To solve both axial and rotational constraint problems in turbochargers with rolling element bearings (REBs), a REB sleeve or outer race is mounted to the bearing housing in a way that is not axially and radially rigid, thus allowing for oil damping films both radially and axially. At the same time, the REB sleeve or outer race is held so that the REB sleeve or outer race does not rotate relative to the bearing housing. This dual purpose is achieved using an anti-rotation ring and a damping ring. The anti-rotation ring includes at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the bearing housing and at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the REB cartridge, preventing rotation of the REB cartridge sleeve or outer race. The damping ring axially locates the REB cartridge and dampens axial movement and cushions axial thrust.

Turbochargers deliver air, at greater density than would be possible in the normally aspirated configuration, to the engine intake, allowing more fuel to be combusted, thus boosting the engine's horsepower without significantly increasing engine weight. A smaller turbocharged engine can replace a normally aspirated engine of a larger physical size, thus reducing the mass and aerodynamic frontal area of the vehicle.
Turbochargers are a type of forced induction system which uses the exhaust flow entering the turbine housing from the engine exhaust manifold to drive a turbine wheel (51). The turbine wheel is located in the turbine housing and is solidly affixed to a shaft to become the shaft and wheel assembly. A compressor wheel (20) is mounted to the stub shaft (56) end of the shaft and wheel and held in position by the clamp load from a compressor nut (29). The primary function of the turbine wheel is extracting rotational power from the exhaust gas to drive the compressor.
The compressor stage consists of a wheel (20) and its housing. Filtered air is drawn axially into the inlet of the compressor cover by the rotation of the compressor wheel. The power input by the turbine stage to the shaft and wheel drives the compressor wheel to produce a combination of static pressure with some residual kinetic energy and heat. The pressurized gas exits the compressor cover through the compressor discharge and is delivered, usually via an after-cooler, to the engine intake.
In one aspect of compressor stage performance, the efficiency of the compressor stage is influenced by the clearances between the compressor wheel contour (28) and the matching contour in the compressor cover. The closer the compressor wheel contour is to the compressor cover contour, the higher the efficiency of the stage. The closer the wheel is to the cover, the higher the chance of compressor wheel rubs; so, there must exist a compromise between improving efficiency and improving durability.
To the naked eye, the nose of the compressor wheel in a typical turbocharger appears to rotate about the geometric longitudinal axis of the bearing housing; however, when viewed as a track on an X, Y-oscilloscope, the nose of the compressor wheel describes orbits of various shapes. The average centroid of the orbits is close to, but not exactly centered on, the geometric longitudinal axis of the turbocharger. The geometric axis (100) is shown in FIG. 1, of the turbocharger.
Both the radial and axial dynamic excursions taken by the shaft and wheels are attributed to a number of factors including: the unbalance of the rotating assembly; the excitation of the pedestal (i.e., the engine and exhaust manifold); net pressure fluctuations in either, or both, the compressor and turbine stages; and the low speed excitation from the vehicle's travel over irregular ground.
The sum effect of these excursions taken by the shaft and wheels is that the typical turbocharger must be designed with clearances far greater than those desired for aerodynamic efficiency levels.
The typical turbocharger is fed with oil from the engine. This oil, at a pressure typically equal to that of the engine, performs several functions. The oil is delivered to both sides of the journal bearings to provide a double hydrodynamic squeeze film, the pressures of which exert reactionary forces of the shaft on the I.D. of the bearing and of the O.D. of the bearing on the bearing housing bore. The oil films provide attenuation of the reactionary forces to reduce the amplitude of the excursions of the shaft. The oil also functions to remove heat from the turbocharger.
A typical turbocharger design has two spaced apart bearing systems: one at the compressor-end of the bearing housing, and one at the turbine-end of the bearing housing. Each system has two interfaces: the interface of the rotating shaft with the I.D. of the floating bearing, and the interface of the O.D. of the floating bearing with the fixed bore of the bearing housing.
The stiffness and damping capacities of the typical turbocharger double hydrodynamic squeeze film bearings are a compromise between: the thickness of the oil film generated by the rotational speed of the bearing elements and the clearance between the elements. FIG. 1 depicts a typical turbocharger with a double hydrodynamic squeeze film bearing configuration. In this configuration, pressurized oil is received to the bearing housing (3) though an oil inlet (80) from the engine. The oil is pressure-fed through the oil galleries (78 and 79) to the bearing housing journal bearing bore. For both the turbine-end and compressor-end bearings (30), the oil flow is delivered to the shaft and wheel journal bearing zones where the oil is distributed around the shaft to generate an oil film between the shaft surface (52) and the inner bore of the floating journal bearings (30). On the outside of the journal bearings (30), a like oil film is generated by the rotation of the journal bearing against the bearing housing journal bearing bore. Once through the journal and thrust bearings, the oil exits the bearing housing via the oil drain (85) at the base of the bearing housing and is returned to the crankcase of the engine.
In the typical turbocharger depicted in FIG. 1, the thrust bearing (19) also is a hydrodynamic or fluid film type of bearing. In this configuration, the stationary thrust bearing is fed oil from the oil gallery (81) to feed a ramp and pad design of the bearing. The oil is driven into a wedge shape by the relative motion of the thrust washer (40) and the opposing face of the flinger (44), which is mounted to the shaft, against the static thrust ramp and pad. This bearing controls the axial position of the rotating assembly.
One method for increasing the efficiency of the turbocharger is the adoption of rolling element bearings (REBs) to support the rotating assembly. Rolling element bearings can be divided into two general types. The first type uses a pair of typical REB assemblies. Each REB assembly, in this case, consists of an outer race, the balls or roller elements, an inner race, cage, and seals. This pair of REB assemblies can be pressed or shrunk into a sleeve, i.e. an outer cylindrical housing with oil galleries and locations for the REB assemblies, to produce an REB cartridge. In the second type, the sleeve is omitted. A single outer race is used, with two tracks defined therein. The metal (or ceramic) surrounding the single outer race defines the outer diameter of the REB cartridge. The outer race and has received therein at least two inner race(s) which are in contact with the shaft of the turbocharger. Unless otherwise indicated, the term "race" shall refer to the metal (or ceramic) element with one or more tracks contacted by the rolling elements, and the term "REB" used herein will encompass both types of REB cartridge.
As seen in FIG. 2, REBs typically have an inner race (65), or races, which are mounted to the shaft and wheel journal surface (52). Assembled to the inner race or races (65, 65C and 65T), are a set of rolling elements which roll in tracks formed in both the inner race and the outer race (64) (FIG. 6). The outer race is mounted within the bore (71) in the bearing housing (3). Since rolling element bearings do not require as much oil as do typical turbocharger journal bearings, an oil restrictor/post (86) is fitted to the oil inlet (80) to restrict the flow to the REBs.
There are several improvements that come with the adoption of rolling element bearing turbochargers. There is an improvement in transient response due to the reduction in power losses, especially at low turbocharger RPM, of the REB system over the typical turbocharger bearing system. The power losses in REB systems are less than those for typical hydrodynamic sleeve type turbocharger bearing systems. REB systems can support much greater thrust loads than can typical turbocharger bearing systems, making the thrust component more robust.
While REB systems provide these efficiency and transient performance gains, the damping capacity of REBs is not as good as that of the typical turbocharger double hydrodynamic squeeze film bearings. For ease of assembly, the bearings are retained in a REB cartridge or outer race, which is suspended within the bearing housing by an oil film between the O.D. of the cartridge (172) and the I.D. of the bearing housing bore (71). The oil is used for damping of shaft critical events and for lubrication of the bearings. With this design, it is critical that the bearing cartridge is not in a metal-to-metal contact with the bearing housing bore as the damping function will be lost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,334 (Gutknecht) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,037 (Mavrosakis) teach methods for the retention of a floating bearing cartridge in a bearing housing. A post secured in the bearing housing (e.g., FIG. 2 restrictor (86)) restrains the bearing cartridge such that the post reacts against the axial and rotational forces, while allowing for otherwise unconstrained motion (float) of the bearing cartridge in the bearing housing. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,037, as shown in FIG. 4, a pin (460) received by an opening (444) of the housing (440) optionally aids in locating the cartridge azimuthally with respect to the housing (440). A pin (72) similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,334 is shown in FIG. 3 of the present application, locating a bore (68) in the cartridge and a bore (70) in the outer race to provide both axial and rotational constraint relative to the bearing housing. Both of these methods require machining through orifices in the bearing housing, and, furthermore, they require intricate assembly in an area not well-visible to the assembler, making both correct assembly and verification of the assembly of said pins difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,037 teaches the use of a counter-bore (442, FIG. 4) and a plate (450) to control the axial loads exerted on the outer race of the bearing cartridge. The machining of this counter-bore requires accurate placement of the cutting tool, which must change direction from cutting a diametral surface to an abutment surface deep inside the bearing housing, without leaving too great an inclusive corner radius, which might not allow the bearing cartridge to seat on the abutment. The execution of this process adds cost and complexity to the machining of the bearing housing.
While there are problems associated with the conventional methods for constraint of the sleeve or outer race of a ball bearing cartridge REB against rotation relative to the bearing housing in which it mounts, the omission of axial and rotational constraint would allow the compressor and turbine wheels of the rotating assembly to contact the housings and would allow the cartridge sleeve or outer race to rotate freely in the bearing housing, each of which would shorten the life of the turbocharger. The inventors saw the need for means for constraining a cartridge which fulfilled both the needs for (a) rotational constraint of the REB cartridge sleeve or outer race relative to the bearing housing, without affecting the radial damping function of the REB, and (b) damped constraint of the REB cartridge in both the radial and axial directions.
So it can be seen that the current state of axial and rotational constraint of the REB cartridge is both costly and complex. A more cost and technically effective solution is needed. An improved configuration should comply with the need for the parts to be easily seen for visual inspection by the assembly personnel to ensure that said devices were actually installed in the completed turbocharger assembly.
There exists a need to solve the above problems of mounting the REB cartridge or outer race, in a manner which allowed for radial and axial damping by an encapsulating oil film (which may be static or dynamic), while, at the same time, allowing the REB cartridge to be constrained axially, to transfer the axial loads to the bearing housing, and constrained rotationally, so that the REB sleeve or outer race does not rotate relative to the bearing housing. There is thus a need for a cost-effective, simple to assemble, anti-rotation feature and axially damping feature, utilizing a damping oil film both around the REB sleeve or outer race, around the axial constraint feature, yet preventing the REB outer race or sleeve from rotating relative to the bearing housing.

Rolling element bearing cartridge with axial thrust damping and anti-rotation assemblies


Methods and apparatus are provided that load goods into trailers. The apparatus facilitates the loading of goods into the trailer, and optimizes usage of storage space in the trailer.

Conventional trailers are arranged to provide an enclosable space in which goods can be loaded for carriage. The trailers are usually provided by substantially rectangular frames having one or more solid faces. Trailers are commonly mounted on a chassis comprising suitable running gear, to allow for connection of the trailer to a tractor unit for haulage purposes.
Various legal requirements are set for the dimensions and maximum capacity of such trailers.
Conventional loading procedures for trailers include the use of fork lift trucks operated with standard loading bays and dock levellers.
In order to maximise the capacity of a particular size trailer, it is known to lower the base of the trailer between the rear axle and the front hitch of the trailer. Such a modification generally allows additional tiers of goods to be loaded one above the other.
It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide apparatus to facilitate loading of a trailer.

Methods and apparatus for loading a trailer


A high power optical isolator is able to transfer excess heat to a heat sink, reduce the effect of scattered and reflected light, and be coupled to standard thin optical fibers.

Optical isolators have been used in the front end of optical systems and other optical components to allow forward light to pass with a low insertion loss and to prevent the light reflected from various external components from interfering with the optimal operation of the various components used in the optical system. This reduces the frequency instability of the laser source, reduces power intensity fluctuations of the optical input signals, and in addition, reduces the overall noise level of the laser and system thereby providing for a higher signal to noise ratio of the system overall. In an optical communication system, a fiber optical isolator allows higher quality optical signals to be transmitted and for passive components to be able to receive these higher quality signals as well.
Recently, high power fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers that are used to amplify optical signals have replaced the solid state laser sources and the gas laser sources that have been widely used in material processing, industrial manufacturing and ultra long distance communication. With these new higher power components, the prior art optical isolators have been unable to efficiently or effectively handle the high optical power.
In particular, when an optical fiber isolator is operated using higher optical power, e.g., >10W, the prior art isolators exhibited several weaknesses that resulted in the isolators being damaged by the high power optical signals. Another issue with prior art optical isolators is backward light propagation.
Therefore what is needed is an optical isolator that provides for the transmission of high optical power signals in a first direction, but prevents other light from disrupting or interfering with the desired optical signal due to the issues with the prior art described above.


Conventional methods of addressing a Distributed Denial of Service attack include taking the target node offline, and routing all traffic to an alternate countermeasure, or “sinkhole” router, therefore requiring substantial lag time to reconfigure the target router into the network. In a network, a system operator monitors a network for undesirable message traffic. Upon a notification of such undesirable message traffic, traffic is rerouted to a filter complex to separate undesirable traffic. The filter complex establishes an alternate route using a second communications protocol, and uses the alternate route to redirect the desirable message traffic to the target node. The use of the second protocol avoids conflict between the redirected desirable traffic and the original, or first, protocol which now performs the reroute. In this manner, the filter complex employs a second alternate communications protocol to reroute and redirect desirable message traffic to the target node while diverting undesirable message traffic, and therefore avoids widespread routing configuration changes by limiting the propagation breadth of the second protocol.

Computer networks transport a large volume of message traffic between users. The network interconnects the users by way of routing devices and physical communication lines. The routing devices switch message traffic between users by address information in the message traffic which conforms to a particular protocol. The message traffic travels in a series of "hops" among the routing devices conversant in the protocol to arrive at the destination, or target node.
In such a computer network, certain activities may cause an influx of an inordinate amount of message traffic to particular target node. Malicious, intentional inundation of messages to a particular target node overwhelm the resources of the target node to process the barrage of incoming message traffic. This so called "denial of service" attack results in the inability of the target node to provide routing service to users due to the consumption of resources by the undesirable incoming message traffic. Such denial of service attack attempts may be made by disgruntled employees, hackers, pranksters, and others for a variety of reasons. Further, such attacks also occur unintentionally due to unfamiliarity or ignorance, for example, an employee erroneously addressing an email to an entire company mailing list with delivery confirmation.
Such conventional computer networks employ a plurality of routing devices. The routing devices include edge routers, which communicate directly with the user nodes, or hosts/servers, and core routers, which communicate with other routing devices in the computer network. Each of the edge routers and core routers (routing devices) has one or more routing tables for routing message traffic according to address information in each of the messages included in the message traffic. The routing devices lookup the address information in the routing tables to determine where to send, or route, the message.
In a conventional computer network, the information in the routing table propagates between the routing devices so that each routing device will know where to forward a particular message for the next "hop." An edge router nearest a particular host advertises itself as the preferred routing device for that host. Other routers will store information in their routing tables indicating that message traffic for the host is to be sent to the preferred routing device. The edge router serving the host, therefore, becomes the focal point for the denial of service attack on the host.

Methods and apparatus for network message traffic redirection


There is described a module for detecting an electronic file, the module embodied on a computer readable medium and configured for: receiving a portion of a file and extracting content from the portion; applying an initial hashing function numerous times to the content, the initial hashing function being applied to each one of a plurality of blocks of elements within the content and resulting in a representation for each one of the blocks; selecting one of the representations from multiple representations as an initial imprint for the file portion; comparing the initial imprint to contents of a first memory containing a plurality of detection imprints for known electronic files to be detected, the detection imprints having been created using at least the initial hashing function; and determining a match when the initial imprint corresponds to a detection imprint in the first memory.

Many organizations need to ensure that certain files are not transmitted over a network, or are transmitted in a secure manner, in order to maintain confidentiality of these files. This can be achieved by monitoring a network for known file transfers which are for example, sent from non-authorized sources, or to non-authorized destinations, or propagated over a non-expected part of a network, and at a non-probable time. Government and public security agencies also benefit from cyber-watch or cyber-surveillance to catch potential offenses, illicit file possessions and the like. Cyber-surveillance is also helpful in the fight against cyber-viruses and to enforce copyright protection.
Current cyber-surveillance is typically achieved using software-based "sniffers" which extract certain patterns or characteristics from data transmitted over a network. Once extracted, the data is then analyzed. In most cases, data that has been transmitted on various network layers is entirely reconstructed before further processing can be done to identify the file. Such schemes are time consuming and require a considerable amount of processing resources. File detection is thus only achieved after the data has been transmitted over the network, even where the transfer occurs at relatively low data rates such as 100 Mb/s.
There is therefore a need for an improved method and system for detecting known files, either during transmission or statically when stored on a medium.


Spherical fine particles of colored resin are provided. The fine particles are of a spherical shape and are superior in heat resistance, solvent resistance, and chemical resistance, and sufficiently satisfactory in durability and coloring, and industrially advantageous. The spherical fine particles of colored resin are made by incorporating an amino resin cured matter and an inorganic pigment into one body, and a ratio of the inorganic pigment against a total amount of the amino resin cured matter and inorganic pigment is in a range of from about 1 to 30% by weight.

The present invention relates to spherical fine particles of a colored resin which are used for colorants for coating, ink, plastic, fiber, rubber, etc., and for delusterants, fillers, toners and carriers for an electrostatic duplicating machine as well as cosmetics, etc. In more detail, the invention relates to spherical fine particles of a colored resin which are industrially useful and of a new type and made by incorporating an amino resin cured matter and an inorganic pigment into one body, and relates to a method for producing the particles.
Hitherto, various kinds of spherical fine particles of colored resin have been used for plastic, coating, ink, cosmetics, etc. and also, employed exhibiting a characteristic in the respective use. The spherical fine particles of colored resin are made by incorporating a dye or pigment with a resin into one body. Like this, the reason why the dye and pigment are used as one body being incorporated with the resin, but not used in their original form is due to elevation of an affinity to a polymer such as coating, ink, plastic, fiber, rubber, etc. Also, when the fine particles are spherical, compared with a case where the particles are not of such type, there is an advantage such as elevation of fluidity during a shaping process and also, in a case where the particles are used for coating, fiber, etc., an advantage so that a surface becomes smooth and that a filling amount can be increased.
Spherical fine particles of a colored resin obtained by combining a thermosetting resin such as a phenol resin, an epoxy resin, etc. or a thermoplastic resin such as an acrylic resin, a vinyl resin, etc. with an organic dye or an organic pigment are superior in clearness and coloring, while they have a tendency to be inferior in heat resistance, light resistance, solvent resistance, weathering resistance, bleeding resistance, etc. On the other hand, spherical fine particles of a colored resin, in which an inorganic pigment has been used for coloring, are superior to those, in which a dye has been used, in points of solvent resistance, light resistance, heat resistance, and bleeding resistance, and also, superior to those, in which an organic pigment has been used, in points of light resistance and heat resistance.
There have been known, as fine particles of a colored resin made by coloring a thermoplastic resin with a pigment, for example, fine particles of a colored resin obtained by blending and pulverizing a thermoplastic resin and a pigment (Japanese Official Patent Provisional Publication, showa 58-17169), spherical fine particles of a colored resin obtained by adding a pigment into a reaction mixture of a suspension polymerization etc. (Japanese Official Patent Gazette, showa 57-22324), and spherical fine particles of a colored resin obtained by coating a pigment after carrying out chemical or physical treatment on the surfaces of fine particles of a thermoplastic resin (Japanese Official Patent Provisional Publication, showa 63-10671).
Furthermore, as spherical fine particles of a colored resin made by coloring a thermosetting resin with a pigment, there have been known, for example, spherical fine particles of a colored thermosetting resin which is made by adding a pigment when synthesizing a thermosetting resin such as a phenol resin, an epoxy resin, etc. by a polyaddition and addition condensation reaction.
There is such a problem that the hitherto-known spherical fine particles of a colored resin, in which the forementioned thermoplastic resin is used, are inferior in heat resistance, solvent resistance, chemicals resistance, etc., bad in adhesion between the resin particles and pigment, and also, bad in smoothness on the surface of colored particles.
Besides, there is such a problem that the hitherto-known spherical fine particles of a colored resin, in which the forementioned thermosetting resin is used, are broad in particle distribution, are not fine particles of a real sphere type, have a defect that the particles are breakable, and become expensive by classification etc. being required in some of the use.

Method for producing spherical fine particles of colored resin


A hanging wire post with a locking connector for decorative hanging applications. This hanging wire post would be alternate to using eyelets or D-rings for attachment point of hanging wire to frame. This hanging post will install to frame with a single center-point screw. This post supports the hanging wire which is threaded through and around backside of post resulting in a frictional grip on wire that facilitates wire length adjustment. The hanging wire is then locked into position with the parallel line locking connector. The result is a very high strength end connection, and very quick and precise installation. No frustration of trying to tie precise knots in stranded wire or stranded wire rope. This device will work equally well with coated or uncoated stranded wire and wire rope.

Hanging wires for picture frames and other architectural items are typically suspended with stranded load-rated steel wire with wire outside diameters (OD) of 0.032 to 0.092″. The stranded wires are now available with a polymeric coating which prevents the sheared ends of wire from having splayed strands that can easily puncture skin.
Decorative hangings are typically supported in a structural frame which will be supported by a hanging wire that attaches to either eyelets or D-rings attached to frame. The eyelet is relatively weak and is subject to bending and/or dislodging from picture frame. The D-ring having a heavier attach screw(s) is a better method for attaching to frame. However both types will require tying the wire to the eyelet or D-ring. Obtaining the exact desired length of a hanging wire while tying in a knot is the first part of problem, and the second is the stiff stranded wires do not lend themselves to be formed into taut configurations of a knot.

Frame hanging wire post with locking connector


The present disclosure concerns a method of detaching a layer to be detached from a donor substrate, comprising the following steps: a) assembling the donor substrate and a porous substrate, b) application of a treatment of chemical modification of the crystallites, the chemical modification being adapted to generate a variation of the volume of the crystallites, the volume variation generates deformation in compression or in tension of the porous substrate, the deformation in compression or in tension generates a stress in tension or in compression in the donor substrate, which causes fracture in a fracture plane, the fracture plane delimiting the layer to be detached, the stress leading to the detachment of the layer to be detached from the donor substrate.

A known prior art technique for detecting a layer 2 to be detached from a donor substrate 1 and described in U.S. Patent Publication US 2007/0249140 (A1) and shown in FIG. 1, is a method of detaching a layer 2 to be detached from a donor substrate 1, comprising the following steps:                a0) deposition of a metal layer 3 on the donor substrate 1 at a temperature greater than 750° C.,        b0) cooling to room temperature the combination of the donor substrate 1 and the metal layer 3, the cooling causing, by virtue of a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion, deformation in compression or in tension of the metal layer 3, the deformation of the layer 3 generating a stress in compression or in tension in the donor substrate 1. This stress causes fracture on a fracture plane 4, the fracture plane 4 delimiting the layer 2 to be detached, the stress leading to the detachment of the layer 2 to be detached from the donor substrate 1 on the fracture plane 4.
After the step a0), a cooling step b0) is applied to the donor substrate 1 covered by the metal layer 3. Cooling leads to the occurrence of a cleaving stress in the donor substrate 1 linked to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the metal layer 3 and the donor substrate 1.
However, the deposition of a metal layer 3 on the donor substrate 1 risks contamination of the layer 2 to be detached, which compromises the operation of the device fabricated from this layer.
Moreover, the thickness of the layer 2 to be detached depends on the cleavage stress exerted by the metal layer 3. As a result of this, the range of available thicknesses of the layer 2 to be detached is necessarily limited by the characteristics of the available metals.
Furthermore, a detachment method involving differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion that are too low necessitates process temperatures that are too high.
The disclosure, therefore, proposes a method of detaching a layer 2 to be detached from a donor substrate 1 with no risk of contamination of the material of the donor substrate 1 so as to make fracture independent of the differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion.


A common contact identification system. The common contact identification system can include at least two contact lists, a comparator for comparing contacts in each of the contact lists, and a common contact list including contacts matched by said comparator. Each contact list can include a plurality of contacts. Each contact list further can have a publicly accessible interface through which the contacts can be accessed remotely. As such, the comparator can identify matching contacts in each of the contact lists.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to methods and systems for programmatically discovering common contacts, including business, professional and personal contacts.
2. Description of the Related Art
People and businesses prefer to associate with people and businesses with which they are familiar. In the case where one who is searching for a person or business cannot find a person or business with whom the searcher is familiar, it is usually desired by the searcher to associate with one that is recommended by or at least known to someone who is also known by the searcher. This is particularly the case in the area of social or business introductions and networking. People must meet in order to build a relationship which will promote collaboration.
People are often reluctant to approach another person of interest without an introduction by a third party who has at least some knowledge of both people. Even where someone is recognized by their appearance, their identity may be unknown and uncertain, and an introduction never occurs. It is frequently the case that persons or entities that do not know one another have common contacts; however, as this fact remains unknown to either party, introductions still do not occur. In order to determine if one's friends or business acquaintances know of a person or business, the searcher must frequently call or correspond with several people in order to obtain a name of a person or business known to an acquaintance. This can be tedious, time consuming and intrusive on the time of others, such that many do not attempt to obtain such a referral.

Programmatic discovery of common contacts

International Business Machines Corporation


A laser scanning cytometer, used with forward light scatter measurements, is provided with a laterally extended, asymmetrically positioned (relative to a light blocking position) light blocker, positioned between a cell sample and a detector such as a photodiode. The light blocker is asymmetrically positioned, at the reference position (i.e., no specimen) to permit some light to pass by a first end thereof and wherein light scatter caused by a specimen cell passes the first end, with other light scatter being blocked by the extended light blocker at a second end. Contrast of light scatter detection is sufficient thereby to provide viewable images of cells by means of the laser scanning cytometer.

Laser scanning cytometry is an effective diagnostic tool in determining various characteristics of cells including abnormalities, for the facilitated treatment of diseases and conditions associated with such abnormalities. It is not however designed for actual visual imaging of cell configuration and features. The construction and use of laser scanning cytometers has been described by Kamentsky and Kamentsky (Cytometry, 12:381-387, 1991) and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,647,531 and 5,072,382, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
In summary, a laser scanning cytometer such as the LSC.TM. cytometer, available from CompuCyte Corp., scans cell specimens, on a microscope slide positioned on a microscope stage, with a laser beam which is oscillating in the Y direction of the microscope stage. Voltage levels from optical detectors are synchronized and digitized to produce a raster of values from captured light. Subsequently, the microscope stage is advanced in the X direction, and the scan digitization is repeated. The cycle is repeated until a two dimensional (x-y) array of measurements is acquired. This two dimensional array is segmented by image processing techniques, and features for cells or objects of interest on the specimen are extracted and stored in a list mode data file.
One of the parameters measured by the LSC is forward light scatter. In this mode of operation, a focused laser beam passes through the specimen slide and laser scattered light is intercepted by a blocker bar before reaching a photodiode detector located beneath the blocker bar. In the reference position where there is no object in the laser beam path, the laser light is entirely prevented from reaching the detector, and the output of the detector is a low (zero) voltage signal. When a cell or other object is in the path of the laser beam, laser light is diverted from its original path, and is scattered over a range of angles (i.e., forward light scattering). A portion of this scattered laser light bypasses the blocker bar and strikes the face of the detector which provides an output signal characteristic of the particular way the light is blocked and scattered.
The output signal from the detector increases proportionally relative to the amount of light scatter. The resulting two dimensional memory array image appears as a dark field image with a black background, with the objects of interest appearing as a generally undefined bright image. There is however no physical image of the actual cells which can be discerned.
Laser scatter and absorption have been used extensively in flow cytometers and with other similar instruments, wherein data from either single or combined sensors are obtained as values for a cell in toto, with no capabilities for cellular imaging and subsequent localization of cellular constituents. Slit scan flow techniques extract subcellular information about cells, but still do not provide images of the cells.

Method and device for rendering cells observable with laser scanning cytometry


A disposable undergarment waistband and method of forming a waistband are provided which preferably include providing a first elongate layer of non-woven material having a first predetermined width and upper and lower surfaces. A plurality of elongate elastic strips are positioned to overlie a first portion of the upper surface of the first non-woven layer. A second elongate layer of non-woven material preferably is also provided having a second predetermined width and upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface of the second elongate layer is positioned to overlie the plurality of elastic strips and the upper surface of the first portion of said first non-woven elongate layer. The second predetermined width of the second non-woven layer preferably is narrower than the first predetermined width of the first non-woven layer. The upper surface of at least a second portion of the first elongate layer preferably is folded to overlie and to be secured to the upper surface of the second elongate layer. A plurality of gathers also are formed in the first and second non-woven layers.

Over the years, consumers have shifted demand from cloth diapers to disposable diapers for infants and toddlers. This demand has increased and developed the disposable diaper industry into a major industry. As this industry developed, consumers preferred and often demanded improvements in disposable products which included better core absorbency, products which are easier to fasten, detach, and reattach side peripheries of the waistbands, various sizes of products for various weights and sizes of infants and toddler, and better control of leakage from the legs and waistbands when the diaper is positioned on an infant or toddler.
This development of the disposable diaper industry, however, has increased demand for faster and more efficient disposable undergarment production. This demand is further complicated by the development of disposable infant, toddler, and adult briefs, which have a different product configuration and have different product performance requirements than disposable diapers. Also because of the relative success of the disposable diapers and the high volume of disposable diaper products produced in manufacturing, the market for these brief products has generally been a much smaller subset of the infant and toddler disposable diaper market. The demand for briefs in general is substantially less than the disposable diapers. Accordingly, these specially configured briefs are not normally produced on the same production line as the disposable diaper production line. Because the market demand for these briefs is less, product manufacturers are less inclined to invest in additional machinery for producing these products. The product manufacturer, however, is also pushed by retailers and consumers to provide a full-line of disposable products for infants and toddlers.
Additionally, as the nursing home care and elderly care industry has grown over the years, the elderly often have needed more and more assistance from nursing home or elderly care personnel, including urination and bowel movement assistance. Urination and bowel movement problems have also arisen among various aged adults such as loss of bladder control through childbirth or other medical reasons.
Further, waistbands have been developed over the years which are secured to various undergarments along a stitch line formed on upper front, rear, and side peripheries of an undergarment fabric panel. Waistband straps and belts have also been developed which have one end secured to or otherwise fastened to an upper rear periphery of an undergarment fabric panel, extend outwardly therefrom, and have the other end secured or otherwise fastened (e.g., buttoned) to an upper front periphery of the same undergarment fabric panel.
Nevertheless, these conventional waistbands are often expensive, formed of a heavy fabric or single elastic sheet, and can be used multiple times until damage, staining, or the like. Example's of these conventional waistbands are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,508 titled "Self-Centering Multiple Use Garment Suspension System", by Bolick and U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,249 titled "Absorbent Undergarment With Fluid Transfer Layer And Elasticized Crotoa Design" by Miller et al. This expense and lack of disposability become particularly problematic when manufacturing disposable undergarments in high volume and at a high rate of speed. In other words, the waistband of conventional undergarments are either not applicable or make up too much of the cost of manufacturing an undergarment so that the undergarment is cost prohibitive or much less competitive to manufacture.
Additionally, waistbands or belts for attaching and detaching to an undergarment panel have been developed for hygienic articles. Examples of these waistbands or belts are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,022 titled "Disposable Hygienic Article With Removable Belt" by Pigneul et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,162 titled "Carment And Pleated, Adjustable Strap Member Therefor" by Kuen, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,262 titled "Adjustable Garment Attachment System" by Keuhn, Jr. et al. These waistbands and belts, however, often have a complex construction, are expensive and difficult to manufacture in high volume, and often lack the necessary elasticity and comfort for wearers of the undergarment and waistband.
Further, disposable elastic structures have been developed which include a complex arrangement of a single elastic strip or a plurality of elastic strips and a layer of adhesive tape positioned between layers of non-woven material. Examples of these structures are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,801 titled "Method Of Forming A Disposable Elastic Structure" by Smith and U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,011 titled "Disposable Elastic Structure" by Smith. These structures, however, are likewise still relatively expensive and difficult to manufacture in high volume, and often lack the necessary comfort for wearers of a disposable undergarment and waistband. The structures generally are also constructed to be integrally formed with the undergarment panel and not detachably connected to the panel.

Disposable undergarment waistband and method of forming same


A secondary battery includes a diaphragm which is disposed on a current path between a current collector plate connected to a wound electrode group in a battery container and an external terminal, deforms when an internal pressure of the battery container increases, and breaks the current path. The diaphragm has a convex portion which protrudes to the current collector plate. The current collector plate has a through-hole into which the convex portion is inserted. An inner wall portion of the through-hole and a side wall portion of the convex portion facing each other are welded.

Conventionally, a secondary battery is used as an on-vehicle power supply to supply power to an electric motor mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle or a power supply of other apparatus. A lithium ion secondary battery having a high energy density attracts attention as the secondary battery and research and development and product commercialization thereof are rapidly advanced. In a sealed lithium ion secondary battery, for example, if gas is generated in the battery due to overcharge or an excessive temperature rise, an internal pressure of the battery may increase.
For example, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a current breaking mechanism for breaking electrical connection between an external terminal and an electrode body in an outer casing of the battery when an internal pressure of the outer casing increases is known (refer to PTL 1 described below). In the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery described in PTL 1, a hole (16c) for connecting portion formation is formed in a center portion of a positive electrode current collector (16), as described in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 and a paragraph 0050, for example.
In the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery described in PTL 1, a portion between an inner wall portion of a convex portion (16p) formed annularly in an edge portion of the hole for the connecting portion formation in the positive electrode current collector and an inversion plate (33) is laser-welded at a plurality of places and a connecting portion (16q) is formed. In PTL 1, the convex portion is formed in the edge portion of the hole for the connecting portion formation, so that it is easy to weld a lateral surface of the hole for the connecting portion formation and a boundary portion of the inversion plate, and a quality of the connecting portion is stabilized.


A powder sealing device of a powder beam processing machine including a processing chamber for processing a workpiece by jetting powder beams to the workpiece, includes: a thin film cylinder member for sealing a space between an operating shaft passing through an opening portion formed in a peripheral surface of the processing chamber and the opening portion; and a substantially cylindrical mounting bracket having a small chamber communicated to the processing chamber and mounted to the opening portion. The thin film cylinder member is formed of a flexible thin film material into a substantially conical shape, and has one end mounted to one end of the mounting bracket on the opening portion side and the other end mounted to the outer peripheral side of the operating shaft. When the processing chamber is in a negative pressure state, an intermediate portion of the conical thin film cylinder member is expandedly sucked inward of the small chamber without generation of any wrinkle, so that it is possible to structurally eliminate breakage of the thin film cylinder member and hence to prolong the service life of the powder sealing device.

The present invention relates to a powder sealing device of a powder beam processing machine for processing a workpiece by jetting a powder beam to the workpiece, more specifically, by allowing a solid/gas two-phase flow containing a powder (fine particles) in a high speed gas flow to collide with the workpiece.
A variety of powder beam processing machines have been known of a type in which a workpiece mounted on a pallet is processed by jetting a solid/gas two-phase flow containing a powder in a high speed gas flow to the workpiece. Such a machine includes, in a processing chamber, a processing table; a workpiece mounting pallet fixed on the processing table; and a processing nozzle for jetting a solid/gas two-phase flow to the workpiece mounted on the pallet, wherein the workpiece is processed by setting a positional relationship between the processing nozzle and the workpiece mounted on the pallet by relative movement of the processing table and the processing nozzle, and by jetting the solid/gas two-phase flow from the processing nozzle to a suitable position on the surface of the workpiece. The above-described relative movement of the processing table and the processing nozzle is adjusted outside the processing chamber via an operating shaft passing through the processing chamber. In such a machine, a powder sealing means is provided for preventing the powder from being leaked to the outside from a portion through which the operating shaft passes.
FIG. 1 is a typical view showing one example of a powder sealing device of a related art powder beam processing machine. In this figure, reference numeral 101 indicates an outer wall surface of a processing chamber; 102 is a rectangular cylinder body defining an opening portion in the outer wall surface 101; 103 is an operating shaft 103 extending from the outside to the inside of the processing chamber while passing through the cylinder body 102; and 104 is a thin film cylinder member formed of a flexible thin film material. With respect to the thin film cylinder member 104, one end portion thereof is formed into a rectangular shape and is air-tightly fixed around the outer periphery of the opening portion of the cylinder body 102, and the other end portion thereof is air-tightly mounted on the operating shaft 103 side. The thin film cylinder member 104 is adapted to seal the opening portion of the cylinder body 102 through which the operating shaft 103 passes.
In a powder beam processing machine, the thin film cylinder member 104 is generally drawn on the processing chamber side by a negative pressure generated in the processing chamber; however, since the opening portion of the cylinder body 102 in the related art powder beam processing machine is formed in a rectangular shape, the thin film cylinder member 104 becomes wrinkled by the corners of the opening portion, and the wrinkled portions are liable to be broken.
Since the related art powder beam processing machine does not include any means for discharging the powder having entered the thin film cylinder member 104 through the opening portion, the weight of the powder having entered the thin film cylinder member 104 is applied as a load to the thin film cylinder member 104, leading to such an inconvenience that the thin film cylinder member 104 may be broken or a mounting portion may be loosened.
In such a powder beam processing machine, a powder detecting sensor is provided near the thin film cylinder member 104 for detecting, if the thin film cylinder member 104 is broken, or if there is leakage of the powder from the thin film cylinder member 104. However, since the powder detecting sensor is provided in the atmospheric air, the powder leaked in the atmospheric air flies up in the air, and thereby it is difficult to detect the leakage of the powder, resulting in the poor detection accuracy.

Powder sealing device of powder beam processing machine


A vehicle body structure includes a roof panel, a front structural support member and an optional extension member. The front structural support member includes a first A-pillar attachment end, a second A-pillar attachment end, a front edge extending between the first and second A-pillar attachment ends and a rear edge extending between the first and second A-pillar attachment ends. In a first configuration, the roof panel attaches to the front edge and also to another region of the front structural support member. In a second vehicle configuration, the extension member is attached a rear edge of the front structural support member and extends to a position on the roof panel that is located vertically above the front structural support member when the front structural support member is in an installed orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure that includes a front structural support member. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle body structure that includes a front structural support member that can be used in the body structure of multiple vehicle configurations.
2. Background Information
Many vehicle manufacturers design and manufacture a basic vehicle body configuration and then further additional vehicle models that include one or more design variations. Such design variations fulfill different transportation needs and markets. For example, there are utility van designs that are marketed with a plurality of roof panel configurations. In the base utility van design, a low profile roof panel is typically installed on the vehicle body structure's roof supporting elements. In this base utility van design, it is not possible for a six-foot tall passenger to stand within the vehicle. In one design variation, a taller high profile roof panel is installed to the body structure. In order to adequately support the high profile roof panel, a re-designed front structural support member above the windshield and redesigned side roof rails are currently required.
The design and manufacture of multiple parts for variations in a base body design is costly, requires increased inventory of body elements and increased storage space to store such additional body elements prior to assembly.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved vehicle body structure that can include body elements common to two or more body design variations. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


An expandable percutaneous introducer sheath is disclosed which can be selectively enlarged to accommodate a range of sizes of interventional devices. The introducer sheath can retain an enlarged size without requiring an additional support member. The introducer sheath comprises an outer tube which contains expandable gaps along the length of the outer tube, expandable leaflets which are connected to the outer tube, an inner tubular member which is insertable into the outer tube, and a detent means to retain the enlarged size of the outer tube. The outer tube has a cross-sectional profile which is both kink resistant and minimizes the size of the puncture wound in the vasculature by providing a helix in the outer tube. An inner tubular member is inserted into the lumen of the outer tube and, because of the interference fit of the lumen outer tube to the outer diameter of the inner tubular member, the lumen of the outer tube enlarges at the expandable gaps.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is used to reduce arterial build-up of cholesterol fats or atherosclerotic plaque. A percutaneous introducer sheath is used to access the vascular system of the patient and acts as a means for introducing and positioning guiding catheters and other interventional devices within the patient. The introducer sheath is a tube-like member which is partially inserted into the vasculature at a puncture site, typically in either the femoral, brachial, or radial artery of the patient. The proximal, or working end, of the introducer sheath is accessible outside of the vasculature for the introduction of interventional devices through the sheath. Typically a guide wire is inserted through the introducer sheath and subsequently steered through the vascular system to the site of therapy. A guiding catheter, for example, can then be advanced through the introducer sheath and over the guide wire. The guiding catheter acts as a support conduit for therapeutic interventional devices such as balloon catheters. The balloon catheter is inserted through the guiding catheter and over the guide wire. The balloon at the distal end of the balloon catheter is inflated, causing the site of the arterial stenosis to widen.
An introducer sheath contains an access lumen for introduction of interventional devices, a luer hub for connection to syringes and other peripheral devices, and a hemostasis valve to prevent blood loss from the lumen of the introducer sheath. Typically, the PTCA procedure involves an initial diagnostic assessment of the extent and location of the arterial stenosis. To accomplish the diagnostic assessment, an introducer sheath is selected which will accommodate an angiographic catheter, which is typically of a 5F-7F (0.065-0.091 inches) outer diameter. Once the assessment is complete and the practitioner has determined that therapeutic intervention will be performed, the introducer sheath is typically replaced with a larger introducer sheath which will accommodate a guiding catheter of 8F-10F (0.104-0.130 inches) outer diameter. The practitioner will generally not insert the larger introducer sheath at the outset of the diagnostic assessment because of increased complications which result from the use of a larger puncture wounds in the vasculature.
Percutaneous introducer sheaths are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,588, issued to Horzewski et al., discloses, at column 12, lines 1-18:
"an intravascular sheath consisting of a shaft and a proximal hub. The shaft is composed of an inner tubular element 100 and an outer tubular element 101 . . . The inner tubular element 100 is designed to accommodate positive radial expansion over a specific range of dimensions. This is accomplished by constructing the element with overlapping surfaces and disposing at their interface a ratcheting mechanism consisting of a series of longitudinally disposed teeth 103 and a latch 102. The passage of a device therethrough of larger profile than the baseline luminal profile of the shaft engages latch 102 with successive teeth 103 and thereby radially expands the shaft of the sheath and maintains the shaft in its expanded configuration." PA1 "an elongate dilation tube 10 and an elongate expansion member 12. The expansion member 12 includes an outer tube 30 and an inner rod 32. The dilation member 12 may be inserted into the axial lumen 22 of the dilation tube 10, resulting in expansion of the dilation tube. After the dilation tube 10 has been expanded, the inner rod 32 may be removed, leaving an expanded access channel 22 which is maintained by the outer tube 30." PA1 "the large-diameter expandable sheath 11 consists of an elongate sheath tube 12 having proximal and distal extremities 13 and 14 and having a flow passage 16 having a maximum diameter extending therethrough . . . The distal extremity of the sheath tube, as shown in FIG. 4, is pleated or folded longitudinally to provide wraps or folds 17 for a distance of approximately 10 centimeters from the distal end to provide a distal extremity of reduced diameter, for example a reduction of the outside diameter from 3/8"" to 3/16" or approximately one-half the original size."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,464, issued to Dobrul et al., discloses, at column 9, lines 27-50, a percutaneous penetration apparatus which includes:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,150, issued to Quiachon et al., discloses at column 3, lines 3-24:
What is needed is a percutaneous introducer sheath which is adjustable in lumen size so that a range of interventional devices, from diagnostic to therapeutic, can be accommodated with a single percutaneous introducer sheath. Such a device would by design minimize the size of the puncture wound at the point of vascular access and would obviate the need to exchange from a smaller sheath for introduction of diagnostic devices, to a larger sheath, for therapeutic devices. Clinical studies have shown that the formation of thrombus and associated complications within the vasculature during PTCA procedures is attributed in part to the introduction and removal of interventional devices, such as introducer sheaths, from the vasculature. Consequently, if a single introducer sheath can be employed for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures without the need to exchange the introducer sheath to accommodate therapeutic interventional devices, then patient complications during PTCA can be reduced.

Expandable percutaneous introducer sheath


A sheet position adjustment assembly comprises a sheet that overlies a support element such as a mattress on a relatively moveable frame of an adjustable bed. A pair of lengthwise adjustable straps connect the sheet adjacent the head portion of the mattress to a relatively stationary base of the adjustable bed. The straps are securely sewn to the sheet by nylon stitching. A mat of reinforcement material is sewn to the sheet at the attachment interface with the straps. A low-friction fabric panel is provided on the underside of the sheet that slides on the mattress. An upstanding rail is attached to the bed frame adjacent the head portion of the mattress to prevent collapse as the connecting straps extend thereover during the position adjustment operation. The method of adjusting the position of the sheet comprises connecting the sheet to the fixed base portion of the adjustable bed. The position of the moveable frame is then vertically adjusted upwardly by lifting or pivoting. The straps used to connect the sheet to the bed generate a pulling force as the moveable frame and mattress rise, thereby adjusting the position of the sheet and the patient positioned thereon, toward the head of the bed.

It is not unusual for a bed-ridden person lying either on a fitted or non-fitted sheet to gradually slide toward the foot of the bed. This is common in either a hospital or home setting, with a sick or substantially immobile patient lying in a bed. Patients frequently need to have the upper portion of the body elevated for therapeutic reasons, such as to reduce intracranial pressure, or to allow the patient to breathe more easily. When they slide down in bed, their position becomes less therapeutic and needs to be corrected. The problem is increased as the head of the bed is raised higher for the patient therapy, and during the latter stages of a patient's recovery when there are more occasions to sit up; i.e. the higher the head is raised and the more frequently it is done, the more the patient tends to slide.
The patient eventually experiences discomfort as the patient's legs become cramped against the foot guard of the bed. Furthermore, discomfort can be experienced simply due to the angle of the head of bed in relation to the foot no longer corresponding to the bending of the body at the hips. In effect, the patient's torso curves between spaced support points at the shoulders and the hips. This slumping of the patient cramps the lungs and other internal organs.
In these situations, the repositioning of the sheet upon which the patient is lying requires (1) a staff person to briefly lift and temporarily remove the patient from the bed, or (2) to physically grab hold and pull the sheet with the patient lying thereon, and pull the patient up in the bed to the desired position. It can be appreciated that these manual efforts require substantial strength. Normally, as a practical matter, two or more strong people are required to perform this function. In addition, such efforts subject the staff persons to a moderate risk of injury, as well as subjecting the patient to the considerable discomfort, as described. As one staff person can safely roll most patients, it would be particularly desirable to allow the same person, in many instances, to also move a patient up in the bed.
Generally, all hospitals, as well as many home care situations, use adjustable patient beds. Most of these beds are capable of dual position adjustments. More specifically, the bed mattress is received on a support platform that can be (1) vertically raised and lowered, and (2) pivoted about a lateral axis near the midpoint of its longitudinal dimension; that is, in the area of the patient's hips. This allows the height of the bed to be adjusted, and not only the head to be independently elevated, but also the foot of the bed to be elevated, if desired.
The support platform and mattress cooperate with a movable frame. The movable frame is attached to a base that is generally supported on the floor. The movable frame and base, and the support platform and the frame, cooperate to move with respect to each other through linkage arrangements including pivotable lever arms and cranks. The operation of the lever arms and the cranks powered by an electric motor causes the frame and the platform to be raised and lowered relative to the base, and the platform to bend at the hip line. Accordingly, both the elevation of the platform/mattress relative to the floor and the height and angle of the head of the bed relative to the foot of the bed, can be adjusted.
Considering this background, a simple assembly and method is needed to allow the patient to be pulled up in the bed while minimizing the strain on the staff persons, or home caregivers. It is contemplated that the new assembly and method take advantage of the adjustable nature of the bed to perform a position adjustment of the sheet, and thus remove most of the physical work involved. The assembly is contemplated as utilizing a modified sheet that is connected to the adjustable bed. Such an assembly would be easy to use and clean, and represent a cost efficient solution to the recognized difficulty that now exists. Such an assembly also would allow many patients, who now are in nursing homes, to be cared for at home by one caregiver of normal or limited strength.

Sheet position adjustment assembly and method


A strain tolerant multifilamentary wire capable of carrying superconducting currents is provided comprising a plurality of discontinuous filaments formed from a high temperature superconducting material. The discontinuous filaments have a length at least several orders of magnitude greater than the filament diameter and are sufficiently strong while in an amorphous state to withstand compaction. A normal metal is interposed between and binds the discontinuous filaments to form a normal metal matrix capable of withstanding heat treatment for converting the filaments to a superconducting state. The geometry of the filaments within the normal metal matrix provides substantial filament-to-filament overlap, and the normal metal is sufficiently thin to allow supercurrent transfer between the overlapped discontinuous filaments but is also sufficiently thick to provide strain relief to the filaments.

The phenomenon of superconductivity which many metals exhibit at low temperatures is of great scientific and commercial value since it permits various high powered devices to operate with minimal losses of electrical power. Superconducting devices can be used in such commercial applications as motors, generators, transformers, power lines, medical imaging systems, and large scale supermagnets. Several metal alloys have been discovered which exhibit superconducting properties and have been used to produce multifilament superconducting composites. These superconducting materials include Nb.sub.3 Sn, V.sub.3 Ga, Nb-Ti, and Nb.sub.3 Al. These superconducting materials are typically combined with a normal conductive metal and then formed into long, thin filaments to produce a multifilament superconducting/normal metal composite.
One method for preparing a multifilament superconducting wire, the so-called "bronze process") having a superconducting material such as Nb.sub.3 Sn, consists of drilling a plurality of evenly spaced holes in a copper or bronze billet, inserting niobium rods in each hole, and extruding and drawing the billet in several steps until the niobium rods are reduced to the desired filament size. The wire is then coated with tin and heated to react the tin and niobium in order to form the Nb.sub.3 Sn superconducting material. However, this process is expensive and exacting and generally limits the filament size to filaments larger than 2 .mu.m in diameter.
Another method for preparing a multifilamentary superconducting wire, the so-called in-situ process, involves casting large billets of Cu and Nb together in a consumable arc casting process. This produces a casting in which a dense array of Nb dendrites about 6 .mu.m in diameter are dispersed in a Cu matrix. This billet is drawn to wire, coated with Sn, and heat treated to transform the Nb to Nb.sub.3 Sn. These types of composite superconducting wires are known as in-situ composites because the superconducting filaments are formed in place during the process of preparing the multifilament superconducting composite.
Thus, neither of the prior art methods of forming superconducting wires described above separately prepare the filaments of the superconducting material prior to combining them with a normal metal material. Rather, as described above, the filaments are prepared during the casting process.
As stated above, multifilamentary superconducting composites have played a central role in the development of conductors for commercial applications such as large scale magnets because they are more stable magnetically than monolithic tapes and they are far easier to handle in the process of winding the magnet. The fabrication of these composites for high critical temperature materials such as those set forth above, however, has been problematic because the materials are so brittle and the chemistry so complicated.
Advances recently have been made in the development of high temperature superconducting materials based on copper-bearing oxides such as Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 and various compositions of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O. These materials have been processed using a wide variety of techniques in an attempt to produce useful engineering devices. Some of the processing techniques used include plasma spraying, sputtering, and laser-heated pedestal growth. However, because of the complexity of these processing techniques, none have been found feasible for use on a mass production basis.
Other methods for processing these materials in filament form have been developed which are more feasible for use on a mass production basis. These methods include a pendant drop melt extraction process and a gas jet fiberization process. The gas jet fiberization process for making amorphous Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O fibers has thus far proved to be the most successful. With the gas jet fiberization process, liquid drops of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O are directed through a supersonic nozzle where a gas stream shapes and freezes the liquid into filaments approximately 1 cm long having diameters that range from 0.5 to 3 .mu.m. The resulting filaments are in an amorphous state, and must be converted to a superconducting state in a subsequent process in order to produce multifilament superconducting wires. As can be seen, the gas jet fiberization process is an ex-situ process, since the filaments are formed separately and must separately be combined with a normal metal material subsequent to their formation.
Although superconducting filaments formed from Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O show promise for use in multifilament superconducting wires, several problems exist which must be overcome. For example, superconducting filaments composed of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O cannot feasibly be produced with the types of in-situ production methods discussed above. A significant reason for this is the complex chemical composition of these filaments. Therefore, new methods must be developed for using these separately formed filaments to produce superconducting wires. Further, with the gas jet fiberization and pendant drop melt extraction methods, the resulting filaments are in an amorphous state and must be converted to the superconducting state by heat treatment. Control of the conversion of these amorphous filaments to the superconducting state is important, because the filaments can coarsen during heat treatment which destroys the long slender aspect ratio of the filaments. Finally, because of the geometry of the filaments, that is, their comparatively short length, on the order of 1 cm, and their resulting discontinuous nature, it is difficult to realize large supercurrents in a superconducting wire having only a relatively small number of these filaments. Thus, a method of using a large number of these discontinuous filaments must be developed which provides substantial filament-to-filament transfer of supercurrents among the discontinuous filaments.
In spite of these difficulties, the use of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O filaments has many potential advantages. For example, with the gas jet fiberization process, the resulting ex-situ filaments are amorphous, electrically insulating and relatively strong. The flexibility of these filaments, because they are in an amorphous state, allows them to better withstand mechanical processing to form microfilamentary superconducting wires. Further, the use of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O filaments has great advantages over the use of filaments formed from other superconducting materials such as those set forth above. For example, the superconducting materials discussed above exhibit poor mechanical properties, namely brittleness, and are not as reliable for use in commercial applications. As a result, these other superconducting materials are not as suitable for production on an industrial scale. Therefore, if the problems discussed above can be overcome, it may be possible to use the flexible Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O filaments for producing superconducting wires on a mass production basis.

Method for producing strain tolerant multifilamentary oxide superconducting wire

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


The present invention relates to a heating device (100, 200) for heating food (4) in a container (3), in particular milk in a baby bottle. The heating device comprising a chamber (1) configured to contain a fluid (2) and to receive the container (3), a heating unit (5) for heating the fluid, a temperature measuring element (8) for measuring the temperature of the fluid (2) over time to obtain a temperature profile (300) over time, and a controller (6) for controlling the heating unit (5) based on the obtained temperature profile of the fluid.

Heating up food, in particular milk, to an acceptable temperature is an essential part of the nutrition cycle for young babies. This can either be breast milk that is stored in the fridge or formula milk that is prepared from tap water or cooled down boiled water. An acceptable temperature for the milk is for most babies between 30 and 40-42° C. and more preferably between 35 and 39° C. Research shows that if the milk temperature is over 40° C. for more than 20 minutes, then the essential nutrition parts such as proteins and vitamins will be damaged.
There are several different methods of heating-up milk or food. These can be microwave heating, steam heating and water bath heating (also known as au bain-marie heating). Microwave heating method has the disadvantage that heating is not uniform in the milk and locally the milk can become very hot, causing nutrition damage. With steam heating steam is condensing on the bottle wall. It has however a disadvantage that the milk temperature inside the milk can be non-homogeneous, also resulting in parts (at the top of the bottle) of the milk that can become too hot. This is also noticed by consumers.
The au bain-marie principle is heating of milk by placing the milk in a container, in particular a baby bottle, in liquid, in particular water, which is heated via a heating element at the bottom of a chamber. This is the most common technology being used in many heating devices. One of the essential advantages of an au bain-marie system is that the heating of the milk goes relatively uniform, i.e. there is only a small temperature gradient in the milk.
Currently, the user has to roughly define by trial and error the heating time of the baby bottle in the chamber in order to achieve the desired milk temperature. When the baby bottle is not taken out in the right time interval the milk will continue to heat up. As there is a tremendous variation in baby bottle types, sizes, milk and water volume, baby bottle wall thickness and initial milk and water temperature it is not possible for a manufacturer to give accurate advice in the manual on how long the baby bottle should be heated to achieve the required temperature.
An essential problem for a bottle warmer is that the milk temperature inside the bottle is not known. It appears rather difficult to measure the milk temperature directly in the bottle. There are bottles with temperature indicators, however these are relatively inaccurate. Further it is very difficult to read these temperature indicators when the milk is in the bottle warmer.
US 2004/0140304 A1 discloses a device for chilling and warming a baby bottle in a single chamber, the device comprising a chamber configured to contain a fluid and to receive a container, the heating unit for heating the fluid, a temperature measuring element for measuring a temperature of the chamber and a controller for controlling the heating unit.

Heating device for heating food in a container, in particular milk in a baby bottle


An anode material capable of improving cycle characteristics, and a battery using the anode material are provided. A disk-shaped cathode contained in a package can and a disk-shaped anode contained in a package cup are laminated with a separator in between. The anode includes an alloy or a compound including iron in addition to at least either tin or silicon. The ratio of iron in the alloy or the compound is preferably about 15% by mass or less. Moreover, it is preferable that the alloy or the compound further includes chromium in an amount of less than 1500 ppm by mass.

The present invention relates to an anode material made of an alloy or a compound including at least either tin (Sn) or silicon (Si), and a battery using the anode material.
In recent years, as mobile devices have higher performance and more functions, secondary batteries with higher capacity used as power sources of the mobile devices have been desired. A secondary battery which meets the requirement is a lithium-ion secondary battery. However, in a currently widely used lithium-ion secondary battery using lithium cobalt oxide as a cathode and graphite as an anode, its battery capacity is in a saturation state, so it is extremely difficult to significantly increase the capacity.
Under the circumstances, as an anode material capable of achieving a higher capacity, tin and silicon which form an alloy with lithium, and an alloy thereof have been widely researched. However, they have the following problem. When they are bonded with and dissociated from lithium (Li) during charge and discharge, they are expanded and shrunk, so they are cracked into small pieces whenever charge and discharge are repeated. Thereby, they have poor cycle characteristics. Therefore, attempts to prevent the expansion of the alloy during charge by adding an element which does not form an intermetallic compound with lithium have been made (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. Hei 6-325765 and Hei 7-230800).
However, there is a problem that an improvement in the cycle characteristics is not sufficient even if the element is added.

Anode material and battery using the same


A flight control system is provided that includes a reference system and flight control actuators. The reference system includes one or more sets of gyroscopes and accelerometers. At least one set of the gyroscopes and accelerometers are configured to provide a first output of a first set inertial signals for normal mode flight control and second output of a second different set of inertial signals for backup mode flight control. The flight control actuators are configured to be controlled by one of the first set of inertial signals and the second set of inertial signals.

It is common in aircraft with Fly-By-Wire (FBW) Flight Control Systems that they are designed to protect against both random failures and design errors. Protection against random failures is generally achieved by using redundant channels of equipment. The flight control system generally provides a normal mode that uses redundant channels of inertial signals, such as provided by a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS) or an Inertial Reference System (IRS). Each AHRS or IRS has three gyroscopes and three accelerometers and a microprocessor with software to calculate a full complement of inertial signals. The complexity of the microprocessor and software causes such signals to be susceptible to hardware or software errors, and they are generally considered to be not fully analyzable for design errors.
Protection against design errors is generally achieved by augmenting the flight control normal mode with a simpler backup mode that can be activated in the event of a design error in the normal mode. The backup mode requires a subset of inertial signals (generally only body rate signals) that are simpler in design and hence are fully analyzable against design errors. The inertial signals for the backup mode generally have relaxed accuracy requirements compared to the signals for the normal mode. The backup mode inertial sensors are also generally redundant to protect against random failures. This means the flight control system requires duplicate sets of redundant inertial sensors—one set for the normal mode and another set for the backup mode. This duplication of inertial sensors increases the cost of the flight control system.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient control signal system.

Inertial signals for flight control backup mode


A power headroom reporting (PHR) processing method in carrier aggregation system and a device thereof are provided. The PHR processing method includes the following steps: user equipment (UE) acquires a pathloss change corresponding to an uplink carrier which is in an activation state at present; the UE determines whether a PHR is to be triggered based on the pathloss change; if the PHR is to be triggered, the UE acquires power headroom (PH) information to be reported and reports the PH information.

(1) CA (Carrier Aggregation)
Peak rate of LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) system has improved greatly compared with that of LTE (Long Term Evolution) system. The downlink rate must reach 1 Gbps and uplink rate must be 500 Mbps. Meanwhile, LTE-A system is required to be well compatible with LTE system.
For sake of peak rate increase and compatibility with LTE system and full use of spectrum resource, LTE-A system introduces CA (Carrier Aggregation) technology, which means that uplink and downlink include more than one CC (component carrier) in a cell.
Specifically, each CC in CA system can be continuous or discontinuous. Meanwhile, the bandwidth between different CCs can be the same or different, however, for keeping compatible with LTE system, the maximum bandwidth of each CC is limited to 20 MHz, and generally the maximum amount of CC is 5.
(2) LTE PHR (Power Headroom Reporting)
The meaning of PHR in LTE system: the difference between the maximum transmitted power and the estimated transmitted power of UE (user equipment). PH can be calculated according to the following formula: PH (Power Headroom)=PMAX (the maximum transmitted power of UE)−PPUSCH (the power consumed by PUSCH (physical uplink shared channel) carrying PHR information).
In course of implementing the present invention, the inventor finds out there are at least the problems below in the present technology:
In LTE system, UE works only on one DL (downlink)/UL (uplink) CC. When pathloss of CC changes and reaches the threshold, PHR will be triggered. However, the corresponding processing method on how pathloss change of each CC affects the reporting process of UE PHR when UE is configured with more than one UL and DL CC in LTE-A CA is not shown in the present technology.

PHR processing method and device in carrier aggregation system

China Academy Of Telecommunications Technology


The invention concerns an apparatus for separating sausages from a string of sausages linked by connecting portions and comprises a conveyor system including at least two conveyors connected in series and comprising upper and lower belts, between which the sausage string is held. The apparatus further comprises a sensing device and cutting means controlled by the sensing device. In order to ensure reliable operation of the apparatus at high speeds and when sausages are misshapen, the connecting portion detection is improved by driving the downstream conveyor at a higher speed than the upstream conveyor so effecting a stretching of the sausage string as it is transferred from one to the other and by using two photosensing detectors mutually spaced along the conveyor and adapted to signal the detection of a connecting portion when the downstream detector registers a low light value and the upstream detector registers a high light value.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an apparatus for separating individual sausages, which are connected together by connecting portions to form a string, the apparatus comprising a conveying system for conveying the sausage string along a conveying path, a cutting apparatus arranged in the area of the conveying path and a sensor device for detecting the positions of the connecting portions between adjacent sausages and controlling the cutting apparatus as a function of these positions.
The sausage string, which is the starting product for this apparatus, is the result of conventional production processes for sausages. The sausage string is formed of a skin, in which sausage meat is progressively stuffed in portions with a specialised filling device. These portions are then separated from one another by twisting the skin or with clips or the like to produce a string of sausages, from which individual sausages must be separated.
2. Prior Art
Separating devices of this kind with diverse designs are known. For example an apparatus is disclosed in DE 43 07 637 C2 with which the sausage string is supplied to a stationary cutting apparatus which is arranged upstream of a further conveyor for carrying away the individual sausages. The cutting apparatus comprises a time-controlled rotating knife having two sickle-shaped blades. The timing of the knife is controlled by a process controller as a function of signals generated by a single light detector.
A further apparatus known from DE 35 35 960 C1 includes a conveying device for advancing a sausage string along the conveying path of a cutting device. The cutting device is controlled by means of a sensor device which scans the connecting portions between adjacent sausages and consists of two scanning arrangements arranged offset from one another along the conveying path. The cutting device is activated when both scanning arrangements register a lack of material.
With separating devices of this kind it is essential that the sausages are separated reliably in the region of the connecting portions when operating with high throughput. This result must also be obtained when the connecting portions are short or asymmetric, as is often the case when natural skin is used, which increases the risk of the sausages being damaged during cutting.
This requirement is not satisfied by conventional devices because the position of the connecting portions cannot be determined with certainty, particularly when the sausage ends are of irregular shape.

Apparatus for separating individual sausages from a string of sausages

Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH & Co KG


Transcoding as from MPEG-2 SDTV to MPEG-4 CIF reuses motion vectors and downsamples in the frequency (DCT) domain with differing treatments of frame-DCT and field-DCT blocks, and alternatively uses de-interlacing IDCT with respect to the row dimension plus deferred column downsampling for reference frame blocks.

The present invention relates to digital video image processing, and more particularly, to methods and systems for transcoding from one video format to another with differing resolution.
Currently, a large body of video content exists as MPEG-2 encoded bitstreams ready for DVD or broadcast distribution. This MPEG-2 content is usually available at a high bitrate (e.g., 6 Mbps), in interlaced SDTV (standard definition television) format (704×480 pixels). However, for effective video transmission, many applications such as 3G wireless infrastructure, video streaming, home networking, et cetera use low bitrate, progressive standards such as MPEG-4 or H.263. Due to the potential high-volume market associated with these applications, video transcoding which can convert MPEG-2 bitstreams into MPEG-4 bitstreams is an important, emerging technology.
FIG. 2a shows generic DCT-based motion-compensated encoding which is used in MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. FIG. 2b illustrates a straightforward, but computationally intensive, resolution-reducing transcoder for conversion of an MPEG-2 bitstream into a lower-resolution MPEG-4 bitstream; the first row of operations decodes the input MPEG-2 bitstream, the middle operation down-samples the reconstructed video frames by a factor of two in both vertical and horizontal dimensions, and the bottom row performs MPEG-4 encoding. In particular, the input MPEG-2 SDTV bitstream is decoded by a conventional decoder that performs Variable-Length Decoding (VLD), Inverse Quantization (IQ), Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform (IDCT), and Motion Compensation (MC) to produce SDTV-resolution raw frames in the 4:2:0 format. Spatial down-sampling by a factor of two is then performed vertically and horizontally to produce raw frames. Spatial downsampling along the vertical dimension is performed by extracting the top field of the raw interlaced SDTV frame. Spatial downsampling along the horizontal dimension is subsequently implemented either by discarding odd-indexed pixels or by filtering horizontally with the [1; 1] kernel and then discarding the odd-indexed pixels. This spatial downsampling yields raw frames at the resolution 352×240. These frames are converted to CIF resolution by appending a 352×48 block of zeros to each raw frame. Next, the CIF-resolution raw frames are input to an MPEG-4 encoder that performs Motion Estimation (ME), Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Quantization (Q) and Variable-Length Coding (VLC) to obtain the transcoded MPEG-4 CIF bitstream.
However, because the CIF-resolution frames are obtained from down-sampling the SDTV-resolution frames, the motion field described by the MPEG-4 motion vectors is a downsampled version of the motion field described by the MPEG-2 motion vectors. This implies that the ME stage may be eliminated in FIG. 2b because MPEG-2 motion vectors may be re-used in the MPEG-4 encoder, as suggested in FIG. 3a. In fact, if the ME utilizes an exhaustive search to determine the motion vectors, then it consumes approximately 70% of the MPEG-4 encoder cycles. In this case, elimination of the ME stage by estimating the MPEG-4 motion vectors from the MPEG-2 motion vectors will significantly improve transcoding performance.
Now, every MPEG-2 frame is divided into 16×16 MacroBlocks (MBs) with the 16×16 luminance pixels subdivided into four 8×8 blocks and the chrominance pixels, depending upon format, subsampled as one, two, or four 8×8 blocks; the DCT is performed on 8×8 blocks. Each macroblock is either intra- or inter-coded. The spatial downsampler of FIG. 3a converts a "quartet" of four MBs that are co-located as shown in FIG. 3b into a single 16×16 Macroblock that will be MPEG-4 encoded. Each inter-coded MB is associated with a motion vector that locates the reference macroblock in a preceding anchor-frame. Therefore, every MB quartet has four associated MPEG-2 motion vectors as shown in FIG. 3c. And the prediction errors from use of the reference macroblock as the predictor is DCT transformed; for luminance either as four 8×8 blocks according to spatial location (frame-DCT) or as four 8×8 blocks with two 8×8 blocks corresponding to the top field of the MB and two 8×8 blocks corresponding to the bottom field of the MB (field-DCT).
To eliminate the MPEG-4 ME stage in the FIG. 2b baseline transcoder, estimate the MPEG-4 motion vector from the four associated MPEG-2 motion vectors, as shown in FIG. 3c. (Note that in B-frames, an MB may also have an additional motion vector to locate a reference macroblock in a subsequent anchor-frame.) And various motion vector estimation approaches have been proposed; for example, Wee et al., Field-to-frame transcoding with spatial and temporal downsampling, IEEE Proc. Int. Conf. Image Processing 271 (1999) estimate the MPEG-4 motion-vector by testing each of the four scaled MPEG-2 motion vectors associated with a macroblock quartet on the decoded, downsampled frame that is being encoded by the MPEG-4 encoder. The tested motion vector that produces the least residual energy is selected as the estimated MPEG-4 motion vector.
For the transcoder in FIG. 3a, the input and output bitstreams are both coded, quantized DCT coefficients. However, after the IDCT stage, spatial-domain processing accounts for most of the intermediate processing. Finally, the DCT stage returns the spatial-domain pixels to the frequency-domain for quantization and VLC processing. Some researchers suggested that the intermediate processing can be performed in the frequency domain, thus eliminating the IDCT and DCT stages in the transcoder. For example, Assuncao et al, A Frequency-Domain Video Transcoder for Dynamic Bit-Rate Reduction of MPEG-2 Bit Streams, 8 IEEE Trans. Cir. Sys. Video Tech. 953 (1998).
And Merhav et al, Fast Algorithms for DCT-Domain Image Down-Sampling and for Inverse Motion Compensation, 7 IEEE Tran. Cir. Sys. Video Tech. 468 (1997), provides matrices for downsampling and inverse motion compensation in the frequency domain together factoring of the matrices for fast computations.
Further, Song et al, A Fast Algorithm for DCT-Domain Inverse Motion Compensation Based on Shared Information in a Macroblock, 10 IEEE Trans. Cir. Sys. Video Tech 767 (2000), disclose inverse motion compensation taking advantage of the adjacent locations of the four reference 8×8 blocks of a predicted macroblock to simplify the computations.
Subsequently, Liu et al, Local Bandwidth Constrained Fast Inverse Motion Compensation for DCT-Domain Video Transcoding, 12 IEEE Tran. Cir. Sys. Video Tech. 309 (2002) and A Fast and Memory Efficient Video Transcoder for Low Bit Rate Wireless Communications, IEEE Proc. Int. Conf. ASSP 1969 (2002), demonstrated reduced-complexity frequency-domain transcoding by downsampling prior to inverse motion compensation in the frequency domain.
Arai et al, A Fast DCT-SQ Scheme for Images, 71 Trans. IEICE 1095 (1988), provides a factorization for the 8×8 DCT matrix which allows for fast computations.
Hou, A Fast Recursive Algorithm for Computing the Discrete Cosine Transform, 35 IEEE Tran. ASSP 1455 (1987), provides a recursive method for the DCT analogous to the fast Fourier transform (FFT) in which a 2N-point transform is expressed in terms of N-point transforms together with simple operations.