Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite articles that have a macro textured surface. The composite articles include at least two different PTFE membranes in a layered or stacked configuration. The composite article has a macro textured surface characterized by a plurality of strands raised from the surface of the PTFE membrane. The strands may be formed of either interconnected nodes of PTFE or of at least one nodal mass of PTFE and have a length equal to or greater than about 1.5 mm. The macro textured surface provides a topography to the first PTFE membrane. The composite articles have a bubble point from about 3.0 psi to about 200 psi, a thickness from about 0.01 to about 3.0 mm, and a bulk density from about 0.01 g/cm3 to about 1.0 g/cm3.

A conventional method of manufacturing expanded PTFE (ePTFE) layer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566 to Gore. In the methods described therein, a PTFE paste is formed by combining a PTFE resin and a lubricant. The PTFE paste may be extruded. After the lubricant is removed from the extruded paste, the PTFE article is stretched to create a porous, high strength PTFE article. The expanded PTFE layer is characterized by a porous, open microstructure that has nodes interconnected by fibrils.
ePTFE articles with a variety of microstructures of nodes and fibrils are known in the art. Some such articles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,423, 5,814,405, 5,476,589, 6,342,294.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,497 describes a method using laser to surface modify an ePTFE structure to create a macro-roughened surface that has the capability to remain microporous throughout. The process creates a structure including gnarled nodes.
It is desirable to modify the ePTFE surface without using such an extraneous process and still be able to create a patterned ePTFE surface.

Asymmetric polytetrafluoroethylene composite having a macro-textured surface and method for making the same


Frequency-scanning interferometry is applied to common-path interferometers for measuring topographical features of test objects. A reference element located adjacent to a test object functions as both a beamsplitter and a reference surface. A first portion of a measuring beam reflects from the reference surface of the reference element as a reference beam, and a second portion of the measuring beam transmits through the reference element to and from a surface of the test object as an object beam. Both beams are conveyed along a common path to a detector that records a plurality of intensity variations produced by constructive and destructive interference between localized portions of the object and reference beams associated with different transverse coordinates on the test object surface. An illumination frequency of the measuring beam is incrementally modified through a range of different frequencies sufficient to alternate the intensity variations between conditions of constructive and destructive interference, which occur at modulation frequencies sensitive to path length differences between corresponding points on the surfaces of the test object and reference element.

The development of frequency-scanning interferometers that use multiple laser frequencies, or wavelengths, to perform measurements has been underway for several years. The interferometers are especially useful for measuring surface profiles of test objects as measures of surface variations taken normal to a reference plane or surface. References exemplifying this development include:                R. G. Pilston and G. N. Steinberg, "Multiple-Wavelength Interferometry with Tunable Source," Applied Optics 8 (1969) 553–556.        D. Malacara, editor, "Optical Shop Testing", New York, Wiley (1978) 397–402.        Y. Cheng and J. C. Wyant, "Multiple-Wavelength Phase-Shifting Interferometry," Applied Optics 24 (1985) 804.
More recent developments of frequency-scanning interferometry include the use of components such as tunable diode lasers and CCD detector arrays. As a result, compact, accurate, and fast systems have been developed, which have the capability of performing quality control measurements on many varieties of commercial precision parts. Examples of these more recent developments include:                H. Kikuta, K. Iwata, and R. Nagata, "Distance Measurement by Wavelength Shift of Laser Diode Light," Applied Optics 25 (1986) 2976–2980.        T. Kubota, M. Nara, and T. Yoshino, "Interferometer for Measuring Displacement and Distance," Optics Letters 12 (1987) 310–312.        P. de Groot, "Three-Color Laser-Diode Interferometer," Applied Optics 30 (1991) 3612–3616.        M. Suematsu and M. Takeda, "Wavelength-Shift Interferometry for Distance Measurement using a Fourier Transform Technique for Fringe Analysis," Applied Optics 30 (1991) 4046–4055.        J. C. Marron and K. S. Schroeder, "Three-Dimensional Lensless Imaging Using Laser Frequency Diversity," Applied Optics 31 (1992) 255–262.        J. C. Marron and K. S. Schroeder, "Holographic Laser Radar," Optics Letters 18 (1993) 385–387.        R. G. Paxman, J. H. Seldin, J. R. Fienup, and J. C. Marron, "Use of an Opacity Constraint in Three-Dimensional Imaging," In Proceedings of the SPIE Conference on Inverse Optics III, 2241, Orlando, Fla., April 1994.        L. G. Shirley and G. R. Hallerman, "Applications of Tunable Lasers to Laser Radar and 3D Imaging," Technical Report 1025, Lincoln Laboratory, MIT, Lexington, Mass., 1996.        S. Kuwamura and I. Yamaguchi, "Wavelength Scanning Profilometry for Real-Time Surface Shape Measurement," Applied Optics 36 (1997) 4473–4482.        J. C. Marron and Kurt W. Gleichman, "Three-Dimensional Imaging Using a Tunable Laser Source," Optical Engineering 39 (2000) 47–51.
All of these references from both lists are hereby incorporated by reference for purposes including identifying conventional apparatus and processing algorithms used in the practice of frequency-scanning interferometry.
A known type of frequency-scanning interferometer system 10 is depicted in prior art FIG. 1. While in the overall form of a Twyman-Green interferometer, a tunable laser 12 under the control of a computer 14 produces a measuring beam 16 that can be tuned through a range of different frequencies. Beam-conditioning optics 18 expand and collimate the measuring beam 16. A folding mirror 20 directs the measuring beam 16 to a beamsplitter 22 that divides the measuring beam 16 into an object beam 24 and a reference beam 26. The object beam 24 retroreflects from a test object 30, and the reference beam 26 retroreflects from a reference mirror 32. The beamsplitter 22 recombines the object beam 24 and the reference beam 26, and imaging optics 34 (such as a lens or group of lenses) focus overlapping images of the test object 30 and the reference mirror 32 onto a detector array 36 (such as a CCD array of elements). The detector array 36 records the intensity of an interference pattern produced by path length variations between the object and reference beams 24 and 26. Outputs from the detector array 36 are stored and processed in the computer 14.
The elements of the detector array 36 record local intensity values subject to the interference between the object and reference beams 24 and 26. Each of the intensity values is traceable to a spot on the test object 30. However, instead of evaluating intensity values to determine phase differences between the object and reference beams 24 and 26 as a primary measure of surface variation, a set of additional interference patterns is recorded for a series of different illumination frequencies (or wavelengths) of the measuring beam 16. The tunable laser 12 is stepped through a succession of incrementally varying illumination frequencies, and the detector array 36 records the corresponding interference patterns. Data frames recording individual interference patterns numbering 16 or 32 frames are typical.
The local intensity values vary sinusoidally with changes in illumination frequency between conditions of constructive and destructive interference. The rate of intensity variation, i.e., the frequency of intensity variation, is a function of the path length difference between the local portions of the object and reference beams 24 and 26. Gradual changes in intensity (lower interference frequency variation) occur at small path length differences, and more rapid changes in intensity (higher interference frequency variation) occur at large path length differences.
Discrete Fourier transforms can be used within the computer 14 to identify the interference frequencies of intensity variation accompanying the incremental changes in the illumination frequency of the measuring beam 16. The computer 14 also converts the interference frequencies of intensity variation into measures of local path length differences between the object and reference beams 24 and 26, which can be used to construct a three-dimensional image of the test object 30 as measures of profile variations from a surface of the reference mirror 32. Since the reference mirror 32 is planar, the determined optical path differences are equivalent to deviations of the object 30 from a plane. The resulting three-dimensional topographical information can be further processed to measure important characteristics of the object 30 (e.g. flatness or parallelism), which are useful for quality control of precision-manufactured parts.
The intensity values "I" recorded by elements of the detector array 36 can be written as the sum of two coherent components; one from the object beam 24 "Uobj" and one from the reference beam 26 "Uref" as follows:I=|(Uobj+Uref)|2.  (1)
The recorded intensity corresponds, for example, to the intensity measured by a pixel within the image produced by the object and reference beams 24 and 26. The object beam 24 "Uobj" can be written as:
                                          U            obj                    =                                    A              1                                                  ⅇ                              ⅈ                                                  (                                                                                2                                                                                π                                            λ                                                                                R                      1                                                        )                                                                    ,                            (        2        )            and the reference beam 26 "Uref" as:
                                          U            ref                    =                                    A              2                                                  ⅇ                              ⅈ                                                  (                                                                                2                                                                                π                                            λ                                                                                R                      2                                                        )                                                                    ,                            (        3        )            where "A1" and "A2" are the amplitudes, "λ" is the wavelength, and "R1" and "R2" are the optical paths for the two beams 24 and 26. Considering the path difference as R=R1−R2, intensity "I" can be written as:
                              I          =                      |                          A              1                                                  |              2                                                  +                              |                                  A                  2                                                                  |                  2                                                                                +                    2                                                                          A                    1                                                                          A                    2                                                                          cos                                                              (                                                                                2                                                                                π                                                    λ                                                                        R                                            )                                                                                ,                            (        4        )            or, using frequency notation:
                              I          =                      |                          A              1                                                  |              2                                                  +                              |                                  A                  2                                                                  |                  2                                                                                +                    2                                                                          A                    1                                                                          A                    2                                                                          cos                                                              (                                                                                2                                                                                π                                                    λ                                                                        R                                                                                V                                            )                                                                                ,                            (        5        )            where "c" is the speed of light and "v" is the illumination frequency.
Equation (5) shows that the intensity has two basic terms: a bias term equal to "|A1|2+|A2|2" and a cosine term. The sinusoidal intensity variation of interest arises from the cosine term. The bias term is an offset that can be easily removed by computing the mean of the intensity data and subtracting this mean from Equation (5).
As is also apparent from equation (5), the frequency of the cosine term depends upon the frequency (or wavelength) of the measuring beam 16 and "R"—the optical path difference (OPD). Based on the incremental changes in illumination frequency provided by the tunable laser 12, a value of "R" can be fit to the function using Fourier transform methods. The procedure involves recording the interference patterns for a series of "N" illumination frequencies. The data from each detector element is then Fourier transformed using known (or estimated) illumination frequencies, and the locations of the peak interference frequencies of variation reveal the values of "R" for each detector element.
FIG. 2 shows a typical result of the discrete Fourier transformation of intensity data corresponding to a typical data set of 32 (N) illumination frequencies recorded by a single detector element and fitted to Equation (5) with the mean value of the illumination intensity subtracted. Plotted are the relative amplitudes IK′|2 of the interference frequency divisions sampled within a bandwidth subdivided into 256 (M) equal subdivisions as follows:|K′|2=|FFT(I−Ī)|2,  (6)where I=10 +cos (3πn/10).
Two interference frequency peaks 40 and 42 result from the cosine function, corresponding to opposite signs of path length difference between the object and reference beams 24 and 26. As path length differences "R" increase, one of the peaks 40 or 42 devolves into the other 42 or 40; the exchange determining the range at which the data can be unambiguously converted into profile variations. The determination of which of the peaks 40 or 42 corresponds to the actual path length difference between the object and reference beams 24 and 26 can be made by phase shifting in which the optical path length difference between the object and reference beams 24 and 26 is deliberately altered in a systematic manner. Examples of phase-shifting methods to resolve the "two-peak" ambiguity and extend the measurement interval are disclosed in the previously referenced paper to J. C. Marron and Kurt W. Gleichman, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,832,489; 5,777,742; 5,880,841; 5,907,404; and 5,926,277, which are also hereby incorporated herein.
Although phase shifting is routinely used for resolving interference ambiguities, the practice requires additional measurements, complicates measuring apparatus, and consumes processing time. Common-path interferometric systems, such as Fizeau interferometers, are not easily adaptable to phase shifting. Within common-path interferometric systems, the test object can be mounted together with the reference element within a cavity or the test optic can be mounted on the reference element. Additional requirements for systematically changing to the spacing between the test object and the reference element as required for phase shifting add considerable mechanical complexity and weaken the connection between the test object and reference element exploited by common-path interferometry.


Systems, mediums, and methods for simplified depth coding for 3D video coding comprises performing modified intra DC coding or modified intra planar coding of at least one coding unit associated with a plurality of pixels and of at least one depth map, and comprising forming a prediction value of the at least one coding unit.

A video encoder compresses video information so that more information can be sent over a given bandwidth. The compressed signal may then be transmitted to a receiver having a decoder that decodes or decompresses the signal prior to display.
High Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) is the latest video compression standard, which is being developed by the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) formed by ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG). Similar to previous video coding standards, HEVC includes basic functional modules such as intra/inter prediction, transform, quantization, in-loop filtering, and entropy coding. HEVC codec processes and compresses a picture by partitioning it into multiple non-overlapped blocks, which are denoted as coding units (CUs). A coding unit contains a square block of luma pixels and two corresponding blocks of chroma pixels. The size of a coding unit can be configured to be 8×8, 16×16, 32×32 or 64×64 in luma component.
Based on the HEVC standard, the study of Three Dimensional Video Coding extension of HEVC (3D-HEVC) is currently on-going by the Joint Collaborative Team on 3D Video Coding (JCT-3V) formed by ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG). In 3D-HEVC, multiview video plus depth (MVD) coding concept is used to represent the 3D video content, in which a limited number of texture views and associated depth maps are coded and multiplexed into a bitstream.

Simplified depth coding with modified intra-coding for 3D video coding


The instant invention provides a novel apparatus; a novel method of using the apparatus; and a novel prosthesis made by the method of using the apparatus. The invention provides an apparatus for forming a palatal plate prosthesis of a substantially precise, predetermined uniform thickness, comprising: a frame; a first component further including elements for enabling it to be detachably fixed to each of the first support, the second support and the third support for detachably fixing a first casting to the frame; and pivotally attached to the first support and the second support for enabling a second casting to be pivoted relative to the first casting; wherein the elements are designed for causing the first casting to generally lie in a first horizontal plane when the first component is detachably fixed to the support; and, a second component attached to the upper portion of the frame generally spaced from and parallel to each the support, for movably fixing a second casting to the frame, sufficient for enabling the second casting to lie generally in a second plane which is generally parallel to, and equidistant from, the first horizontal plane when the first component is detachably fixed to the support.

The instant invention broadly relates to the field of medical instruments and methods of their use. More specifically, the invention relates to dental laboratory equipment and methods of their use. Still more specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for the production of a palatal plate prosthesis and a method of its use.
One way of rehabilitating a dental patient's gnathic system is by fashioning either a partial or complete palatal prosthesis. Although, the process comprises conventional steps, it nonetheless must typically be customized to some extent in order to accommodate the needs of the individual patient.
The palatal prosthesis comprises a convexity relief and a concave relief. The convexity relief is that part of the prosthesis which contacts the patient's palate, and thus, must conform to all contours of it. The concave relief is that part of the prosthesis which contacts the patient's tongue when in use. Prior to the instant invention, the uniformity and the thickness of a prosthesis was a matter defined by the skill of the particular dental technician. The uniformity and thickness of a newly fashioned palatal prosthesis are important factors relative to the patient's adaptation to it. Non-uniformity and improper thickness of a prothesis often cause phonetic flaws in the speech of the patient wearing it. These phonetic flaws often manifest themselves in the form of an uncontrollable "hissing." It has been speculated that this "hissing" phenomenon results when air circulates between the tongue and the smooth part of an improperly fashioned prosthesis.
Since the are typically relatively massive and non-uniformly thick, conventional "ready-made" prostheses, at best, offer only inconsistent success to the solution of the "hissing phenomenon." Typically, a substantial period of time is required for a patient to become accustomed to such a prosthesis. Even custom fashioning by a skilled dental technician cannot insure that improper and non-uniform thickness of the prosthesis will nonetheless cause "hissing." Thus, there exists a long felt need for an effective solution to the "hissing phenomenon."

Palatal plate prosthesis production fastener


In a composite material manufactured by connecting a sintered body to a surface of a metal substrate, the connection strength under a high temperature is increased, stress relaxation in the composite material is attained, and the strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance are improved. The sintered body has a multilayer structure having layers with different compositions, i.e. compositions that vary or differ in a direction perpendicular to the connection surface, and the volume relation between the respective layers of the sintered body and the substrate is (substrate volume.times.0.2).gtoreq.(sintered body volume/number of layers), while the thickness of each layer is at least 0.2 mm and not more than 5 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite material which is prepared by connecting a sintered body of cemented carbide or the like to a surface of a substrate of steel or the like, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, it relates to a composite material which can attain stress relaxation and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
As techniques for connecting materials having remarkably different linear expansion coefficients such as a metal and ceramics with each other, the following methods are known in the art:
(1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 52-50906 (1977)
A shock-resistant cemented carbide member having a large Co content is interposed between a cemented carbide cutting member having a small Co content and a medium carbon steel member for connecting these members, and these three members are heated and pressurized to be integrally connected with each other by diffusion of cobalt.
(2) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 53-1609 (1978)
Sintering powder having excellent fusibility with respect to a cemented carbide member and a base material of steel or the like is arranged between these members, and these three members are integrally sintered and connected with each other by energization pressing.
(3) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-3306 (1995)
A cemented carbide member for connection is interposed between a hard cemented carbide member and a steel member. A binder phase ratio in the cemented carbide member for connection is 10 to 45 wt. % greater than that in the hard cemented carbide member.
(4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-287076 (1994)
A gradient functional member having a gradient mixed layer consisting of a metal and ceramics arranged between metal and ceramic members is energized and sintered by a forming outer frame and upper and lower push rods. The mixed layer has an inclined composition, i.e., a concentration gradient (composition change) of the components. The energization is effected along a pressure axis direction, i.e., from the first push rod toward the second push rod through the gradient functional member. In this case, the thickness of the forming outer frame serving as one of energization paths is varied to form a temperature gradient which is responsive to the inclined or gradient composition.
While each of the aforementioned techniques (1) to (3) attains its object, stress in the composite material is easily unbalanced in actual manufacturing, due to the difference between and volume ratios of the materials forming the respective layers. Consequently, the composite material is insufficient in durability or the like.
In the technique (4), on the other hand, it is difficult to obtain a gradient functional member of excellent quality due to influences exerted by the conductivity of the upper and lower push rods, the sectional area of the forming outer frame, clearances between the forming outer frame and the upper and lower push rods and the like. Particularly when the connection area is large, the forming outer frame for energization is so extremely increased in size that high power is required and the cost for the outer frame is increased. Further, the shape of the composite material is disadvantageously restricted by that of the forming outer frame, due to sintering/connection through the forming outer frame.
While a cemented carbide member is connected with a steel member by brazing in general, the following problems are known in relation to this technique:
(1) The connection strength is reduced under a high temperature environment, due to softening of the brazing filler metal.
(2) The steel member cannot be heat treated after brazing, for a reason similar to the above.
(3) The brazing is performed in a separate step, and hence the manufacturing cost is increased.

Composite material and method of manufacturing the same


A multi-stage distribution and return control system for use in an evaporative cooling system including a drip conductor, a plurality of cooling cells along which water from the drip conductor passes and a gutter therebelow, including a tank, a conduit for conveying fresh water to the tank and a valve for regulating flow therethrough, a pump within the tank, a conduit for conveying water from the pump to the drip conductor, a conduit for conveying water from the gutter to the tank; high, mid and low-level switches and a float for movement between the switches, and a control system which when cooling is desired opens the valve for conveying fresh water to the tank until the float engages the mid-level switch and for starting the pump until the float engages the low-level switch, stopping the pump until water fills the tank again to the level defined by the mid-level switch and, moreover, when enough water is evaporated from the cooling cells, and the water level falls below the mid-level switch opening the valve again filling the tank to the level of the mid-level switch and, moreover, turning off the pump and valve when the temperature reaches the predetermined, desirable low level and, moreover, when water returning from the cooling cells is of sufficient volume to activate the high-level switch starting the pump until the float deactivates the low-level switch at which time the pump is turned off.

The present invention relates to a water distribution and return control system for evaporative cooling pad installations of the type that are used, for example, in greenhouses, poultry houses, and livestock installations. Such evaporative cooling pad systems are usually installed within one or more of the walls of the building and utilize water soaked pads. The outside air is cooled as it passes into the building through the water soaked pads because of the vaporization of the water. A pump is employed to supply water at controlled rates to a drip conductor positioned above the pad. The water drips downwardly from the conductor through the pad soaking same. Simultaneously, exhaust fans installed within the walls of the building create a negative or partial pressure thereby causing outside air to pass through the water soaked pads into the building thereby effecting the desired cooling of the incoming air. Excess water is collected below the pad in a gutter or sump and thereafter pumped back to the drip conductor to continue the cooling operation. Originally, the pads which were used consisted of select-cut, high altitude grown aspen fibers formulated of desired density, texture and thickness and covered by plastic netting. For some time, however, the cooling pads have been constructed of cellulose paper impregnated with insoluble anti-rot salts. Such pad material is designed with a cross-fluted configuration which induces a high degree of turbulent mixing of water and air contributing to the evaporative efficiency. Additionally, the cross-fluted design of the pad material produces a strong, self-supporting pad structure which may be held firmly in place within the wall of the building. Examples of evaporative pad cooling systems such as described above include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,389,352 and 4,031,180 of the Assignee of the present invention.
In evaporative cooling systems such as described above, water is used as the liquid being recirculated and evaporated. Water in excess of that required for the evaporation process per se, is needed to prevent scaling or salt build-up and to ensure that the evaporative cooling pads (media) are completely saturated. This excess water may be directed back to the holding tank or sump and recirculated along with fresh water as required for recirculation. Other systems supply water to the pad and thereafter direct the excess water off as waste or possibly use the water for other applications. In those systems which recirculate the water, potential problems exist, such as making provision for a large holding area for the returned and recirculating water, accommodating the build-up of minerals in the recirculated water due to the evaporation of the water and flushing of the minerals that are left back into the holding tank or sump, as well as algae growth in the holding tank and/or on the evaporative cooling pad material with resulting loss of efficiency due to mineral and/or algae build-up on the surface of the evaporative cooling pad material.
Evaporative cooling pad systems have typically employed large storage tanks or sumps, to accommodate the volume of water that was believed to be necessary for proper functioning of the entire system. The problem with large storage tanks is that the water remaining in the tank or sump after many days of operation becomes high in minerals due to the fact that the minerals in the water are not evaporated when the water in the cooling system is evaporated. Without dumping a percentage of the water, the excess mineral build-up will result in collection of minerals on the cooling pads and the eventual clogging of the pads. If water is drained off as the cooling system operates, the amount of water being drained can cause the surrounding areas to become muddy which can be a substantial inconvenience. In addition, large storage tanks also provide an ideal place for algae to grow. This algae can then spread to the cooling pads where it can clog the passages as well as producing permanent damage to the pad material. The solution to this serious problem inherent in existing systems is expensive chemicals to kill the algae in the storage tanks and in the cooling pads.
The evaporative cooling pad system of the present invention operates as a need-to-use filling system. The improved system disclosed herein recognizes that the evaporative rate of the pads is not nearly as large as the flow of water required over the pads. The system of the present invention does away with problems associated with large storage and return systems. Heretofore it was believed that storage systems were required to be quite large to make sure that there was enough water for the pump during start up and also when the system is shut down that there is enough capacity in the sump for return water from the pads.
The multi-stage distribution and return control system of the present invention eliminates the problems inherent with large storage tanks or sumps and instead uses a small sump tank. The capacity of the tank needs only to be large enough to start wetting the pads; thereafter a multi-level switch control supplies additional water when necessary. When the thermostat calls for cooling, a water valve is activated causing water to enter the sump tank until a float engages a mid-level switch. As long as the float is off the mid-level switch, the tank is continuously filled with water. As soon as the thermostat calls for cooling, the pump is activated unless the water level is below that defined by a low-level switch. The pumping operation continues until the water goes down to the point where the float disengages a low-level switch. When the low-level switch is deactivated, the pump is cut off until water fills the tank again to the mid-level mark defined by the mid-level switch. This movement back and forth from the mid-level to the low-level stabilizes as soon as the pads are totally wet. When enough water is evaporated from the pads for the water level to fall below the mid-level, the float engages the mid-level switch which activates the water valve and the tank is again filled to the mid-level point.
When the temperature of the building reaches its desirable low-level, the thermostat turns the cooling system off, i.e., the pump and the water valve are turned off. If the water returning from the pads is sufficient in volume to activate the high-level switch, a pump relay is activated which turns the pump back on. Power to the pump relay continues to be supplied through the low-level relay until the float deactivates the low-level switch at which time the pump is shut off. This wetting and stopping continues until enough water is evaporated in the pads to keep the water level in the sump tank below the high-level point.
In addition to the foregoing, there is integrated into the water distribution and return control system an automatic flush and dump system. At a pre-designated time, a flush selector switch is set on "auto" and the flush and dump cycle activated by a time clock. An auto flush relay is energized which activates the flush valve and the pump relay. The water remaining in the sump tank is pumped through the filter and out through the flush valve. This process carries the trash in the filter out the flush valve. Since the timing of the flush and drain cycle is set to occur when the thermostat has shut off the cooling system, the water valve does not come on. Water in the sump tank is pumped out until the float deactivates the low-level switch and shuts off the low-level relay. The dump valve is then energized through the low-level relay and the water remaining in the sump tank is drained out through the sump valve and related lines. A time clock then closes the dump valve at a predetermined interval. This process can be accomplished manually if the flush selector switch is turned to the "on" position.

Water distribution and return control system for evaporative cooling pad installation

Acme Engineering & Manufacturing Corporation


A curve extracting apparatus for extracting curves such as closed loops, open loops and hole groups from drawing data prepared with a CAD system, and an NC programming system for forming NC programs by directly utilizing curves which are extracted by the curve extracting apparatus. With such apparatus and system, it is unnecessary to perform complicated operations such as a drawing data reading operation, a coordinate calculating operation and a numerical data inputting operation and the occurrence of errors can be eliminated, and the drawing data prepared with a CAD system can be directly utilized to form an NC program.

This invention relates to curve extracting apparatus, and an NC programming system, and more particularly to a curve extracting apparatus for extracting curves such as closed loops, open loops and hole groups from drawing data prepared with a CAD system or the like, and an NC programming system for forming NC programs by directly utilizing drawing data prepared with a CAD system or the like.
FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of a conventional NC programming system.
First, a machine drawing SH is formed with a machine drawing forming CAD system 20. One example of the machine drawing is as shown in FIGS. 2(a)-2(c).
Next, the operator (or NC programmer) reads the machine drawing SH, and defines curves such as close loops, open loops and hole groups with a curve inputting unit 50 which are to be machined in an NC mode. The procedure of defining those curves is as follows:
(1) In a display processing section 510, a menu display section 521 displays a menu on a graphic display unit 130 to allow the operator to specify a command or command.
(2) The operator selects an icon in the menu by clicking the mouse 160, to specify a curve to be defined, for instance, "a closed loop".
(3) An interaction processing section 540 activates a closed loop defining section 541.
(4) A closed loop defining section 541 causes the graphical display unit 130 to display a menu as a guide necessary for inputting parameters necessary for defining a closed loop.
(5) The operator operates an operating panel 150 or the mouse 160, to input the parameters necessary for the closed loop. The parameters are inputted for each of the edges forming the closed loop. More specifically, the parameters thus inputted are the types of edges, and the X and Y coordinates of the edges. For instance, the parameters of the edges of a closed loop CL indicated by the broken line in FIGS. 2(a)-2(c) are as listed in FIG. 3.
(6) The interaction processing section 540 transmits the inputted parameters to the closed loop defining section 541.
(7) In the closed loop defining section 541, the parameters are utilized to define a closed loop, which is stored as internal curve data D3.
(8) A defined configuration displaying section 523 operates to display the closed loop thus defined on the graphic display unit 130.
(9) The operator determines it from the display whether or not the definition is correct. If the definition is not correct, then the operator corrects it.
In processes of defining an open loop, a hole group and a groove configuration, instead of the closed loop defining section 541 described above, an open loop defining section 542, a hole group defining section 543 and a groove configuration defining section 544 are activated, respectively. However, the processes are fundamentally the same as the above-described process of defining a closed loop.
Next, in an output processing section 170, a machining region configuration outputting section 171 converts the internal curve data D3 thus formed into machining region configuration data D4, which are applied to an NC automatic program forming CAM system 30.
Heretofore, the above-described curve inputting unit 50 is employed for defining curves such as closed loops, open loops and hole groups which are used for formation of NC programs. However, the operation is rather troublesome, and is liable to be erroneous.
That is, the operator reads a drawing SH as shown in FIGS. 2(a)-2(c), to find curves corresponding to a required machining region or regions, and determines edges forming the curves, and inputs the parameters of the edges thus determined. Thus, the operations carried out by the operators are considerably troublesome. The closed loop CL shown in FIG. 2(a) is simple; however, it is necessary to input a large number of pieces of data as is seen from FIG. 3.
In addition, the operator may make mistakes in reading data from the drawing SH or in inputting the necessary parameters.

Curve extracting apparatus and NC programming system for forming NC program based on curves extracted by the apparatus


Power is delivered from a power source in a head-mounted device to a separate accessory that is coupled to the head-mounted device. Power and signals are delivered on a common conductor that couples the head-mounted device to an accessory. One or both of the head-mounted device and the accessory are configured based on the signals. Power may be received at an accessory from the head-mounted device through a dedicated power conductor. Power may be delivered from a power source in a portable accessory to a head-mounted device that is coupled to the portable accessory and uses the power for circuitry in the head-mounted device that delivers audio to a user.

This description relates to electronic interfacing with a head-mounted device.
Audio signals, for example, are typically carried to a headphone through a multiple-conductor cable ending in a plug that fits into a jack of a player or radio. When a microphone is added to the headphone to form a headset, the microphone signal also may be carried through the same cable to a device that uses the microphone signal, such as a telephone set or a recorder. In aviation headsets, the cable may be detachable at a jack on the headset to permit changes in the use of the headset.
The connecting cable may also be disconnected from typical noise reduction headphones when the user is using only the noise reduction feature and is not using audio from a player or radio. The circuits that are part of noise reduction headphones may be powered by batteries mounted in the headphones.
In some military communication headsets, a detachable microphone plug may both carry the microphone signal to an intercom circuit and microphone power.
Headsets that can be plugged into cell phones for hands-free use commonly use electret microphones that receive bias voltage from the cell phone's power source.
Portable music players may provide power to run electronics in peripheral devices such as transmitters to an FM radio in, for example, an automobile.
In the Universal Serial Port (USB) standard, power may be provided by a USB host or hub to a USB peripheral through a USB connector. The host and peripheral may exchange messages (using the USB standard's handshaking and power management features) regarding one another's identity and operational parameters. The messages may include how much power the peripheral will use in different operational states or the amount of memory available in the peripheral. USB headsets may be configured as peripherals in interaction with other devices.

Electronic interfacing with a head-mounted device


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to method, device and computer program product for data backup. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, if a file is migrated between a first machine and a second machine, a data migration module compares the file with files already stored in the second machine, so as to only migrate modified and/or added data chunks in the files to the second machine. In this way, the performance of data migration has been improved.

In current storage systems, data is usually moved from an old backup system to a new backup system, such that users can keep all old backup data in the new backup system and retire the old backup system. Different backup systems have different structures of backup data, so it is often required to rehydrate and dump all backup data in the memory and send these data to a new backup system.

Method, device and computer program product for data backup


An elevated public transit bus system that increases the passenger capacity and decreases the passenger trip time of a fixed route bus service traveling in traffic on a city street to provide a high capacity rapid transit system. The high capacity buses are suspended above the motor vehicle traffic lanes by a support structure constructed in the lane adjacent to the public sidewalk. The propulsion system of the electrically powered buses run in a box beam from which the transit passenger cabins are suspended. The beams guide the buses along the existing fixed route service that is being upgraded to the carrying capacity of an elevated rail rapid transit system. The bus stops or lift stations of the elevated buses for passenger pick up and drop off is also constructed in the road lane next to the sidewalk. The lift stations house an enclosed movable platform that lifts passengers from sidewalk level to the floor level of the suspended bus. The high capacity rapid bus system makes efficient use of city streets by significantly increasing the capacity of persons per lane per hour use over that of the private vehicle. This public transportation enhancement reduces traffic congestion, energy consumption, and air pollution by making bus service more attractive, and by increasing the capacity of the street to carry more transit users without taking away business dependant road parking spaces or public sidewalk space.

Over the past three decades public transit bus systems have been losing market share of commuter trips to the private motor vehicle, which in turn contributes to traffic congestion, air pollution, and energy consumption in large urban areas.
In order to make bus service more efficient and attractive many cities have reserved the motor vehicle lane of a street adjacent to the pedestrian walk (sidewalk) exclusively for buses in an express bus system. This lane is often referred to as the curb lane, and is used as a bus priority lane in the morning and evening rush hours. During the remainder of the day, the lane may be open to all traffic or reserved as parking lane for private motor vehicles. However, this express bus system capacity and service is limited by the size of the bus vehicles which must still be able to navigate streets, the passenger boarding time, and the road traffic. That is to say, rapidity of bus service operating in exclusive lanes adjacent to the sidewalks is influenced by the length of the vehicle, the control of fare collection with respect to passengers boarding the system, as well as motor vehicle traffic lights and the need to negotiate left turn movements, all of which increases a bus patron's trip time often in crowded conditions.
Traditionally, higher capacity rapid transit has been served by urban rail systems separated from road traffic. These rail rapid transit lines, on routes from the suburbs to the downtown, need to be constructed in an existing railroad right-of-way, or on a wide street with a treed boulevard in the middle. Generally these rail lines need to be built on wide parcels of low-priced land often away from the households of regular public transit users. In the downtown, core the line is usually constructed underground as the public streets are occupied by motor vehicles and privately owned land is too expensive to acquire for an elevated track right-of-way and stations.
Highly used fixed bus routes are found on arterial streets in densely populated areas of the city where land is expensive. Therefore, there is a need to develop an efficient high capacity rapid bus system that can be built in a city street to replace a heavily used fixed route bus service operating in road traffic. This will be a useful tool for the urban transit industry to reduce traffic congestion on arterial streets, air pollution and energy consumption in populated urban centers by attracting commuters that will leave their private vehicles at home for work trips on a high capacity comfortable rapid bus service.
Attempts have been made to increase the capacity of public transit service running on city streets by increasing the frequency between vehicles and the size of the vehicles. In the past, when crowded streetcars were running bumper to bumper, usually in the downtown, a city had the customer base to justify building a subway system. The other option of replacing crowded bumper to bumper streetcars with elevated trains became problematic as access to the elevated station platforms required expensive private property and complex designs for the station house to control entry to the system as well as stairs, escalators, and handicap elevators to reach the train.
Applicant is aware of the following patents that are directed to devices and systems useful in mass transportation of people in cities.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,876 to Holden discloses a railway system in which the cars are suspended below an elevated rail or rails and lowered to ground level to unload and load passengers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,315 to Rypinski discloses an elevated trackway and support structure along a railroad right of way with a traction system having cables that drop down to pick up vehicles such as a car, truck or bus, and elevates them into a train of vehicles for transport along the trackway.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,904 to Edwards discloses a railway system where the cars travel on rails mounted on the side of a support beam that has the trackway and cars in the same horizontal plane. The system further discloses a special station feature based on the provision of an elevator in the car.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,837 to Edwards discloses an elevated railway system (as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,904 above) with elevators at each of the doors of the rail car in the stationhouse permitting passengers on the ground level station platform egress and ingress to the rail car.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,064 to Owen discloses an elevated side-mounted monorail transportation system with a conventional station building having side platforms for passenger unloading and loading.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,072 to Hamy discloses a transportation system moving passengers along a guide beam in both the horizontal and vertical plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,183 to Geldbaugh discloses an elevated structural beam trackway incorporating a side mounted passenger vehicle for traveling along the median strip of existing expressway infrastructure above the roadway traffic with conventional stationhouse and station platforms.


A method of measuring an object on a coordinate positioning apparatus. A first object is placed on a coordinate positioning apparatus and measured with a workpiece contacting probe to create measurement data. The measurement data is collected at multiple stylus deflections or probe forces. For a plurality of points on the surface of the first object, the measurement data is extrapolated to that corresponding to zero stylus deflection or zero probe force. An error function or map is created from the measurement data and the extrapolated data. Subsequent objects are then measured using a known stylus deflection or known probe force and the error function or map is used to apply an error correction to these measurements.

The machine may be, for example, a co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM), machine tool or robot etc, and the probe is a measuring probe with a workpiece-contacting stylus. One type of machine has measuring devices for measuring the movement of the machine parts in three nominally orthogonal directions (referred to as X,Y and Z axes), and one type of probe includes measuring transducers for producing outputs indicative of the displacement of the tip of the stylus relative to the probe in three nominally orthogonal directions (referred to as the a,b, and c axes). Although the term 'analogue probe' is used, the outputs for the a,b and c axes may be either analogue or digital.
In known systems, measurement errors are caused by unwanted deflections of the probe, machine structure and workpiece. Errors due to bending of the probe stylus are the same throughout the machine volume and may be compensated for by probe calibration. Errors due to deflections in the machine structure may be caused, for example, by the machine quill bending and the machine bridge twisting and vary throughout the machine volume. These errors increase, for example, with increasing cantilevers. Errors in the object to be measured may be caused by object deflection during measurement as a result of force by the probe.
Parts of the working volume of the machine may be calibrated for measurement errors by using a calibration artefact such as a calibration sphere. However usually the calibration artefact cannot be located at the same position in the machine's working volume as the part to be measured and is instead located to one side. The measurement errors determined at the calibration artefact will thus be different to those on the part.
Methods of correcting machines for acceleration induced errors are known. One example of such a method is described in European Patent No. 318557. In this method a first article from a batch of nominally identical articles is measured at a relatively slow speed, noting the measurements of the positions of a number of datum points on the article. The measurement operation is repeated at a relatively fast speed noting the measurements of the positions of the same datum points. Any difference in the measurements are noted as errors in a correction table.
Thereafter all of the articles are measured at the relatively fast speed taking measurements of the positions of corresponding points on each article, and these measurements are corrected for machine accelerations using the previously noted errors.
Another method of correcting errors is disclosed in WO00/62015. In this method a stylus of a probe mounted on a coordinate measuring machine is driven into contact with a surface of an object in a direction normal to its surface until a predetermined stylus deflection has been reached. The machine is then reversed whilst simultaneously recording the outputs of the machine measuring devices and measuring transducers of the probe. This process is repeated for a selection of datum points around the surface of the object. The measurements for each datum points are extrapolated to determine the measurement which would have been taken when the probe deflection is zero. This extrapolated value relates to when the probe is just in contact with the surface.
The object is then scanned at a slow speed and predetermined stylus deflection. The difference at the datum points between the initial measurements and the scan is recorded.
The scans are repeated at the same stylus deflection at greater speeds until the variation in the recorded differences between the fast scan and the initial measurements and the slow scan and the initial measurements exceeds a defined tolerance. The last speed which falls within this tolerance is the maximum scanning speed. A map of the positional errors at the datum points is stored along with the data relating to the scanning speed, particular artefact, particular CMM and probe and stylus configuration etc. It is possible to interpolate from this map to obtain radial errors at angles in between the radial directions at which actual data was obtained (i.e. the datum points).
This method has the disadvantage that the step of collecting the datum points is time consuming.


A device is provided for use in training a golfer to hit swing shots. The device includes an indicator securable to a shaft or handgrip of a golf club by an attachment device such that it points along a line at a predetermined acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Preferably, the indicator is movable relative to the attachment device. In this case, a clamp is provided that allows movement of the indicator, such that it can be moved to point along a range of acute angles relative to the shaft and that can be tightened to clamp the indicator at a selected angle of the range. A plate with a scale marked thereon can also be provided and the indicator can include one or more needles that can be moved relative to the plate across the scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a device for use in training a golfer to hit shots, in particular swing shots, consistently and accurately.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
The game of golf involves a variety of different strokes which are traditionally either swing shots or, when on the green, putts. Swing shots include long shots made with a full swing, for example when driving off or hitting a long shot to a green, shots made with a shorter swing (such as three-quarter swing or half swing), for example when hitting a fairly short shot to a green, and short shots such as chips, bunker shots and pitches that are usually made close to the green. When playing a long shot with a full swing, the club needs to be swung in such a way that it is moving at high speed when it strikes the ball. The path and orientation of the club head also need to be precise. A straight shot requires the path of the club head at impact to be along the intended direction of the shot and the angle of the club face to be at right angles to the intended direction of the shot. Small errors in either the path of the club head or the angle of the club face can cause the shot to miss the intended target by a considerable distance.
Developing an effective swing to hit accurate shots consistently is difficult as it requires the coordination of many body movements. The way the club is moved throughout the swing is very important. Incorrect movements at any point can lead to reduced power, mishits, inaccurate shots and inconsistency. As the golfer swings the club many errors can occur and it is difficult for a golfer to identify such errors.
Two of the most critical points in the swing are on the downswing and follow through when, from the viewpoint of an observer face on to the golfer, the club shaft is vertical. FIG. 1 is a representation of a golfer G with a club C held at this downswing point, and FIG. 2 is a representation of a golfer G with a club C held at the follow through swing point both figures being drawn from the viewpoint of an observer face on to the golfer. These points in the swing are just before and just after impact with the ball B respectively so that achieving the correct position for the club at these points is important in making an effective swing.
One component of the correct position is the angle of the club shaft from a viewpoint looking along the line of the shot. Ideally the club shaft should be swung between the downswing position of FIG. 1 and the through swing position of FIG. 2 along an imaginary plane. The ideal plane is such that the line of intersection where the plane meets the ground passes through the ball in the intended direction of the shot. Also, the angle of the plane to the ground should be the same as the lie angle of the club. FIG. 3 is a representation of a golfer G with a club C held in the downswing position from the viewpoint of an observer looking along the line of the shot, and FIG. 4 is a similar view but showing the follow through position of the club C. The dotted line in both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows the position of the aforesaid plane and therefore the desired angle of the club shaft relative to the vertical when it is held in the correct position on the plane. The angle of the plane varies for different clubs because the lie angles of the clubs are different. The lengths of the clubs are also different, for example a driver is much longer than a wedge, and the golfer stands closer to the ball when using a club of shorter length.
A second component of the correct position at a point during the swing is the orientation or alignment of the club face. The alignment of the clubface can be defined by an imaginary line touching the clubface at the intended contact point with the ball, that is tangential to the face of the club and that is horizontal when the club is at the intended impact position. Irons typically have a planar face (whereas the face for woods is usually curved) with grooves that are horizontal when the club is at the intended impact position, in which case the alignment line is parallel to the grooves. In practice, the leading edge of an iron clubface and the top edge of a wood clubface, despite typically having slight curvature, are often used for an approximate visual assessment of the direction of clubface alignment. In the downswing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, ideally the club face alignment should be on or parallel to the plane defined by the shaft and the left forearm of the golfer and in the follow through position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 the club face alignment should be on or parallel to the plane defined by the shaft and the right forearm of the golfer. Whether the alignment is on or parallel to the plane in the correct alignment depends on the design of the club and whether the alignment line crosses a straight line through the shaft or is offset from it.
In addition to the downswing and follow through points previously described, a third important point in the swing is in the backswing when the club shaft, from the viewpoint of an observer face on to the golfer, is vertical. The position of the club at this point should be similar to the downswing position already described and shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 (although the body position may be slightly different). As for the downswing position, the club shaft should be on the plane shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3 and the club face should be aligned so that it is on or parallel to the plane defined by the shaft and the left forearm of the golfer.


A soil opening implement comprising a frame (5) adapted to be moved across a ground surface to be opened, a soil opener (1) mounted on the frame for a repetitive cyclic movement to case the soil opener to penetrate the ground at a plurality of spaced positions to form a line of holes in the soil, and adjustment for varying the pitch of the holes, that is the spacing between adjacent holes in the direction of movement of the implement. The implement has the facility to deliver objects, such as seeds to fertilizer granules in the holes, either one object per hole or multiple objects per hole. The implement includes a hopper (11) for holding a supply of objects and for delivering the objects to the soil opener which is in the form of a substantially vertical hollow tube (11b) through which the objects are fed and delivered to the holes. The lower end (3) of the tube is angled and tapers to a point, the taper being formed by an angled cut on the trailing side of the opener relative to the direction of movement of the implement.

It is often required when planting seeds to have the seeds placed in the soil at regular distances apart and at constant depth from the soil surface. The seeds need to be adequately protected from pests, for the earth to be disturbed marginally around the seed and the rest of the earth to be disturbed as little as possible. It is also required when planting that the whole planting device can be turned easily whilst in operation to allow for turning in the field and planting in non rectilinear lines. For economic and environmental reasons it is desirable that as little fuel as possible is burned during the crop establishment practices.
Current common soil opener devices require a finely tilled seed bed or in cases where conservation or zero tillage is used as a farming method then the planters are very heavy and or large in order to carry out accurate soil opening and seed placement duties. In nearly all cases these machines open soil slots that do not protect the seeds particularly well and are not very accurate, thus attacking of the seed by pests and the variances in seed depth and placement result in lower crop germination rates and uneven crop growth which affect the ultimate crop yield. In cases of planting seed into a finely tilled seed bed a minimum of two prior soil activities need to take place before a fine seed bed is achieved. Both of these prior activities require large amounts of power and draught which means large, heavy, powerful tractors are used and these compact the soil and burn large amounts of fuel. Other possible severe results of using a finely tilled seed bed are depletion of the soil's fertility, self protection mechanisms and moisture content. In cases where conservation or zero-tillage is used the seeds are planted directly into the field without any prior soil activities and thus the problems of large amounts of fuel being burnt, soil compaction, fertility, protection and moisture loss are significantly reduced or eliminated. However in order for the current planting devices to open a satisfactory soil slot, using conservation and zero-tillage practices, a heavy and or large planting machine is required which is hard to turn in the field and such a machine still has a high draught requirement which requires a large heavy tractor. Some current soil openers can suffer from blockages caused by soil and other debris.
Some soil openers which are known in the art are discussed below.
WO 82/03962 discloses a pit-forming implement capable of forming a series of separate pits which are capable of collecting surface water. The implement comprises a plurality of soil openers which are distributed directly from a drum, via apertures.
SU 459185 discloses a tree seedling planter for planting seedlings, in the form of hole dibber with a spring-loaded rocking arm, one end of which is provided with a dibbing point.
EP 0738460 discloses an apparatus for planting young plants, wherein the plants are deposited by a human operator. The apparatus comprises a plurality of soil openers, wherein each of the soil openers is pivoted to a support on a main frame such that it oscillates with the advancing movement of the frame and makes vertical holes in the soil to receive the plants.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,604,624 discloses a planting apparatus in which a plurality of spouts are mounted on a rotating drum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,328 discloses a mechanically-operated no-till planting apparatus for repeatedly and successively penetrating the soil to a predetermined depth at a predetermined spacing, and depositing a quantity of seed or fertiliser.

Soil opening implements particularly for seed planting


A refrigerator having an improved fan which blows air towards a heat exchanger such as an evaporator. The refrigerator has a body having a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber, and a chilled air passage which communicates with the refrigerating and freezing chambers. An evaporator for generating a chilled air by heat-exchanging with an air is installed in the body. The evaporator has a spiral-shaped refrigerant pipe which is disposed in a longitudinal direction of the chilled air passage, and a plurality of heat exchange pins disposed around the spiral-shaped refrigerant pipe, for increasing a heat exchange area between the air and the spiral-shaped refrigerant pipe. A fan for blowing the air toward the evaporator and for circulating the chilled air into the refrigerating is installed in the chilled air passage. A motor is fixed to a wall of the body forming the chilled air passage. The fan can be reciprocated towards the evaporator, so a blowing force applied to the evaporator is varied by a reciprocating movement of the fan so that an air flow formed from the fan to the evaporator is changed to a turbulent air flow. The refrigerator does not make a heat boundary layer, so the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having an improved fan which blows air towards a heat exchanger, such as an evaporator, in order to permit chilled air to circulate in the refrigerator.
2. Prior Arts
Generally, a refrigerator has an evaporator for generating chilled air and a fan which blows air towards the evaporator and circulates the chilled air into a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber through ducts.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a conventional refrigerator 100 having a fan 141 therein.
As shown in FIG. 1, refrigerator 100 has a body 110 having a refrigerating chamber 111 and a freezing chamber 112 therein, and a door 120 rotatably attached to the front of body 110. An air passage 117 which is communicated with both refrigerating chamber 111 and freezing chamber 112 is formed in both a partition wall 115 which separates refrigerating chamber 111 from freezing chamber 112 and a rear wall 116. An evaporator 131 which receives a low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant from a condenser (not shown), which is disposed in a machine room 150 so as to make chilled air, is installed in air passage 117. In addition, fan 141 for blowing air towards evaporator 131 and a motor 142 for driving fan 141 are also installed in air passage 117. Fan 141 circulates chilled air into refrigerating chamber 111 and freezing chamber 112 through ducts. Reference numeral 135 indicates a compressor for compressing the refrigerant so that the refrigerant has a high-temperature and a high-pressure.
The fan having the above structure is fixed to a wall of the body which forms the air passage. Particularly, the motor is fixed to a rear wall of the refrigerator and the fan is connected to a motor shaft so as to be rotated. At this time, the fan does not linearly move in the axis direction of the motor.
However, the conventional refrigerator has disadvantages that a heat boundary layer is formed on the evaporator while air blown by the fan is heat-exchanged with the evaporator if the blowing force of the fan is constant. As a result, the heat-exchange efficiency is reduced due to the heat boundary layer.
On the other hand, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,193,359 issued to Jerry C. Martin discloses a fan which blows air into an evaporator chamber in a refrigerator. However, Martin's fan also forms the heat boundary layer on an evaporator, so the heat-exchange efficiency is reduced.
In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,214,938 issued to Adam C. Kennedy also discloses a fan which blows air into an evaporator chamber in a refrigerator. However, Kennedy's fan also forms the heat boundary layer on an evaporator, thereby causing the problem mentioned above.


A region-based placement policy that can be used to achieve a better distribution of data in a clustered storage system is disclosed herein. The clustered storage system includes a master module to implement the region-based placement policy for storing one or more copies of a received data across many data nodes of the clustered storage system. When implementing the region-based placement policy, the master module splits the received data into one or more regions, where each region includes a contiguous portion of the received data. Further, for each of the plurality of regions, the master module stores complete copies of the region in a subset of the data nodes.

Developments in computer and networking technology have given rise to applications that require massive amounts of data storage. For example, millions of users can create web pages and upload images and text to a social media website. Consequently, such a social media website can accumulate massive amounts of data each day and therefore need a highly scalable system for storing and processing data. Various tools exist to facilitate such mass data storage.
HBase is a popular open source database that supports large-scale data-intensive distributed applications, by enabling applications to interact with a cluster of thousands of computers (also referred to as nodes) and petabytes of data. HBase is designed to manage large-scale structured datasets. In HBase, the data-intensive distributed applications store their data in structured datasets called HBase tables, where the tables are made of rows and columns. The HBase tables are typically developed using Java and may be, for example, modeled after Google's Bigtable. Data tables in HBase are partitioned into data segments called regions, where a contiguous range of rows of an HBase data table forms a data congruent region. In other words, the regions in the HBase database are the equivalent of range partitions in relational database management system (RDBMS).
Further, in at least some HBase implementations, HBase runs on top of a Hadoop framework, providing Bigtable-like capabilities for Hadoop. Hadoop uses a distributed, scalable, portable file system, called Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), to distribute a massive amount of data among data nodes (also referred to as slave nodes) in a Hadoop data node cluster. Hadoop includes a metadata node to host a file system index. In order to reduce the adverse impact of power outage or network failure (including switch failure) of a data node, Hadoop typically replicates stored data on different data nodes.
More specifically, one or more replicas of a region of data are created. In Hadoop, the replicas may be effectively stored across different data nodes by splitting the region into smaller segments of data called data blocks. The data blocks of a particular region are stored across the different data nodes. Such scattered data blocks lack the data congruity provided by the regions, where each region includes a contiguous range of rows of a data table.


A binary theme file format provides optimized access to retrieve graphical component theme property data. The binary format includes data structures storing a set of defined visual characteristics for graphical component classes, parts, and states. The data structure includes a hierarchy of theme data. A theme manager quickly retrieves theme property data by indexing into the binary file with a unique theme handle. The theme manager accesses state, part, class, and global property sections to retrieve theme data. Jump tables and jump-to-parent references allow for quickly traversing property data sections. Packed data sections have packed objects having the necessary property data for frequently used graphical components. A custom image region data section provides border data for nontransparent image borders. A sampled colors section facilitates rendering of images with solid sections. The binary file format can be constructed using a text theme file and is loaded into shared process memory.

Computer users in both the business and home environment have become accustomed to using a computer with a graphical operating system. For example, many users operate computers having a Microsoft Corporation "WINDOWS" operating system thereon. Certain components of these graphical operating systems are known as "controls." For example, a control may be an "OK" button, which is generally a rectangular button with "OK" written in it. By moving the cursor over the button and clicking on the mouse, a known operation will begin that is associated with the control. Many other controls exist, with examples including scroll bars, dialog boxes and sliders. Beyond controls, the graphical operating systems also draw, or render, other graphical components as needed on the display of the computer, such as the window frame, the minimize box and the close box.
There are two general kinds of controls in WINDOWS: standard and custom. Standard controls are provided by the operating system. The code to create, draw and operate standard controls is contained in the common control library (COMCTL32.dll), or in USER32.dll, both of which are standard libraries provided as a part of WINDOWS. Custom controls are all other controls. Custom controls may be created by the manufacturer of the operating system or by third parties. The code for custom controls is contained in a corresponding separate library (DLL) or within an application.
Currently, when a graphical user interface component, such as a control, is used by an application, the application requests that an instance of the component be created. Following this, the operating system transmits a generic message to the component, instructing the component to render itself. The application plays a role in routing the message from the main window to the targeted control, but the control code performs the drawing. The application uses application programming interfaces (API's) to create and interact with the control. An API serves as a software interface to be used by other programs, much as the keypad serves as an interface to a calculator. An API is a fundamental concept of high-level programming. In high-level programming, a program often does not execute tasks by itself. Instead, the program asks some other program to execute these tasks. For example, programs frequently delegate various tasks to the underlying operating system. Continuing with the above example, an application delegates the rendering of a control to the control's code.
In the prior art environment, when a generic rendering message is received by a control to draw itself, the control will draw itself using its own drawing software code. In this prior art environment, the control knows what it is supposed to look like, how it is supposed to behave, and can effectuate such a display on the user interface of the computer. Thus, the application may delegate all aspects of visual rendering to the controls, avoiding the need to contain software code to support the visual rendering of the control within the host application itself.
By utilizing the standard controls defined and rendered by the operating system, all controls will have the same appearance, regardless of the application. Users of graphical operating systems can change only a limited number of characteristics of the controls. In the "WINDOWS" operating system, a user can change the color scheme used to display the various controls and components on the monitor. The user can also select one of a number of fonts to be used by the controls and components. The user can also specify a limited number of non-client sizes that will control the sizing of the non-client areas. Thus, the colors, fonts and a limited set of sizes of the controls and components may be changed. However, the basic appearance of the controls and components is dictated by the rendering software code within the control library containing the particular graphical component or control. In the prior art environment, to change the appearance of the controls or graphical components, the rendering software code must be altered. For example, if it is desired to change the appearance of the "OK" button, the rendering software code within the operating system DLL file containing the button control must be altered and the DLL file reconstructed at the binary level. If it were desired to render the button as an oval, the software code would have to be changed accordingly. Such an approach makes it difficult, if not impossible, for a computer user and for software manufacturers, to easily alter the appearance of the controls and graphical components.
In order to enhance the user experience of the computer, it would be desirable for the user to have the ability to change the overall "look and feel" of the graphical display by changing the overall visual appearance or "theme" of the various graphical components. In other words, it would be desirable if the user could change not only the color and font of the graphical components appearing on the monitor, but to change the appearance of those graphical components as well. For example, it would be desirable to be able to alter and direct the layout of the parts of a control, and to define the shape of a control or its parts. It would also be desirable to control all aspects of how a control or its parts are drawn. Because the controls and graphical components existing within the DLL file in the prior art environment are "hard coded" with their own rendering software code, it is difficult and cumbersome to change the appearance of all of the controls and components. To do so would require recoding each of the controls to achieve the desired appearance. If multiple visual styles were required, they would each have to be predefined and each "hard coded" into every control.
Using the current approach, if a user interface designer desires to have a new "look" for a set of graphical components, the designer typically communicates this desire to a programmer. The programmer will then attempt to appropriately code the components to achieve the look desired by the designer. The designer will then review the look and communicate any needed changes to the programmer. This process continues, often with multiple iterations, until the designer is satisfied with the look achieved. It can be seen that the above process is time consuming and is limited by the communication between the designer and the programmer. It would be desirable to allow the designer to be able to perform the tasks necessary to achieve a specific look and to be able to revise the look achieved until the designer is satisfied. This would eliminate the revision time between the designer and the programmer and would give the designer more flexibility in the look achieved.
Certain prior art approaches exist that attempt to address the above situation. However, these solutions do not allow all of the controls and graphical components of the entire system to be changed. Instead, the prior art approaches address only limited portions of the set of displayed components. This allows the appearance of some controls and graphical components to be altered, leaving the remainder unaltered. Such an approach leaves an appearance that is not as coordinated as may be desired.
The prior art approaches are further limited by the techniques they employ to implement control of the appearance characteristics of visual elements of the graphical user interface. Prior art appearance modifiers operate by intercepting the generic rendering signals transmitted to the control, and, using low-level operating system graphical APIs, substitute their own rendering code for that of the control. However, only a portion of the visual elements in the graphical user interface is interceptible. Because the prior art approaches depend exclusively on the interception of operating system signals, not only are they themselves incapable of controlling the appearance of visual elements that do not function according to this protocol, they are incapable of providing a standard means for the author of the visual element to modify the rendering code to accommodate external control.
Further, it is not possible to intercept all relevant signals transmitted by the operating system to a control in the course of rendering. Still further, it is not always possible to reproduce complex visual behavior implemented by a control, such as animated sequences. Thus, the prior art approaches are prone to functional incompatibilities, visual flaws, and performance problems.
Further, prior art approaches do not allow the file that describes how to modify the appearance of the graphical components to be extensible. In other words, only certain components can be changed and this limited set of components cannot be expanded by the designer. Such an approach leaves an appearance that is not as coordinated as may be desired, and does not offer the needed flexibility to the designer. Still further, prior art approaches do not offer the user multiple choices within a selected visual appearance or theme.
Furthermore, the speed of property retrieval in prior art approaches is suboptimal. Prior art approaches store properties in text files that require the time-consuming process of parsing during run time to retrieve the property data. Prior art approaches do not provide direct access to properties with fixed structures for standard controls that are frequently accessed. An additional problem with existing systems is they do not provide a method for rapidly indexing to the desired property data using binary operations. Still further, prior art approaches have no special optimization for images that contain solid colors as one or more of the 9-grids of the image or multiple solid color lines as borders. Typically, solid colors can be drawn much faster than bitmap images.

Binary cache file format for themeing the visual appearance of a computer system


An exhaust gas cooling system includes, an exhaust gas-processing tower provided at a lower portion with an inlet port for an exhaust gas containing moisture and also provided at an upper interior space with a spray member, a circulating passageway for circulating exhaust gas-processing water from the bottom of the exhaust gas-processing tower to the spray member, a heat exchanger provided at a midway of the circulating passageway for, cooling the exhaust gas-processing water, a cooling tower for generating cooling water by taking advantage of the evaporation heat of water, thereby allowing the cooling water to circulate through the heat exchanger, and a water supply passageway for supplying the exhaust gas-processing water passing through circulating passageway to the cooling tower as part of-make-up water.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-115379, filed Apr. 17, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to an exhaust gas cooling system.
The exhaust gas to be emitted from the combustion in a boiler, etc. incorporated in a power-generating installation such as a thermal power plant for instance contains a large quantity of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is known to bring about a green house effect causing a global warm-up phenomenon, and hence researches for the countermeasure to the generation of carbon dioxide is an urgent problem internationally at present in view of preserving the global environment. Under the circumstances, a method of removing and recovering carbon dioxide from exhaust gas by contacting the exhaust gas with an absorbent such as an aqueous solution of alkanolamine as well as a method of reserving the carbon dioxide thus recovered without allowing carbon dioxide to be released into air atmosphere are intensively studied.
However, since the exhaust gas generated from the combustion in a boiler is high in temperature (for example, about 190xc2x0 C.), it is impossible to directly contact the exhaust gas with the aforementioned aqueous solution of alkanolamine. Therefore, the absorption and recovery of the exhaust gas is now precooled to about 40xc2x0 C. before the exhaust gas is introduced into the aqueous solution of alkanolamine.
In the meantime, there is known an apparatus shown in FIG. 5 as a cooling system for cooling the exhaust gas. Namely, according to this cooling system of exhaust gas, an exhaust gas-processing tower 103 has an exhaust gas inlet port 101 at a lower portion thereof and an exhaust gas outlet pipe 102 at an upper portion thereof. A spray member 104 for spraying cooled water is provided at an upper portion of the interior space of the processing tower 103. A circulating passageway 105 is provided in such a way that one end thereof is connected with a lower sidewall of the processing tower 103, while the other end thereof is connected with the spray member 104. A first pump 106 is provided at a midway of the circulating passageway 105 which is located in the vicinity of an exhaust gas-processing water discharge port of the processing tower 103. A heat exchanger 107 for cooling the exhaust gas-processing water is provided at a midway of the circulating passageway 105.
A cooling tower 109 provided at an upper portion thereof with a fan 108 for generating the cooling water by taking advantage of the evaporation heat of water is disposed next to the exhaust gas-processing tower 103. A spray member 110 for spraying cooled water is provided at an upper portion of the interior space of the cooling tower 109. A cooling water-circulating passageway 111 is provided in such a way that one end thereof is connected with a lower sidewall of the cooling tower 109, while the other end thereof is connected via the heat exchanger 107 with the cooling water spray member 110. The cooling water-circulating passageway 111 is designed to circulate cooling water from a lower sidewall of the cooling tower 109 via the heat exchanger 107 to the cooling water spray member 110.
A second pump 112 is provided at a midway of the cooling water-circulating passageway 111 which is located in the vicinity of the cooling tower 109. A make-up passageway 113 is connected with a lower sidewall of the cooling tower 109 so as to supply water from outside the system to the bottom portion of the cooling tower 109. A blow-down passageway 114 is connected with the bottom of the cooling tower 109, thereby allowing water to be continuously or periodically discharged from the bottom portion of the cooling tower 109.
According to this conventional exhaust gas cooling system, an exhaust gas containing water, for example an exhaust gas generated through the combustion of hydrocarbon, is introduced from the inlet port 101 into the exhaust gas-processing tower 103. The first pump 106 is actuated so as to supply an exhaust gas-processing water from the bottom portion of the exhaust gas-processing tower 103 via the circulating passageway 105 to the heat exchanger 107. On this occasion, as the second pump 112 is actuated, the cooling water of the bottom of the cooling tower 109 is supplied via the cooling water-circulating passageway 111 to the heat exchanger 107.
As a result, the exhaust gas-processing water is cooled down, and the resultant cool water is supplied via the circulating passageway 105 to the spray member 104. The cooled water is then ejected from the spray member 104 into the space inside the exhaust gas-processing tower 103 so as to cool the exhaust gas that has been introduced into the exhaust gas-processing tower 103. The exhaust gas thus cooled is then transferred via the exhaust gas outlet pipe 102 to the absorption tower for carbon dioxide for example. On the other hand, the cooling water whose temperature has been raised at the heat exchanger 107 through the heat exchange thereof with the exhaust gas-processing water is fed via the cooling water-circulating passageway 111 to the cooling water spray member 110 of the cooling tower 109.
The cooling water thus warmed is then ejected from the spray member 110 into the space inside the cooling tower 109 and by the actuation of the fan 108, is cooled due to the evaporation heat to be generated through the evaporation of water accumulated at the bottom of the cooling tower 109. This cooling water is then accumulated at the bottom portion of the cooling tower 109. The water inside the cooling tower 109 is consumed through the evaporation thereof. In order to compensate this consumption of water, water (make-up water) is supplied from outside the system to the cooling tower 109 through make-up passageway 113.
According to the aforementioned exhaust gas cooling system however, when an exhaust gas containing moisture (for example, an exhaust gas to be generated from the combustion of hydrocarbon) is introduced into the exhaust gas-processing tower 103 and then, cooled water is ejected through the spray member 104 disposed at an upper portion of the exhaust gas-processing tower 103, the water included in the exhaust gas is caused to condense and stored, as a condensate, at the bottom portion of the exhaust gas-processing tower 103. Since the volume of exhaust gas-processing water is caused to substantially increase due to the generation of this condensed water, part of exhaust gas-processing water is required to be discharged outside the system from the bottom of the exhaust gas-processing tower 103 via a discharge passageway 115. As a result, the load for processing waste water is caused to increase, thus raising a problem.
Furthermore, since the water circulating through the cooling water-circulating passageway 111 is cooled by taking advantage of the evaporation of water at the water inside the cooling tower 109, it is required to supply water from outside the system to the cooling tower 109 through make-up passageway 113. Since this external water contains salts such as calcium, etc., the salts are also caused to concentrate in the circulation process in the cooling water-circulating passageway 111. As a result, the water containing a concentration of salts is required to be frequently discharged outside the system from the bottom of the cooling tower 109 via the blow-down passageway 114.
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an exhaust gas cooling system wherein a portion of exhaust gas-processing water incorporating therein the condensed water that has been generated through the condensation of moisture included in the exhaust gas at the exhaust gas-processing tower is introduced as a make-up water into a cooling tower, thereby making it possible to minimize the load for processing waste water, to decrease the quantity of water to be supplied to the cooling tower, and to minimize the frequency of the blow-down from the cooling tower.
Another object of this invention is to provide an exhaust gas cooling system which is capable of omitting the provision of a heat exchanger, of reducing the manufacturing cost of the system, of miniaturizing the cooling tower, and of reducing the capacity thereof.
Namely, this invention provides an exhaust gas cooling system comprising;
an exhaust gas-processing tower provided at a lower portion with an inlet port for an exhaust gas containing moisture and also provided at an upper interior space with a spray member;
a circulating passageway for circulating an exhaust gas-processing water from a bottom portion of the exhaust gas-processing tower to the spray member;
a heat exchanger provided at a portion of the circulating passageway for cooling the exhaust gas-processing water;
a cooling tower for generating the cooling water by taking advantage of the evaporation heat of water, thereby allowing the cooling water to circulate passing through the heat exchanger; and
a water supply passageway for supplying the exhaust gas-processing water passing through the circulating passageway to the cooling tower as a portion of make-up water.
According to this invention, there is also provided an exhaust gas cooling system comprising;
an exhaust gas-processing tower provided at a lower portion with an inlet port for an exhaust gas containing moisture and also provided at an upper interior space with a spray member; and
a cooling tower for cooling an exhaust gas-processing water existing at a bottom portion of the exhaust gas-processing tower by taking advantage of the evaporation heat of water, thereby allowing the water thus cooled to be fed to a spray member of the exhaust gas-processing tower.
In the exhaust gas cooling system of this invention, the exhaust gas-processing tower may be constructed such that it is provided with an exhaust gas outlet pipe which is connected with a carbon dioxide absorption tower.
The exhaust gas cooling system of this invention may further comprise an air cooler which is provided at a portion of a passageway located between the exhaust gas-processing water outlet port of the exhaust gas-processing tower and the cooling tower.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.