A child finder basically consists of a transmitter which is concealingly attachable to a child's body and which sends a signal to a conventional receiver so that the child's location can be continually monitored. The transmitter will typically be carried in an article of jewelry, such as a watch, bracelet, ring, or the like, and will use a special on/off switch which allows the transmitter to be activated only when the jewelry is being worn by the child. The switch includes a reciprocal push button which closes the transmitter's electrical circuit when depressed, and the button is spring-biasedly moved away from electrical contact with the transmitter's circuit when the article of jewelry is not being worn. To protect against inadvertent partial movement of the button which could break electrical contact thus deactivating the transmitter an electrical contact surface of the button is provided with an upwardly extending electrically conductive spring finger which maintains continual electrical contact irrespective of temporary and inadvertent reciprocal movement of the push button. When the push button is totally depressed, the spring finger recedes into a provided groove on the electrical contact surface of the button so as to prevent the finger from causing interference between the primary electrical contact surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to people monitoring devices and more particularly pertains to a child finder which utilizes a transmitter and receiver arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of electronic child monitors and locators is well known in the prior art. This is evidenced by the granting of a number of patents relating to various functional and structural aspects of such monitoring devices. These electronic monitoring devices typically utilize a transmitter mounted to the body of a person to be monitored, and a remotely located receiver which continually receives a signal from the aforementioned transmitter. A good example of such a locator system is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,794 which issued to Lawrence on Jun. 4, 1991. In this patent, there is disclosed a radio transmitter in a miniaturized configuration which is designed to be concealed on a person to be located, such as a lost child. An initiating signal is automatically transmitted by a repeater station when desired so as to activate the transmitter and allow the child to be located.
Another typical example of a personal locator is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,936 which issued to Koster on Apr. 23, 1974. The device illustrated and discussed in this patent comprises a tone modulated transmitter designed to transmit emergency distress signals, and these signals can be received by a receiver so as to determine the direction from which the emergency signals are being transmitted. The locator is small enough to be carried in a pocket or connected to the belt of a user.
An even further example of a personal locator transmitter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,040 which issued to Weaver et al. on May 7, 1991. The personal locator transmitter discussed in this patent is adapted to be worn on the wrist of a user, and it has the size and appearance of a conventional wrist watch. The watch includes both a manually operable alarm activated by pressing a button and an automatic alarm actuated by an attempt to remove the unit from the wrist of the wearer.
While each of these prior art patents disclose devices which will fulfill their respective particular objects and requirements and which are most likely quite functional for their intended purposes, it will be noted that none of these patents disclose a concealed transmitter arrangement which is automatically electrically activated when worn on the body of a user. To the contrary, the prior art typically illustrates devices which are continually electrically activated through the use of batteries and which are not designed to be automatically activated only during periods of use. Accordingly, there is the danger that electrical energy will be depleted to the extent that the batteries will fail, especially if a user of such a locator forgets to turn off the electrical power supply to the transmitter during periods of non-use. As such, there apparently still exists the need for these types of concealed transmitters wherein the electrical supplies which power them are automatically turned on during periods of use and similarly automatically turned off during periods of non-use. In this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An auxiliary transmission section (14) shift control system (230)/method is provided which include a residual pressure valve (246) and a one-way restricted flow pressure relief valve (250) to prevent an auxiliary section high speed ratio synchronized clutch (92) damage if the main transmission section (12) is engaged during an auxiliary section upshift. The chamber (224A) of the actuator (220) associated with the high speed synchronizer clutch is constantly gradually vented to a reference pressure through a severely restricted orifice in the one way restricted flow pressure relief valve (250) and the residual pressure valve (246) will block fluid flow from the source (234) to the slave valve (238) whenever the main transmission section is shifted to the not neutral condition thereof. Accordingly, whenever an auxiliary section upshift is attempted while the main transmission section is in the not neutral condition thereof, the actuator (222) will assert a force gradually reduced from a first high force to a second lower force on the high speed range clutch to prevent or minimize damage thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary section actuator piston control system/method for a vehicular compound transmission. In particular, the present invention relates to pressurized fluid (pneumatic) actuator piston assembly for controlling the engagement of auxiliary section synchronized jaw clutches in compound transmissions of the type comprising one or more multiple speed auxiliary transmission sections connected in series with a multiple speed main transmission section. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pressurized fluid actuator piston control system/method for protecting the auxiliary section synchronized jaw clutches, especially the auxiliary section range high speed synchronized jaw clutch, of a range type compound heavy duty vehicular transmission during a compound shift.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Compound change gear transmissions of the type having one or more auxiliary sections connected in series with a main transmission section are very well known in the prior art. Such transmissions are typically associated with heavy duty vehicles such as large trucks, tractor/semi-trailers, and the like. Briefly, by utilizing main and auxiliary transmission sections connected in series, assuming proper relative sizing of the ratio steps, the total of available transmission ratios is equal to the produce of the main and auxiliary section ratios. By way of example, at least in theory, a compound change gear transmission comprising a four (4) speed main section connected in series with a three (3) speed auxiliary section will provide twelve (4.times.3=12) available ratios.
Auxiliary transmission sections are of three general types: range type, splitter type or combined range/splitter type.
In compound transmissions having a range type auxiliary section, the range section ratio step or steps are greater than the total ratio coverage of the main transmission section and the main section is shifted progressively through its ratios in each range. Examples of compound transmissions having range type auxiliary sections may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,474; 4,964,313, 4,920,815; 3,105,395; 2,637,222 and 2,637,221, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Assignee's well known RT/RTO 11609 and RT/RTO 11610 "Roadranger" transmissions are examples of a "(4+1).times.(2)", nine speed and "(5).times.(2)" ten speed heavy duty range type transmissions.
In compound transmissions having a splitter type auxiliary section, the ratio steps of the splitter auxiliary section are less than the ratio steps of the main transmission section and each main section ratio is split, or subdivided, by the splitter section. Examples of compound change gear transmissions having splitter type auxiliary sections may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,290,515; 3,799,002; 4,440,037 and 4,527,447, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In a combined range and splitter type auxiliary section, or sections, both range and splitter type ratios are provided allowing the main section to be progressively shifted through its ratios in at least two ranges and also allowing the main section ratios to be split in at least one range.
One example of a compound transmission having a single combined range/splitter type auxiliary section may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,283,613; 3,648,546, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A three gear layer, four-speed combined splitter/range type auxiliary section may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,665, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Assignee's well known RT/RTO 11613 and RT/RTO 14718 "Eaton Roadranger" transmissions are examples of a "(4+1).times.(3)" thirteen-speed and a "(4+1).times.(4)" eighteen-speed combined range/splitter type transmission.
Another example is the "Ecosplit" model of transmission sold by Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Aktiengeseushaft of Friedrichshafen, Federal Replubich of Germany which utilizes a separate splitter auxiliary section in front of, and a separate range auxiliary section behind, the main transmission section.
It should be noted that the terms main and auxiliary sections are relative and that if the designations of the main and auxiliary sections are reversed, the type of auxiliary section (either range or splitter) will also be reversed. In other words, given wheat is conventionally considered a four-speed main section with two-speed range type auxiliary section, if the normally designated auxiliary is considered the main section, the normally designated main section would be considered a four-speed splitter type auxiliary section therefor. By generally accepted transmission industry convention, and as used in this description of the invention, the main transmission section of a compound transmission is that section which contains the largest (or at least no less) number of forward speed ratios, which allows section of a neutral position, which contains the reverse ratio(s) and/or which is shifted (in manual or semiautomatic transmissions) by manipulation of a shift bar or shift rail or shift shaft/shift finger assembly as opposed to master/slave valve/cylinder arrangements or the like.
In compound transmissions of the range or the combined range/splitter or splitter/range types, the main transmission section is typically shifted by means of a shift bar housing assembly, or single shift shaft assembly, controlled by a manually operated shift lever or the like and the auxiliary range section is shifted, in "repeat H" type transmissions, by means of button or switch, usually manually operated, which controls a remote slave valve/actuator mechanism. In so-called "double H" or "one and one-half H" type controls, the range is shifted by switches responsive to positioning of the shift lever. Double H type controls are well known in the prior art as may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,633,725 and 4,275,612, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereby by reference.
As the range section often utilizes synchronized jaw clutches, to provide acceptable shift quality and prevent undue wear and/or damage to the range section synchronized jaw clutches, it has been an object of the prior art to provide devices to assure that a range shift be initiated and hopefully completed while the main transmission section is in neutral.
In view of the above, the prior art compound range type transmissions usually include a control system, usually a pneumatic control system, including interlock devices, which allowed a range shift to be preselected by use of a selector button or switch at a master control valve but not initiated until the main transmission section is shifted to, or at least towards, the neutral condition, Such systems typically utilized interlocks of the mechanical type on the range section actuator mechanical linkage which physically prevented movement of the range section shift fork until the main section shifted into neutral or of the type wherein the valve (often called the "slave valve") supplying pressurized air to the range section pistons is either disabled or not provided with pressurized fluid until a shift to main section neutral is sensed, or is only activated and provided with pressurized fluid while the main section is shifted to and remains in neutral. Examples of such transmissions and the control systems therefore may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,654,268; 3,138,965 and 4,060,005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Transmissions using range section control valves (supply and/or exhaust) which are interlocked until a main section shift to neutral occurs may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,229,551; 4,450,869; 4,793,378 and 4,974,474, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
While the prior art systems do provide considerable protection for the range section synchronizers by preventing initiation of a range shift until the main section is shifted into neutral, they are not totally satisfactory as while they assure that a range section shift will not initiate until the main section is in neutral, they do not prevent the condition wherein the main section shift is faster than (i.e. "beats") the range shift. As is well known, under certain conditions, if the range synchronized clutch attempts to engage while main section is engaged, a portion of the engine torque is transferred to the vehicular drive wheels entirely by the engaged synchronizer friction surfaces and the synchronizer friction members can be rapidly damaged. In such condition, the range synchronizers, especially the direct or high speed range synchronizer may be damaged or destroyed relatively quickly. In the event of an unintended attempt to make a range only shift, such damage may occur within about two (2.0) seconds.
Transmissions utilizing mechanical interlock devices, of both the rigid and the resilient type, may be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,974,474; 4,944,197 and 4,296,642, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Such devices typically locked the range clutch into high or low position while the main section is not in neutral and/or locked the main section in neutral if the range clutch was not engaged in the high or low speed position thereof. While these systems will, when operating properly, prevent damage to the range synchronizers caused by attempting to engage a range clutch wile the main section is not in neutral, they were not totally satisfactory as (i) a fast main section shift can result in the auxiliary section being locked in an undesirable ratio, (ii) if a range clutch is hung up on the blocker the main section cannot be engaged to manipulate the clutches, (iii) resilient devices may not properly interlock or may bind, (iv) considerable wear and stress may be caused to the interlock and/or shift actuator members and/or (v) with wear, friction locks of the interlock mechanisms may occur.

Variable pressure range section actuator piston


A light-quantity adjusting device, comprising light-blocking blades supported to be moveable and arranged to be moved for adjusting a quantity of light, a moving mechanism for moving the light-blocking blades and a stepping motor serving as a drive source for the moving mechanism. The stepping motor includes a rotor magnetized to 2n poles (n=2, 3, 4, . . . ), the center of magnetization in each pole of the rotor being deviated from the center of the pole, first and second stators each having a plurality of magnetic poles formed adjacent to the outer periphery of the rotor and first and second coils arranged on the first and second stators. The first and second stators are located so as to be mutually displaced by about 90 degrees in terms of electrical angle and being provided with two magnetic poles located so as to be mutually displaced by about 180 degrees in terms of electrical angle and further being located so as to be mutually displaced by about 90+180 degrees times m (m=0, 1, 2, . . . ) in terms of electrical angle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light-quantity adjusting device for use in a still camera, a video camera, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The non-interchangeable lens type camera, which is called the compact camera, generally has a light-quantity adjusting device serving both as the shutter and the diaphragm. In recent years, the use of the stepping motor as a drive source for the light-quantity adjusting device has become the mainstream. Meanwhile, the diaphragm for the interchangeable lens of the single-lens reflex camera, too, employs, in some cases, the stepping motor as a drive source.
To adapt such a stepping motor to the drive source of an electromagnetically-driven light-quantity adjusting device, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Applications No. Sho 60-141682, No. Sho 60-141683, No. Sho 60-140934, etc., the stepping motor is composed of an arcuate base plate, a rotor having its outer periphery magnetized to quadripole, a pair of stators of almost letter "U" shape and a pair of coils for exciting the respective stators.
Another form of the light-quantity adjusting device is also known in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. Sho 62-240942, No. Hei 1-164258, etc., where coils each have one piece of iron core in parallel with the shaft of the rotor and are wound around the iron cores, and a pair of stators each have two magnetic pole members positioned in a plane perpendicular to the rotor shaft and each having a plurality of magnetic pole elements confronting the outer periphery of the rotor.
By the way, in the light-quantity adjusting device with the stepping motor used as a drive source, in the case of, for example, the single-lens reflex camera, the actual size of opening of the diaphragm aperture is determined by setting a certain phase at which electric power starts being supplied to the stepping motor and counting the number of steps by which the rotor is rotated. For this reason, to attain a high accuracy of aperture control, a smaller angle of rotation of the rotor per step is desired.
Meanwhile, to avoid premature consumption of the battery serving as the electric power source, on account of a higher probability of making relatively long exposures, a high percentage of the period in which the current supply to the motor is cut off is more advantageous. On this account, it is desired to increase the number of stop positions, at which the rotor comes to stably stop due to the cogging torque, per revolution of the rotor.
In the conventional examples such as those disclosed in the aforesaid Japanese Laid-Open Utility Mode Applications No. Sho 60-141682, 60-141683 and 60-140934, however, although the number of pulses required for rotating the rotor by one revolution by using the known 1,2-phase current supply is 16, the number of the stable stop positions caused by the cogging torque is only four as it is equal to the number of magnetized poles. For this reason, even when making a relatively long exposure, the current supply to the coil must continue till the end of the exposure. Otherwise, one could not get the high accuracy of diaphragm aperture control. Hence, there is a problem of a very fast exhaustion of the battery serving as the electric power source.
Also, in the electromagnetically-driven light-quantity adjusting device such as those disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. Sho 62-240942 and No. Hei 1-164258, the stators are disposed in a three-dimensional relation. Therefore, accurate arrangement of the phase of each magnetic pole is difficult to perform. Hence, there is a drawback that the accuracy of the size of opening of the diaphragm aperture is difficult to stably obtain at a high level.
Further, in the electromagnetically-driven light-quantity adjusting device disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 1-164258, the number of positions at which the rotor stops stably due to the cogging torque in response to the termination of current supply is equal to 1/2 of the number of positions at which the rotor can stop under the condition that the current supply continues. This is acceptable as the above number is relatively great. However, when the termination of current supply coincides with occurrence of an unstable stop position, it is impossible to specify the direction in which the cogging torque works, or determine whether the diaphragm is to move toward the minimum size of aperture opening by an amount equal to one step, or toward the full open aperture by that amount. As a result, there is a high possibility of occurrence of an error of .+-.1 step. Hence, a problem arises that the accuracy with which to control the size of aperture opening cannot be assured with high reliability under the condition that the current supply is cut off.

Aperture size adjustment device for a camera with a stepping motor drive source


A method for producing a corrosion resistant metal substrate and corrosion resistant metal substrate provided thereby. The method involves forming a plated substrate including a metal substrate provided with a nickel layer or with a nickel and cobalt layer followed by electrodepositing a molybdenum oxide layer from an aqueous solution onto the plated substrate, which is subsequently subjected to an annealing step in a reducing atmosphere to reduce the molybdenum oxide in the molybdenum oxide layer to molybdenum metal in a reduction annealing step and to form a diffusion layer which contains nickel and molybdenum, and optionally cobalt.

Materials used for exhaust piping, mufflers, and other exhaust system components consist mainly of ferrous alloys. Aluminium alloys are sometimes used as a coating on ferrous alloys to impart additional corrosion resistance. The choice of exhaust system materials is driven by a number of factors including cost, warranty requirements and legislated and customer demands for long service life. Mild carbon steel was the material of choice for exhaust systems for many decades. An iron oxide coating on the exhaust system protected it from atmospheric corrosion to varying degrees. However, it suffered from poor corrosion resistance when exposed to road salt and exhaust condensate. As a result, exhaust systems made from this material had a very short life if exposed to the environment experienced by many on-road vehicles. The corrosion resistance of carbon steel can be greatly improved through the use of a hot dipped aluminium coating. This is often referred to as aluminised steel.
One particularly important ferrous alloy alloying element is chromium. By adding sufficient chromium, stainless steel is formed. When stainless steel is heated, chromium forms a protective chromium oxide coating that delays further oxidation. A minimum of about 10.5% chromium is usually required to passivate the surface and to classify a material as stainless steel. So long as this oxide layer is stable and continuous, the metal substrate is well protected from corrosion. Since about the mid-1990s, plain carbon and low alloy steels have been replaced by stainless steel as the primary material for exhaust systems. This transition has taken place because of market demands for extended warranties, and because of demands mandated by emission standards. Technologies to meet increasingly stringent emission standards can raise exhaust temperatures which makes the task of meeting strength and durability requirements especially challenging. Emission standards also require that exhaust systems are designed in a manner that facilitates leak-free assembly, installation and operation for the full useful life of the vehicle.
From the early part of the 21st century, commodities including many of the alloying elements used in stainless steel, have experienced wide and rapid price fluctuations. Emission control systems such as actively regenerated diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR) have also created new demands on material properties. Active DPF regeneration can produce exhaust temperatures as high as 800° C. in parts of the exhaust system that would otherwise operate at much lower temperatures. Also, some commonly used stainless steels, such as type 304, have been found to corrode after exposure to urea decomposition products in high temperature environments.


Methods and systems for managing data and/or operations on data such as content are disclosed. A method can comprise receiving data from a source, determining timing information associated with the source and automatically modifying a storage operation of data received from the source based upon the timing information.

Data such as content can be provided by multiple sources. Recipients of data often expect to receive the data at a scheduled time. However, certain sources of the data can habitually provide data outside the scheduled time, which may be undesirable to certain parties, such as the recipients of the data. These and other shortcomings are addressed by the present disclosure.


An equipment application calculating apparatus comprising a product variation calculating section which determines a product variation table based on variations of a product and specification of each of the product variations, the product variation table correlating each of the product variations and equipments related to the specifications of the product variations, a part applyipg section which determines a part property table for each item from the product variation table based on combinations of selected ones of the equipments to be mounted on the item. The part property table correlates each of the combinations of the selected equipments and a part. The apparatus also comprises a part table calculating section which determines a part table for the item from the product variation table and the part property table to correlate each of the product variations and the part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an equipment application calculating apparatus and a designing support method, involving application of parts in a part table of a product.
2. Description of the Related Art
In designing an apparatus such as an automobile having a complex structure and composed of a number of parts, the parts are managed by using a part table. Here, the part table is the table for managing parent parts, i.e., main parts constituting the automobile, and child parts, i.e., parts constituting each parent part, a number of each part, data peculiar to each part such as a design change history of the part, an assembling unit in a product, a usage state and the like.
The following conventional designing technique is known in which the specification of a product is determined, variations of the product are determined and then parts to be used are determined for each of them. That is, in this method, a database for a part table is produced, and parts are represented as a relational tree structure. The parts to be used for each of the product variations are directly determined from the part table.
It is composed of a variation code input system and a part application input system. Here, the variation code input system sets identifiers (variation codes) for the number of the product variations. The part application input system inputs a part number, a kind code of the part number and the number of parts to the variation code.
A designer sets the variation code for the number of the product variation using the variation code input system. A designer of a part directly inputs the application of parts of the highest level (level 1) to each variation code using the part application input system. At this time, the designer inputs the application of the part while giving a difference to the part as necessary, in accordance with the difference in the product resulting from the variation. Consequently, a set of the parts in the level 1 is established for each product variation.
As a result, the parts for one kind of a product can be taken out by extracting all of the parts in the level 1 applied to a certain variation code and the lower level parts linked to the parts in the level 1.
In the above-mentioned technique, the confirmation of the difference in specification between the original product and the variation is entrusted to the designer. The will of the designer that parts of what part numbers are set for a variation of what specification is not recorded as data. Thus, an automatic input check could not be carried out. For this reason, the application of the parts needs to be manually carried out in case of an occurrence of an application miss, the increase or decrease of the product variations in relation to a change of a product specification, the change of an optional specification and the like. Therefore, it is difficult to follow the change of the product specification quickly and precisely.
Conventionally, the number of the combinations of options is hundreds of millions. Thus, the typical variations of the product are often managed in only the combinations of basic equipments.
In this case, nevertheless, the number of the variations is 1,000 or more. Thus, it is difficult to manually carry out the calculation quickly and accurately. Also, only the management of the typical variations is carried out. Therefore, a part of a different option is registered for a certain variation. Therefore, there is a problem that the parts corresponding to one kind of a product in which an optional equipment is used cannot be automatically extracted.
A technique is desired that can protect against a miss in the application of the parts. Also, a technique is desired that can automatically update the application of parts to generation of a new variation. Also, a technique is desired that can carry out a part search using an option specification part as a key. Moreover, a technique is desired that can manage all of the variations of products.

Equipment application calculating apparatus and equipment application calculating method


Methods and apparatus for covert detection of an interrogating device. In one example a method includes receiving an interrogation beam at an optical system, imaging a scene including a source of the interrogation beam without retro-reflecting the interrogation beam to produce an image, and analyzing the image to determine an approximate location of the source within the scene. In some examples, a threat detection sensor is used to further analyze the interrogation beam to determine information about the interrogating device.

Imaging and optical sensing devices are widely used in both commercial and military applications. In traditional configurations of focused optical imaging or sensing systems, a sensor array is located in the image plane and oriented perpendicular to the optical axis. This configuration is necessary to keep the image in focus across the entire active area of the imaging detector; however this configuration makes the system retro-reflective. As a result, any light not absorbed by the sensor (e.g., a camera or focal plane array sensor) is reflected and imaged directly back to the source along the same optical path as the incident light (i.e., retro-reflected).
Optical augmentation (OA) systems use this property of retro-reflection to detect hidden optical systems. For example, an OA interrogator uses an active light source to sweep through an environment illuminating any target optical devices, and retro-reflection leads the "cat's eye" effect, which allows any illuminated target optical systems to be identified, located and characterized. Even though the location of the interrogator may be easily determined, by the very fact that the target optical system observes the interrogation beam, its location is revealed. In addition, the OA system may determine some information about the technical specifications of the target optical system from the nature of the retro-reflections.

Non-retroreflective optical threat detection system and methods having an imaging detector aligned with a tilted image plane to reconstruct an image from plural image slices


The present invention is directed to a wide dynamic range power amplifier having a power amplification circuit for increasing the power of an incoming signal to an output power suitable for transmitting the signal over a communication medium, and a feedback circuit coupled between the output and gain control input of the power amplification circuit for changing the output power to a new, desired output power.. The feedback circuit may include a digital step attenuator, a power detector, a reference D.C. voltage, and a comparator. To change the output power, the digital step attenuates the output power sensed by the power detector, from a first attenuation level to a second attenuation level, by an amount corresponding to the desired change in output power. The power conversion circuit converts the output power at the second attenuation level to a D.C. voltage for comparison with the reference D.C. voltage which corresponds to the output power at the first attenuation level. The comparator increases the gain of the power amplification circuit, and thereby the output power, by an amount corresponding to the difference between the D.C. voltage and the reference D.C. voltage, until the D.C. voltage equals the reference D.C. voltage.

Power amplifiers are commonly used as general purpose transmitters for wireless base-stations and handsets. In these applications, the power amplifier serves to change the power of an incoming signal to an output power suitable for transmitting the signal over a communication medium, such as the electromagnetic frequency spectrum in the case of a modulated RF carrier.
The power of a signal is directly proportional to the amplitude or voltage level of the signal (P=V.sup.2 /R) and is typically expressed in dBm units, which represent the logarithmic power of the signal with respect to 1 mW, (P in dBm units=20 log.sub.10 (V/1.sup.-3)). The change in power of a power amplifier is expressed in decibel (dB) units, (P change in dB units=20 log.sub.10 (V.sub.out /V.sub.in)). For example, a +6 dB change in power represents a gain in power by a factor of 2; a +20 dB change in power represents a gain in power by a factor of 10; and a +40 dB change in power represents a gain in power by a factor of 20. Negative dB changes in power represent reductions in power by an inverse factor. For example, -6 dB, -20 dB, and -40 dB, represent reductions in power by factors of 1/2, 1/10, and 1/20, respectively.
To maintain a desired output power over time, the power of the outgoing signal is continuously monitored and adjusted by a feedback circuit operably coupled between the output and gain control input of the power amplifier. The feedback circuit increases or decreases the gain of the power amplifier, and thereby the power of the signal, by an amount corresponding to the change in power needed to correct for fluctuations in the output power. These fluctuations are normally caused by environmental changes, such as changes in temperature, or spurious changes in the power of the incoming signal.
In more detail, the amplitude of the outgoing signal is first rectified and integrated by a power detector and loop filter in the feedback circuit to obtain a D.C. voltage which corresponds to the actual output power of the signal. The D.C. voltage is then compared by a comparator with a reference D.C. voltage which corresponds to the desired output power. The comparator outputs a D.C voltage to the gain control input of the power amplifier which corresponds to the difference between the output power D.C. voltage and the reference D.C. voltage. This feedback signal from the comparator serves to increase or decrease the gain of the power amplifier to correct fluctuations in the output power from its desired level, and thereby maintain the power of the outgoing signal at the desired power level.
Beyond maintaining a desired output power over time, existing transmitter applications also require that the output power be changed to different, discrete levels over varying ranges in power. One way to change the output power is to change the reference D.C. voltage from one which corresponds to the present output power to one which corresponds to the new, desired output power. In this way, the difference between the D.C. voltage and the reference D.C. voltage will correspond to the increase or decrease in gain required to change the output power of the outgoing signal to the new desired output power.
This method is problematic for transmitter applications having wide dynamic ranges because of the small dynamic range of the typical, off-the-shelf power detector, which is often on the order of 10 dB. The dynamic range of a power amplifier or power detector is the maximum dB range in power which the amplifier or detector can operate over without unacceptable levels of error.
In other words, because the voltage-current characteristic curve associated with the typical power detector is non-linear, the output power sensed by the power detector cannot change by more than 10 dB without unacceptable levels of error, whereby the power detector produces a D.C. voltage which does not correspond to the actual output power--for example, it does not correspond to within 1 dbm as required by the IF-54 standard for base station transmitters. Transmitter applications, on the other hand, often require that the output power change by more than 10 dB, in other words, over a wide dynamic range.
Briefly, by way of example, to change the output power from 10 dBm to 25 dBm, a 15 dB change, the reference D.C. voltage input to the comparator is changed from a 10 dBm voltage to a 25 dBm voltage. Assuming that the power detector has a 2 dBm error outside its 10 dB dynamic range, the power detector will only output a 23 dBm D.C. voltage to the feedback input of the comparator. To maintain equality between its two inputs, the comparator will increase the gain of the power amplifier and thus the output power by another 2 dBm, to 27 dBm, so that a 25 dBm D.C. voltage (the 27 dBm output power minus the 2 dBm error) is input to the comparator. This leaves the output of the power amplifier at the wrong power level of 27 dBm.
One way to compensate for the error associated with the power detector outside its dynamic range is to adjust or calibrate the reference voltage. For the above example, the reference voltage would be adjusted or calibrated to a 23 dBm voltage, rather than a 25 dBm voltage, when a 25 dBm output power is desired. Since the error associated with the power detector is not fixed, in order to make these adjustments or calibrations for each of the different power levels over a wide dynamic range, a number of additional components must be added to the feedback circuit, increasing the complexity and cost of the power amplifier, and decreasing its reliability.


An organic light emitting display is capable of reducing variation in power transmitted to pixels to reduce or prevent non-uniformity of brightness from being generated. The organic light emitting display includes a pixel including a red sub pixel, a green sub pixel, and a blue sub pixel and first pixel power source lines for supplying a first pixel power from a first pixel power source to the red sub pixel, the green sub pixel, and the blue sub pixel, wherein the first pixel power source lines coupled to at least two different color sub pixels of the red, green and blue sub pixels have different widths. The first pixel power source lines have widths that may correspond to a voltage drop of the first pixel power source or may correspond to deterioration of the respective sub pixels to which they are coupled.

1. Field
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an organic light emitting display.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, various flat panel displays (FPDs) capable of reducing weight and volume, which are disadvantages of cathode ray tubes (CRTs), have been developed. The FPDs include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), and organic light emitting displays.
Among the FPDs, the organic light emitting display displays an image using organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) that generate light by the recombination of electrons and holes.
The organic light emitting displays are being widely applied in personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, and mobile telephones due to advantages such as excellent color reproducibility and reduced thickness.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel of an organic light emitting display. Referring to FIG. 1, the pixel is coupled to a data line Dm, a scan line Sn, and a pixel power source line coupled to a pixel power source ELVDD and includes a first transistor M1, a second transistor M2, a capacitor Cst, and an organic light emitting diode OLED.
In the first transistor M1, a source is coupled to the pixel power source line ELVDD, a drain is coupled to the OLED, and a gate is coupled to a first node N1. In the second transistor M2, a source is coupled to the data line Dm, a drain is coupled to the first node N1, and a gate is coupled to the scan line Sn. The capacitor Cst is coupled between the first node N1 and the pixel power source ELVDD to maintain a voltage between the first node N1 and the pixel power source ELVDD for an amount of time (e.g., a predetermined time). The OLED includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a light emitting layer. In the OLED, the anode electrode is coupled to the drain of the first transistor M1 and the cathode electrode is coupled to a low potential power source ELVSS, so that when current flows from the anode electrode to the cathode electrode, the light emitting layer emits light, and brightness is controlled corresponding to the amount of current.
In the pixel having the above structure, current corresponding to EQUATION 1 flows to the OLED.
                              I          d                =                              β            2                                                        (                              Vgs                -                Vth                            )                                      2              =                                                      β            2                                                        (                              ELVdd                -                Vdata                -                Vth                            )                        2                                              EQUATION                                                  1            wherein, Id, Vgs, Vth, ELVdd, Vdata, and β represent current that flows to the OLED, a voltage between the gate and source of the first transistor, a threshold voltage of the first transistor, a voltage of the pixel power source, a voltage of the data signal, and a constant, respectively.
Since the current that flows to the OLED is as represented by EQUATION 1, when the voltage of the pixel power source ELVDD changes, the amount of current that flows also changes.
Therefore, since a magnitude of internal resistance of the pixel power source line to which the pixel power source ELVDD is coupled varies with a distance of the pixel from the pixel power source ELVDD, a difference in brightness between pixels may be generated.


Microstructured optical films and polymerizable resin compositions comprising at one aromatic monomer or oligomer having at least two polymerizable (meth)acrylate groups and a fluorenol (meth)acrylate monomer.

Certain microstructured optical products, such as described in U.S. 2006/0004166, are commonly referred to as a "brightness enhancing films". Brightness enhancing films are utilized in many electronic products to increase the brightness of a backlit flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) including those used in electroluminescent panels, laptop computer displays, word processors, desktop monitors, televisions, video cameras, as well as automotive and aviation displays.
Brightness enhancing films desirably exhibit specific optical and physical properties including the index of refraction of a brightness enhancing film that is related to the brightness gain (i.e. "gain") produced. Improved brightness can allow the electronic product to operate more efficiently by using less power to light the display, thereby reducing the power consumption, placing a lower heat load on its components, and extending the lifetime of the product.
Brightness enhancing films have been prepared from high index of refraction monomers that are cured or polymerized. Halogenated (e.g. brominated) monomers or oligomers are often employed to attain refractive indices of for example 1.56 or greater. Another way to attain high refractive index compositions is to employ a polymerizable composition that comprises high refractive index nanoparticles, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,463 and US2006/0210726.

Optical films comprising fluorenol (meth)acrylate monomer


A method is provided which includes providing a cooling apparatus for an electronics rack which includes a door assembly configured to couple to an air inlet side of the electronics rack. The door assembly includes: one or more airflow openings facilitating passage of airflow through the door assembly and into the electronics rack; one or more air-to-coolant heat exchangers disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening(s) passes across the heat exchanger(s), which is configured to extract heat from airflow passing thereacross; and one or more airflow redistributors disposed in a direction of airflow through the airflow opening(s) downstream of, and at least partially aligned to, the heat exchanger(s). The airflow redistributor(s) facilitates redistribution of the airflow passing across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger(s) to a desired airflow pattern at the air inlet side of the electronics rack, such as a uniform airflow distribution across the air inlet side of the rack.

The power dissipation of integrated circuit chips, and the modules containing the chips, continues to increase in order to achieve increases in processor performance. This trend poses a cooling challenge at both module and system levels. Increased airflow rates are needed to effectively cool high-powered modules, and to limit the temperature of the air that is exhausted into the computer center.
In many large server applications, processors, along with their associated electronics (e.g., memory, disk drives, power supplies, etc.), are packaged in removable drawer configurations stacked within a rack or frame. In other cases, the electronics may be in fixed locations within the rack or frame. Typically, the components are cooled by air moving in parallel airflow paths, usually front-to-back, impelled by one or more air-moving devices (e.g., fans or blowers). In some cases, it may be possible to handle increased power dissipation within a single drawer by providing greater airflow, through the use of a more powerful air-moving device, or by increasing the rotational speed (i.e., RPMs) of an existing air-moving device.
The sensible heat load carried by the air exiting the rack is stressing the capability of the room air-conditioning to effectively handle the load. This is especially true for large installations with "server farms", or large banks of computer racks close together. In such installations, liquid-cooling (e.g., water-cooling) is an attractive technology to manage the higher heat fluxes. The liquid facilitates removal of the heat dissipated by the components/modules in an efficient manner. Typically, the heat is ultimately transferred from the liquid to an outside environment.

Inlet-air-cooling door assembly for an electronics rack

International Business Machines Corporation


In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for amplifying a plurality of input signals is provided, including a power sharing amplifier network and a redistribution circuit. The power sharing amplifier network includes first and second distributing networks and a plurality of amplifiers coupled therebetween. Each amplifier amplifies a composite signal having an approximately equal amount of signal power from all of the input signals. The first distributing network receives and splits up the input signals, whereas the second distributing network receives and recombines the amplified signals from the amplifiers to provide amplified output signals, each corresponding to one of the input signals. The redistributing circuit provides a redistribution signal derived from the input signals, which is applied to the first distributing network. The amplitude and phase characteristics of the redistribution signal are such that when it is split up by the first distributing network, it vectorially combines with the composite signals so as to reduce peak envelope power within at least one composite signal.

Wireless telecommunications systems of the prior art typically employ a separate high power radio frequency (RF) amplifier to excite each transmitting antenna used at the base station. Typically, each power amplifier amplifies modulated RF signals of a plurality of frequency channels for transmission to mobile users and/or to stationary sites. Multi-sector systems employ a plurality of directional antennas to provide directional beams over predefined azimuthal sectors, thereby attaining 360 degree coverage with improved range. Each power amplifier associated with a given antenna is thus dedicated to amplifying only those signals to be transmitted within the associated azimuthal sector.
FIG. 1 depicts a schematic block diagram of a prior art base station transmitter configuration for a three sector system. Antennas AT.sub.1 -AT.sub.3 each transceive within a given 120.degree. azimuthal sector to achieve 360.degree. coverage within a given radius of the base station. Power amplifiers P.sub.1 -P.sub.3 each amplify a respective multiplexer signal S.sub.MUX1 -S.sub.MUX3, which are typically frequency division multiplexed (FDM) signals. N-channel combiners CN.sub.1 -CN.sub.3 each combine up to N input signals to provide the multiplexed signals. Power amplifiers P.sub.1 -P.sub.3 are generally sized so as to handle a peak traffic load that is based on statistics or on the maximum number of radios in its associated sector, since traffic load fluctuates minute by minute.
When a large number of users are communicating from a single azimuthal sector, the power amplifier P.sub.1 -P.sub.3 associated with that sector is fully utilized, while the other power amplifiers, which service other azimuthal sectors, may be under-utilized. Accordingly, RF power is not efficiently distributed in the system of FIG. 1. One solution to this inefficient power distribution is described in my copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/542,480, filed Oct. 13, 1995, and assigned to the assignee herein. Therein, a power sharing amplifier network is described, which includes a plurality of amplifiers in a power sharing arrangement, such that each amplifier amplifies an approximately equal amount of RF power. Each amplifier in the network amplifies a composite signal containing signal power from all the communication signals to be transmitted by the system. In this manner, average power is efficiently shared between the amplifiers, such that the system can accommodate a larger number of subscribers. Further, feed-forward loops are employed to reduce distortion within the output signals.
While the amplifiers in the amplifier network described in the above-cited patent application share average RF power, instantaneous peak power differs between the amplifiers due to the varying phase relationships between the multi-carrier components of the signals applied to the amplifiers. Due to the random phase of the input signals, peak power can periodically peak to undesirable extremes in any given amplifier. The amplifiers must therefore be designed to handle such peak power, resulting in an increase in amplifier cost and complexity. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce instantaneous peak power applied to the amplifiers of a power sharing amplifier network.

Peak power reduction in power sharing amplifier networks


A security support and evaluation system in accordance with the present invention accepts from an operator via an input unit 16, a first specification of a system to be evaluated and a second specification of each of the components constituting the system, and then retrieves data from a security countermeasure database 131 stored in an external storage unit 13 and reads out security countermeasures to be executed to each of the components of the specified system to be evaluated, and then displays on a display unit 17, the security countermeasures read out in correspondence with each of the components of the specified system to be evaluated, and then accepts from the operator via the input unit 16, information whether or not each of the security countermeasures is executed, and thereafter evaluates the state of security based on the information and displays evaluation results on the display unit 17.

The present invention relates to a technology for evaluating the state of security of a system constituted by at least one component, or for supporting the making of security countermeasures specific to the system.
In the business activities of enterprises, an information system based on an Internet technology has become an important infrastructure. Also, as interest in the connection of an intra-enterprise information system to the Internet has grown, a security problem such as an illegal access to the intra-enterprise information system, the destruction of information assets by a virus, or the like has been recognized.
To protect the information system against such a security problem, an enterprise has taken individual technical measures such as the setting up of a firewall, the introduction of a software against a virus, or the like against individual security problems. However, in recent years, it has been desired that security countermeasures specific to the objective information system be taken in a comprehensive manner by analyzing a threat to the entire information system and by evaluating the state of security of the information system and by making a policy of countermeasures to be taken in the future on the basis of the results of evaluation.
Against this backdrop, Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (IS 15408) was standardized in June, 1999 as a frame for systematically evaluating and constructing the security of an information technology product and an information system constituted by the information technology products. Also, Information Security Policies Made Easy (ISPME), a collection of examples of security policies to be executed to individual information systems, which was written by Mr. Charles Cresson Wood, a security expert in the U.S., and is centered on the operation and management of the information systems, was published by BASELINE SOFTWARE, INC. on Jun. 10, 1997.
Also, some people have started to offer the services of evaluating the state of security of an information system and supporting the making of security countermeasures directed toward the information system based on the above-stated Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation or the collection of examples of security policies ISPME as consultant services.

Method and apparatus for evaluating security and method and apparatus for supporting the making of security countermeasure


A loading member includes a receiving section that changes a posture thereof from a receiving posture where a loading material is received to a rising posture where the loading material is supported in a raised state; and a positioning section that is projected from a portion of a base end of the receiving section and then positions a lower end position of the loading material when the posture of the receiving section is changed to the rising posture; wherein the positioning section is provided with a loading assisting member assists the positioning of the loading material in a case of the receiving posture, while the front end of the loading assisting member rotates in a direction to approach a receiving surface of the loading material at the receiving section in a case of changing from the receiving posture to the rising posture.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a loading member that can load a loading material for example, printing material or the like, and to a sorting device including the loading member in plurality.
2. Related Art
Generally, as a recording device that performs a recording process on a recording medium, an ink jet type printer is well known in the related art (for example, JP-A-2009-92804). The printer described in JP-A-2009-92804 includes a printer main body section that performs a recording process with respect to each of printing paper sheets per order. In addition, the printer includes a transportation unit that transports the printing paper sheets on which the recording process is completed at the printer main body section to a delivery position and an integrating unit (a sorting device) that sorts and integrates the printing paper sheets (the loading materials) that are discharged to the delivery position by the transportation unit to a plurality of integrating plates (loading members) per order.
In the integrating unit in JP-A-2009-92804, each of the integrating plates is attached at a retaining section that is provided at the outer periphery surface of an endless type integrating belt with substantially the same distance respectively. Thus, each of the integrating plates is on standby in a posture in which a plate surface is horizontal at the delivery position of the printing paper sheets. In addition, when a plurality of printing paper sheets is integrated at the plate surface corresponding to the order, each of the integrating plates moves from the delivery position after the posture thereof is changed so as to rise according to the rotation operation of the integrating belt.
However, as shown in FIG. 8, an integrating plate PT that is disclosed in JP-A-2009-92804 has a planar receiving section 101 that receives the printing paper sheets at a delivery position in a lying state and a positioning section 102 that positions a lower end position of paper sheets P (P1 and P2) integrated on the receiving section 101 in a rising state. The positioning section 102 supports the lower end of the paper sheets P that is in the rising state which is the same as that when the integrating plate PT is raised. The positioning section 102 also has a function as a sidewall restricting the paper sheets P from sticking out from the receiving section 101 when the receiving section 101 receives the paper sheet P.
Although, as shown in FIG. 8A, if the paper sheet P1 that is discharged from the printer main body section is curled in the upper direction, the end (right end in the drawing) of the paper sheet P1 that is lifted up may cover over the positioning section 102 and may stick out from the integrating plate PT. In addition, when the integrating plate PT is raised in a direction (clockwise) as shown in an arrow in FIG. 8A in a state where the paper sheet P1 cover over the positioning section 102, there is a problem in that the paper sheet P1 is scattered and dropped from the integrating plate PT.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8B, if the paper sheet P2 that is discharged from the printer main body section is curled in the down direction, the center of gravity of the paper P2 is separated from the receiving section 101 when the integrating plate PT is raised. Thus, when the integrating plate PT is raised, there is a concern that the paper sheet P2 is scattered and dropped from the integrating plate PT by the inertial force thereof. Further, these problems are not limited to the sorting device that includes a plurality of loading members such as integrating plates and are common to a loading member that changes the posture thereof to be rising after a loading material is loaded in a lying state.


Systems and methods for latency compensation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-based system for latency compensation in a dynamic system comprises a processor and logic instructions stored in a tangible computer-readable medium coupled to the processor which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive at least first parameter data from a first sensor and second parameter data from a second sensor, direct the at least first parameter data and the second parameter data into a combining filter, receive additional parameter data about the dynamic system from at least one additional sensor, construct a model of latency effects on the first parameter data and the second parameter data, and use the model of latency effects to compensate for latency-based differences in the first parameter data and the second parameter data.

The subject matter described herein relates to electronic computing and computer-based modeling of real world events, and more particularly to techniques for latency compensation in computer based systems that use inputs from multiple data sources to measure real world system dynamics.
Complex, dynamic systems may be modeled using inputs from multiple sensors throughout the system. By way of example, the aircraft industry has developed automatic landing capability using a differential Global Positioning System (GPS). This capability is known as the Global Navigation Satellite System Landing System (GLS). The GLS has been certified for commercial air traffic (CAT) operations. Some automatic landing systems may incorporate outputs from multiple different sensors to determine position and orientation information for an aircraft. The outputs of the different sensors may be subject to latency effects, particularly during maneuvers, which can bias results of the model.
Accordingly, systems and methods for latency compensation may find utility.


An optical probe element for focusing light from a light source into micro light of a diameter not larger than the diffraction limit, includes a light transmitting flat substrate and an optical probe formed on one of the surfaces of the flat substrate. The optical probe has a substantially conical light transmitting projection, and a reflective film which covers the conical surface of the projection so that the tip of the projection is exposed. The optical probe element enables the optical probe to be formed on the flat substrate using a semiconductor processing technique, thereby achieving efficient mass production of a standardized optical probe element. Thus, a recording and reproduction apparatus using the optical probe element is efficiently mass-produced.

In recent years, a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), with which the surface states of materials are directly observed at atomic level, has been developed. Also, an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a magnetic force microscope (MFM) have been developed using the principle of STM. With these microscopes, a sharp-pointed probe and the surface of material are positioned close to each other so as to detect a tunnel current flowing between them, and an atomic force and a magnetic force working between them. A photon STM, which causes light to fall on a sample surface using a sharp-pointed optical probe and detects evanescent light overflown from the sample surface, is developed by using the principle of STM.
Various apparatuses for recording and reproducing information at atomic level by using the principle of STM are proposed. Another proposed apparatus focuses light into a size not larger than the diffraction limit using the principle of the photon STM, records information with the focused light and reproduces the information by detecting reflected light, transmitted light, or evanescent light from a substance recorded (for example, see Applied Physics, Letter 61(2), 13 Jul. 1992, page 142).
FIG. 27 illustrates a recording and reproduction apparatus using an optical probe.
An optical probe 803 is formed at an end of an optical fiber 800. The optical fiber 800 is fixed to a movable supporting section 822. The supporting section 822 is moved by a driving section 821. The driving section 821 and a recording medium 810 are fixed on a base 820. The optical probe 803 is moved to a desired location on the recording medium 810 by driving the supporting section 822 by the driving section 821.
The recording medium 810 is constructed by a transparent substrate 811, and a recording layer 812 formed on the transparent substrate 811. The optical probe 803 is positioned so that its tip is located close to the recording layer 812.
When recording information, light whose intensity has been modulated according to the information is directed to the optical fiber 800, and focused into a size which is not larger than the diffraction limit by the optical probe 803. Thus, high-density recording of information on the recording layer 812 is achieved.
A method of manufacturing the optical probe 803 is illustrated in FIGS. 28(a) to 28(c).
As illustrated in FIG. 28(a), the optical fiber 800 is heated until part thereof is fused. In this state, the optical fiber 800 are pulled in the right and left directions as shown in FIG. 28(b). Then, a red heated section 801 of the optical fiber 800 is split as shown in FIG. 28(c), thereby producing the sharp-pointed optical probe 803.
With a conventional structure, however, it is difficult to make the tip of the optical probe 803 having a uniform diameter. Hence, the conventional structure does not allow mass-production of the standardized optical probe 803.
Moreover, with the conventional structure, when recording and reproducing a plurality of pieces of information simultaneously using a bundle of optical probes 803, the distance between each of the optical probes 803 and the recording medium 810 can hardly be kept uniform.

Optical probe element, and a recording and reproduction device using the optical probe element


A pill container has a lower part with eight compartments, and an upper part that rotates on the lower part. The compartments are side-by-side in a circular arrangement, and each normally contains a daily allotment of pills. The upper part carries a door, and a detent mechanism ensures that the door locates successively over each compartments. A button can be depressed to release a locking mechanism normally securing the door. A mechanical linkage simultaneously transforms axial displacement of the button into an indexing of a numbered plate relative to an indicator, effectively counting the number of times the door has been opened to remove pills. This provides an indication of the number of pills consumed. Manual rotation of the upper part to locate over a new compartment automatically resets the count. Alternatively, an electronic counter and display with appropriate switches may be used.

Plastic pill organizers are often supplied to geriatric patients. They are formed with multiple compartments, and a cover closing the assembly. A nurse might typically prepare a week's supply of pills in advance, placing each day's allotment of pills into a separate compartment. One problem is that patients can readily lose track of the number of pills taken, consuming pills at inappropriate intervals. Another problem is the potential to take pills from different compartments, further frustrating orderly consumption of pills.
Dispensers for birth control pills allow systematic dispensing. Many have a two-part housing. A lower part defines multiple single-dose compartments in a circular arrangement. The upper part is a lid that rotates on the lower part. A detent mechanism aligns an opening in the lid successively with each compartment for pill removal. Such dispensers may provide an indication of the day at which a particular pill is to be taken. They are fairly reliable, since absence of the single pill from any compartment immediately indicates that the daily dosage has been taken. However, they do not address problems associated with organizing and properly dispensing multiple daily doses.


A fluid shut off valve for use in a parenteral fluid administration set includes a disk floating in a fluid chamber that shuts off fluid flow when the fluid in the chamber decreases below a certain level. The chamber includes a valve stem at its lower end that has both a valve seat and an alignment member with an alignment surface on the top end thereof for guiding the disk into proper seating on the valve seat. The valve seat and floating disk have complementary engagement surfaces for also guiding the disk into proper seating on the valve seat. In one embodiment, the alignment member includes fins located both on the valve stem and on the inside wall of the chamber. Because of the configuration of the alignment member, dislodgement of the disk from the valve seat is made easier.

The invention is generally related to devices to shut off the flow of fluids through a fluid conduit, and more particularly to a device that floats in a fluid contained in a reservoir, and when the fluid therein reaches a certain level, the device automatically closes an orifice in such reservoir to prevent further fluid flow, while in particular preventing passage of air therethrough.
In patient care facilities, infusion of a parenteral solution into a patient may be achieved by suspending an inverted bottle or fluid reservoir above the patient and interconnecting a fluid administration set between the reservoir and the patient. The administration set may include a vented penetrant to pierce the stopper of the reservoir and a transparent drip chamber connected in series with the administration set tubing, through which the rate of parenteral solution flow can be monitored. The distal end of the tubing is connected to a cannula that is inserted into a blood vessel of the patient. A pinch valve and/or pumping mechanism engaged with the tubing may be actuated to compress the walls of the tubing, thereby restricting fluid flow therethrough to regulate the flow to a selected rate.
In therapeutic fluid administration systems, it is important that introduction of air into a patient's blood vessel be limited. Should air be introduced into a blood vessel, a condition known as air embolism may result whereby an air bubble may form in such blood vessel causing a blood flow obstruction therein. Air embolism has proven fatal in some instances. Consequently, it is desirable to include an automatic shut off device within a fluid administration set that prevents air from being introduced into tubing leading to a patient's blood vessel; the shut off device being operative once the parenteral fluid contained in the fluid container of the administration set has been exhausted.
It is well known that therapeutic fluid administration sets including drip chambers are subject to being tilted to one side as fluid administration is being conducted. This may occur, for instance, when a patient is being transported to or from a patient care facility or when the patient is being moved to different locations within the facility. In addition, attendants may inadvertently set up the administration set in a tilted position. Therefore in order to be effective, a fluid shut off device must be capable of providing a reliable air tight seal even if the fluid administration set is tilted.
Other fluid shut off devices have been provided that include floating valve members such as balls or disks that seat on an outlet port to prevent the passage of air therethrough. It has been noted in some fluid shut off devices that include a floating ball that the ball may begin spinning and/or bobbing in the fluid at high fluid flow rates. The spinning of the ball caused by high flow rates appears to result in the ball bobbing in the fluid. Should the bobbing ball approach the valve seat too closely, it may actually seat prematurely and stop flow before emptying the fluid reservoir. An attendant would then need to dislodge the ball to resume flow. This may result in lost time that the patient could have received the medication from the reservoir.
A consideration pertinent to floating flow stop devices is that they must reliably shut off flow. The floating member must not be subject to binding or sticking in an open position and must be guided to properly engage the valve seat. Some manufacturers have taken the approach of providing a cage-like component that confines a floating disk to a limited range of movement over the outlet port to avoid sticking and improper seating. However, the inclusion of such a confinement cage increases the costs of manufacture of such a shut off valve making it less desirable.
A further consideration in the design of floating shut off valves is the ability to dislodge the seated floating member from the valve seat when needed to resume infusion. Ease of dislodging is desirable so that time is not wasted in attempting to pry the floating member off the seat. Preferably, the floating member should be dislodgable by a simple action of the attendant.
Another flow shut off device includes a floating disk disposed in a fluid chamber where the chamber has outer side walls shaped to provide alignment surfaces to the disk to properly align the disk into sealing contact with a valve seat. This approach requires a specially formed outer wall for the chamber making the retrofit or adaptation of existing straight walled chambers difficult. Additionally, shaped outer walls many times have the effect of strengthening the wall thereby making it more difficult to dislodge the sealing device from the valve seat by squeezing the walls together. Shut off devices having float containment cages may also interfere with the operator's attempts to dislodge the float member.
It is also desirable that the administration set including the fluid shut off device be made available as inexpensively as possible because such fluid administration sets are discarded after use.
Hence, those skilled in the art have recognized the need for a disposable administration set including a reliable fluid flow shut off device that provides an effective seal to prevent the passage of air. The shut off device should also be easily releasible when it is desired to resume flow. In addition, a device of this nature should be cost effective and easy to manufacture. The present invention meets these needs and others.


A method of manufacturing a guidewire having a discrete length. The method includes the steps of feeding a first end of a corewire into an extrusion device, gripping the first end of the corewire with a gripping apparatus, and extruding a first extrusion material onto an outer surface of the corewire while the gripping apparatus pulls the corewire through the extrusion device to form an extrusion jacket on the outer surface of the corewire. The corewire has a predetermined length corresponding to a length of the guidewire.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a guidewire with an extrusion jacket, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a discrete length guidewire of varying thickness. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a discrete length guidewire with a helical stripe on the extrusion jacket.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical guidewires are generally used for navigating through internal passageways of a body. A typical guidewire includes a corewire having a proximal shaft of constant diameter and a taper section of progressively narrowing diameter leading to a distal tip. In order to prevent damage to the body, the guidewire typically includes a relatively soft plastic jacket on the outer surface. The distal end of a guidewire is introduced into a body by a physician through an opening in the body. The physician manipulates the tip of the guidewire through the body to a site to be treated. A catheter or other medical device is usually advanced over the guidewire to the treatment site, and the guidewire is then removed.
Current methods of manufacturing a guidewire with an extrusion jacket have certain drawbacks. Current methods utilize a continuous spool of corewire during the tapering of sections into the corewire, as well as during the extrusion of a plastic jacket onto the corewire. The use of a continuous spool of corewire during tapering and for extruding a jacket onto the corewire is complex and cumbersome. It is difficult to grind a continuous spool of corewire with a varying tapered diameter.
One method of producing a spool of continuous corewires involves the use of acid to etch a taper onto the corewire. The etching method, however, raises environmental concerns. Therefore, for the above reasons, the current methods for manufacturing a continuous tapered corewire are less than desirable.
After the continuous spool of corewire is manufactured and ground, a plastic jacket is typically applied to the outside surface of the corewire. The current methods utilized in applying a plastic jacket to a continuous spool of corewire have certain drawbacks. A typical method of jacketing a continuous corewire also uses a pay-off spool and take-up spool. In this method, the corewire unwinds from a pay-off spool and is then led through a crosshead with a jacket extruder. As the corewire passes through the crosshead, a jacket is extruded onto the corewire. The jacket is then cooled, and the wire is either respooled onto a take-up spool or cut to a predetermined length. After the corewire is cooled, therefore, additional steps, such as cutting the corewire to a length, are required in order to obtain a usable discrete length guidewire. There is a need therefore for a method of extruding a jacket on a corewire which substantially obviates these drawbacks.
Some jackets of conventional guidewires include a helical stripe to make it easier for a surgeon to see that the guidewire is being longitudinally displaced in the opening of the human body. The current method for applying a jacket having a helical stripe to a corewire also has certain drawbacks. In order to obtain a guidewire with a helical stripe, a heat shrinkable hollow tube is used. The heat shrinkable tubing is manufactured by extruding a longitudinal stripe on the hollow tube and then heating, twisting, and cooling the hollow tube. This heat shrinkable tubing can then be heat shrunk onto a corewire to form the jacket of the corewire. This process of heat shrinking the tubing on a corewire, however, does not provide a very strong connection between the jacket and the corewire. Therefore, this can result in a guidewire in which undesired movement occurs between the corewire and the jacket. Moreover, only a limited number of materials are suitable for heat shrinkable tubing, thereby limiting the type of materials that can be used for the jacket. There is a need therefore for a method of manufacturing a guidewire with a jacket having a helical stripe which substantially obviates these problems.
The advantages and purposes of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purposes of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a method of manufacturing a guidewire having a discrete length. The method includes the steps of: feeding a first end of a corewire into an extrusion device; gripping the first end of the corewire with a gripping apparatus; and extruding a first extrusion material onto an outer surface of the corewire while the gripping apparatus pulls the corewire through the extrusion device to form an extrusion jacket on the outer surface of the corewire. The corewire has a predetermined length corresponding to a length of the guidewire.
In another aspect, the invention includes the above method and the additional step of extruding a visually distinct second extrusion material on the jacket of the corewire while the gripping apparatus pulls the corewire through the extrusion device. During the step of extruding the second extrusion material, the above method further, includes the step of rotating the gripping apparatus to rotate the corewire so that the second extrusion material forms a helical stripe on the jacket of the corewire.
In a further aspect of the invention, the invention includes a corewire to be used in manufacturing a guidewire. The corewire includes: a first end section of a substantially constant diameter; a tip section having a diameter less than the first end section diameter; and a second end section of a substantially constant diameter, the second end section diameter being greater than the diameter of the tip section.
In a yet further aspect of the invention, the invention includes an apparatus for manufacturing a discrete length guidewire having an extrusion jacket. The apparatus includes: a first extruder for supplying a first extrusion material onto an outer surface of a corewire to form an extrusion jacket; and a gripping apparatus for gripping a portion of the corewire that has passed through the first extruder, the gripping apparatus being capable of imparting a motion on the corewire as the corewire passes through the first extruder The gripping apparatus is capable of varied movement to change a physical characteristic of the extrusion jacket.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Method of manufacturing a guidewire with an extrusion jacket


A fluid heater and storage device for a bidet includes an electric heater (3) positioned inside a housing (1) in a lower portion thereof. The housing (1) has a connection side with an inlet opening (6) and an outlet opening (7) for the fluid to enter and exit the housing located in an upper portion of the connection side. An insert (10) is positioned in the upper portion the housing (1) adjacent to the inlet opening (6). The insert (10) receives input fluid from the inlet opening (6) and guides the fluid along the connection side towards the lower portion of the housing (1). The input fluid then flows across the bottom of the housing and is heated by the heater (3) as it flows the recross. The heated fluid then rises along the housing side opposite to the connection side towards the top of the housing and then back towards the connection side where it is separated from the input fluid by a wall (1c) in the upper portion of the housing (1) forming a passage for removing heated water from the upper portion of the housing (1) through outlet opening (7).

Heating devices, also called hot water storage tanks or boiler, in which cold water enters at the bottom into an inner tank through an inlet tube and the hot water is discharged through an outlet arranged at the upper end of the inner tank due to displacement, are well-know. Furthermore, Swiss publication CH-A 597,447 discloses a heating device which has a heating chamber, in which the cold water flowing in is heated in the manner of an immersion heater, and a storage chamber following it in the direction of flow, in which the heated shower water is kept ready for use. This subdivision of the inner space of the heating device is said to ensure uniform water temperature in the storage chamber. The storage chamber and the heating chamber are subdivided by a horizontal tube section, which permits counterflow of the water. Correspondingly the outlet for the water from the storage chamber and the inlet for the cold water are arranged on the same side of the tube section. This heating device has a cylindrical outer shape and is therefore suitable for installation in a correspondingly tubular installation element, in which the other devices for the bidet are also accommodated, and which is installed in the hollow projection of the toilet seat. In contrast, this heating device is associated with the difficulty that the outer shape is practically completely defined by the above-mentioned design. Toilet seats with such a heating device correspondingly have a relatively tall projection, which often fails to meet the aesthetic requirements imposed on modern installations. Especially a toilet seat with a larger and flatter top side and a correspondingly lower projection would be desirable.

Thermostat-controlled water heating device for a bidet of a water closet with damped cold water inflow


The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring asphaltene precipitation in a petroleum product. The inventive method quantifies the precipitation by measuring changes in the petroleum product's conductivity or capacitance. The inventive apparatus comprises a measuring cell adapted to be filled with a petroleum product or a solution of the product and a flocculant, together with an instrument electrically coupled to the measuring cell for measuring the product's or solution's conductivity or capacitance.

The present invention relates to a procedure and apparatus for measuring asphaltene precipitation.
Asphaltene is definable as the fraction of an oil which is insoluble in N--C.sub.5 and soluble in benzene. The definition is, in other words, operational. There is no stringent physical or chemical definition. The structure of asphaltene monomer varies from oil to oil, but is generally supposed to consist of aromatic macromolecules having a significant content of heteroatoms (N,S,O). The asphaltenes are presumed to exist in solution partially as monomers and partially as colloidal aggregates with a continuous size dispersion.
Experiments show that asphaltenes, either dissolved in an oil or in a precipitate, have a very wide range of sizes. Typical data shows a molecular weight distribution extending from about 1000 to over 200,000.
Precipitated asphaltene is a big problem in connection with exploitation and processing of petroleum products. Asphaltenes are deposited in valves, tubing and process equipment. At worst, these deposits lead to complete blockage and production stoppage, with substantial costs as consequences.
Whether asphaltenes precipitate from a petroleum product, e.g. crude oil, substantially depends upon the oil's pressure, temperature and composition. Problems with asphaltene precipitation are seldom expected. This is because knowledge about asphaltene precipitation is limited and models currently in use are only to some extent predictive.
Neither is there, as of now, on-line equipment for detecting or quantifying asphaltene precipitation. Conventional equipment is only applicable in a laboratory context, and is inapplicable for industrial process-control.
A conventional method uses a source of light in the form of a laser or the like with a light detector. Both are put in an oil sample diluted with a solvent. An injector adds a flocculant (a flocculating agent) to initiate flocculation. The flocculation point (the precipitation point) is determined as the light detector registers a reduction in transmitted light occurring when flocculation occurs. The method determines only the flocculation point (flocculation threshold value) and cannot measure asphaltene precipitate. Besides, the method is not selective and consequently does not indicate if the precipitate is asphaltene or another constituent, like sand, found in the oil.
Another conventional method for detecting the flocculation point for an oil sample is based upon the measurement of the surface tension at the interface between oil and water as a function of added quantities of flocculant. When precipitation occurs, the interfacial surface tension increases and the flocculation point can thereby be determined. However, the quantity of precipitated asphaltene cannot be determined by this method. Also, its accuracy and reproducibility are uncertain. Furthermore, the method is work-intensive and inapplicable for pressure testing.
These last two conditions apply also to a third conventional method, gravimetry, based on standard liquid chemistry. Oil and flocculant are mixed at a desired proportion to precipitate asphaltenes. The precipitate is centrifuged, washed and weighed.
This method is used only to determine the quantity of asphaltene precipitate in an oil sample and cannot give the oil's
flocculation point without a series of very detailed and time-consuming gravimetric analyses.
In summary, the conventional methods are only applicable in a laboratory context. Considering this, and the fact that currently there are no predictive models for determining asphaltene precipitation, the inventors decided to develop a method and an apparatus for measuring the precipitation and being used on-line for industrial process control and surveillance.

Method for the measurement of precipitation of asphaltene in oil


The present device is a fuel supply device to pressurize and supply fuel F which is stored in a fuel tank 10, which comprises a fuel supply pipe 11 which forms a supply passage for the fuel F, a fuel filter 12 to filter the fuel F disposed at the midway of the fuel pipe 11 and below the fuel tank 10, a fuel pump 13 to pressure-feed the fuel F disposed at the downstream side than the fuel filter 12, and a venting pipe 15 to connect the downstream side of the fuel filter 12 and an upper air-space A of the fuel tank 10. The object is to provide the fuel supply device and the fuel filter utilized for the fuel supply device which can ensure the discharging amount of the fuel pump by satisfactory removing of vapor which is generated in the fuel sucked to the fuel pump.

Conventionally, the structure shown in FIG. 8 is well-known as this kind of fuel supply device. With this fuel supply device, fuel F which is stored in a fuel tank 1 is introduced to a fuel pump 3 through a fuel filter 2 by which the fuel F is filtered. The fuel F is atomized and injected to an intake pipe or a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine by a fuel injection nozzle 4 while the fuel F is pressurized to or over a specific pressure by the fuel pump 3 and supplied to the fuel injection nozzle 4.
In this figure, the numerical 5 is a pressure regulator which is disposed between the fuel pump 3 and the fuel injection nozzle 4, and regulates the pressure of the fuel F that is supplied to the fuel injection nozzle to a specific pressure. The pressure of the fuel F is regulated by returning excess fuel F to the fuel tank 1 through a return pipe 6.
Furthermore, the inside of the fuel filter 2 is divided by a filter member (a filter paper etc.) 7 into two rooms which are the upstream side and the downstream side, namely, upstream room 8 and downstream room 9.
Here, with this sort of conventional fuel supply device, following problems remain to be solve.
With the aforementioned conventional fuel supply device, the upstream room 8 of the fuel filter 2 is connected to the inside of the fuel tank 1 which is located above and is filled up with the fuel F, so as to receive pressure head equivalent to the fuel level height of the fuel F in the fuel tank 1.
Meanwhile, the fuel F in the downstream room 9 is sucked by the fuel pump 3 to result the pressure of the downstream room 9 to be lower than that of the upstream room 8.
Vapor is generated in the fuel F due to the depression at the time when the fuel F is moved by the pressure balance from the upstream room 8 to the downstream room 9, or due to heating of the fuel F in the fuel supply passage by the environmental temperature increase.
In this manner, when vapor is generated in the fuel F, all the vapor is sucked to the fuel pump 3. When the amount of the vapor excesses the discharging capacity of the fuel pump 3, the fuel discharging amount of the fuel pump 3 is insufficient.
The present invention is devised in the light of such conventional problems. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device and a fuel filter that is utilized to the fuel supply device, which can ensure the fuel discharging amount of the fuel pump by satisfactory removing of vapor which is generated in the fuel sucked by the fuel pump.

Fuel feeding device and fuel filter used for the device