The invention relates to a method for welding two welding parts (1, 3) by means of a fillet weld (11), wherein a first welding part (1), with a bearing surface at least in an edge area of an edge that is to be welded by means of a fillet weld, is brought into contact with a bearing surface of a welding part (3) and the welding energy (5) is supplied in an energy supply area during the welding process, exclusive of a surface (7) of the first welding part facing away from the bearing surface, said energy supply area being located at a predetermined distance from the edge of the first welding part. The welding energy is supplied in a direction, whereby the direction component thereof points perpendicular to the course of the fillet weld that is to be produced in the direction of an inner area of the first welding part, forming a welding angle of less than 90° with the contact plane of the bearing surfaces of the first and second welding parts. The welding energy is supplied until at least the energy supply area of the first welding part and a sufficient area of the second part, which is adjacent to the energy supply area of the first welding part, and also the material supply area located between the energy supply area and the edge of the first welding part are melted and fused together. The invention also relates to a welding part for carrying out said method and to an electric component with a printed conductor, which is welded to a cooling body of at least one power semiconductor element.

From DE 199 12 443, an electrical assembly with at least one semiconductor element is known, by which, for example, a conductor track formed as a conducting-lead frame is welded to a metallic heat sink of a power semiconductor unit by means of a fillet weld. Through this, a secure electrical contact is reached and, at the same time, the lead-away of the dissipated heat of the power semiconductor unit to the conductor track is assured. Moreover, since the heat sink of a power semiconductor unit is ordinarily joined to a connector contact of the assembly, there is the advantage that the connector contact in question does not additionally still have to be connected electrically with the conductor track in question.
When welding a power semiconductor unit to a conductor track, it is necessary to bring as little heat as possible to the heat sink of the power semiconductor unit during the welding procedure, as otherwise there is the danger of damage or destruction of the semiconductor chip placed on the heat sink.
The welding procedure carried out up to now by the applicant is more closely explained briefly in the following, by means of the representations in the FIGS. 1a and 1b to illustrate the difficulties connected with it.
As represented in FIG. 1a, a first welding part 1, which can be for example a conductor track in the form of a conducting-lead frame, is brought into contact with its lower surface at the top of a second welding part 3. In the case of the second welding part, it can be for example the metallic heat sink of a power semiconductor unit.
The welding should take place, for example, by means of laser welding on the right edge of the first welding part 1. In this regard, the welding energy is introduced to the first welding part at its edge area by means of a laser beam 5. Since it concerns the heat sink of a power semiconductor unit for the second welding part 3, one must make sure that the welding energy is introduced only in as small a dosage as possible to the second welding part 3, in order to prevent damage or destruction of the semiconductor chip. As a result, the laser beam is so positioned with respect to the first welding part 1 that the laser beam, which has a diameter corresponding to the bead width wo lies with its entire bead of diameter wo in the range of the top edge of the first welding part 1. After experiments, it has been established that the angle which the laser beam has with the contact area between the first and second welding part 1, 3 should preferably lie in the area of 50 to 80 degrees. If the angle which the laser beam 5 makes with the contact surface were to be 90 degrees or more, then the desired fillet weld would not develop between the edge of the first welding part 1 and the top of the second welding part 3.
The completed weld joint is shown in FIG. 1b. The top corner area or, respectively, the edge area of the first welding part is melted by means of the supply of the welding energy of the laser beam 5. Since it was not permitted in this case to direct the laser beam directly into the corner area between the edge of the first welding part 1 and the top area of the second welding part 3, the entire top edge or, respectively, edge area of the first welding part 1 must, consequently, be melted. In the process, the welding energy must be so great and sustained for so long, until not only the entire edge area of the first welding part 1 is melted, but also, a sufficient area of the second welding part 3, which is adjacent to the melted edge of the first welding part, is melted as well and fused with the material of the first welding part 1.
The completed weld pattern of the fillet weld is shown in FIG. 1b. As a result of the required melting of the top edges and the welding energy used, which has to be as low as possible, there is frequently a welding pattern which is optically somewhat unappealing since a relatively large material flow is necessary.
Furthermore, the positioning of the welding parts relative to the laser beam, as a consequence of the perpendicular edge of the first welding part, is very critical. Even minimal displacement of the first welding part 1 in FIG. 1a to the left would cause the laser beam to register its welding energy closer and closer to the sensitive second welding part 3 or even upon it. That is absolutely to be prevented.
Furthermore, small position changes of the first welding part 1 relative to the laser beam 5 lead to strong different material flows during melting of the edge area of the first welding part 1. The production of an optically appealing, uniformly shaped welding bead is therefore difficult.

Method for welding two welding parts by means of a fillet weld and welding part with an inclined tapered edge area therefor

TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG


An underbody trim for the rear-end region of a motor vehicle conceals a rear exhaust muffler. For the purposes of cooling the rear exhaust muffler, an air inlet is provided in the underbody trim. The air inlet is arranged in a region in which, while the motor vehicle is traveling, a pressure is higher at the underside of the underbody trim than the region of the floor panel arranged thereabove. Cooling ambient air is thus conducted into the region of the rear exhaust muffler with low flow losses.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle having an underbody trim in the rear-end region of the motor vehicle, wherein the underbody trim is arranged below a floor panel of the motor vehicle and at least partially conceals a rear exhaust muffler.
A motor vehicle known, for example, from DE 43 19 281 A1 has a plate-like trim part below the floor panel. The trim part is provided with a multiplicity of air inlets. In this way, a boundary layer region, in which there is a risk of turbulence, at that side of the reinforcement part which faces toward the air flow while the motor vehicle is traveling is drawn away in the direction of the floor panel. The remaining part of the air at the flow-exposed side of the reinforcement part thus flows along the underbody trim in a laminar fashion, resulting in a lower air resistance. The known underbody trim also extends in the rear region of the motor vehicle and, here, conceals for example a fuel tank and a rear exhaust muffler.
It is an object of the invention to further develop the underbody trim of the known motor vehicle, in particular to obtain effective cooling of a rear exhaust muffler, without increasing the air resistance coefficient of the motor vehicle in the process.
This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a motor vehicle having an underbody trim in the rear-end region of the motor vehicle, wherein the underbody trim is arranged below a floor panel of the motor vehicle and at least partially conceals a rear exhaust muffler. At least one air inlet is provided in the underbody trim, wherein the air inlet is provided in the region of the rear exhaust muffler, exclusively in a region in which, while the motor vehicle is traveling, a pressure is higher at the underside of the underbody trim than in an intermediate space between the underbody trim and the floor panel.
The core concept of the invention is that of providing the underbody trim with at least one air inlet in the region of the rear exhaust muffler, wherein the air inlet is arranged exclusively in a region in which, while the motor vehicle is traveling, a pressure is higher at the underside of the underbody trim panel than in the region of the floor panel situated thereabove. With an air inlet located in this way, it is achieved that the air flowing along the underbody trim flows into the air inlet solely on account of the pressure conditions between the outer side and the inner side of the underbody trim. In this way, a flow of ambient air into the intermediate space between the underbody trim and the floor panel is achieved with particularly low resistance, such that an adequate amount of cooling air is available for this region, which region is subjected to thermal load by the rear exhaust muffler. Owing to the fact that the cooling air flows in with low resistance, the air resistance coefficient of the motor vehicle is not increased, or is even reduced, in relation to a motor vehicle without the air inlet, such that in this way, despite improved thermal operational reliability of the motor vehicle, the fuel consumption thereof remains unchanged or is even lowered.
By performing pressure measurements in the rear-end region of motor vehicles, with a multiplicity of measurements at measurement points spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, it is possible to localize a threshold point or a line of threshold points running approximately in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle. At said threshold point, or at said threshold points, the negative pressure at the underside of the underbody trim and the negative pressure in the intermediate space between underbody trim and floor panel are equal. As already explained above, while the motor vehicle is traveling, in the region behind said threshold point or behind said threshold points, it is possible for a fraction of the underbody flow to flow of its own accord into the intermediate space between underbody trim and floor panel owing to the pressure conditions. According to the invention, the air inlet is arranged, in a targeted fashion, in the region behind the threshold point or behind the line of threshold points.
The region that is subject to thermal load is primarily the surroundings of the rear exhaust muffler that is concealed by the underbody trim. The underbody trim prevents the thermal energy in this region from being able to escape by convection or radiation. As a result, without additional measures, there would be an inadmissibly high temperature in the surroundings of the rear exhaust muffler, and of the floor panel arranged above the rear exhaust muffler and possibly of components arranged above the floor panel in the luggage compartment. It is often the case that electrical and electronic components such as, for example, a starter battery or a control unit are arranged in the lower region of the luggage compartment. Furthermore, components of chassis control systems are often also situated in the surroundings of the rear exhaust muffler.
As a result of the introduction, according to the invention, of cooling air with low resistance into regions subject to relatively high thermal load (so-called "hotspots"), the thermal operational reliability of the motor vehicle is improved. By means of an air inlet according to the invention, the temperature at the floor panel of the motor vehicle can be minimized. The invention can be used in all variants of motor vehicles, regardless of the drive, engine and/or bodyshell concept. The phenomenon of the pressure being higher in a particular region under the underbody trim than in the intermediate space, situated thereabove, between the underbody trim and floor panel arises even at low speeds, and is intensified with increasing speed of the motor vehicle, such that the invention is highly effective in many operating states of the motor vehicle.
The at least one air inlet may be designed in any desired way, for example as a classic ramp, as a large NACA inlet, in the form of multiple small NACA inlets, etc. If multiple inlets are provided, these are arranged adjacent to one another as viewed in the direction of travel, that is to say arranged in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, at least approximately in a row.
In one advantageous refinement of the invention, the underbody trim is formed in the manner of a diffuser, with a level of the underbody trim rising in the vertical direction of the motor vehicle counter to the direction of travel. Owing to the fact that the spacing between the underside of the underbody trim and the roadway increases toward the rear-end region of the motor vehicle, the pressure at the underside of the underbody trim increases continuously, or in other words the negative pressure at the underbody trim decreases, in the direction of the rear end of the vehicle during forward travel of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the design of the underbody trim as a diffuser has an advantageous effect on the left of the motor vehicle, and thus on the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle.
The invention can be realized in two basic embodiments depending on the structural height of the rear exhaust muffler.
In the case of motor vehicles with a rear exhaust muffler which, owing to its structural height, is situated in the intermediate space between the floor panel and the underbody trim, and which can thus be completely concealed by the underbody trim, the air inlet is formed exclusively by a cutout in the underbody trim. Said cutout is, as viewed in the vertical direction of the motor vehicle, arranged below the underside of the rear exhaust muffler. Here, the position term "below" relates to the vertical direction of the motor vehicle and does not exclude an offset in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
In the case of motor vehicles with a rear exhaust muffler which, owing to its structural height, cannot be completely concealed by underbody trim, the underbody trim has a cutout which is larger than the air inlet. It is thus possible for the underside of the rear exhaust muffler to project through the cutout in the underbody trim, that is to say the underside of the rear exhaust muffler protrudes downward beyond the contour of the underbody trim. Here, the front edge of the cutout adjoins the front side of the rear exhaust muffler, which protrudes downwardly in the direction of the roadway, with the smallest possible gap. This region is designed such that the air flowing along the underbody flows over the gap with the least possible losses. By contrast, at the rear side of the rear exhaust muffler, a relatively large gap is intentionally provided between the rear exhaust muffler and the rear edge of the cutout. This gap constitutes the air inlet, that is to say the rear exhaust muffler forms the air inlet in interaction with the cutout in the underbody trim.
The invention can advantageously be used in motor vehicles which have a rear exhaust muffler arranged transversely with respect to the direction of travel. The invention can, however, basically also be used in motor vehicles which have a rear exhaust muffler arranged obliquely with respect to the direction of travel or in the direction of travel.
In a preferred refinement of the invention, the air inlet is arranged behind the rear exhaust muffler as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. It is achieved in this way that the air flows into the intermediate space between the floor panel and the underbody trim behind the rear exhaust muffler and, after being diverted into the direction of travel, can flow around the entire rear exhaust muffler.
In a further refinement of the invention, at least one air-guiding panel is provided by which the air that flows upward in the direction of the floor panel from the underbody flow is guided around the rear exhaust muffler. The air-guiding panel can interact with a heat shield panel, which shields the heat radiation from the rear exhaust muffler, by virtue of said heat shield panel additionally performing air-guiding tasks. It is likewise possible for the air-guiding panel to perform the function of a heat shield panel. The combination of air-guiding panel and heat shield plate thus ensures an effective flow of cooling ambient air around the rear exhaust muffler and, if appropriate, adjacent regions.
The underbody trim according to the invention covers as large a part of the underbody of the motor vehicle as possible in order that flow passes around the latter with low flow losses. In a first embodiment of the invention, the underbody trim begins directly after the rear axle and extends as far as the trim of the rear bumper. Here, the underbody trim adjoins the trim of the rear bumper, and adjacent components if appropriate, in an aerodynamically expedient manner, as far as possible without steps and joints. In a second embodiment of the invention, the underbody trim even begins in front of the rear axle and thus additionally covers the region of the rear axle, resulting in further improved aerodynamic effectiveness which results firstly from the optimized flow over the rear axle and secondly from the greater "approach" provided for the flow for a uniform flow around the rear-end region of the motor vehicle.
As well as concealing the rear exhaust muffler and, if appropriate, the region of the rear axle, the underbody trim also conceals a section of greater or lesser length of the pipeline, which leads to the rear exhaust muffler, of the exhaust system of the motor vehicle. The fuel tank of the motor vehicle is advantageously also concealed by the underbody trim.
The underbody trim is mounted on the motor vehicle by means of conventional connecting technologies such as screws, clips, welding, adhesive bonding, etc. The material of the underbody trim should be selected in accordance with the specific requirements (strengths, stiffness, heat resistance, flexibility, etc.). The underbody trim will be provided in part, or over the full area, with reinforcements, coatings and the like in accordance with the prevailing loads.
The position terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc. used in conjunction with the present invention relate to the installation position of the respective components in the motor vehicle during forward travel.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


When performing radio communication with a reader/writer (1), supply of a power source S4 from a battery (14) is started when a level judgment circuit (9) judges that the signal level of a reception signal S2 received by an antenna (5) of a noncontact data carrier (4) is equal to or higher than a predetermined amplitude and a timer circuit (10) judges that the state where the amplitude is equal to or higher than the predetermined value has continued for a predetermined period T1 or more, and further, the supply of the power source S4 from the battery is stopped when the level judgment circuit (9) judges that the signal level of the reception signal S2 is lower than the predetermined amplitude and the timer circuit (10) judges that state where the amplitude is lower than the predetermined value has continued for a predetermined period T2 or more, thereby ensuring communication reliability that causes no problem in practical use of the noncontact data carrier (4), and avoiding insignificant dissipation of the battery.

Battery-less noncontact data carriers include a noncontact IC card which performs proximity communication by electromagnetically-induced binding using a frequency in an HF (High Frequency) band, and a noncontact tag which performs a longer-distance communication relative to the proximity communication, using an electromagnetic wave of a frequency in a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band or a SHF (Super High Frequency) band. Many of these noncontact data carriers are operated with a power source that is obtained from a signal received by radio communication from a reader/writer.
However, there is a current situation where the noncontact tag is restricted in reception power which is obtained from the reader/writer as compared with the noncontact IC card performing proximity communication, and it is difficult to enhance the performance or increase the circuit scale which might cause an increase in power consumption.
In order to solve this problem, in recent years, a noncontact data carrier such as a noncontact tag which is equipped with a battery has been put to practical use (refer to Patent Document 1). The noncontact data carrier having the battery ensures a larger power relative to a battery-less data carrier by combining the power supply obtained from the reader/writer and the power supply obtained from the battery, and thereby performs complicated data processing and large-volume data processing for which stability of the power supply is required.
Hereinafter, a description will be given of a conventional battery-equipped noncontact data carrier. FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating the construction of a communication system comprising a conventional noncontact data carrier (referred to as a responder in FIG. 18) having a battery (referred to as a power supply part in FIG. 18), and a reader/writer (referred to as an interrogator in FIG. 18) which performs communication by a microwave with the noncontact data carrier. FIG. 19 is a waveform diagram illustrating the operation at startup of the conventional noncontact tag.
With reference to FIG. 18, the conventional battery-equipped responder 144 comprises an antenna 151 which receives a signal from the interrogator 141 and transmits a signal to the interrogator 141, a directional coupler 156 which transmits a transfer signal outputted from a transfer circuit 152 to the antenna 151 and transmits the signal received by the antenna 151 to a distributor 157, the distributor 157 which power-distributes the reception signal transmitted from the directional coupler 156 to a reception circuit 153 and to a wave detection circuit 158, a clock extraction circuit 156 which extracts a clock signal and a startup command from the output of the wave detection circuit 158, a judgment unit 160 which judges whether the extracted startup command matches a predetermined reference command for judgment or not, a CPU 161 which performs recognition of a command from the interrogator 141, processing based on the command, and generation of a response to the interrogator 141, a power supply unit 155 which supplies a power to the respective circuits in the responder 144, and a switch 154 which performs control for starting or stopping power supply from the power supply unit 155 on the basis of the judgment result of the judgment unit 160.
Power supply is continuously performed from the power supply unit 155 to the clock extraction circuit 159 and the judgment unit 160. Further, the directional coupler 156, the distributor 157, and the detection circuit 158 are operated with the power source received from the interrogator 141.
In this construction, when the responder 144 receives a signal including a startup command as shown in FIG. 19(a) from the interrogator 141, the received signal is transmitted through the directional coupler 156 and the divider 157 and detected by the wave detection circuit 158 in the responder 144. Then, a wave-detection signal (FIG. 19(b)) obtained in the wave detection circuit 158 is input to the clock extraction circuit 159, and the startup command is extracted. The startup command extracted by the clock extraction circuit 159 is input to the judgment unit 160, and it is judged whether or not a code of the startup command matches a code of a startup command for judgment which has previously been set. When there is a match, the output level is changed to turn on the switch 154 as shown in FIG. 19(c). When the switch 154 is turned on, power supply is started from the power supply unit 155 to the transmission circuit 152, the reception circuit 153, and the CPU 161, and consequently, the responder 144 is started up.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-80205


A device for synthesizing carbonated water includes: a device shell, in which a stirring chamber is defined; a rotation shaft, which is accommodated in the stirring chamber; a blade structure, which is accommodated in the stirring chamber and rotatable around the rotation shaft; sidewall ribs, which are distributed in the stirring chamber and arranged on a sidewall of the device shell, each sidewall rib comprising one or more collision interfaces; an input unit, which is arranged on the device shell, positioned below the blade structure, communicated with the stirring chamber, and operable to receive water and carbon dioxide; and an output unit, which is arranged on the device shell, positioned above the blade structure, communicated with the stirring chamber, and operable to deliver carbonated water with a predetermined concentration.

Carbonated water is a common beverage well populated among people, which is prepared mainly by dissolving a large amount of carbon dioxide in water. Different carbonated beverages may be prepared by adding one or a plurality of other raw materials to the carbonated water, for example, Coca Cola and Sprite.
For a better drinking taste of the carbonated water or the carbonated beverage, it is desired that the solubility of carbon dioxide reaches a value between 3.0 and 4.0 V/V. However, at the room temperature (25° C. and one standard atmospheric pressure), the saturated solubility of carbon dioxide in the water is merely 0.759 V/V.
Therefore, a series of devices and apparatuses are needed to prepare carbonated water with a high solubility of carbon dioxide.

Device for synthesizing carbonated water and system for preparing carbonated water


This disclosure provides methods and systems for predicting missing links and previously unknown numerals in a knowledge graph. A jointly trained multi-task machine learning model is disclosed for integrating a symbolic pipeline for predicting missing links and a regression numerical pipeline for predicting numerals with prediction uncertainty. The two prediction pipelines share a jointly trained embedding space of entities and relationships of the knowledge graph. The numerical pipeline additionally includes a second-layer multi-task regression neural network containing multiple regression neural networks for parallel numerical prediction tasks with a cross stich network allowing for information/model parameter sharing between the various parallel numerical prediction tasks.

Rapid advances in data organization and storage technologies, driven by immense customer demand, have resulted in the adoption of knowledge graphs. Knowledge graphs may represent entities with disparate characteristics and their complex relationships. It may be advantageous to predict/infer unknown relationships between these entities in the knowledge graphs. Efficient creation, ingestion, information access, and predictive expansion of knowledge graphs may further facilitate their wider spread in various applications.

System for multi-task distribution learning with numeric-aware knowledge graphs


In order to achieve a partial shielding with different shielding potentials, the shieldings per plug are composed of angled-off shields at the solder side and/or at the component side of a printed circuit board, whereby the length of the shields corresponds to the single or, respectively, multiple length of an individual segment of the spring contact housing of the plug. For fastening the shields to the module, the shields have hooks that are engageable into entry funnels of the outer spring chambers of the spring contact housing and also have press-in pins with which they are secured to the printed circuit board. Also, the shields comprise spring sections in the region of the contact blades, the spring sections being outwardly arced, separated from one another by slots and extending parallel to the contact blades.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for electrically connecting shields of multi-pole plugs from a printed circuit board (PCB) or daughter board, having a spring contact housing, to the ground potential layer of a mother board containing a plurality of contact blades residing perpendicularly thereon, whereby spring elements provided at the shields are arranged such that, in the plugged condition of the plugs, they resiliently press against contact blades conductively connected to the ground potential layer of the mother or wiring board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A device of the type generally set forth above is disclosed, for example, in the European patent application EP 0 203 405 A2. This known device has the disadvantage that either no shielding occurs or the shielding occurs over the length of the entire spring contact housing. A further disadvantage of the known device is that only one shielding potential per spring contact can be employed.

Device for electrically connecting shieldings of multi-pole plugs to the ground layer of a wiring board


The present disclosure discloses a browser and a method for adding and displaying a web picture comment. The method for adding the comment includes that: information on a content of a comment on a picture and a location of the comment on the picture is acquired, relative coordinates of the location of the comment on the picture with respect to a fixed reference point within the picture is calculated; and comment parameters comprising the relative coordinates, the content of the comment, and an ID of the picture are uploaded to a web server; and a comment information layer is formed using the comment parameters, and is placed on a picture layer; when a user enters a web page, the browser requests the web server to display comment information, calculates absolute coordinates of the location of the comment on the picture, and places the formed comment information layer on the picture layer to display. With the present disclosure, a comment can be pasted on a certain part of a picture while the page is kept stationary, which is graphic and vivid, and quite interesting, and works well especially for commenting an animation/cartoon/comics product, thereby enhancing user loyalty to an internet product.

A general method for implementing a picture comment on a website is the same as that for implementing an ordinary comment, where contents of the comments are displayed one by one below a picture. However, if a comment is to be made on a certain part of the picture, positioning is possible only through description in words, which is neither graphic nor visual, thereby limiting the effect of the comment seriously.

Browser and method for adding and displaying web picture comment


The present disclosure provides FGF1 mutant proteins, which selectively bind to/activate FGFR1b. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode such proteins, and vectors and cells that include such nucleic acids. Methods of using the disclosed FGF1 mutants to reduce blood glucose in a mammal and treat a metabolic disorder are provided.

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are leading causes of mortality and are associated with the Western lifestyle, which is characterized by excessive nutritional intake and lack of exercise. A central player in the pathophysiology of these diseases is the nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) PPARγ, a lipid sensor and master regulator of adipogenesis. PPARγ is also the molecular target for the thiazolidinedione (TZD)-class of insulin sensitizers, which command a large share of the current oral anti-diabetic drug market. However, there are numerous side effects associated with the use of TZDs such as weight gain, liver toxicity, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, back pain, hyperglycemia, fatigue, sinusitis, diarrhea, hypoglycemia, mild to moderate edema, and anemia. Thus, the identification of new insulin sensitizers is needed.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is secreted postprandially from intestinal L cells to stimulate the secretion of insulin from pancreatic β cells. In addition, GLP-1 improves the function of β cells. In vivo, GLP-1 is rapidly degraded by DPP-IV, limiting its half-life to minutes. Analogs of GLP-1, including those resistant to DPP-IV degradation such as exendin-4, are currently used to treat hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients.

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) mutant proteins that selectively activate FGFR1B to reduce blood glucose


An entrainment pump for viscous fluids comprising a moving member which dips into the fluid and of which a flat wall cooperates, without contact but with a very small clearance, with seals provides on the sides and at the rear end of a static element consisting of a box guide elongate in the direction of movement of said moving member, in this guide there being provided successive trap chambers which with said moving flat wall form clearances progressively decreasing in the direction of said movement and of the same order of magnitude as the particular thickness of the dragged fluid. Preferred embodiments are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new entrainment pump for viscous fluids which, by utilizing the dragging action of a moving member dipping into the fluid, said moving member possibly being a component of the actual apparatus in which the pump is to act, achieves effective and reliable pumping by means of a simple static element of low cost and minimum overall size.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the known art, to pump viscous fluids such as those used in lubricating the crank arms of rotary dobbies and looms, use is generally made of gear or lobe pumps in which two rotating members expel the fluid to be pumped between them.
Said known entrainment pumps have however a series of drawbacks which make them costly, difficult to assemble and in particular bulky, this latter drawback being very important especially in the field of dobbies in which, as is well known, the available spaces are truly minimal. In this respect, such mechanical pumps require a drive which is generally distant from the points to be lubricated, so that said points have to be connected along complicated paths by long and unwieldy connection tubes. In addition to precision manufacture they also require bulky couplings for connecting the pump to said drive, this further increasing costs.

Entrainment pump for viscous fluids, particularly suitable for lubricating dobbies and looms

Nuoyopignone-Industrie Meccaneche e Fonderia SpA


A transmitter produces a magnetic alternating field having a predetermined frequency. A receiver is provided with a detector which is able to detect predetermined higher harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field. A transponder includes a signal element made of soft magnetic material. When the transponder is placed in the magnetic alternating field, higher harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field are generated by the signal element. The signal element is in the form of a ring.

The invention relates to a transponder for a detection system, which comprises a transmitter, for the production of a magnetic alternating field having a predetermined frequency, and a receiver, the transponder comprising a signal element made of soft magnetic material and the receiver being provided with a detector which detects the higher harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field, which harmonics are generated by placing the transponder in the magnetic alternating field, in which the signal element has a curved shape. A transponder of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,249.
The known detection system comprises a transmitter which is composed of an alternating voltage generator and a coil unit connected thereto in order to generate a magnetic alternating field having a predetermined frequency. In addition, the detection system comprises a receiver, the receiving coil unit of which is placed opposite the transmitting coil unit of the transmitter. The receiving coil unit is connected to a detector of the receiver, which is set up to detect higher harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field. The known transponder for use in the known system comprises a carrier of insulating plastic material, on which a curved strip made of soft magnetic material is fixed.
When the transponder is located in the magnetic alternating field, it will be influenced by said field in such a way that harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field are generated, which harmonics are detected by the detector as an indication of the presence of the transponder in the magnetic alternating field.
The curved signal element used in the above known system provides a relatively good signal response over a wide range of orientation of the plane of the signal element in comparison to a straight element, but has the disadvantage that the detection is still direction-sensitive perpendicular to the abovementioned plane.
When the signal wire is positioned with its longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lines of force of the magnetic alternating field, no higher harmonics of the frequency of the alternating field are generated, or the amplitudes of said higher harmonics are too small to enable them to be detected. The detection system therefore works reliably only when the signal carrier has a specific orientation with respect to the magnetic alternating field.

Circular magnetic target for an electronic article surveillance system


The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for automated measured correction of the eyes and provision of sunglasses and eyeglasses for individuals, including individuals with a visual acuity of 20/20 or better.

Refractive corrections for human eyes can be characterized into two general categories. The first category is the conventional method of vision correction which corrects for the eye's focus error and cylindrical error as measured using a manifest refraction. The second category is wavefront-guide vision correction which provides correction for all aberrations in an eye, including focus error, cylindrical error, spherical aberration, coma, and others, measured using an objective wavefront sensor.
The conventional method of vision correction is conceptually limited to a correction of just focus error and cylindrical error. In addition, it is also constrained by the subjective nature of how the manifest refraction determines the eye's refractive errors, particularly the eye's cylindrical error. Cylindrical error is also known as astigmatism, and it causes particular problems because it includes both a cylindrical power and a cylindrical axis.
There are at least five limiting factors associated with a manifest refraction. First, manifest refraction is limited by available lenses in a phoroptor, because a manifest refraction relies on applying corrective lenses and testing vision of the eye subjectively. Focus error is usually limited to a resolution of 0.125 Diopters (D) while the cylindrical error is limited to a resolution of 0.25 D. Second, subjective determination of cylindrical axis can be problematic because a slight variation of cylindrical axis—within only a few degrees—can cause a significant performance difference for a cylindrical correction of more than 2 D. Third, human errors by either the patient or a practitioner—such as an optometrist or optician—cannot be excluded because a manifest refraction involves the subjective responses of a patient to a plurality of refractive corrections, as well as the practitioner's analysis of those subjective responses. Fourth, a manifest refraction is fundamentally a partial empirical refractive solution, because a practitioner conducting the manifest refraction determines an end point for a refractive correction in a time-consuming process. Finally, manifest refraction can also be a time consuming process because it relies on human control of vision optimization with as many as three independent variables which include a focus error, a cylindrical power, and a cylindrical axis.
The drawbacks associated with using a manifest refraction compound with the high tolerance of current lens manufacturing techniques and lead to widespread erroneous vision correction. The inaccuracy of the conventional vision correction method using a manifest refraction leads to a situation where there may be significant differences in a refractive prescription of the same eye by different practitioners, as well as in a coarse resolution of cylindrical power—as large as 0.25 D—universally prescribed for conventional vision correction. Consequently, available ophthalmic lenses in today's ophthalmic industry are also limited to lenses in 0.25 D resolution. Correcting an eye's astigmatism using conventional vision correction is further complicated by the high tolerance in fabricating conventional spectacle lenses. Moreover, it is accepted in the industry that visual acuity of 20/20 is perfect already with no need for correction. Correction of emmetropic eyes beyond 20/20 is not practical with conventional manifest refraction because the end goal of a conventional manifest refraction is to mitigate the eye's symptoms so that the tested eye can achieve corrected acuity of 20/20 acuity with selected lenses in a phoroptor,
Consequently, although many configurations and methods for vision correction are known in the art, all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Thus, there is a need to provide automated methods and devices to achieve practical uncompromised vision correction.

Methods and systems for automated measurement of the eyes and delivering of sunglasses and eyeglasses


A system and method for considering the effects of aerobic exercise on blood glucose levels for individuals is described. In at least one embodiment of the system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a computing device for generating a prediction of future blood glucose levels for the individual at least partly based on an exercise model, wherein the exercise model is based on parameters that are independent of intensity of the aerobic exercise, and a means for taking an action at least based on the prediction from the exercise model.

The present disclosure generally relates to a model of the glucoregulatory system and, in particular, to a model quantifying the effect of physical activity on the glucoregulatory system.
The regulation of blood glucose in diabetics is a perpetual concern. High blood glucose levels, commonly referred to as hyperglycemia, can for example lead to organ damage and/or ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical treatment. On the other hand, low blood glucose levels, commonly referred to as hypoglycemia, can lead to unconsciousness or even death. To avoid these conditions, many researchers have tried to understand and develop a model of the glucoregulatory system so that appropriate remedial action can be taken, such as injecting an appropriate insulin dose or ingesting the appropriate foods. The modeling of the glucose regulatory system has been widely studied in the literature over the past 30 years, and continues to be an active research field. One of the key objectives of such models, apart from improving the understanding of the glucoregulatory system, is to allow the prediction of blood glucose concentration, which opens the way for model-based recommendation or control of insulin injection for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
A difficulty that arises is that these models should not only consider the interaction between glucose and insulin, but also include the effects of the carbohydrate intake and physical activity, as they represent two typical factors that change blood glucose concentration. In particular, if the effect of physical activity is neglected, the risk of hypoglycemia during exercise is dramatically increased. While the effect of carbohydrate intake has been widely investigated, only a few exercise models, which rely on the metabolic changes induced by physical activity, have been developed. However, these models are complex and involve a number of model parameters that are too large for proper parameter identification. For example, others have used more complex models to describe the effect of exercise, but are not able to identify the parameters, because the modeled effects are difficult to detect in clinical data.

System and method considering the effect of physical activity on the glucoregulatory system


A cathodic protection system is provided for cathodically protecting an metallic substrate against corrosion, where the system comprises a sacrificial anodic material containing, but not limited to, zinc, magnesium, aluminum or a mixture of these materials, with a ceramic magnet, coupled with a plug, embedded into the sacrificial anode in such a way as to take advantage of the magnetic flux for transfer of electrons from the sacrificial anode to the object being protected, the unit is affixed to the object being protected by use of an electrically-conductive adhesive. The electrical connection may be established via the combination of the ceramic magnet and the electrically-conductive adhesive. The magnet may be magnetized in the direction of its thickness.

The present invention relates to an electrode system and method for cathodically protecting metal objects against corrosion. More particularly, this invention relates to electrodes of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, platinum, platinum-coated titanium, which are magnetically and electrically secured to ferro-magnetic metals, such as steel, steel compounds, nickel, cobalt for cathodically protecting these metals against corrosion.
Sacrificial anodes are used in various metal structures, for example, hot water heater tanks, water tanks, and ship's hulls, in order to prevent corrosion of the metal structure. Metal surfaces, particularly those of ferrous materials, when exposed to air and water, undergo oxidation or corrosion. While metal surfaces may be coated (for example, with zinc) or lined (for example, lining the interior of a hot water tank with glass), such coatings and linings are subject to imperfections or breakage and are frequently expensive. As such, many manufacturers use sacrificial anodes of a galvanically active metal, such as zinc, aluminum or magnesium, instead of such coatings and linings, or in addition to them as extra protection against corrosion. In such cathodic protection systems, the anode is both physically and electrically attached to the surface. The anode becomes depleted during its operational life to provide cathodic protection to the surrounding metal structure (i.e., the inside of the tank or the hull of a ship) and must eventually be replaced.
The cathodic protection of ferro-magnetic metals by means of electrodes is well known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,082, issued to Beer et al., discloses an anode attached to a magnet, which in turn is attached by magnetic action to the surface to be protected. The magnetic provides the physical attachment of the device to the surface as well as electrical conductivity between the anode and the surface.
There are a number of advantages to this attachment method. By securing the sacrificial anode to the object by means of a metal magnet, the replacement and/or renewal of the sacrificial anode and of the metal magnet is a simple operation. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide special fastening means for the magnet since the magnet itself provides secure contact. Attachment of sacrificial anodes by use of magnetism may be convenient various small vehicles, tools, and other items of normal, everyday use.
However, such an arrangement has a number of problems. First, corrosion may develop between the surface of the magnet and the surface to be protected, i.e. at the interface. Such corrosion results in pitting of the surface to be protected. The electric conduction at the interface becomes inadequate and the attraction of the metal magnet relative to the surface may be considerably reduced. Although the sacrificial anode will continue supply protection, this sacrificial anode cannot sufficiently exert its influence in the area between the magnet and the surface to be protected. This corrosion may after some time be such that pit-corrosion occurs in one of the two interface surfaces, the pits becoming oxidized, so that the electric conduction becomes insufficient and the magnetic attraction is reduced. As a consequence, the object becomes "under-protected" and further corrosion occurs, which may grow to such an extent that the sacrificial anode and the metal magnet comes off the object and cathodic protection stops entirely.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved sacrificial anode in a cathodic protection system, which does not exhibit undue corrosion at the interface between the sacrificial anode and the object to be protected. The cathodic protection system should have a better attachment method for connecting the sacrificial anode to the metal surface of the object, and it should be of a size that may be easily and commercially used for everyday objects used by a typical consumer, such objects being, for example, tractors, automobiles, tools, and the like.

Apparatus and method for cathodically protecting metals against corrosion


The specification discloses a method for treating and digesting organic wastes in a wastewater stream. A first wastewater influent stream is mixed with an activated sludge biomass in an aerobic digestion zone, so that least a portion of the organic wastes in the first wastewater influent stream are digested by activated sludge biomass. The first wastewater influent stream is separated from the activated sludge biomass in a first separation zone to recover activated sludge biomass and to provide a wastewater effluent stream. The second wastewater influent stream is mixed with recovered activated sludge biomass from the aerobic digestion zone in a substantially anaerobic adsorption zone so that at least a portion of the organic wastes in the second wastewater influent stream are adsorbed by the activated sludge biomass. The second wastewater influent stream and the activated sludge biomass are then separated in a second separation zone to recover the activated sludge biomass and organic wastes adsorbed thereto from the anaerobic adsorption zone and to provide a substantially liquid wastewater stream which is recycled to the aerobic digestion zone. Finally, at least a portion of the activated sludge biomass and adsorbed organic wastes from the anaerobic adsorption zone are digested under substantially anaerobic conditions so as to recover a combustible gas stream. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Organic contaminants in wastewaters are often treated by digesting the organic materials using activated sludges composed of a biomass of microorganisms such as bacteria. Typically the activated sludge is mechanically aerated to provide a highly aerobic environment in which the microorganisms may consume the organic contaminants via aerobic digestion. While effective, aerated sludges require a significant energy input to keep the sludge throughly mixed and aerated.
Anaerobic digestion of organic wastes is also known. However, anaerobic digestion has generally been found to be significantly slower than aerobic digestion and thus requires significantly larger digestion tanks than aerobic digestion processes.
What is needed therefore, is a process for the digestion of organic wastes using activated sludge which has a reduced energy input requirement but which also allows for the rapid digestion of the wastes by the sludge microorganisms.

System for wastewater treatment and digestion having aerobic and anaerobic treatment zones

Shaw Intellectual Property Holdings, Inc.


A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) sensor having an in stack bias layer having a desired negative magnetostriction for efficient biasing of the free layer. The sensor includes a free layer, a pinned layer and a first spacer layer sandwiched between the free layer and the pinned layer. The sensor further includes an in stack bias structure disposed adjacent to the free layer, opposite the first spacer layer. The in stack bias structure includes a layer of CoFe exchange coupled with a layer of antiferomagnetic (AFM) material. A layer of CoX is then exchange coupled to the layer of CoFe. The element X can be selected from the material including B, Si, SiB, Ni, Nb, and Y.

The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm adjacent to a surface of the rotating magnetic disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic impressions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A gap is formed between the first and second pole piece layers by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head and the pole piece layers are connected at a back gap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic flux in the pole pieces which causes a magnetic field to fringe out at a write gap at the ABS for the purpose of writing the aforementioned magnetic impressions in tracks on the moving media, such as in circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk.
In recent read head designs a spin valve sensor, also referred to as a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, has been employed for sensing magnetic fields from the rotating magnetic disk. The sensor includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer, hereinafter referred to as a spacer layer, sandwiched between first and second ferromagnetic layers, hereinafter referred to as a pinned layer and a free layer. First and second leads are connected to the spin valve sensor for conducting a sense current therethrough. The magnetization of the pinned layer is pinned perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS) and the magnetic moment of the free layer is located parallel to the ABS, but free to rotate in response to external magnetic fields. The magnetization of the pinned layer is typically pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic layer.
The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen to be less than the mean free path of conduction electrons through the sensor. With this arrangement, a portion of the conduction electrons is scattered by the interfaces of the spacer layer with each of the pinned and free layers. When the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers are parallel with respect to one another, scattering is minimal and when the magnetizations of the pinned and free layer are antiparallel, scattering is maximized. Changes in scattering alter the resistance of the spin valve sensor in proportion to cos θ, where θ is the angle between the magnetizations of the pinned and free layers. In a read mode the resistance of the spin valve sensor changes proportionally to the magnitudes of the magnetic fields from the rotating disk. When a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor, resistance changes cause potential changes that are detected and processed as playback signals.
When a spin valve sensor employs a single pinned layer it is referred to as a simple spin valve. When a spin valve employs an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer it is referred to as an AP pinned spin valve. An AP spin valve includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a thin non-magnetic coupling layer such as Ru. The thickness of the spacer layer is chosen so as to antiparallel couple the magnetizations of the ferromagnetic layers of the pinned layer. A spin valve is also known as a top or bottom spin valve depending upon whether the pinning layer is at the top (formed after the free layer) or at the bottom (before the free layer).
The spin valve sensor is located between first and second nonmagnetic electrically insulating read gap layers and the first and second read gap layers are located between ferromagnetic first and second shield layers. In a merged magnetic head a single ferromagnetic layer functions as the second shield layer of the read head and as the first pole piece layer of the write head. In a piggyback head the second shield layer and the first pole piece layer are separate layers.
Magnetization of the pinned layer is usually fixed by exchange coupling one of the ferromagnetic layers (AP1) with a layer of antiferromagnetic material such as PtMn. While an antiferromagnetic (AFM) material such as PtMn does not in and of itself have a magnetization, when exchange coupled with a magnetic material, it can strongly pin the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer.
In order to meet the ever increasing demand for increased data rate and data capacity, researchers have recently been focusing their efforts on the development of perpendicular recording systems. A traditional longitudinal recording system stores data as magnetic bits oriented longitudinally along a track in the plane of the surface of the magnetic disk. This longitudinal data bit is recorded by a fringing field that forms between a pair of magnetic poles separated by a write gap. A perpendicular recording system, on the other hand, records data as magnetic transitions oriented perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk has a magnetically soft underlayer covered by a thin magnetically hard top layer. The perpendicular write head has a write pole with a very small cross section and a return pole having a much larger cross section. A strong, highly concentrated magnetic field emits from the write pole in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic disk surface, magnetizing the magnetically hard top layer. The resulting magnetic flux then travels through the soft underlayer, returning to the return pole where it is sufficiently spread out and weak that it will not erase the signal recorded by the write pole.
The advent of perpendicular recording systems has lead to an increased interest in Current perpendicular to plane (CPP) sensors, which are particularly suited to use in perpendicular recording systems, due to their ability to read signals from the high coercivity medium. A CPP sensor differs from a more conventional current in plane (CIP) sensor such as that discussed above in that the sense current flows through the CPP sensor from top to bottom in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layers making up the sensor. Whereas the more traditional CIP sensor has insulation layers separating it from the shields, the CPP sensor contacts the shields at its top and bottom surfaces, thereby using the shields as leads.
In prior art sensors magnetic biasing for the free layer has been provided by forming hard magnetic bias layers at each lateral side of the sensor. Since such sensors were CIP sensors, the flow of current through the electrically conductive hard magnetic bias layers was not a problem, and was actually desired. However, in a CIP sensor such bias layers would allow current to be shunted through the bias layers form one shield to the other, bypassing the sensor. This, of course, would be unacceptable. Therefore, in order to prevent such shunting, an insulation layer must be provided at the sides of the sensor and extending over at least one of the leads, separating the sensor from the hard bias layers. Unfortunately, the resulting separation between the hard bias layers and the sensor results in diminished biasing efficiency.
Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism for biasing a free layer of a CPP sensor. Such a biasing scheme would preferably be an in stack bias system since that would eliminate the possibility of shunting current from one shield to another. Such a system could include a layer of high magnetic moment material exchange couple to a layer of antiferromagnetic (AFM) material and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer. Unfortunately, available high moment materials that are capable of strongly exchange coupling with a desired AFM material also have strong positive magnetostriction, which generates a strong magnetic anisotropy in a direction perpendicular to the ABS, perpendicular to the desired direction.
Therefore, there remains a need for an in stack bias layer that can be used in a CPP sensor that can provide efficient biasing without also inducing a magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the ABS. Such a bias layer would also preferably make use of an AFM layer different than that used to pin the pinned layer and having a lower blocking temperature, thereby allowing the biasing to be set without disrupting the setting of the pinned layer.

CPP sensor with improved pinning strength longitudinal bias structure

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An apparatus for presenting each of a first face and a second face of a document to a processing element to facilitate processing of the document thereby. The apparatus includes a first transport subassembly for moving the document along a first document path to present the first face of the document to the processing element. The apparatus also includes a gate adapted to permit movement of the document from the first document path to the second document path. In addition, the apparatus has a second transport subassembly for moving the document in the second document path in a reverse direction until the document engages a downstream side of the gate. The gate directs the document, upon engagement thereof with the downstream side, into the first document path with the second face of the document positioned for presentation to the processing element.

A variety of documents such as checks, bill stubs, bond coupons, and money orders are presented in various transactions in which data is obtained from the document to enable the transaction to proceed. For example, in a transaction of purchase and sale by a consumer, the consumer may present a check in payment of the amount due. A vendor may wish to convert the check at point of sale, and if so, data must be obtained from the check in order to complete the transaction. Alternatively, a customer who wishes to pay an amount due to a vendor pursuant to an invoice (or bill) typically presents a bill stub (i.e., a detachable portion of the invoice designed to be returned with payment) to the vendor or the vendor's agent. The vendor, or the vendor's agent, needs to obtain data from the bill stub in order to complete the transaction.
In each of these examples, the vendor or his agent needs to obtain data from the document at point of presentment. Typically, the point of presentment is a retail context, and the consumer waits while the transaction is completed. The consumer also expects to be provided with confirmation of completion of the transaction immediately upon completion, at the point of presentment. The confirmation of completion is provided in different forms, but generally involves a receipt and/or a mark made on the document.
Known devices for obtaining data from documents suffer from a number of defects. For example, the "footprint" of a device for obtaining data from a document (i.e., the space on the vendor's counter occupied by the device) should be as small as possible. However, known devices still have relatively large footprints. Also, misfeeding of documents, and jamming, is a recurring problem in known data-obtaining devices. As another example, known devices can also permit a misread document to be processed in some circumstances, with the result that the vendor is then subsequently obligated to deal with the lack of document data.
Sometimes it is desirable or necessary to obtain information from both a front face of a document and a back face thereof, or to stamp or print information thereon. For example, in accordance with certain United States legislation, images of a check are, taken together, considered to be equivalent (i.e., for many purposes) to the original document, provided that certain requirements are met. In particular, the legislation requires that the images of the check include images of both the front face and the back face of the check.
In the prior art, processing the document to obtain information from both faces thereof is known. For example, a prior art device includes two scanners positioned to capture images of the front face and the back face respectively as the document is moved past the scanners. However, this approach has the disadvantage that scanners are relatively expensive. Also, a device which includes two scanners would need to have a sufficiently long, straight portion of a document path to accommodate the two scanners. Such a device would therefore have a relatively large footprint.
Alternatively, the document could be sent twice through a device with only one scanner, i.e., once inverted. However, this method is somewhat time-consuming, and vulnerable to operator error.
There is therefore a need for an apparatus and a method for presenting each of a first face and a second face of a document to a processing element to facilitate processing thereby which overcomes or mitigates one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Apparatus and method for presenting both faces of a document for processing


An weapon localization system for determining the location of hostile weapon fire. In one embodiment, the weapon localization system includes acoustical detection means for detecting energy of a first frequency originating from said hostile weapon fire; and for transmitting a first set of data describing the location of said hostile weapon fire; optical detection means for detecting energy of a second frequency originating from said hostile weapon fire, and for transmitting a second set of data describing the location of said hostile weapon fire; and processing means coupled to said acoustical and said optical detection means, for receiving said first and said second set of data, and for determining whether said location of said first set of data match said location of second set of data and for generating a signal output if said match occurs.

Previous weapon location systems (as used throughout this Application, the term "system" refers to a combination, in one embodiment, of hardware, software, and/or firmware which cooperates to perform one or more applications or functions) use either a purely or substantially singular acoustical detection apparatus or techniques or a purely or substantially singular optical detection apparatuses and/or techniques to locate the source of hostile weapon fire. Due to the problems and/or drawbacks associated with purely acoustical and purely optical detection techniques or substantially pure or singular techniques, the present invention combines the two concepts or technologies in order to utilize the advantages and substantially eliminate the disadvantages of each technology. Applicant has found that the combination of acoustical and optical detection mechanisms greatly enhances the overall detection capability of the system. Applicant believes that there was, prior to Applicant's invention, no and/or substantially little or substantially no motivation to combine these techniques in the manner done by Applicant.
Acoustical detection systems generally determine the direction and/or location of hostile weapon fire by measuring and/or calculating the arrival of "sound" or acoustic energy generated by the hostile fire by the use of generally and equally spaced microphones formed or placed in a microphone array. Most prior acoustical hostile weapons fire detection and/or location systems are characterized by generally omnidirectional detection, only moderate accuracy and a substantially minimal false alarm rate. While such prior acoustic systems provide useful information for many applications, purely and/or substantially pure acoustical detection systems are not entirely appropriate for certain applications, such as applications involving the detection of the firing of supersonic and/or substantially supersonic projectiles. That is, supersonic projectiles arrive to the target prior to the arrival of the acoustic energy generated by the firing of these supersonic projectiles. Thus, an immediate counter-measure launch, necessary to destroy the incoming supersonic missiles, is generally not possible when a purely or singular acoustical system is used to detect the presence and/or location of such supersonic enemy fire. Additionally, it is well known that acoustic detection systems generally have a fairly large error in the determination of the location of the hostile weapon. In the past, this was not really a problem since offensive countermeasures which were used to destroy the hostile weapon usually comprised one or more missiles which destroyed a relatively large area. This wide area of destruction mostly and adequately compensated for the errant location data provided by the acoustic detection and/or location systems. However, war has changed. Oftentimes snipers, located within relatively densely populated areas are now encountered. Hence, large destructive countermeasures, necessary to compensate for errant location calculations, are generally not appropriate since they might hurt or kill many innocent people and destroy many valuable and historic buildings and/or other structures.
Optical detection systems generally determine the location and/or direction of hostile weapons fire by observing and/or sensing the position of the optical energy released or generated when a weapon is discharged. Most optical systems are characterized by relatively high accuracy, relatively high amounts or levels of false alarms and a rather limited field of view. Purely optical systems are also of rather limited value in some ambient light conditions where distinguishing the flash of a weapon from false flashes or other types of visible radiation is difficult. Purely optical systems are also of rather limited value where a weapon is obstructed or outside of the optical system's field of view. Hence, these prior optical detection systems were used only in very few specific applications, mainly due to their relatively high false alarm rate. Heretobefore, only one type of these systems was used to determine/calculate the location of adverse weaponry. No one, prior to Applicant's discovery and/or invention, had realized the benefit of combining these two types of dissimilar systems in a manner which would overcome the drawbacks of each of these systems and provide a more robust system.
That is, Applicant was the first to realize that great accuracy and usefulness could be achieved by first using an acoustic system to determine the general location of the hostile weapons fire, a function that such prior acoustic systems performed relatively well, and then using an optical system or referring to or reviewing captured optical data in order to further refine the location within the field established by the acoustic system. In this manner, the relatively notorious "false alarms" associated with the optical systems could be minimized since the optical data only from the field of view formed or "fixed" by the acoustical technique would be reviewed. Moreover, the concomitant use of optical system data could allow even supersonic projectiles to be detected. This new combined system thus allows great accuracy which is necessary when detecting hostile weapons fire in cities and other areas in which greatly destructive missile counteroffensive apparatuses cannot be used.
There is therefore a need for, and it is a principal object of this invention to provide, a weapon and/or hostile weapons firing location and localization system which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior substantially purely acoustical and substantially purely optical detection systems and which, in fact, combines the advantages and the techniques of the two systems to achieve a system characterized by general omnidirectional detection, a relatively low false alarm rate, relatively high accuracy and relatively immediate counter-measure capability. In essence, Applicant has discovered that one may utilize the accuracy of infrared systems in combination with "gross" type location data specified by the acoustic systems to provide a very desirable system. As used in this Application, the terms "location" and "localization" each mean the location of an entity (e.g. hostile weapons fire) as well as the processes to locate the firing entity. Thus, these words may be used interchangeably.

Acousto-optic weapon location system and method


In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with a two-layer gate structure, an interlayer insulating film is formed on a floating gate electrode of, e.g., polycrystalline silicon. The interlayer insulating film has a four-layer structure in which a first silicon nitride film, a first silicon oxide film, a second silicon nitride film and a second silicon oxide film are laminated in this order on the floating gate electrode, or a two-layer structure in which a first silicon nitride film and a first silicon oxide film are laminated in this order on the floating gate electrode. With the above structure, the threshold voltage of the semiconductor device is stabilized even after data-erase operation. Since, moreover, the first silicon oxide film can be formed by oxidizing the first silicon nitride film, then the quality of the first silicon oxide film can be enhanced, and accordingly the charge retaining properties of the device can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with a two-layer gate structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional nonvolatile memory device with a two-layer gate structure, a single-layer thermal oxide film is used as an interlayer insulating film interposed between a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode. On the other hand, in accordance with miniaturization of semiconductor elements, the thickness of the interlayer insulating film has been reduced. Where the interlayer insulating film is thin, a high electric field is applied to the interlayer insulating film while the memory device is charged. Consequently, there is a concern that the insulating film may be destroyed.
Under the circumstances, the use of an interlayer insulating film with a three-layer structure of an oxide film (first oxide film), a nitride film and an oxide film (hereinafter, referred to as ONO structure) has been proposed in order to increase a breakdown voltage of the interlayer insulating film. However, since the first oxide film formed directly on a floating electrode is a polycrystalline silicon thermal oxide film in which impurities are diffused at high concentration, the composition of the first oxide film is not uniform, and the quality of the film is not good. Thus, if the semiconductor device is reduced in size and the interlayer insulating film is made thinner, the charge retaining property of the device is degraded.
As stated above, in the prior art, even if the interlayer insulating film between the floating gate electrode and the control electrode has the three-layer structure, the charge retaining property of the device is degraded if the thickness of the insulating film is reduced due to the miniaturization of the semiconductor


A process to produce novelty fabric decorations comprising of thermochromic (heat-activated) disappearing fabric ink, that is screen printed onto a fabric in predetermined patterns, whereby allowing a fabric decoration to perform a dramatic transformation or allowing a hidden image or a hidden message printed with standard fabric inks to remain concealed, until such time that the thermochromic disappearing ink begins a transition to transparent, causing the decoration to dramatically transform or reveal the hidden graphic or the hidden message resulting in an interactive, ever-changing article of clothing.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to fabric decoration, specifically screen printing onto fabric or clothing for novelty and decorative purposes.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Thermochromic pigments were invented in 1970 by Dr Suzuki of Kirokusozai Sogo Kenkyusho Co. Thermochromic pigments have been commercially available in the United States for fabric decoration since the early 1990's. The commercially available thermochromic inks for fabric decoration have not become main-stream because they are expensive, they lack opacity and there is very little information readily available regarding their use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,956 to Kito (1996) suggests concealing an object within a three dimensional plastic object composed of a clear plastic resin and thermochromic pigments. This process would work for a variety of decorative three dimensional objects such as a paper weight, but this process would not work well for clothing, because the heavy weight of the plastic needed to conceal an image on an article of clothing would result in the fabric sagging and constant stress on the fabric where the plastic was located, resulting in a deformed article of clothing and an uncomfortable fit for the person wearing the garment. Additionally, there could be laundering problems and manufacturing limitations. To yield acceptable results on clothing, a masking effect with a thin ink deposit is needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,854 to Limburg (2003) discloses a means for creating thermometers on plastic substrate films, decals and refrigerator magnets with sensors that appear and disappear from respective concealing features according to temperature. The first step in the process is to choose a standard ink that is appropriate for the intended plastic substrate. The standard ink is used later to print a hidden text message. Next, a thermochromic disappearing ink suitable for the intended plastic substrate is mixed in its non-activated/cold state so that it very closely or exactly matches the color of the standard non-disappearing ink previously chosen for the hidden text message. The hidden text message such as "Too Hot" is printed on the plastic substrate with the standard non-disappearing ink. The thermochromic disappearing ink is then printed around the hidden message. Because both inks match in color, it appears as though the two images printed are one continuous solid object. This camouflages the hidden text message. The described process would work well for use as a plastic sheet thermometer but if used for clothing decoration would suffer from a number of limitations and disadvantages:                (a) The inks described are intended for use on plastic film not fabric.        (b) The field of the invention is for temperature sensing devices (thermometers) that exhibit an interesting or graphic means to reveal or inform an individual of a temperature or temperature range with messages such as, "Too Hot", "Warm", and "Just Right". My invention is not designed or intended to educate or inform temperature information, but rather to create interactive novelty clothing decorations that perform dramatic reversible metamorphic changes throughout the day for the person wearing the article of clothing.        (c) A minor change in temperature will alter the color of the thermochromic ink, resulting in two ink colors that would no longer match, thus revealing the image that you are trying to conceal too quickly. For novelty clothing, best results are achieved when a combination of concealment is used involving a thermochromic ink with a similar color value to the hidden image ink, which is screen printed around the hidden image followed by screen printing detailed line work composed of a dark thermochromic disappearing ink on top. "Color value" is defined as the relative lightness or darkness of a color. An exact color match or very similar color match is not needed with my invention if detailed line work consisting of a dark colored thermochromic ink is also printed over the image to be concealed.        (d) The process as described can only be printed on light colored or clear substrates. Thermochromic pigments are transparent in nature, and are virtually invisible when printed on dark substrates.        (e) Thermochromic pigments tend to degrade over time with prolonged exposure to Ultra-Violet (UV) light which results in an ink that does not return to the colorized state when cooled and eventually remains transparent at all times, regardless of temperature. Therefore, the applications described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,854 would result in short life expectancy of the temperature sensing devices when used outdoors, rendering them nonfunctional for the intended purpose. When screen printing for novelty purposes on clothing, should the thermochromic pigments fail to operate as designed, which would result in the thermochromic ink remaining invisible despite environmental temperature, the garment would still contain the interesting hidden image and could still be worn, which is clothing's primary function.
3. Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:                (a) To provide a novelty garment that interacts with an individual wearing the garment;        (b) To provide a novelty garment that performs dramatic transformations depending on the environmental temperature;        (c) To provide a means to incorporate a hidden graphic or message into a variety of screen printed fabric designs, which become revealed when a predetermined temperature is reached;        (d) To provide textile screen printers a thermochromic disappearing ink that is easy to work with and yields a very dark color value on light colored fabrics;        (e) To provide a means to produce decorations with hidden messages or hidden graphics or that perform transformations on dark colored fabric;        (f) To provide a means to decorate clothing with thermochromic ink, in which an appearance of a printed decoration changes and in which the appearance change is reversible depending on environmental temperature;        (g) To provide an article of novelty clothing that will maintain an appealing decoration and that will remain wearable in the event that the thermochromic pigmentation used to decorate the article of novelty clothing should fail to operate as intended due to prolonged exposure to UV light;
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description

Appearance changing decorations on fabric using disappearing ink


An image forming device for forming an image of an original image comprises a device for measuring an error of magnification of an optical system incorporated in the image forming device, and compensating for the size of the image to be formed. Magnification error of the optical device can be compensated for without forming an image on a sheet of paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device, for example, a copying machine for duplicating an image of an original, using a digital processing technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming device, a copying machine form an image of an original by thermal transfer, by use of a digital technique. These devices form an image on a sheet of paper whose size is the same as the image of the original. Enlarging or reducing the image of the original and forming such an image on the sheet of paper is sometimes called for.
In this type of copying machine, there are variations of magnification error in individual machines. For example, even if magnification of an image, which is projected on a photoelectric converting element array such as a CCD (charge coupled device) via an optical system, is set to 1.0, distortion due to errors of the optical system, that is, errors of magnification arise. Since such an error of magnification directly influences the image to be formed, it is required that the error of magnification be corrected with high accuracy.
In this adjustment, a difference between an image having an error magnification and an image having no error of magnification is measured by a jig, such as a scale, or by a operator's vision. Then, in order to remove the difference, physical or electrical correction is performed.
Therefore, in the above conventional adjustment of the optical system, since the image is always formed on a sheet of paper and a manual operation is carried out based on the formed image, the following disadvantages occur.
(1) Since the image must be formed at least once, time for forming the image and expendable supplies are needed.
(2) Since the standard of adjustment is easily changed, depending on differences of individual operator's vision, adjustment cannot be uniformly performed and a new variation is further generated.
(3) Since the operation of the adjustment and the image forming for confirming the adjustment result must be repeated so as to perform the adjustment with high accuracy, the time necessary for the operation of adjustment increases.

Image forming apparatus having magnification error compensation


The signal that controls the gain of a sensitivity timing control (STC) circuit is slimmed with a gain correction signal to compensate for gain variations introduced by items such as variations in the parameters of electronic components. A known test signal is injected into the STC circuit and the resulting output signal is measured. The amplitude of the gain correction signal is determined based on the difference between the desired output signal amplitude and the measured output signal amplitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radars. More specifically it relates to a radar's sensitivity timing control circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A radar system operates by transmitting a pulse of radio frequency (RF) energy through the atmosphere to a target. The RF energy is reflected by the target and is received by the radar antenna. As the radar signal propagates through the atmosphere, it is attenuated. As a result, signals received from targets that are relatively close to the radar will be attenuated less than signals that are received from targets relatively far from the radar. To compensate for this attenuation, a sensitivity timing control (STC) circuit is used. The STC circuit feeds the received signal to amplifiers that have a gain which is varied over time. The circuit compensates for the atmospheric attenuation by providing less gain or amplification to signals received from targets that are close to the radar, and by providing more gain to signals received from targets that are relatively far from the radar.
The typical STC circuit includes amplifiers with variable gain. The amplifier which is used most widely in aviation electronics is the MC 1350 manufactured by Motorola. The 1350 performs well, but its parameters vary from part-to-part, from lot-to-lot and over temperature. In many radar systems, the gain introduced by the STC circuit is not controlled using a feedback control loop. This leaves the STC gain dependent on the variations in the amplifiers' parameters.
Radar systems with open loop STC circuits suffer from several problems. In the manufacture of the STC circuit, each circuit must be adjusted to compensate for the variations in the amplifiers that occur from device-to-device. In addition, once the unit is fielded, the gain of the STC circuit varies over temperature because there is no feedback control loop to compensation for the variations introduced by the amplifiers.

Apparatus and method for compensating a radar's sensitivity timing control circuit


Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for detecting image degradation during a surgical procedure are provided. A method includes receiving images of a surgical instrument; obtaining baseline images of an edge of the surgical instrument; comparing a characteristic of the images of the surgical instrument to a characteristic of the baseline images of the edge of the surgical instrument, the images of the surgical instrument being received subsequent to obtaining the baseline images of the edge of the surgical instrument and being received while the surgical instrument is disposed at a surgical site in a patient; determining whether the images of the surgical instrument are degraded, based on the comparing of the characteristic of the images of the surgical instrument and the characteristic of the baseline images of the surgical instrument; and generating an image degradation notification, in response to a determination that the images of the surgical instrument are degraded.

Robotic surgical systems may be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures. During a robotic surgical procedure, a surgeon controls a robotic surgical arm with a user interface at a remote surgeon console. The user interface allows the surgeon to manipulate a surgical instrument coupled to the robotic arm and to control a camera to receive images of a surgical site within a patient.
The surgeon console may include a stereoscopic display, sometimes referred to as a three-dimensional (3D) display. In this regard, sometimes in conjunction with a corresponding pair of stereoscopic eyeglasses worn by the surgeon, such displays facilitate depth perception from an image by presenting the image to the surgeon as a pair of distinct images separately provided to the left and right eyes, respectively. The stereoscopic display may display images provided by a stereoscopic endoscope. Stereoscopic endoscopes employ two signal paths, usually a left-eye view and a right-eye view, which are matched and interdigitated to generate a stereoscopic image. As does typically occur during surgical procedures, biological material or other procedure-related material may occlude one of the lenses of the stereoscopic endoscope, thereby degrading the images provided to the display. In the case of a stereoscopic endoscope, this degradation has potential side effects upon the surgeon through the now mismatched stereoscopic image pairs which can cause perception issues that tax the surgeon's visual and cognitive pathways without the surgeon's awareness. This can result in degraded performance of the surgeon in perceiving and responding to the observed stereoscopic information. Thus, it is useful to be able to detect these mismatch situations and inform the surgeon of the need to correct the situation.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for detecting image degradation during surgical procedures


The invention relates to an at least two-layer polyester film with a total thickness of from about 5 to about 200 μm which comprises polyethylene terephthalate and from about 2 to about 20% by weight—based on the weight of the entire film—of polyethylene naphthalate, and also at least one functional outer layer.

Parameters important for the suitability of a film for the packaging of perishable goods are the oxygen barrier and also, in the case of transparent packaging, the permeability of the film to UV (the ultraviolet portion of light). The second item is particularly important in the case of foods, for example those presented in supermarket counters which are subject to irradiation by lamps with relatively high UV emission. If the UV permeability of the packaging here is too high the result can be unattractive discoloration and changes in taste.
A particularly important third criterion for the suitability of a packaging film is its price, since in the end-user market even relatively small price differences can shift the purchasing decision in the direction of a more favored product, even if the packaging does not meet high quality requirements with regard to shelf life.
The polyester-based packaging films currently available in the market are almost exclusively PET (polyethylene-terephthalate)-based films, such as Hostaphan® RNK. Although these films are low-priced and generally have an acceptable oxygen barrier for many applications, this barrier is nevertheless often inadequate, in particular for transparent, unmetallized packaging. In addition, PET retains relatively high permeability to UV light.
Films made from PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) provide a substantially higher oxygen barrier and also have lower UV permeability, but are uneconomic due to the high price of PEN and are therefore little used in industry.
Although this problem can be reduced to some extent by using multilayer films which comprise one or more PEN layers on a PET base (e.g. DE-A-197 20 505 or WO 01/96114), these films have problems with delamination of the layers made from the different polyesters and are relatively difficult to produce. In addition, the regrind arising cannot subsequently be reused for a product of the same value, since PET and PEN become mixed during the regrinding process and can therefore no longer be utilized to produce the high-value layers comprising 100%, or almost 100% by weight, of PEN. The material can only replace the comparatively inexpensive PET. For these reasons, although these films are less expensive than films composed mainly of PEN they are considerably more expensive than standard PET packaging films, and are therefore used only in niche markets with particular requirements.
Films made from blends of PET and PEN have also been described (e.g. GB-A-2 344 596), but here there is no indication as to how these blends can be used to produce a film with improved UV barrier and oxygen barrier, capable of being used to produce transparent packaging with increased shelf life. Nor are there any indications of the quantitative PET/PEN ratios suitable for producing films with good oxygen barrier and UV barrier.
Another important criterion for the suitability of a film for composite packaging is the presence of functional surfaces. Industry frequently requires films which are sealable, matt, have one smooth side (preventing slip between packs), or are glossy. These surfaces can best be achieved via coextruded films which have a functional outer layer. There are many descriptions of these films. However, there is no indication here as to how they can be used to produce composite packaging which protects the contents from UV light.
Another very general method of improving the UV permeability of polyester films is to add UV stabilizers/absorbers, e.g. Tinuvin® (Ciba Specialties, Switzerland). However, the use of these compounds is likewise associated with relatively high costs and, depending on the stabilizer used, is also problematic in terms of suitability for direct contact with foods.
It was an object of the present invention to provide a film whose oxygen barrier and UV barrier are better than those of straight PET films, and which has low production costs and is suitable for packaging applications, and which, when compared with packaging comprising PET films, gives the packed goods an improved lifetime, even when UV doses are relatively high.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multilayer, transparent film made from PET and PEN with at least one functional outer layer for producing composite packaging with UV resistance