoustic mass in the low frequency band operates in a manner equivalent to the mass being added to a diaphragm (equivalent to an additional weight to the diaphragm). This facilitates capturing vibration noise.
The acoustic tube is provided with an opening which many sound waves enter (the front end opening or a slit-like opening formed on the wall of the tube). Accordingly, the tube is susceptible to wind noise. Vibration noise and wind noise mainly include low frequency components.
For the purpose of reference, FIG. 4 shows a graph of directional frequency response of a narrow directional microphone using a conventional acoustic tube. This graph indicates that an output level at a low frequency band increases and vibration noise and wind noise largely appear.
Thus, the present assignee has proposed a technique that covers the front end opening of an acoustic tube with a film capable of being displaced by sound waves, mainly for reducing wind noise, in Japanese Patent No. 4684012.
This technique allows the film to prevent low frequency sound waves from passing. Accordingly, wind noise can be reduced. However, in the case where the film is planar, bending of the film by a wind or the like sometimes makes noise that is specific to the film. The invention described in Japanese Patent No. 4684012 uses a film preferably formed into a corrugated shape.
However, even in the case where the film is formed into a corrugated shape, the film has a mass and a stiffness to restore the film to the original position. Accordingly, in a narrow directional microphone having the configuration described in Japanese Patent No. 4684012, resonance occurs owing to the stiffness of the film and the acoustic mass of an air column in the acoustic tube. In an equivalent circuit, the stiffness is represented by a capacitance C, and the acoustic mass is represented by an inductance L.
FIG. 5 shows a graph of directional frequency response measured by the narrow directional microphone having the configuration described in Japanese Patent No. 4684012. In this measurement example, resonance due to the C and L occurs around 200 Hz, showing degradation in directional frequency response. This also means degradation in sound quality.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a narrow directional microphone including an acoustic tube having a front end opening covered with a film mainly for reducing wind noise wherein degradation is reduced in directional frequency response due to resonance between the stiffness of the film and the acoustic mass of the air column in the acoustic tube.


A surgical connector for cable comprises a body having a pair of opposed ends and a first side extending between the ends. Outwardly extending projections adjacent the first side and ends may be provided to facilitate securance of the connector in a desired position. Cable-receiving bores extend from each of the ends inwardly toward each other, typically at an obtuse angle of less than 180.degree.. The bores have inner ends that communicate with a central aperture which is open to at least the side of the body which is opposed to the first side. Alternatively, the central aperture may extend entirely through the body and be open to both the first side and the opposed side. Also, a novel retention technique for cable is disclosed, for more general use, if desired.

This invention relates to a surgical cable loop connector which is typically used for the securance of broken bones together, serving as an implant for use in bone surgery.
In orthopedic surgery where severe breaks of bones have taken place, or in reconstructive procedures on bones, for example reconstructive hip procedures or the like, a permanent cable implant is provided to hold bone portions together. For example, during a total hip replacement, press-fit femoral components are inserted into the canal of the femur, resulting in an extremely tight fit in some cases. Seating of these press-fit components has been shown to induce large hoop stresses in the proximal femur, which can result in longitudinal cracks. Thus, in the prior art, a cerclage cable system is provided to apply a counteracting compressive hoop stress, which prevents crack formation and/or propagation.
The existing methods of bone fixation in conditions such as the above include the use of plates and screws, monofilament wire, and cable and crimp systems. Failure of single strand wires due to fracture or loosening has been reported as being quite common. Plates and screws are also provided to attempt to reduce spiral, longitudinal and butterfly fractures, but such an expedient is not very successful with long breaks or where there are multiple bone fragments. Also, too many plates and intrusive screws tend to weaken the resulting bone union.
Existing cable systems of the prior art are bulky and stiff. Also the cable is hard to work with, and the crimp that is used requires special, cumbersome tools for tensioning and crimping. Likewise, the crimping process in many prior art systems is difficult, and must be learned to be effective.
Also, prior art cable loop connectors have exhibited a problem of bone necrosis in areas where the connector contacts the bone. An additional problem of such cable loop connectors is the possibility of slippage along the shaft of the bone after implantation.
Furthermore, with prior art cable loop connectors, the cable as it is implanted may exhibit a sharp angled turn of a few degrees at the point where it exits from an aperture in the cable loop connector, because of the relative position of the bone and the connector, and the direction of the cable passage holes in the connector. This creates a point of focused stress against the cable which can, over time, result in failure of the cable.
Also, in prior art cable loop connectors, the process of crimping to secure the cable loop is a fairly complex one, and which is easily done in improper manner. By this invention, an essentially foolproof technique of cable securance is provided.
Additionally, the cable loops that are provided by this invention may be cable loops which extend less than 360.degree. about a bone from securance point to securance point and occupy a plane transverse to the bone. In the pertinent prior art, the cable loops provided by the prior art connectors are more than 360.degree., with portions of the looped cable passing by other portions thereof in a spiral manner. This can create an undesirable torsion as such a prior art cable loop is tightened with a connector, which torsion can be eliminated by this invention.
Also, the cable loop connector of this invention is basically foolproof as to which side should be placed against the bone. In prior art systems, errors can be made with respect to that issue. Also, by this invention, securance of the cable may be performed with a single operation using a common hex head screw driver or other simple tool. To the contrary, in the analogous prior art systems two crimping steps must be provided with a special, high cost crimping tool.


A new garden type Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0069’ particularly distinguished by the medium size plant with a round mound plant habit, a small sized (1.5 inch) flower, red-bronze decorative flower color and a natural season response in late September to mid-October

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'CIFZ0069'.
'CIFZ0069' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar is a medium size plant with round mound plant habit, a small sized (1.5 inch) flower, red-bronze decorative flower color and a natural season response in late September to mid-October.
'CIFZ0069' originated from 'CIFZ0031', a stock x-rayed at 1750 RAD in December of 2015 in Gilroy, Calif. 'CIFZ0069' was selected from the resulting population on Mar. 8, 2016 in Gilroy, Calif.
The female parent was the variety 'CIFZ0031', U.S. Pat. No. 23,924.
When compared to the female parent, 'CIFZ0069' is/has:
a similar flower type with a bit smaller flower size but darker bronze/almost red flower color versus orange of 'CIFZ0031'.a couple days slower in blackcloth response and natural season responsethan 'CIFZ0031'.has a similar plant habit and similar or a bit smaller overall plant size than 'CIFZ0031'.
As 'CIFZ0069' is a mutant plant, there is no male parent.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'CIFZ0069' was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in April 2016 in Gilroy, Calif.


A binder clip includes a generally triangular clamp, a catch arm, and a hook arm. The catch arm includes a linear segment having a catch width, and the hook arm includes a hook configured for secure but releasable connection around the linear segment of a matching binder clip. The hook has a hook width less than the catch width of the linear segment.

Keeping documents organized can be challenging. A paper binder clip may be used to clamp a stack of documents and maintain their organization. However, if one attempts to further stack clamped stacks, the clamped stacks may slip relative to the other clamped stacks, which may cause the clamped stacks to become disorganized. Therefore, there exists a need for a paper binder clip that enables paper binder clips to be neatly arranged relative to one another.


The present invention provides a lithium ion nonaqueous secondary battery having a high discharge capacity and excellent high rate characteristics. A novel negative electrode material for a lithium ion nonaqueous secondary battery is disclosed, comprising a composite metal oxide containing an amorphous structure synthesized by a sol-gel method.

In recent years, the demand for the capacity increase and size reduction of the secondary batteries has been growing with the spread of portable personal computers and portable telephones. To this end, the development of lithium ion secondary batteries having a high capacity has been widely made.
As positive electrode materials for a lithium ion secondary battery there have been widely used LiCoO.sub.2, LiCo.sub.1-x Ni.sub.x O.sub.2, LiNiO.sub.2, and LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 which are positive electrode materials for the secondary battery having a high potential. On the other hand, as negative electrode materials there have been normally used carbonaceous materials. Such the carbonaceous material acts as an electrode active material which reversibly intercalate and deintercalate lithium ion during charging and discharging and thus constitutes a so-called rocking chair type secondary battery electrochemically connected with a nonaqueous electrolytic solution or solid electrolyte.
Examples of carbonaceous materials to be commonly used as negative electrode materials include graphite-based carbon material, pitch coke, fibrous carbon, and high capacity type soft carbon calcined at a low temperature. However, carbonaceous materials are disadvantageous in that they have a low specific gravity of 2.26 (graphite). Therefore, if they are used in an amount such that lithium intercalating capacity reaches the stoichiometric limit (372 mAh/g), it is difficult to design the battery capacity as high as desirable. As negative electrode active materials having a high capacity density surpassing the carbonaceous materials there have been disclosed negative electrode active materials made of a composite oxide mainly composed of tin oxide in JP-A-6-60867, JP-A-7-220721, JP-A-7-122274, and JP-A-7-288123 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). Processes for preparing these negative electrode active materials are also disclosed in the above cited patents.
These composite oxide negative electrode materials are synthesized by calcining at a high temperature of 1,000.degree. C. or more.
However, the foregoing synthesis process has a handling problem in production due to corrosion on the synthesis container. Further, the contamination by impurities eluted from the container causes variation of the physical properties of the electrodes. The material prepared by a melting method is ground to adjust its particle diameter before use as an active material for the battery. However, the material thus ground is liable to wide distribution of particle diameter that can be-a factor for instabilizing the battery performance. Further, since the group of particles having such the wide diameter distribution has a relatively small surface area, the effective surface area taking place in the intercalating reaction of lithium ion decreases, reducing the high current charge-discharge (high rate) efficiency and capacity of the battery. Moreover, in the melting method, various starting material powders, i.e., metal oxide powders are each melted, and then mixed in the form of dispersion. Therefore, it is difficult to uniform the metal elements on a molecular basis, making it difficult to uniformilize the composition distribution in the particle. There have been an apprehension that such a uniformity problem can affect the stability of charge-discharge characteristics of negative electrode materials.

Negative electrode material for nonaqueous secondary battery and nonaqueous secondary battery comprising same negative electrode material


A method for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing. A container for each group of sheet material is used for separating and processing each group of sheet material. The separating means or container thus delimits the individual groups of sheet material clearly from each other. Designing the separating means as a container obtains reliable separation of the individual groups of sheet material. Since the different groups of sheet material are already clearly separated and grouped before actual processing, one can avoid mixups, misallocations and transfer errors as can occur with later, simultaneous grouping of the different groups of sheet material.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing.
b) Related Art
A method and bank note processing machine for processing different groups of bank notes is known for example from JP 62-82493 A. The different groups of bank notes correspond to deposits by different depositors which are separated by separation cards. The separation cards are inserted between the different deposits to separate them. The separation cards can be disposed at the beginning, the end or the beginning and the end of the group of bank notes forming the particular deposit. The separation cards can contain information for example on the depositor and/or the deposit. Furthermore, the separation cards are designed so as to be recognized automatically by the bank note processing machine during processing. When a separation card is recognized the bank note processing machine can enter in the books the associated group of bank notes for the corresponding deposit or depositor.
The known method has the disadvantage, however, that disturbances and erroneous results often occur during processing of different groups of sheet material despite the design of the separation cards because the separation cards cannot be recognized or the information of the separation cards not read by the bank note processing machine so that they are not accordingly taken into account. Further problems are caused by the fact that preparation, i.e. an operator's separation using the separation cards, is error-prone.
It is therefore the problem of the present invention to state a method for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., by which different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing, which allows processing of the different groups of sheet material which is improved both with respect to the recognition of the different groups of sheet material by the bank note processing machine and with respect to the proneness to error during preparation by an operator. Furthermore, separating means are to be stated which can be used for separating the different groups of sheet material and are suitable for carrying out the inventive method.
The invention starts out from the idea of using a container for each group of sheet material for separating and processing each group of sheet material. The separating means or container thus delimits the individual groups of sheet material clearly from each other.


A process control method is provided for performing a deposition process on a plurality of wafers of a batch. The process control method includes: deciding a placement location of the wafers of the batch according to the history information of a tool and the product information of the batch; calculating a target value of each placement location according to the placement location of the wafers of the batch and the history information of the tool; calculating a process parameter according to the history information of the tool, the product information of the batch, and the target value of each placement location; and performing a deposition process according to the placement location of the wafers of the batch and the process parameter.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor process control method and system, and more particularly, to a deposition process control method and system.
Description of Related Art
In a semiconductor process, the furnace process is an important process step. A tool for the heat treatment in the semiconductor process is, for instance, a furnace that can fabricate a structure such as a gate oxide layer or a spacer oxide layer . . . etc. of a semiconductor device via heating and oxidation.
However, fixed process parameters are used in the furnace process of the prior art, and loading effect (different deposition rates caused by total number of wafers and pattern variation on the wafers) is often neglected, thus causing different variations to film thickness formed on the wafers in the case of different placement locations of the wafers in the furnace. Such variation includes wafer-to-wafer and within-wafer variations. Moreover, various pre-process variation factors such as linewidth and film thickness all cause variation to the threshold voltage or other characteristics of the fabricated semiconductor device.
As the size of the semiconductor device continues to be smaller, the demand for the quality of the film formed by the furnace process has become greater. Therefore, the focus of the furnace process is on the thickness of deposition on the actual product and not only on the thickness of the monitor wafer. However, during production, the actual deposition thickness of each product is very difficult to sample, such that instant adjustment of optimal parameters of the process cannot be achieved. As a result, the deposition thickness of the process results is significantly deviated from the standard values.

Process control method and process control system


Provided are an information processing apparatus and a power-off control method of an information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory; a cache memory for caching data to be written into the nonvolatile memory; a power switch; a spatial change detecting section configured to detect a change in state of a space around the power switch; a notification section configured to send a user a notification; and a control section. The control section is configured to determine an action of a user likely to turn the power switch off, based on a detection signal outputted by the spatial change detecting section; operate the notification section to send a user a notification that the action is being performed, in response to recognizing the action; and write data stored in the cache memory into the nonvolatile memory after operating the notification section to send the user the notification.

Electronic apparatuses, in which a flash memory, such as a solid state drive (SSD) or an embedded multi-media card (MMC) is mounted as a main storage device, have increased in number. Meanwhile, as a semiconductor manufacturing process rule has been subdivided in recent years, the maximum number of data writing times or data retention period of a flash memory has tended to decrease, and an interest in reliability and durability of flash memories is increasing. The data retention period of a flash memory is shortened as the number of times of writing data into the flash memory increases. For this reason, in order to ensure the reliability, it is extremely important to hold down the number of times of writing data into a flash memory.
As a method of reducing the number of times of writing data into a flash memory, in general, there has been used a method of reducing the number of data writing times by preparing a cache area inside a storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) which has high-speed data access and by buffering data of substantial size into the cache area and then writing the data into the flash memory. However, when a power switch of a device employing the method has been turned off and a power supply to the device has been stopped before the process of writing the data into the flash memory, such a situation can damage the data stored in the RAM, which can make a problem that data which is desired to be continuously used when the device is operated next time is lost.
Regarding this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication (JP-A) No. 2001-036978 discloses the following state information collector. The state information collector includes an electric lead to be connected to an electric circuit of a target apparatus; a section for converting an electric potential of the electric lead into digital data; a memory section and a second memory section for accumulating and storing the digital data; a section for repeatedly sampling the digital data to accumulate the digital data in the memory section; a section for detecting a surrounding environment; and a section for accumulating and writing the accumulated data of the memory section into the second memory section when a certain object in the environment, which is detected by the section for detecting the surrounding environment, shows a specific change.
The technology in the above-described JP-A No. 2001-036978 performs processing of writing data into an external nonvolatile storage device (MO disk) when the section for detecting the surrounding environment (human body proximity sensor) detects a change (absence/presence of human) in the surrounding environment. In the technology, the processing of writing data is performed even when a user approaches close to the apparatus without any intention to turn off the power switch. For this reason, if the technology is employed to the process of writing data into a flash memory, the number of data writing times increases and life expectancy of the flash memory is shortened. The present invention seeks to solve those problems.

Information processing apparatus and power-off control method of information processing apparaus


For the measurement of functional respiratory volume, or respiratory capacities, apparatus are known including a respiratory bag which can be connected to a respiratory tube via a first valve system and which can be connected to test gas receptacles via an additional valve system and which exhibit gas analysis devices for measurement of the test gas concentration in the respiratory bag. Precise concentration measurements have been hitherto possible only discontinuously with chemical methods, or continuously with a large apparatus outlay (mass spectrometer). By way of a contrast, simple thermal conductivity sensors are unsatisfactory in measuring precision. According to the present disclosure, the concentration determination proceeds by means of a gas analysis device through continuous density determination of the mixture of test gas and respiratory air in the respiratory bag, for which purpose a measuring probe can be introduced into the respiratory bag by means of a separate connection, and the gas density-dependent measuring signal corresponding to the present test gas concentration, which signal has been tapped at the measuring probe can be directly displayed as the pulmonary function measured value (RV, FRC). In this manner the determination of respiratory volumes, or respiratory capacities, respectively, is substantially simplified.

The invention relates to an apparatus for pulmonary function analysis, in particular, for measurement of functional respiratory volumes, or respiratory capacities, respectively, comprising a respiratory bag which can be connected to the examination subject via a first valve system by means of a respiratory tube, and which can be connected to a test gas receptacle via an additional valve system, or the like, and comprising a gas analysis device for measurement of the test gas concentration in the respiratory bag.
In order to determine functional respiratory volumes and/or respiratory capacities, for example, nitrogen washouts of the lungs are being carried out up to the present time. To this end, volume measurements, for example, with a spirometer, on the one hand, and concentration measurements of the respiratory gas, on the other hand, are necessary. An apparatus for carrying out such nitrogen-washouts is already prior knowledge, in which the volume measurement is simplified and only a precise nitrogen concentration measurement need still be carried out. This concentration measurement, subsequent to washout of the nitrogen, proceeds discontinuously therein on the part of partial specimens, removed from the respiratory bag, by means of chemical methods.
In addition to the special nitrogen-washouts of the lungs, for the same measuring purpose, wash-ins of defined test gas quantities, preferably inert gases, into the lungs are also known. Measured quantities are here essentially the initial- and end-concentration of the test gas. Thus, again, as precise as possible a concentration measurement is desired for which purpose corresponding gas analysis devices are necessary. In the known apparatus the concentration measurement proceeds by means of determination of the thermal conductivity which determination is, however, rather imprecise in the case of utilization of inert gases, so that the pulmonary function analysis remains unsatisfactory.

Apparatus for pulmonary function analysis


A DV camera 38 provides DV data recorded on a tape 52 to a PCI bridge 43 through a DV data output terminal 57 while decompressing the DV data. The DV data thus decompressed are converted into analog signals with a video encoder 58 and outputted through an analog video signal output terminal 59. A video decoder 42 converts the analog video signals into digital signals. The PCI bridge 43 outputs the digital data to a graphic card 34. In this way, moving pictures provided from the DV camera 38 are displayed on a CRT 32. The PCI bridge 43 transfers the DV data provided by an interface 41 to a memory. The data stored in the memory 27 is written into the hard disk 26 under control of the CPU 23.

The entire disclosure of both Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-122349 filed on May 1, 1998 and Hei 10-169912 filed on Jun. 17, 1998 including specification, claims, drawings, and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a storing/reproduction system of compressed image data provided by a compressed image data supply apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A system as shown in FIG. 4 is known as a system for storing image data provided by a digital video (hereinafter referred to as DV) camera to a computer.
In the system, DV data outputted by the DV camera 38 are provided to a peripheral component interconnect (hereinafter referred to as PCI) bridge 66b through an IEEE1394 interface 66a. The DV data thus provided are stored temporarily in a memory 27 under the control of the PCI bridge 66b. The DV data stored in the memory 27 are decoded (decompressed) and transferred to a graphic card 34 under the control of a CPU 23. The graphic card 34 outputs analog RGB signals to a cathode ray tube (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 32 in accordance with the decoded data. In this way, images are displayed on the CRT 32 in accordance with the DV data thus outputted. At that time, the DV data are stored in a hard disk 26 while temporarily buffering the DV data in the memory 27 in accordance with a retrieval initiation command in parallel with the data transfer to the graphic card 34 under the control of the CPU 23. The DV data provided by the DV camera 38 can be stored while displaying them on the CRT 32 in video overlay manner.
The system described above, however, has the following problems to be solved. In order to display the DV data on the CRT 32 in the video overlay manner, decoding of the DV data needs to be carried out under the real-time basis. Not all the frames can be processed with the CPU 23 when it has lower processing capabilities than it should have. Consequently, a part of the frames might be missed and/or other trouble(s) may arise as a result of the low processing capabilities.
A dedicated hardware for decoding the DV data such as a DV compressor/decompressor (hereinafter referred to as DV CODEC) is needed in order to resolve the problems described above.
The problems arise not only for storing DV data, but also arise for reproducing the DV data stored in the hard disk 26 when the DV data are read out therefrom.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data storing system capable of displaying image data in video overlay manner during the data storing without causing lack of frame(s) and/or other trouble(s) even when a computer having a lower processing capabilities with a simple structure is used for the system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a data reproduction system capable of reproducing images without lack of frame(s) even when a computer having a lower processing capabilities with a simple structure is used for the system.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a board or a method used for these systems.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data storing/reproduction system capable of switching to one of a storing mode and a reproduction mode, compressed image data being stored while displaying images on a display screen in the storing mode, and the stored compressed data being reproduced in the reproduction mode, the system comprises:
A) a compressed image data apparatus capable of switching to one of a first operation mode and to a second operation mode, the apparatus performing the following steps in each of the operating modes;
a1) in the first operating mode, the apparatus outputting the compressed image data being outputted while outputting analog video signals corresponding to the compressed image data provided therefrom in the first operating mode, the analog video signals being converted from uncompressed digital signals, and the uncompressed digital signals being decompressed from the compressed image data,
a2) in the second operation mode, the apparatus being capable of being inputted compressed image data therein from outside and outputting analog video signals converted from uncompressed digital image data which is decompressed from the inputted compressed image data provided therefrom, and
B) a computer system including;
b1) means for storing compressed image data therein when the compressed image data are provided thereto,
b2) means for displaying image data provided thereto,
b3) means for converting analog video signals into digital data, the converting means being connected to the apparatus, and
b4) control means connected to the apparatus, the control means carrying out the following steps;
b41) providing compressed image data received from the apparatus to the storing means while providing digital data converted by the converting means to the display means, the apparatus being switched to the first operation mode, and
b42) providing compressed image data stored in the storing means to the apparatus, the apparatus being switched to the second operation mode, and providing digital data to the display means when analog video signals decompressed by the apparatus are outputted therefrom, the digital data being converted by the converting means from the decompressed analog video signals.
Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data storing system capable of storing compressed image data while displaying images on a display screen in accordance with the compressed image data, the system comprises:
A) a compressed image data apparatus outputting compressed image data while outputting analog video signals corresponding to the compressed image data therefrom, and
B) a computer system including;
b1) means for storing compressed image data therein when the compressed image data are provided thereto,
b2) means for displaying image data in accordance with the digital data provided thereto,
b3) means for converting analog video signals provided by the apparatus into digital data, and
b4) control means connected to the apparatus and the converting means, the control means carrying out the following step;
b41) providing digital data converted by the converting means to the display means while providing compressed image data outputted by the apparatus to the storing means.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data storing system capable of storing compressed image data while displaying images on a monitor in accordance with the compressed image data, the system comprises:
A) a compressed image data apparatus, outputting analog video signals when compressed image data are outputted therefrom, the analog video signals corresponding to the compressed image data,
B) a computer including;
b1) a memory, storing compressed image data provided thereto temporarily,
b2) a central processing unit, performing control of storing the compressed image data into a hard disk, the compressed image data being stored in the memory,
b3) a monitor for the computer, displaying image data provided thereto, and
b4) a graphic board, controlling display of the monitor, and
C) an overlay display/storing board including;
c1) a video decoder, converting analog video signals into digital data, the analog video signals being provided by the apparatus,
c2) a compressed image data interface, receiving compressed image data provided by the apparatus, the compressed image data interface being connected to the apparatus,
c3) a display/storing controller, providing digital data outputted by the video decoder to the graphic board part while storing compressed image data into the memory through the interface, the display/storing controller being connected to the video decoder and the compressed image data interface.
Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an overlay display/memory board comprises:
a compressed image data interface connected to a compressed image data apparatus, the interface receiving compressed image data provided by the apparatus,
a video decoder converting analog video signals into digital data, the analog video signals being outputted by the apparatus, the analog video signals corresponding to the compressed image data, and
a display/storing controller connected to the video decoder, the interface and a graphic board, the controller providing digital data outputted by the video decoder to the graphic board through a bus line while storing compressed image data to a memory of the computer through the interface via the bus line.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an overlay display/memory board capable of storing compressed image data from a compressed image data apparatus while displaying images on a display screen of a computer system in accordance with the compressed image data, and capable of reproducing the stored data, the board being connected to the apparatus capable of switching to one of a first operation mode and to a second operation mode, the apparatus performing the following steps in each of the operating modes;
a1) in the first operation mode, the apparatus outputting the compressed image data while outputting analog video signals corresponding to the compressed image data,
a2) in the second operation mode, the apparatus outputting analog video signals, the signals corresponding to compressed image data inputted from outside,
the board comprises:
a video decoder for converting analog video signals into digital data, the analog video signals being provided by the apparatus,
a compressed image data interface for receiving and transmitting the compressed image data between the apparatus, the interface being connected to the apparatus, and
a display/storing controller connected to the apparatus, the controller carrying out the following steps;
b1) providing digital data converted by the video decoder to a graphic board which controls display of a monitor of the computer system through a bus line while storing compressed image data received through the interface to a memory of the computer system in an overlay display/memory mode, and
b2) outputting the digital data provided by the video decoder to the graphic board through the bus line while providing compressed image data stored in a hard disk of the computer system to the apparatus through the interface in a playback/display mode.
Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data storing/reproduction method for storing/reproducing compressed image data provided by a compressed image data apparatus, the apparatus capable of switching to one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode, the apparatus performing the following steps in each of the operating modes;
a1) in the first operating mode, the apparatus outputting compressed image data while outputting analog video signals converted from uncompressed digital image data which is decompressed from the compressed image data,
a2) in the second operating mode, the apparatus outputting analog video signals converted from uncompressed digital image data which is decompressed from the inputted compressed image data from outside,
the method comprises the steps of:
storing the compressed image data provided by the apparatus in a data storing medium while displaying images in accordance with the analog video signals provided by the apparatus during a data storing mode when the apparatus is in the first mode, and
providing the compressed image data stored in the data storing medium to the apparatus, and displaying images on a display screen in accordance with the analog video signals provided by the apparatus during a data reproduction mode when the apparatus is in the second mode.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data storing method for storing compressed image data provided by a compressed image data apparatus in a data storing medium a computer system while displaying images in accordance with the compressed image data on a display screen of the computer system, the method comprises the steps of:
connecting the apparatus having a compressed image data terminal and an analog video signal terminal with the computer system, the apparatus outputting compressed image data through the data terminal, and outputting analog video signals through the signal terminal, the analog signals being converted from uncompressed digital image data which is decompressed from the compressed image data outputted through the data terminal, and
storing the compressed image data provided by the apparatus in the storing medium of the computer system without carrying out decompression thereof while displaying images on the display screen of the computer system in accordance with the analog video signals provided by the apparatus.
Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a data reproduction method for displaying images in accordance with compressed image data stored in a data storing medium of a computer system on a display screen thereof, the method comprises the steps of:
connecting a compressed image data apparatus with the computer system, the apparatus carrying out decompression of compressed image data and converting the decompressed image data into analog signals,
providing the compressed image data stored in the data storing medium to the apparatus, and
displaying images on the display screen in accordance with the analog signals received from the apparatus, the analog signals being decompressed by the apparatus.

Data storing/reproduction method and a system


A heat exchanger (1) on the secondary heat source, which exchanges heat with a heat exchanger (12) on the primary heat source in a primary cooling circuit (A), is connected with an indoor heat exchanger (3) through a gas pipe (6) and a liquid pipe (7). A tank (T) storing a liquid cooling medium is connected at its lower end to the liquid pipe (7) and its upper end to a pressure adjustment mechanism (18). Check valves (CV1 and CV2) are disposed on both sides of the connecting point of the tank (T) with respect to the liquid pipe (7). The internal pressure of the tank (T) is changed over alternately between a high pressure state and a low pressure state by the pressure adjustment mechanism (18) so that the liquid cooling medium is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (3) at the time of the high pressure operation, and the liquid cooling medium is recovered from the heat exchanger (1) on the secondary side to the tank (T) and is circulated by a secondary cooling circuit (B) at the time of the low pressure operation.

As refrigerant circuitry for an air conditioning system, two-system refrigerant circuitry, such as that disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 62-238951, has conventionally been known. Refrigerant circuitry of this type includes: a primary refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat exchanger on a first heat source side, a pressure reducing mechanism and a heat exchanger on a first application side are sequentially connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe; and a secondary refrigerant circuit in which a pump, a heat exchanger on a second heat source side and a heat exchanger on a second application side are connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe.
And, heat is exchanged between the heat exchanger on the first application side of the primary refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger on the second heat source side of the secondary refrigerant circuit, and the heat exchanger on the second application side is disposed within a room to be air-conditioned.
In this refrigerant circuitry, during the room cooling running, a refrigerant is evaporated in the heat exchanger on the first application side and is condensed in the heat exchanger on the second heat source side. In the heat exchanger on the second application side, the condensed refrigerant exchanges heat with the indoor air and is evaporated, thereby cooling the indoor air.
On the other hand, during the room heating running, a refrigerant is condensed in the heat exchanger on the first application side and is evaporated in the heat exchanger on the second heat source side. In the heat exchanger on the second application side, the evaporated refrigerant exchanges heat with the indoor air and is condensed, thereby heating the indoor air.
In this way, the piping length of the primary refrigerant circuit is intentionally shortened, thereby trying to improve the refrigerating capacity.
However, in such an arrangement, a pump is required as a discrete driving source for circulating the refrigerant in the secondary refrigerant circuit. As a result, the power consumption and the like are increased. In addition, since such a driving source is required, the number of parts having such factors as to cause some failure is increased and thus the reliability of the entire system is adversely deteriorated.
As refrigerant circuitry for overcoming these problems, there exists a heat transport system of a so-called "non-powered" heat transport type, in which no driving source is provided for a secondary refrigerant circuit. The heat transport systems of such a type include a system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 63-180022. In the heat transport system, the secondary refrigerant circuit is constructed such that a heater, a condenser and a sealed container are sequentially connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe and that the sealed container is disposed at a position higher than that of the heater. Moreover, the heater and the sealed container are connected to each other through an equalizer pipe including an opening/closing valve.
In such an arrangement, during the room heating running, the opening/closing valve is first closed. The gaseous refrigerant heated by the heater is condensed in the condenser so as to be liquefied. Then, the liquid refrigerant is recovered into the sealed container. Thereafter, the opening/closing valve is opened, the pressure in the heater is equalized by the equalizer pipe with the pressure in the sealed container, and then the liquid refrigerant is recovered from the sealed container, disposed at a position higher than that of the heater, to the heater.
By repeating this operation, the circulation of the refrigerant is enabled without providing any driving source such as a pump for the secondary refrigerant circuit.
(Problems to be solved)
However, in such a heat transport system, if the gaseous refrigerant flows from the condenser into the sealed container, then the pressure in the sealed container rises, As a result, there is some possibility that the operation of circulating the refrigerant cannot be performed satisfactorily. Thus, the condenser is required to excessively cool the refrigerant so that the gaseous refrigerant does not flow out from the condenser.
Moreover, the heat transport system ameliorates the inner structure of the sealed container so as to suppress a rise in pressure within the sealed container. However, the system cannot be regarded as attaining sufficient reliability.
Furthermore, if the liquid refrigerant is to be introduced into the sealed container with certainty in this manner, then the condenser is required to be disposed at a position higher than that of the sealed container. Thus, since undue restriction is imposed on the positions where the respective units are disposed, it has been difficult to apply such a system to a large-scale system or a system having a long pipe.
In view of this point, the present invention has been made in order to accomplish an objective of alleviating the restriction on the positions where units are disposed and attaining high reliability and universality for a heat transport system of a non-powered heat transport type requiring no driving source.


An optical polymer blend includes sub-wavelength particles to modify the refractive index of a polymer to match the refractive index of micro-particles added to adjust the bulk coefficient of thermal expansion of the blend. A relatively large amount of material may be added to the resin to adjust the bulk coefficient of thermal expansion without unduly increasing the viscosity of the blend before setting. In some applications blends are used for molded or extruded optical elements, in other applications, blends are used for optical adhesives with low coefficients of thermal expansion.

The present invention relates generally to polymer resin blended with non-polymer particles, and more specifically to optical polymer blends with a low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Some systems that manipulate light require stringent alignment of optical components. Glasses are used in the majority of these applications in part because of the availability of low or negative coefficient of thermal expansion ("CTE") glasses. Manufacturers of glasses for optical applications have developed glasses that have a negative CTE to compensate for the effects of temperature on the performance of optical systems. Polymers have been used to replace glass optical components in less demanding applications. The CTE of polymers are typically ten times higher than that of glasses. The relatively large CTE of polymers has prevented their use as optical components in the more demanding applications.
The use of inorganic fillers to decrease the CTE and moisture absorption of polymers is well known. Several patents teach the use of glass particles as fillers to improve strength and decrease the CTE of adhesive and resin systems. One technique uses particulates of fumed silica as a filler for polysiloxane resins. Silica particles of a size less than 1 micron have been incorporated in polysiloxane resin to minimize a change in refractive index. The refractive index of the resin was kept between 1.410 and 1.460, based on the d-line of sodium at 587.6 nm, and the index of the resin is close to that of the <1 micron silica particles. As a result, the particles scatter very little light and the mixture is transparent. The change in refractive index with temperature of the resin-silica mixture is improved because the relatively low CTE of the silica lowers the change in bulk density of the resin blend with temperature. Adhesives used for bonding telecommunications fibers in connectors have similarly incorporated submicron mineral particles to modify the CTE and match the refractive index of adhesive to the optical system.
Other mixtures add glass beads to thermoplastic resins to decrease the CTE and moisture absorption characteristics of the resins. The refractive index of the glass beads are adjusted to match the refractive index of the thermoplastic resin matrix. However, a difference in refractive index between the thermoplastic resin matrix and glass beads of +/−0.01065 results in a diffusing material with light scattering properties because of the slight mismatch. The glass beads had diameters in the order of 10 mm.
Organic acrylic monomers have been blended with inorganic salts of acrylic acid monomers to adjust the refractive index of coating material used to form optical waveguides. The inorganic portion of the molecule segregate into particles like domains. These domains have localized refractive index different from the bulk.

Optical polymer blend with bimodal particle sizes


A gaming device that provides a player with an opportunity to maximize a gaming device award. The gaming device presents the player with a display having a plurality of symbols and enables the player to choose one or more of the symbols. The game reveals the award(s) associated with the selected symbols but does not reveal which awards are associated with which symbols. The game then provides the player with one or more opportunities to upgrade the total award by deselecting one or more of the selected symbols and re-selecting another symbol for each deselected symbol.

Gaming devices currently exist with bonus rounds in which a player has one or more opportunities to choose masked bonus awards from a pattern of masked awards displayed to the player. When the player chooses a masked award from the pattern, the game removes the mask and either awards the player with a bonus value or terminates the bonus round with a bonus terminator. The outcome depends upon whether the player selects an award or a terminator.
In the above game, the controller of the gaming device randomly places a predetermined number of masked awards and terminators in the pattern at the beginning of the bonus round and maintains the positioning until the bonus round terminates. When the player selects a masked award, the player receives the value of the award, and the game typically displays a message that the player may continue and enables the player to select another masked award. The player then selects another masked award, and the process continues until the player selects a masked terminator. European Patent Application No. EP 0 945 837 A2 filed on Mar. 18, 1999 and assigned on its face to WMS Gaming, Inc. discloses a bonus round of this type.
Gaming machines also currently exist with bonus rounds in which the game selects or determines the player's award. PCT application PCT/AU97/00121 entitled, Slot Machine Game with Roaming Wild Card, having a publication date of Sep. 4, 1997, discloses an example. In this invention, a slot machine having a video display contains a plurality of rotatable reels with game symbols. When the player receives a triggering symbol or combination, the game produces a bonus symbol. The bonus symbol moves from game symbol to game symbol temporarily changing the game symbol to a bonus symbol. If the change results in a winning combination, the player receives an award.
In the first known game, the "go-until" or "do-until" bonus round can end quite quickly if the player selects a bonus terminator early in the bonus round. A prior selection does not affect the current selection except to the extent that one less selection exists. The player blindly selects masked symbols until selecting the bonus terminator, which is immediately displayed. The player's involvement in the bonus round is thus limited. The player has no opportunity to undo or redo an undesired pick. The player has no opportunity to optimize or maximize the bonus round award. In the second known game, the game completely determines the bonus round award, and the player has no affect on the outcome.
Bonus rounds provide gaming manufacturers with the opportunity to add enjoyment and excitement to that which is already expected from a base game of the gaming device. Excitement and enjoyment increases when the interaction level between the bonus round and the player increases, and also when the bonus round remains compelling for an extended period of time. It is therefore desirable to create a bonus round in which a current selection relates to or impacts a later selection. It is also desirable to provide a bonus round that remains compelling for an extended period of time even if the player does not ultimately fare well in the bonus round. Finally, a bonus round can increase excitement and enjoyment by providing a player an opportunity to optimize a bonus round award.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gaming device having value selection bonus


Coated cemented carbide inserts, particularly useful in fine turning of super alloys, are disclosed. The inserts are characterized by a composition of a cemented carbide of WC, about 4.0 wt-% Co to about 7.0 wt-% Co, about 0.25 wt-% Cr to 0.50 wt-% Cr, and a coercivity (Hc) of about 28 kA/m to about 38 kA/m. The coating comprises a single (Ti1-xSix)N-layer, where x is between about 0.1 and about 0.25, with a crystal structure of NaCl type and a total thickness between about 0.5 μm and about 2.0 μm with a strong (200)-texture.

Super alloys are a broad range of nickel, iron, and cobalt base alloys developed specifically for applications demanding exceptional mechanical and chemical properties at elevated temperatures. The classic use for these alloys is in the hot end of aircraft engines and land based turbines. Almost every metallurgical change made to improve the high temperature properties makes it more difficult to machine these alloys.
As high temperature strength is increased, the alloys become harder and stiffer at the cutting temperature. It results in increased cutting forces and increased wear on the cutting edge during machining.
Because stronger materials generate more heat during chip formation and because the thermal heat conductivity of these alloys is relatively low, very high cutting temperatures are generated, this also contribute to an increased wear of the cutting edge.
To make matters even worse, as the alloys are heat treated to modify the as cast or solution treated properties, abrasive carbide precipitates or other second phase particles often form. These particles do also cause rapid wear of the cutting edge.
EP 1174528 provides a multilayer-coated cutting tool. The first hard coating film is formed on the substrate and a second hard coating film formed on the first hard coating film. The first hard coating film comprises one or more of Ti, Al, and Cr, and one or more of N, B, C, and O. The second hard coating film comprises Si, and one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table and Al, and one or more non-metallic elements selected from the group consisting of N, B, C, and O.
WO 2006/118513 relates to a cutting tool insert, solid end mill, or drill, comprising a substrate and a coating. The coating is composed of a cubic C-(Me, Si) N-phase without coexisting amorphous phase. It is deposited by arc evaporation.
EP 1736565 relates to a cutting tool insert, solid end mill, or drill, comprising a substrate and a coating. The coating is composed of one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer comprises a cubic (Me,Si)X phase, where Me is one or more of the elements Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and Al, and X is one or more of the elements N, C, O or B. The ratio R=(at-% X)/(at-% Me) of the c-MeSiX phase is between 0.5 and 1.0 and X contains less than 30 at-% of O+B.
US 2005/0019612 relates to a coated cutting tool made of cemented carbide with a hard coating layer, wherein (a) a crystal orientation hysteresis layer which consists of a carbonitride compound layer and (b) a hard coating layer which consists of a layer of nitride compound and has a well defined crystal orientation and/or degree of crystallinity are formed on the surface of a cemented carbide substrate, preferably on the surface of a tungsten carbide based cemented carbide or titanium carbonitride based cermet by physical vapor deposition, wherein the crystal orientation hysteresis layer is deposited between the surface of a cemented carbide substrate and the hard coating layer.
What is needed is a coated cemented carbide for fine wet turning of super alloys with improved wear resistance. The invention is directed to these, as well as other, important needs.

Fine grained cemented carbide for turning in heat resistant super alloys (HRSA)


A method for deoxygenating renewable oils comprised of natural oils or greases or derivatives thereof containing triglycerides or free fatty acids includes the steps of: providing a catalyst comprising a support predominantly comprised of alumina with metal compounds provided on the support based on Mo and at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co, and at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu and Cr, and contacting the renewable oils with the catalyst under conditions sufficient to deoxygenate the renewable oils.

Renewable diesel can be made from natural oils and greases (vegetable oils and animal fats) in a two-step process: Step (1) deoxygenation via hydrotreating to form n-paraffins with the removal of oxygen as H2O and/or CO/CO2 and Step (2) isomerization/cracking of the n-paraffins formed in Step 1 to produce branched diesel and jet fuel products per need.
Currently, the deoxygenation Step (1) mentioned above is carried out commercially using a single or multi-layer catalytic bed approach and using standard hydrotreating type catalysts similar to those used for petroleum desulfurization and denitrogenation applications. The catalysts are typically based on Ni, Mo and optionally P on an extruded support containing predominantly Al2O3. The catalysts are prepared as oxides during the manufacturing process and subsequently converted to the active sulfided state either with in situ or ex situ activation procedures.
Examples of other active sites that may be employed to provide the deoxygenation and hydrogenation functions are sulfided base metals such as sulfided NiMo or sulfided CoMo or sulfided NiW. A base metal is a metal which oxidizes when heated in air. In addition to nickel, molybdenum and tungsten, other base metals which may be catalyst components herein include iron, lead, zinc, copper, tin, germanium, chromium, titanium, cobalt, rhenium, indium, gallium, uranium, dysprosium, thallium and mixtures thereof. While the reference uses a NiMo catalyst, this reference does not specifically teach or exemplify Cu or Cr as a promoter.
US Patent Application No. 20110258916 teaches a hydrotreating process that is performed in presence of hydrogen and of a hydrogenation catalyst containing a support and one or more metals selected from among metals of group VIII and group VIB (Group 6—chromium group.) Paragraph [0043] therein teaches that the catalysts that can be used are all hydrogenation and hydrotreating catalysts known in the art, and containing one or more metals selected from metals of group VIII (Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt) and group VIB (Cr, Mo, W) suitably supported. While the reference teaches that NiMo is known, this reference does not directly teach or exemplify Cu and Cr. Examples therein use sulfided NiMo/Al2O3.
US Patent Application No. 20070175795 claims a catalyst for deoxygenation based on a sorbent formulation with zinc oxide and a promoter oxide in reduced state including chromium and copper. However, the formulation therein s distinct from the present invention. While the process of US '795 describes a process wherein a promoter metal is selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, tungsten, silver, gold, copper, platinum, zinc, tin, ruthenium, molybdenum, antimony, vanadium, iridium, chromium, and palladium, the reference suggests, but does not teach with any specificity, a promoter metal being copper or chromium.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,043,600 mentions Group VIB (Group 6) and VIII in its specification for use as catalysts for hydrotreating natural oils. Again, the reference does not teach with any specificity a promoter metal being copper or chromium.

Method for catalytic deoxygenation of natural oils and greases


A control (220) for providing a dual pressure source (236) of pressurized fluid to a pressurized fluid operated shift actuator (30) for a mechanical change gear transmission (202) is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressurized fluid operated shifting mechanism, which may be (i) of the "X-Y type" for cooperation with a shift bar housing assembly for selectively shifting a change gear mechanical transmission or (ii) of the type utilizing separate cylinder/piston assemblies for each shift fork. In particular, the present invention relates to an automatically or semi-automatically controlled, pressurized fluid actuated shifting mechanism which is effective to utilize dual pressures to improve shift quality and to minimize wear on the shift mechanism components.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shift bar housing assemblies for mechanical change gear transmissions comprising a plurality of generally parallel, independently axially movable shift bars or shift rails, each carrying a shift fork fixed thereto, and shift block mechanisms allowing a single shift bar to be selected and axially moved to effect engagement/disengagement of a particular gear ratio are well known in the prior art as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,951,392; 4,455,883; 4,575,029; 4,567,785 and 4,584,895, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Typically, such shift bar housings are manually controlled and operated by a shift finger fixed to a directly mounted shift lever or to the cross shaft of a remotely controlled shifting mechanism. Interlock mechanisms are usually provided to prevent movement of more than one shift rail at a time from the axially centered or neutral positions thereof.
Automatically controlled pressurized fluid actuated X-Y type shifting mechanisms wherein a shift finger is automatically moved in the X or rail selection direction and then in the Y or gear engagement/disengagement direction are known in the prior art as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,237, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Shift bar housing assemblies utilizing pressurized fluid actuated pistons and the like to control each shift rail in an automatic or semi-automatic mechanical transmission are known in the prior art as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,445,393 and 4,722,237, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The prior art pressurized fluid actuated shifting mechanisms for providing automatic and/or semi-automatic shifting of mechanical change gear transmissions normally utilized with direct and/or remote manual shifting mechanisms were not totally satisfactory as pressurized fluid was supplied either selectively or constantly to selected chambers at only a single relatively high pressure which resulted in certain operations occurring on a more rapid, harsher basis than desired, overshooting of a selected position and/or the possibility of undue wear to components such as shift forks or the like.

Dual pressure pressurized fluid actuated shifting mechanism


A combination anode mount and hot water outlet for a water heater. The water heater includes a steel tank to contain water to be heated and has an upper head formed with an opening therein. An annular internally threaded spud is secured to the upper surface of the head with the axis of the spud being located eccentrically with respect to the axis of the head opening. An elongated body or support formed of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic, extends through the opening in the head and a cam shaped flange extends laterally from the upper end of the body and is disposed within the spud and is supported on the upper surface of the head. The body is formed with an outlet passage which communicates with the interior of the tank so that heated water in the tank can flow through the passage for discharge. An anode is secured to the lower end of the body and an electrical connector embedded in the body is connected to the anode and extends upwardly and is exposed at the cam flange. By rotating the body within the opening in the head, the cam will wedge against the threads of the spud to lock the body against rotation and provide a positive electrical connection between the electrical connector and the spud.

A storage type water heater includes a tank to contain water to be heated. Cold water is introduced into the lower end of the tank while heated water is withdrawn from an outlet in the upper head of the tank. The water heater tank is normally composed of steel, and to prevent corrosion of the steel tank, a corrosion resistant coating, formed of vitreous enamel or plastic, is normally applied to the inner surface of the tank. In practice, it is difficult to completely coat certain areas of the steel tank, such as areas bordering openings in the tank or the joints between the cylindrical shell and heads of the tank. In addition, the corrosion resistant coating may contain minor imperfections. As a result, intensified corrosion can occur at the exposed steel areas of the tank.
As a consequence, it has been the practice to install an anode formed of a metal electro-negative to steel, such as aluminum, zinc or magnesium, in the tank. The anode generally takes the form of an elongated rod and the upper end of the anode extends through an opening in the upper head of the tank and is supported from an annular spud that is welded to the outer surface of the upper head. With the use of an anode, a galvanic circuit is set up in which the anode will corrode preferentially to thereby prevent corrosion of the exposed areas of the steel tank.
However, the use of an anode normally requires a separate opening in the tank head. Therefore, it has been proposed to combine an anode mount and a hot water outlet so that only a single opening in the upper head is required U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,472 describes a combination anode mount and hot water outlet which includes a plastic tube that extends downwardly through an opening in the upper head of the tank and the plastic tube is provided with a transverse wall that divides the tube into an upper water outlet chamber and a lower chamber. Openings are provided in the wall of the plastic tube and establish communication between the tank and the upper chamber of the tube, thereby serving to conduct heated water from the tank through the tube to the water piping system.
In the construction of the aforementioned patent, the upper end of an anode rod is mounted in the lower chamber of the plastic tube and a metal sleeve is molded in the plastic tube and provides an electrical connection between the upper end of the anode and a metal nipple which is located on the outer surface of the upper end of the plastic tube. The nipple is threaded in a stud welded to the upper head of the tank and bordering the opening in the tank.
With the construction of U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,472 the plastic tube, metal sleeve and anode are locked together by compression rolling.
It has been found that with the construction of the aforementioned patent, leakage can occur between the nipple and the plastic tube, thereby causing corrosion of the upper end of the internal metal sleeve. Similarly, leakage can also occur between the anode and the plastic tube resulting in corrosion of the lower end of the metal sleeve. Corrosion of the metal sleeve will increase the electrical resistance and thus reduce the effectiveness of the anode. In certain situations, the corrosion may be so severe that the electrical connection between the anode and the nipple is destroyed.

Combination anode mount and hot water outlet utilizing a cam lock


A method is provided for joining a plurality of workpiece parts, in particular body parts, in which: a) the workpiece parts are inserted into a joining tool, b) the workpiece parts in the joining tool are monitored for damages, c) the workpiece parts are joined by the joining tool, and d) the joined workpiece is monitored for damages in the joining tool.

The invention relates to a method for joining a plurality of workpiece parts, particularly of vehicle body components, as well as to a joining tool.
For checking the quality of the joining points of a workpiece formed of a plurality of workpiece parts, for example, of a vehicle body component, a nondestructive examination, at least in the manner of spot checking, is an absolute necessity. In the field of vehicle body construction, a nondestructive examination of joined workpieces takes place subsequent to the production. For this purpose, a vehicle selected at random is usually removed and is examined manually. However, the joined workpieces or joining points of each vehicle are never all examined, but the nondestructive examination is always only carried out on individual vehicles and at individual joining points.
In the field of vehicle body construction, the use of fiber-reinforced plastic materials is increasing. In contrast to the joining of workpiece parts made of steel, the joining of workpiece parts made of fiber-reinforced plastic is more complex and has higher reject rates. In order to be able to continue to guarantee a high degree of quality, the number of spot checks has to be increased which results in higher cost and is more time consuming.
It is an object of the invention to provide a possibility for examining joined workpieces that can be integrated into the production without high expenditures of cost and time.
This object is achieved by a method for joining a plurality of workpiece parts, particularly of vehicle body components, wherein
a) the workpiece parts are inserted into a joining tool;
b) the workpiece parts in the joining tool are checked for damage;
c) the workpiece parts are joined by the joining tool; and
d) the joined workpiece is checked for damage in the joining tool.
By examining the workpiece parts and the checked workpiece in the joining tool itself, it becomes possible to examine the workpiece parts and the joined workpiece respectively for damage without requiring large expenditures of time. In addition, each of the workpiece parts to be joined and each of the joined workpieces can be examined, so that, in contrast to random-type testing, quality control of the workpieces is clearly improved.
The workpiece parts can be examined just before the joining and the joined workpiece can be examined immediately after the joining, particularly by a testing device provided in the joining tool, so that newly occurring damage will undoubtedly be the result of the joining.
For example, at least one of the plurality of workpiece parts may be made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material, so that the joined workpiece part can gain the advantages of fiber-reinforced plastic material.
When critical damage to one of the workpiece parts or to the joined workpiece was detected, this workpiece part or the joined workpiece is preferably separated out, so that components with excessive damage will be detected as early as possible and will no longer be used. Typical damages in fiber-reinforced plastic caused during the joining are delamination or inter-fiber failures.
In an embodiment, damage to the workpiece parts before the joining is compared with damage to the joined workpiece after the joining; the damage caused by the joining is determined and the joined workpiece is separated out if the damage caused by the joining is critical. As a rule, the workpiece parts used in automobile body construction already have a certain degree of irregularities, for example, as a result of the placing of holes. It is therefore not possible to set an absolute damage limit as critical for the quality control of a joined workpiece. By comparing the damage to the workpiece parts before the joining and the damage to the joined workpiece part, a conclusion can be drawn concerning damage caused by the joining itself, so that this damage can be assessed separately. In this manner, the assessment of the damage caused by the joining will become significantly more differentiated. In this case, a damage is considered to be critical, for example, if the damage caused by the joining exceeds to a critical extent the magnitude of the irregularities before the joining, particularly if the irregularities classified as not critical before the joining has increased more than two-fold as a result of the damage produced by the joining. Particularly the ratio of magnitudes of the irregularities before the joining to the damage after the joining with respect to one another can also be defined as the limit value.
In a further development of the invention, the workpiece parts and/or the joined workpiece are tested by use of air ultrasound, contact ultrasound, acoustic emission, thermography and/or another nondestructive method. These methods have been tested and are known, so that their use is cost-effective.
In an embodiment of the invention, the joining tool has a die and a die plate, the workpiece parts being examined for damage when the die is disposed on the workpiece part, and/or the joined workpiece is examined for damage when the joining tool is completely closed. In this manner, a fully automated and time-saving examination of the workpiece parts and/or of the joined workpiece becomes possible.
In an embodiment, in the case of one-sided joining methods, the workpiece parts can be examined for damage when the die is disposed on one of the workpiece parts or is positioned at a distance of less than 3.0 mm from one of the workpiece parts. In this manner, the workpiece part can also be examined without any contact.
For example, before Step b) a coupling agent between the die and one of the workpiece parts is supplied in an automated manner, whereby the quality of the examination is improved.
After Step d) the coupling agent between the die and the workpiece is preferably removed in an automated manner, so that the joined workpiece will be free of coupling agent residue.
The evaluation as to whether damage is critical can take place in an automated manner, particularly by comparing the samples obtained during the tests with one another and/or with a limit sample, whereby the personal expenditures for the examination and thereby the occurring costs can be considerably reduced. The comparison of the obtained samples with one another or with a limit sample can take place by way of image processing software, in which case the magnitude of the differences between the obtained samples with one another or between the samples and the limit sample can be used for measuring the damage.
In a further development of the invention, the samples obtained during the examination, together with information concerning the final product, such as the chassis number in the case of vehicles, in which the joined workpiece was installed, are stored in a databank. In this manner, it becomes possible to prove the quality of the joined workpiece, in the event of future claims that may be alleged by a buyer.
The object is further achieved by a joining tool for joining a plurality of workpiece parts, particularly workpiece parts made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material, with at least one testing device, which is constructed on a workpiece contact surface of the joining tool and can examine the workpiece to be joined with respect to damages. By use of the joining tool, it also becomes possible to carry out an examination of the workpiece parts and/or of the joined workpiece without additional transport steps of the workpiece parts and/or of the joined workpiece.
The testing device is preferably constructed for the testing by use of air ultrasound, contact ultrasound, acoustic emission and/or another nondestructive method. In particular, the testing device is a phased array ultrasonic probe, permitting the use of known cost-effective and high-quality testing devices.
The joining tool may be a forming tool having a die and a die plate. It may, in particular, be a semi-tubular punch riveter, in which case, the at least one testing device is provided in the die and/or in the die plate, so that a testing of the workpiece parts and/or of the workpiece can take place directly in the production facility.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for joining a plurality of workpiece parts and joining tool

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft