An air containment system (22) is configured to span an aisle (12) formed by two rows of racks (14,16) or by one row of racks (14) and a wall (56) to form a ceiling. The air containment system (22) includes a frame structure (24) configured to be supported by the two rows of racks (14,16) or by the one row of racks (14) and the wall (56). The air containment system (22) further includes at least one ceiling panel (30) releasably supported by the frame structure (24), and a lock assembly (64) coupled to the frame structure (24) and configured to release the at least one ceiling panel (30) upon detecting a predetermined condition. Embodiments of the air containment system (22) and methods for releasing ceiling panels (30) are further disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to racks and enclosures, and more particularly to equipment used to contain and manage air used to cool data processing, networking and telecommunications equipment housed in equipment racks.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Equipment enclosures or racks for housing electronic equipment, such as data processing, networking and telecommunications equipment have been used for many years. Such racks are often used to contain and to arrange the equipment in large equipment rooms and data centers. In certain embodiments, an equipment storage rack can be an open configuration and can be housed within a rack enclosure, although the enclosure may be included when referring to a rack.
Over the years, a number of different standards have been developed to enable equipment manufacturers to design rack mountable equipment that can be mounted in standard racks manufactured by different manufacturers. A standard rack typically includes front mounting rails to which multiple units of electronic equipment, such as servers and CPUs, are mounted and stacked vertically within the rack. An exemplary industry-standard rack is approximately six to six-and-a-half feet high, by about twenty-four inches wide, and about forty inches deep. Such a rack is commonly referred to as a "nineteen inch" rack, as defined by the Electronics Industries Association's EIA-310-D standard.
Heat produced by rack-mounted equipment can have adverse effects on the performance, reliability and useful life of the equipment components. In particular, rack-mounted equipment, housed within an enclosure, may be vulnerable to heat build-up and hot spots produced within the confines of the enclosure during operation. The amount of heat generated by a rack of equipment is dependent on the amount of electrical power drawn by equipment in the rack during operation. In addition, users of electronic equipment may add, remove, and rearrange rack-mounted components as their needs change and new needs develop.
In certain configurations, data centers may be cooled by supplementing a data center's cooling system with computer room air conditioner ("CRAC") units that are positioned around the periphery of the data center room. In some embodiments, these CRAC units intake air from the fronts of the units and output cooler air upwardly toward the ceiling of the data center room. In other embodiments, the CRAC units intake air from near the ceiling of the data center room and discharge cooler air under a raised floor for delivery to the fronts of the equipment racks. In general, such CRAC units intake room temperature air (at about 72° F.) and discharge cold air (at about 55° F.), which is blown into the data center room and mixed with the room temperature air at or near the equipment racks. In other embodiments, or in additional embodiments, the CRAC units may be scalable and modular so that the units may be placed anywhere within the data center depending on the cooling requirements within the data center.
The rack-mounted equipment typically cools itself by drawing air along a front side or air inlet side of a rack, drawing the air through its components, and subsequently exhausting the air from a rear or vent side of the rack. In a certain embodiment, air is drawn through the equipment racks from a "cold" aisle, which is typically located at the fronts of the equipment racks. The heated air is exhausted from the equipment racks to a "hot" or "warm" aisle, which is typically located at the backs of the equipment racks. A disadvantage of the CRAC-type air conditioning system is that cool air is mixed with the room temperature air, which is inefficient. Ideally, to make the system as efficient as possible, and to utilize as little energy and floor space as possible, the highest possible temperature air should be drawn into the CRAC units and the outlet air generated by the CRAC should be a few degrees below room temperature. In addition, airflow requirements can vary considerably as a result of different numbers and types of rack-mounted components and different configurations of racks and enclosures.
In order to control the flow of air throughout the data center, and to optimize the air flow as described above, it may be desirable to contain the air within the hot and cold aisles, and in particular, the hot aisle. As a result, hot aisle containment systems have been developed to contain and manage air within the hot aisle. Cold air containment systems have been developed as well. One disadvantage associated with a typical hot aisle containment system is that a ceiling of the air containment system may block or otherwise prevent a sprinkler system of the data center from deploying during an emergency. Thus, such an air containment system often requires a separate sprinkler (suppression) system embedded within the air containment system.

Electromagnetic lock drop ceiling for aisle containment system and method


A sole structure for a shoe that can secure cushioning properties and obtain a ground surface information is disclosed. The sole structure includes a first midsole having a plurality of first protrusions on a foot-sole-contact side, an outsole having a plurality of second protrusions on a ground surface side, and a second midsole disposed at a part of a region between the first midsole and the outsole and having a lower compressive rigidity than the first midsole. At least a part of the plurality of first protrusions of the first midsole is located at a position corresponding vertically to at least a part of the plurality of second protrusions of the outsole.

The present invention relates generally to a sole structure for a shoe, and more particularly, to an improvement in the sole structure so as to secure cushioning properties and obtain a ground surface information.
US patent application publication No. 2010/0126043 discloses a sole structure for a shoe that has a plurality of ground contact pads provided at a forefoot region of the sole so that forces incurred at the ground contact pads can be feedbacked to a foot of a wearer (especially, infant) (see para. [0057] and FIGS. 2-4, 11 and 24).
However, in the above-mentioned structure, the ground contact pads are not provided at a rearfoot region of the sole. Therefore, in the rearfoot region, a ground surface information cannot be feedbacked to the wearer. On the other hand, in the event that the rearfoot region is formed of a material having a high settling resistance because the rearfoot region experiences a greater load than a forefoot region, it is considered that cushioning properties and a touch on foot are lessened.
The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances and its object is to provide a sole structure for a shoe that can secure cushioning properties and obtain a ground surface information. Also, the present invention is directed to providing a sole structure for a shoe that can increase settling resistance and allow for a maintenance of cushioning properties and a feedback of a ground surface information. Moreover, the present invention is directed to providing a sole structure for a shoe that can achieve a feedback of a ground surface information and a maintenance of cushioning properties for a prolonged period of time.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious and appear hereinafter.


A tamper resistant faucet handle is provided for locking conventional sink or bath faucets in a closed or partially closed position. The tamper resistant faucet handle includes a handle body mounted to the flow control lever and a movable interference plunger that is slidably located within a plunger bore contained in the handle body. A locking mechanism locks the interference plunger in either an inward position or an outward position. When the interference plunger is locked in the outward position, it resides partially beyond the surface of the handle body for a distance sufficient for the plunger to interfere with movement of the handle body and consequently the flow control lever. In this manner, the locked plunger limits the range of movement of the flow control lever to lock the faucet in a closed or semi-closed position. The locking mechanism can be released and the plunger returned to the inward position, thus re-establishing a full range of movement for the handle and the flow control lever. An embodiment of the invention is disclosed for use on single control faucets, and another embodiment is disclosed for use on dual control faucets. The locking mechanism requires two-handed coordination, and is therefore childproof. The locking mechanism for both embodiments preferably includes an actuation button that can be removed to prevent unauthorized use of the faucet by children or adults.

It is sometimes desirable to lock faucet handles in a closed or semi-closed position to prevent unauthorized use of the faucet. For example, a practical childproof locking mechanism that prevents tampering with faucets appears to be an important first step for reducing scalding injuries in children. To date, however, no practical locking means have been made available to the public for conventional bath or sink faucets.
The invention is a tamper resistant faucet handle having a childproof locking mechanism that is practical, durable and easy to install on conventional sink and bath faucets. The tamper resistant faucet handle can be used to retrofit existing faucets, or can be used as an original part in new faucets. The tamper resistant faucet handle not only provides childproofing, but in its preferred embodiment also provides means for eliminating unauthorized use by adults as well.
In conventional sink and/or bath faucets, a faucet handle is mounted to a flow control lever normally by a screw. The flow of water through the faucet is controlled proportionately in response to the position of the flow control lever. There are basically two types of faucets in prominent use. The first type is dual control faucets which have separate, rotatable flow control levers or stems for hot and cold water. The other type is single control faucets in which the flow of hot and cold water through the faucet is selected in response to the tilting and rotating of the flow control lever relative to a faucet base. One embodiment of the invention is designed for use on single control faucets, whereas another embodiment of the invention is designed for use on dual control faucets.
A tamper resistant faucet handle in accordance with the invention includes a handle body mounted to the flow control lever and a movable interference plunger that is located at least partially within a plunger bore contained in the handle body. The interference plunger slides relative to the handle body within the plunger bore. In use, the interference plunger is slid outward beyond the surface of the handle body, and locked in the outward position. When locked in the outward position, the plunger extends beyond the surface of the handle body for a distance sufficient for the plunger to interfere with movement of the handle body and, consequently, the flow control lever. The interference by the locked plunger limits the range of movement of the flow control lever to lock the faucet handle in a closed or semi-closed position. In most cases, it is desirable to design the tamper resistant faucet handle such that the faucet is locked in a fully closed position when the interference plunger is locked in the outward position.
The interference plunger preferably contains two locking mechanism engagement depressions that interact with a locking mechanism to lock the interference plunger in the outward position or an inward position, respectively. When the plunger is locked in the inward position, the full range of movement is available for the flow control lever. The preferred locking mechanism includes a generally cylindrical outer sleeve mounted within a bore on the handle body. The sleeve has an end wall, longitudinal guide walls, and an opening in the longitudinal guide walls in the vicinity where the locking mechanism interacts with the interference plunger. The locking mechanism also has an elongated locking body that slides within the outer sleeve. The locking body is exposed to the interference plunger through the opening in the outer sleeve, and an opening in the handle body. A spring is located between the end wall of the outer sleeve and the locking body. The spring biases the sliding locking body in a locking position in which the sliding locking body engages one of the locking mechanism engagement depressions on the interference plunger to lock the plunger in position (i.e. the inward position or the outward position). The sliding locking body has a clearance depression for the interference plunger. To unlock the interference plunger, the user slides the locking body in the outer sleeve against the biasing pressure of the spring to align the clearance depression with the interference plunger, thereby releasing the locking mechanism and allowing the interference plunger to slide within the plunger bore in the handle body. The interference plunger is then moved to the other position (e.g. the outward position or the inward position) and locked into position by releasing the sliding locking body.
In its preferred form, the sliding locking body includes a removable actuation button opposite the end adjacent the spring within the outer sleeve. The actuation button is preferably attached to the sliding locking body via screw threads. The removable actuation button is exposed outside of the outer sleeve. To release the lock, the user presses on the actuation button to move the locking body against the biasing force of the spring to align the clearance depression on the locking body with the plunger. The removable actuation button can be unscrewed from the end of the locking body to disable the lock release mechanism either temporarily or permanently. When the actuation button is removed, the user cannot press the sliding locking body against the spring biasing force, and therefore the locking mechanism cannot be released. This feature prevents unauthorized use by children and adults.
The tamper resistant faucet handle preferably includes a compression spring to bias the interference plunger to the outward position. The interference plunger is returned to the inward position by pressing against the interference plunger. Both the embodiments of the invention preferably include an interference boss that extends outward from the outer surface of the interference plunger. In the embodiment of the invention for use on single control faucets, it is preferred that the distance the interference boss extends from the plunger surface be adjustable. This feature is important so that the tamper resistant faucet handle can be easily adjusted to accommodate faucet configurations having different dimensions. More specifically, when the interference plunger is locked in the outward position on a single control faucet, the interference boss extending from the plunger is designed to engage the faucet base. The engagement of the boss against the faucet base prevents rearward tilting of the faucet handle and, consequently, rearward tilting of the flow control lever. Preferably, the interference boss has self-locking threads that engage mating threads on the outer surface of the interference plunger, thus providing a practical means for rendering the boss repositionable. The distance from the faucet handle to the faucet base varies among commercially available single control faucets. Therefore, a repositionable interference boss on the plunger surface, with self-locking threads, is important for convenient use of the invention when retrofitting existing single control faucets.
In dual control faucets having separate controls for hot and cold water, the invention is used primarily to lock hot water faucets in a closed or partially closed position, although the invention may be used in the same fashion to lock cold water faucets in a closed or partially closed position. In dual control faucets, the range of movement of the flow control lever is merely rotational. In most dual control faucets, the rotatable flow control lever is surrounded by a stepped, flow control, stop member that is located at the base of the rotatable lever. The stepped, flow control stop member contains an operating space disposed between a first step and a second step on the member. A conventional handle body for a dual control faucet includes a flow control boss that extends from a surface of the handle body and resides in the operating space between the first step and the second step of the flow control stop member. The rotational range of movement of the flow control lever is defined by the range of movement of the flow control boss in the operating space between the first step and the second step of the flow control stop member. A tamper resistant faucet handle for a dual control faucet would normally include a conventional flow control boss. For dual control faucets, the interference plunger, and more particularly the interference boss, limits the range of movement of the flow control lever when the plunger is locked in the outward position by engaging the second step of the stepped, flow control stop member. In other words, the faucet is in the fully closed position when the conventional flow control boss engages the first step of the flow control stop member; and the faucet is in a fully open position when the conventional flow control boss engages the second step of the flow control stop member. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the placement of the interference boss on the plunger is selected with respect to the position of the conventional flow control boss such that the conventional flow control boss will be engaging the first step (i.e., the OFF position), and the interference boss on the plunger will be engaging the second step (i.e., the faucet will be in the fully closed position when the interference plunger is locked in the outward position). The position of the interference boss relative to the conventional flow control boss is preferably selected to provide some clearance between the interference boss and the second step of the flow control stop member when the movable interference plunger is locked in the outward position and the conventional flow control boss is engaged against the first step of the flow control stop member.
The handle body is made of stainless steel, brass, injection molded plastic, or any other material conventionally used to fabricate faucet handles. It is preferred, however, that the other components of the tamper resistant faucet handle be made of brass, stainless steel, or some other durable, corrosion-resistant material.
From the foregoing description of the invention and the following drawings, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention embodies the following features and advantages:
1. a tamper resistant faucet handle in accordance with the invention is easy to install; PA1 2. it is easy for adults to operate, yet requires knowledge and two-handed coordination usually absent in young children; PA1 3. the release mechanism for the lock can be easily deactivated for all users on a temporary or permanent basis by removing the removable actuation button on the sliding locking body; and PA1 4. the construction of the tamper resistant faucet handle is inexpensive and durable.
Other features and advantages of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon inspecting the following drawings and description thereof.


An artificial sensor comprises at least one substrate, and a plurality of flow sensors disposed on the at least one substrate for providing a plurality of spatial-temporally varying signals representing a hydrodynamic stimulus. The plurality of flow sensors are spatially distributed on the at least one substrate. A processor is coupled to the plurality of flow sensors for receiving the signals and determining spatial-temporal information from the received signals.

Comprehensive flow sensing involves measurement of, for example, pressure, shear stress (drag and vortex), temperature, and three-axis flow rates. The spatial and temporal evolution of surface flow features is extremely difficult to obtain due to limitations of convention scientific instruments. Conventional flow sensing instruments are singular point measurement devices only. Some prior devices have large sizes, and may change the characteristics of the flow.
Microfabricated flow sensing surfaces with one or more sensing modalities to provide spatial and temporal information would be extremely useful for experimental fluid mechanical studies and for underwater vehicles and platforms, for example. It is preferred that such sensors be fabricated using efficient, low-cost techniques, allow integration of signal processing units, and be mechanically robust.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic film capable of providing a higher saturation magnetic flux density as compared with the conventional one, a process of forming the magnetic film, a thin film magnetic head that makes use of the magnetic film, and a magnetic disk drive having this thin film magnetic head. In one embodiment, a magnetic film contains Co, Ni, and Fe, and its composition is such that 10≦Co<20 wt %, 0≦Ni≦2 wt %, and 80<Fe≦90 wt %. This magnetic film is a plating layer formed by electroplating. The face interval variation of crystal surface perpendicular to the layer surface relative to a crystal surface parallel to the layer surface is about 0.4% or more, whereby the saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) is greater than about 2.4 T.

The present invention relates to a magnetic film of a high saturation magnetic flux density, a fabrication method therefor, a thin film magnetic head utilizing the magnetic film, and a magnetic disk drive provided with the thin film magnetic head.
With increased recording density of magnetic disk drives, recording media has been increased in coercivity. As a magnetic core material for a write head, a material is required accordingly that shows a high saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) and a strong magnetic field enough to sufficiently write information in a medium with high coercivity.
Materials that exhibit a high saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) include CoNiFe (Bs>1.7 T) having a Bs higher than that of Ni45Fe55 (Bs:1.5 teslas (T)), which is adopted presently as a magnetic core material as described in Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4. Patent Document 5 also discloses a process of forming a plated film having a high Bs by making use of, as a plating solution composition, a plating solution to which no saccharin sodium is added. Furthermore, in Patent Document 6, the use of a two-element (Co and Fe) leads to the attainment of making the Bs higher. See Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-89422; Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 8-241503; Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-346202; Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-3489; Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent No. 2821456; Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-280217.
In the above-described prior art, however, even though a CoNiFe-based material as a material exhibiting a high saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) is produced by electroplating, a sufficiently high saturation magnetic flux density cannot be obtained yet.

Thin film magnetic head with layer having high saturation magnetic flux density, and magnetic storage apparatus

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An approach is provided for receiving a voice-based emergency call and routing it to a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) along with anchoring information identifying the caller and their location. The PSAP may provide options for the caller to choose to use non-voice-based messaging service concurrent with the voice-based emergency call. If the caller desires and chooses to communicate via non-voice-based messages, then a text messaging application at the PSAP is used to communicate with the caller. The PSAP utilizes the anchoring information obtained from the concurrent voice-based emergency call when communicating with the caller.

Modern telecommunications services, particularly wireless mobile communication devices, are essential public safety tools. During emergencies, these devices are indispensible for contacting the appropriate people or authorities. Traditionally, a person would use a mobile device to call for help when an emergency arises. During an emergency call, the caller identity and caller location (i.e., anchoring information) would be provided to the public safety answering point (PSAP) to assist the emergency handling. However, there are certain circumstances when the mobile device user may not be able to make a voice call (e.g., when the user cannot speak because of injuries, or when the user must hide his or her call for help from an assailant who is still at the scene). Under these circumstances, the person may be forced to use non-voice communications (e.g., text messaging, instant messaging, or electronic mail) because of the inherently "silent" nature of these types of communications. These types of non-voice communications, however, present a unique set of problems for use during emergencies, especially on the lack of anchoring information to the PSAP.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach that enables a user to easily and discretely communicate with emergency call operators using non-voice messages.

Method and apparatus for extended emergency service


A flywheel assembly may include first and second flywheels having respective first and second flywheel parasitic load profiles. Operating speeds of the first and second flywheels may be selected based at least in part on the first and second flywheel parasitic loads. The operating speeds may be determined such that an aggregate of the first and second flywheel parasitic loads is minimized, thereby increasing the efficiency of the flywheel assembly.

Flywheels are generally known in the art for storing energy. While flywheel energy storage devices have been used for many years in satellite or other spacecraft applications, more recently they have been adapted for use on terrestrial machines. More specifically, hybrid power plants have been proposed which use a combustion engine as the primary mover and a flywheel as a secondary mover.
In some applications, the flywheel is operably coupled directly to an engine output, such as a crankshaft, upstream of a transmission. The flywheel may add to or subtract from power supplied by the engine to the transmission and, ultimately, one or more driven wheels. In this arrangement, the flywheel may also be configured to use regenerative braking, in which the flywheel is sped up to capture kinetic energy of the machine as it decelerates. Conversely, when the machine is accelerating, the flywheel may provide additional power to the wheels, thereby reducing flywheel speed. The position of the flywheel upstream of the transmission may allow it to efficiently spin up to a desired operating speed during start up. During regenerative braking, however, the energy from the ground engaging members may be transmitted through several mechanical connections, including the transmission, before it reaches the flywheel. Consequently, the amount of energy that can be captured by an upstream-located flywheel may be reduced by the mechanical losses as it travels through the transmission and other mechanical connections, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the flywheel.
In other applications, the flywheel may be operably coupled to a drivetrain output downstream of the transmission. When the machine decelerates, energy from the drivetrain (and an associated transmission) may be transferred to the flywheel. During acceleration of the machine, energy from the flywheel may be transferred to the powertrain to assist with the increased power demand. When positioned downstream of the transmission, the flywheel may more efficiently capture energy during regenerative braking due to the decrease in mechanical connections between the flywheel and the ground engaging members, thereby reducing the mechanical loss. During start up, however, the drivetrain may not be configured to spin up the flywheel during machine start up. Additionally, the location of the flywheel downstream of the transmission may make such spin up inefficient due to mechanical loss through the transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,965 to Oetting et al. discloses a hybrid drive that includes both an engine flywheel and a storage flywheel. The engine flywheel is configured to compensate for non-uniformities in engine output torque, while the storage flywheel is configured to store energy during regenerative braking. Both the engine flywheel and the storage flywheel are positioned upstream of the transmission, and therefore suffer from the drawbacks noted above. Conversely, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0152984 to Bowman et al. discloses a hybrid vehicle having a flywheel connected to a lower powertrain assembly, downstream of a transmission. The flywheel of Bowman et al. is not coupled to the engine, and therefore is incapable of engine-powered spin up.
The efficiency of a flywheel assembly further may be impacted by parasitic loads that resist rotation of the flywheel. Friction forces, for example, which resist the rotation of the flywheel body, are generally related to flywheel speed and environment. To reduce the impact of environmental factors, the flywheel body may be contained in a housing that is maintained at a partial vacuum pressure (i.e., substantially below atmospheric pressure) and at a reduced temperature. As a result, flywheel speed is often the primary contributing factor, and is generally proportionally related to, the amount of friction generated by the flywheel.
Friction losses may be exacerbated in more recent, high speed flywheel constructions. Flywheel bodies were conventionally formed of metal materials, such as iron and steel, which have a relatively high density that limits the speed at which such flywheels may be safely rotated before becoming structurally unstable. More recently, specialized flywheel materials have been developed to improve flywheel capacity. For example, flywheel bodies may be formed of carbon fiber material having a strength-to-weight ratio that is higher than the conventional metal materials. This permits rotation at higher speeds, such as up to approximately 60,000 rpm or more, thereby increasing energy storage capacity. The higher rotational speeds, however, may increase the amount of friction force and therefore decrease the efficiency of the flywheel assembly.
Some flywheel assemblies are known that use multiple flywheels to increase energy storage capacity. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,193 to Molina discloses a "Freewheel Flywheel Transmission System" having multiple freewheeling shafts coupled to an engine. An associated set of flywheels is directly connected to each freewheeling shaft, so that the flywheels in a given set rotate at the same speed. When a freewheeling shaft reaches a desired rotational speed, the next freewheeling shaft is engaged and brought up to speed. Once all of the freewheeling shafts are rotating at the desired speed, they are coupled to an alternator that is connected to an electric motor and a battery. While Molina discloses a system that uses multiple flywheels, it fails to consider parasitic loads, and resulting inefficiencies, associated with such a system.

System and method for efficiently operating multiple flywheels


A system and method for automatically and optimally determining a route to be wired in a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) are disclosed in which a plurality of load pins to be wired with a source pin are selected sequentially according to a shortest length of distance from the source pin to the respective load pins, a plurality of switching stations present midway through each route of paths are selected on the basis of coordinates of a center of gravity derived from the coordinates of the unwired load pins and distances to the respective load pins to be wired sequentially, and, thus, a line network constituted by the routes of the first and second paths is formed. Furthermore, the route is corrected by searching out any of problematic switching stations through which the path cannot be formed from among the switching stations present along the route so as to bypass the problematic switching station. If this correction proves impossible, a second correction is sought by searching the problematic switching station itself so as to bypass a wired path present within the problematic switching station. If this correction also fails, a third mode of correction is implemented in which a switching station adjacent the problematic switching station is utilized.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically and optimally determining routes intervened between circuits (circuit blocks) of Programmable Logic Device (PLD). The present invention, particularly, relates to a system and method for automatically and optimally determining routes between circuits of the PLD in which connections between respective circuit blocks can be made with the shortest possible path with the least number of switching stations between the respective circuit blocks, and, which can effectively be formed using CAD (Computer Aided Design) system in a shorter length of time.
(2) Background of the Art
When Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs) or Logic Cell Arrays (LCAs) are designed for particular uses, it is necessary to determine paths of wiring to interconnect between internal circuit blocks so as to achieve logic circuitry required for a particular use.
For example, in Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), a plurality of circuit blocks into which logic circuits are incorporated and a plurality of switching stations provided for determining the routes between the respective circuit blocks are regularly arranged in horizontal or vertical array forms.
In addition, a predetermined switching element within each switching station is turned on or off to define the path through the switching station hereinafter, generally referred to as an SS. It will further be noted that generally route will refer to the overall line network sought to be established among the circuit blocks and path will describe one aspect or segment of the total route). Therefore, a signal transmission line between a source pin of one of the circuit blocks and load pin of one of the other circuit blocks is formed to provide a required logic circuitry between each circuit block.
In more detail, each switching station SS, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is provided with a plurality of electrically conductive pins located on four sides thereof, i.e., the N (North) side, S (South) side, W (West) side, and E (East) side, these pins being used to input or output information signals. These conductive pins extended on each side of the switching station SS are connected to those on adjacent switching stations. As shown in FIG. 3, a switching element such as a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistor T is interposed between the associated pins. When the transistor T is turned on, a single path is established between the associated pins so as to enable electrical connection between the pins.
When, e.g., a data of "1" is set in a storage area of SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) connected to a gate of the MOS transistor T, the MOS transistor T is turned on to electrically connect both pins. Between which pins the MOS transistor T is interposed depends on specifications prepared for the switching stations. For example, the plurality of MOS transistors may be installed to respective pins according to such specifications as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (M).
As appreciated from FIG. 4 (A), a current path can be established between pins W1 and E1 if the MOS transistor TW1E1 (shown in FIG. 4 (A)) is turned on. Consequently, it is possible to set the connections within respective switching stations according to the user's requirement. Thus, the paths according to the user's requirements can be carried out between a circuit block and an adjacent switching station and between mutually adjoining switching stations.
As described above, a single connection between the circuit blocks to be interconnected can be formed.
A method of determining paths in the PLDs includes, a first, rough determination of the route through a rough selection of SSs, i.e., through which of SSs the wired line between the source pin on one of the circuit blocks and load pin on one of the other circuit blocks is to be passed and a main determination which of the switching transistors within the selected SSs are to be turned on or off.
In order to facilitate the rough determination of path, various types of apparatuses for computer aided design (CAD) have been developed.
The rough determination of paths includes a 1:1 path, i.e., a line wired from a single source pin S to a single load pin L and 1:MULTI (a multiple number of lines), i.e., a single source pin to a plurality of load pins.
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication (unexamined) Showa 63-155740 published on Jun. 28, 1988 exemplifies a wiring method in which the route between a single source pin and a single load pin, or 1:1 wiring, is disclosed.
On the other hand, in the method of 1 (source pin S):MULTI (the multiple number of load pins), particular load pins from among the plurality of load pins are sequentially specified by a user and the required connections are formed such that the required number of load pins are wired to the source to provide the 1:MULTI required by the user.
However, in the above-described method of sequentially specifying a particular load pin from among the plurality of load pins when forming the paths between the respective source pins and load pins, i.e., a 1:MULTI type connection, a total length of each finally determined path becomes long and, thereby, a delay time, i.e., propagation delay of signals of the associated logic circuitry, becomes excessively long so as to reduce an efficiency of the logic circuitry.
Japanese Patent Application First Publications (unexamined) Showa 63-314846 published on Dec. 22, 1988 and Heisei 1-114050 published on May 2, 1989 exemplify a previously proposed method of automatically determining the above-described rough paths utilizing CAD.
In the previously proposed automatic rough route determination methods disclosed in the two above-identified Japanese Patent Application First Publications, to suppress generation of delay time involved in signal propagations between the circuit blocks in the LSI, the shortest paths between the associated blocks to be interconnected are automatically designed without intersections with other wired lines of paths when the circuit blocks to be interconnected are specified by the user.
As shown in FIG. 1, suppose that the circuit blocks to be interconnected B1 and B2 and the user specifies these two blocks B1 and B2 to be interconnected toward the CAD system. The automatic rough path determining method in the system can determine one of the plurality of paths to be taken between B1 and B2, i.e., R1 shown in FIG. 1.
According to the previously proposed apparatuses for automatically determining the rough paths between circuit blocks, a time required to design of the shortest paths can be shortened, as compared with the manual design counterpart, to provide the shortest paths.
However, because of restrictions placed on combinations of paths possible within the switching stations in the PLDs, when a plurality of the combinations of lines between two circuit blocks to be interconnected are present if connection combinations are plurally present and some of paths cannot be determined after the rough path determinations are completed.
That is to say, after the rough path determinations, the main path determinations which select which one of transistors within each SS disposed along the path will be turned on in order to achieve the shortest path.
During the main path determination, to prevent the delay time from increasing within the switching stations present midway along the rough path, it is common practice to form the path as short as possible along a given direction within the respective switching stations.
For example, to effect the shortest route R1 within the switching station SS2, of FIG. 1, the transistors (according to FIG. 4) TW1E1, TW2E2, and TW3E3 are the transistors to be turned on. It will be noted that all the transistors shown in FIG. 4 are present in each switching station SS.
For example, since the route R1 denoted by a solid line on the switching station SS3 and another route R2 denoted by a broken line are to be formed (the other path of R2 serves to connect associated circuit blocks other than B1-B2 of FIG. 1), the transistor TW1N1 is turned on to provide a path between the pins N1-W1 of the switch station SS3. The route from the pin W1 to the pin E1 cannot be simultaneously used by as two routes. If the same occurs in other routes from W2 to E2 or from W3 to E3, as shown in FIGS. 4 (B) and 4 (C), it will not possible to establish the path R1 within SS 3, for example.
Then, if the rough path determinations are continued neglecting the above described conditions, the path determination becomes often impossible if the path determination is carried out after determination of all the rough paths. At this time, it becomes necessary to restart the rough path determinations. This wastefully consumes time as far as design considerations are concerned.
Then, if it is necessary to correct the shortest route R1 by bypassing a problematic switching station SS (SS3, for example, the term problematic switching station will be defined in detail in the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS), such bypassing is carried out according to no fixed rules, so the total length of the paths become large so that an increase in delay time duration becomes detrimental to the overall design.

System and method for determining routes between circuit blocks of a programmable logic device by determining a load pin which is closest to the center of gravity of a plurality of load pins


A control circuit of a power supply delivering a supply current to an inductor connected in series with the horizontal deflection yoke of a cathode ray tube display, the inductor being the primary coil of a transformer operatively connected for delivering a rectified low-pass filtered biasing voltage to the anode of the display, the low-pass filtering having a first time constant corresponding to the duration of a plurality of pictures, the control circuit having feedback circuitry for generating a monitoring voltage substantially proportional to the biasing voltage and for controlling the supply current to keep the monitoring voltage equal to a reference voltage; and feedforward circuitry for measuring the cathode current and for adding to the monitoring voltage a compensation voltage corresponding to the cathode current, low-pass filtered with a second time constant corresponding to the duration of a small number of lines and high-pass filtered with the first time constant.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a control apparatus of a low-cost multi-frequency cathode ray tube (CRT) display such as a computer monitor and, more specifically, to a control circuit of the high voltage power supply of the CRT.
2. State of the Art
The tube of a CRT display typically comprises a screen biased at the anode voltage of the tube. The cathode of the tube is provided for emitting a video-modulated beam of electrons toward the screen. Horizontal and vertical deflection yokes deflect the electron beam so that it sweeps a predetermined area of the screen. The video modulation of the intensity of the electron beam during the sweeping of the screen enables displaying a picture on the screen.
FIG. 1 schematically represents a known control apparatus of a low-cost multi-frequency monochrome CRT display 2 having an anode 4 and a cathode 6. Such a control apparatus is for example described in the "Nouveau guide de télévision en couleurs", issued by the Syndicat de Constructeurs d'Appareils de Radio et de Télévision (SCART), pages 197–202, concerning the horizontal sweeping yoke, and in the application notes of the circuits having the reference numbers 9112 or 9112A from STMicroelectronics concerning the power supply of the yoke.
The horizontal deflection yoke 8 of the display is connected to a yoke control unit comprising a diode 12, a switch 14 and capacitors 16 and 18. The cathode of diode 12 is connected to a first end of the yoke 8. The anode of diode 12 is connected to a ground or common reference voltage. Switch 14 and capacitor 16 are connected in parallel with the diode 12. The second end of yoke 8 is connected to the ground through capacitor 18. The first end of yoke 8 is connected through an inductor 20 to a power supply 21. Power supply 21 comprises a controlled current source 22 delivering an average supply current Is. A capacitor 23 is connected in parallel with current source 22. Current source 22 is a known step up current mode source.
Inductor 20 forms the primary coil of a low/high transformer 24 of an anode biasing unit. A high turn count secondary coil 28 of transformer 24 has a first end connected to the ground and a second end connected to the anode of a diode 30. The cathode of diode 30 is connected through a low pass filter 32 to the anode 4 of the display. Low pass filter 32 is illustrated as comprising a resistor 34, corresponding to the resistance of the coil 28, connected in series with diode 30, and a capacitor 36 connected between the anode 4 and the ground.
A sensing coil 37 of transformer 24, comprising a low number of turns compared to coil 28, has one end connected to the ground and one end connected to a control circuit 38. The control circuit 38 comprises a feedback block 39 and may comprise other blocks that are not illustrated. Feedback block 39 comprises a rectifying diode 40, a filtering capacitor 42, a voltage divider and an amplifier. The anode of diode 40 is connected to sensing coil 37. The cathode of diode 40 is connected to the ground through capacitor 42. The voltage divider is comprised of two resistors 44, 46 connected in series between the cathode of diode 40 and the ground. The amplifier comprises an operational amplifier 48 having its inverting input connected to the node between resistors 44 and 46 and its non-inverting input connected to a reference voltage Vref. A capacitor 49 is connected between the inverting input and the output of amplifier 48 in a known manner for stability purposes. The output of amplifier 48 controls the current source 22. While most often the current source 22 works in a switched mode, the important point is that the average of the current it supplies is controlled by the output voltage of amplifier 48.
For sweeping a line of the screen, switch 14 is alternatively opened and closed to make the current in yoke 8 increase at a predetermined speed from a predetermined negative maxima to a predetermined positive maxima, then to make the current in yoke 8 return fast to the predetermined negative maxima (current flyback). This causes the electron beam to sweep a line of the screen and then return fast to an appropriate position for sweeping the next line. The vertical deflection yoke (not illustrated) is controlled to move the beam vertically to the next line during flyback.
A voltage peak appears across inductor 20 during flyback. A corresponding high voltage peak appears across coil 28, which is rectified through diode 30 and smoothed by filter 32 with a time constant which may be equivalent to the display time of several pictures, i.e. generally more than 10 ms, so as to obtain a substantially constant high D.C. biasing voltage Vb.
The amplifier 48 of the feedback block 39 receives a monitoring voltage Vm substantially proportional to the biasing voltage Vb, and regulates the supply current Is so that voltage Vm remains equal to the reference voltage Vref. This keeps the supply voltage Vs substantially constant, whereby the current maximum in coil 8 and the biasing voltage Vb remain substantially constant. The feedback block 39 performs as an integrator because of the capacitor 49.
The above control apparatus is known to be prone to a problem often referred to as "dynamic breathing" of the screen. The dynamic breathing corresponds to a variation of the length of lines of the screen when a sharp change of the brightness of an image being displayed on the screen occurs.
A need exists for a control apparatus that provides for the functionalities of the above control apparatus while suppressing the dynamic breathing of the screen.

Control circuit and process for a cathode ray tube display control apparatus


A viewfinder system for a camera, in particular a movie camera, in which there runs a viewfinder beam path that is diverted from a recording beam path for film exposure is provided. The viewfinder system comprising an eyepiece, an eye closure, a shutter for masking out stray light penetrating into the camera via the viewfinder system, and a control device that triggers the shutter and is connected to a sensor. The viewfinder system further comprising a sensor device for contactless detection of an eye or head, located at the eye closure of the viewfinder system, of a person viewing the picture to be recorded through the eyepiece.

The invention relates to a viewfinder system for a camera, in particular for a movie camera.
In order to view a picture or a picture sequence to be recorded by a still camera, movie camera or videocamera, a viewfinder beam path is diverted from the recording beam path running through the camera objective by means of a beam splitter or a mirror reflex device and is imaged as viewfinder picture by a transmitting optics as a real image, for example on a focusing screen or fiber plate or as an air image, where it can be viewed through an eyepiece and assessed. The viewfinder closure of the camera is formed by an eye closure made from a soft plastic that is applied around the eye to the head of a cameraman and prevents laterally penetrating stray light from degrading the viewfinder image viewed. The eye closure can optionally be designed as an eyepiece cup anatomically adapted to the field of view of the cameraman, or in the manner of a bellows. Usually, a leather cloth is pulled over the anatomically shaped eyepiece cup or over the bellows in order to give a more pleasant contact with the skin.
If the eye of the cameraman is not located at the eye closure, stray light can penetrate into the camera interior via the viewfinder system of the camera in a direction opposite to the viewfinder rays diverted from the recording beam path, be reflected into the recording beam path at the rear side of the camera objective, or be scattered in the viewfinder beam path at the focusing screen or fiber plate, and thereby lead to faulty exposures of film or video pictures, and thus render the film or video recording unusable.
In order to avoid the penetration of stray light into the viewfinder system when a head is not applied at the eye closure, it is known to arrange between the eye closure and the eyepiece a shutter that is connected to a lever guided to the outside of the camera housing, such that the cameraman is able to open the shutter by manual actuation of the lever in order to view pictures with his head applied to the eye closure, and to close it again after viewing pictures but before moving his head from the eye closure. However, this known apparatus for preventing the penetration of stray light into the viewfinder system of a camera presupposes extreme concentration on the part of the cameraman, since premature opening or delayed closing of the shutter when no head is located at the eye closure allows stray light to penetrate into the viewfinder system of the camera and can lead to faulty exposures of the film or video.
For this reason, control apparatuses have been developed for a shutter arranged in the viewfinder system of a camera; with these apparatuses, the pressure of the head against the eye closure opens the shutter via a mechanism, and a spring connected to the mechanism closes the shutter when the cameraman no longer presses against the eye closure with his head. This apparatus for automatically opening and closing the shutter has the disadvantage, however, that pressure is continuously exerted on the field of view about the eye of the cameraman while images are being viewed, and this is felt as being unpleasant.
DE 31 35 950 A1 discloses an apparatus for reducing or masking out the quantity of parasitic light incident in a monocular mirror reflex viewfinder and which includes a light sensitive element that is arranged in the camera viewfinder and outputs a voltage as a function of the parasitic light entering through the eyepiece of the viewfinder. A comparator receives the output signal of the light sensitive element and generates a control signal as soon as the intensity of the parasitic light exceeds a predetermined value. A shutter is closed as a function of the control signal such that parasitic light does not scatter into the optical system of the camera through the viewfinder system and cannot degrade the image quality. Instead of the shutter, an aperture stop or a filter can be used in the known apparatus so that the cameraman can observe the object to be recorded through the viewfinder even when the parasitic light passing into the optical system of the camera is reduced.
So that in the case of the known apparatus for triggering a shutter arranged in the viewfinder beam path the viewfinder rays diverted from the recording beams are not received by the light sensitive element and therefore also lead to a closure of the shutter even when the eye of the cameraman is located at the camera viewfinder, there is provided in the eyepiece arrangement of the viewfinder system a small wall which occludes the viewfinder rays diverted from the recording beam path such that the light sensitive element in the form of a photodiode or of a phototransistor picks up only the parasitic light incident through the eyepiece. Despite this measure, given an appropriately set sensitivity of the device for triggering the shutter it is impossible to prevent the viewfinder rays from the end termination of the viewfinder from being reflected at the eye or the visual aid of the cameraman or at a lens, inserted into the viewfinder, for correcting vision defects, falling onto the light sensitive element and initiating a closure of the shutter even though the eye of the cameraman is located at the eye closure of the camera viewfinder.
A further disadvantage of the known apparatus consists in that given low illumination the shutter is open because of a lack of parasitic light incident in the camera viewfinder, and in the event of suddenly incident parasitic light, for example upon an interchange of light and shade, parasitic light is incident in the viewfinder system for a short time up to the closure of the shutter by a control signal output by the light sensitive element, and leads to faulty exposures.
Furthermore, given a minimum distance of the field of view, surrounding the eye of the cameraman, from the eye closure of the camera viewfinder, parasitic light can penetrate into the viewfinder system of the camera and lead to closure of the shutter given an appropriate setting of the sensitivity of the control device, even though the small quantity of parasitic light would not lead to faulty exposures. In order to enable images to be viewed even in such cases, the known apparatus requires a complicated adjustment of the response threshold of the device for triggering the shutter.

Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG


A sailboat apparatus includes a hull having a bottom, bow and stern portions along with a central portion and at least one mast for supporting a sail extending above the hull. The mast is mounted to the hull for side-to-side movement relative to the hull. A keel assembly has a keel extending below the hull bottom and through the hull bottom and attached to an elongated transfer shaft rotatably mounted to the hull and having the mast coupled to one portion thereof. The keel is coupled to another portion of the transfer shaft and extends from the transfer shaft through the hull bottom into the water so that movement of the mast from side-to-side rotates the transfer shaft and the keel in the opposite direction from the mast to stabilize the sailboat. Sealing is provided for sealing the hull bottom against the incursion of water through the keel assembly opening in the hull and may include having the transfer shaft coupled through journals and covered with the seals over the shaft and sealed to the bottom of the hull. Embodiments are disclosed which mount fluid cylinders to control the movement of the mast from side-to-side and one or more mast and keels may be utilized.

This invention relates to sailing craft and especially to sailboats having a mast, keel and ballast interconnect through a transfer shaft to stabilize the boat hull.
Sailboats have usually been assembled by using a fixed hull having a fixed mast attached thereto and a fixed keel extending from the bottom and having a ballast substantially rigidly formed to the keel to aid in stabilizing the hull. The keel is heavily weighted to provide a substantial amount of ballast to add stability to the sailboat when under way. With this type of design, the lateral wind force acting on the sails causes the entire vessel to heel with the adverse affects of heeling on the hull increasing the incursion of water and with the asymmetrical underwater hull shape tending to cause veering of the craft off-course while increasing the bow wake and resistance to forward movement. This in turn increases the tendency of the craft to capsize as the stability of the boat is decreased. The heeling of the boat is generally countered by the crew shifting their weight to the opposite side of the hull to prevent the hull from capsizing and to maintain the stability of the hull.
In the past, various approaches have been tried to solve these problems, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,300, which shows a sailing craft having a one-piece hull design with a unitary mast, keel, and ballast assembly mounted on the hull of the craft so that the mast, keel, and ballast assembly can rotate independently on the hull to permit the hull of the craft to float free of the wind heeling forces. In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,512 to Marcil, a catamaran structure is shown in which the mast and sail are also formed as a unitary structure to tilt laterally to port or starboard when the catamaran is underway. The unitary structure of the mast and the keel are rotatably mounted to the platform above the water level in the catamaran which thus reduces the complexities from that found in a conventional sailboat. The Petrovich patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,212, shows another catamaran having a pivotable mast with a downwardly extending section that holds an underwater ballast. The Stoeberl patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,550, shows a plastic sailboat body and keel assembly while the Webster patent, U.S. Pat. No. 667,158, shows a center board for vessels which can be raised and lowered. The Beardsley patent, U.S. Pat. No. 648,911, shows a sailing craft in which a movable mast is connected to an inclined shaft extending through the bottom of the sailboat and to a ballast. The D. Beardsley & F. A. Robinson patent, U.S. Pat. No. 537,667, shows a sailboat in which the wind pressure upon the sails causes the mast to yield and move to leeward by revolving a shaft and bearings which transmits the motion to arms and hence to a ballast without rocking the hull. In U.K. patent application 2,151,195 A to Craig, a pivoting mast for a water borne or land based vehicle is illustrated. In the Dailey patent, U.S. Pat. No. 627,844, a device for lowering and raising smoke stacks is illustrated.
In contrast to these prior art patents, the present invention provides a stable sailboat in which the shifting mast is attached to an elongated transfer shaft at one end which transfer shaft is sealed to the bottom of the boat and has the keel extending through the bottom of the boat and attached thereto which keel has a ballast mounted on the bottom thereof for maintaining the stability of the sailboat.


The invention relates to a trocar sleeve having a piston of a piston valve which can be brought into the open position against spring action by means of pressure on an actuation handle, which piston has a bore corresponding to the diameter of the access channel of the trocar sleeve. The valve piston can be fixed in its open position in the valve housing against its spring loading by a catch which can be released by hand.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a trocar sleeve having a valve piston (trumpet valve) which can be brought into the open position against spring action by means of pressure on the actuation handle, which valve piston has a bore corresponding to the diameter of the access channel of the trocar sleeve.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
In such generally known trocar sleeves fitted with a trumpet valve (hand-actuated piston valve), the trumpet valve standing under permanent spring tension closes the channel of the trocar sleeve in a gas-tight manner when the trocar is removed and when instruments are exchanged.
However, known trocar sleeves of this type have the disadvantage that the trumpet valve standing under permanent spring tension in its channel presses on the instrument introduced, and hence inhibits its rotatability and its ability for longitudinal displacement. The sensitive handling of the instrument during endoscopy is thus impaired. In addition, damage to the instrument surface may thus occur, in particular for instruments with isolated surfaces.
The object of the invention is therefore to design a trocar sleeve with trumpet valve, so that the spring-loaded valve piston does not inhibit the mobility of an instrument when it is guided through the trocar sleeve and does not damage its surface, and in that the access channel of the trocar sleeve can be closed quickly in a gas-tight manner by means of simple operation when instruments are changed.


A method for treating a subterranean formation with a foamed acid system is disclosed. The method includes introducing a treatment fluid into the formation. The treatment fluid includes a first solution and a second solution. The first solution includes an ammonium containing compound and an acid. The second solution includes a nitrite containing compound. One or both of the solutions further include a foaming agent. The solutions are mixed within the formation to generate a nitrogen gas. The method further includes, allowing the compounds to generate nitrogen in the presence of the foaming agent to form a foam and generate the foamed acid system within the formation. The acid present in the foamed acid system reacts with soluble substances in the subterranean formation to increase permeability of the subterranean formation and enable enhanced production of reservoir fluids.

Foamed acid systems are used in acid stimulation and acid fracturing treatments due to offering several advantages compared to traditional non-foamed systems, such as reduced fluid content, superior fluid loss control, increased viscosity, reduced friction, and quicker cleanup. Additionally, Foamed acid systems reduce the reactivity of the acid when compared to conventional acid treatments. Such reduced reactivity allows subsequent portions of the acid treatments to be diverted away from areas of the subterranean formation that have already been treated and allows for deeper and more complete treatment of the formation. Consequently, the reduced acid reactivity allows for deeper fracture penetration and increased fracture conductivity throughout the length of fractures, which may be induced during the treatment.

Methods for treating a subterranean formation with a foamed acid system


An electronic device for capturing an image by using a display is provided. The electronic device includes a display, a display controller configured to operate the display using a first lighting parameter and a second lighting parameter to generate an afterimage effect for objects included in images, a camera configured to capture an image to be displayed by the display, and a processor configured to determine a camera operation parameter corresponding to a final lighting parameter of the display for a capture operation of the camera. Therefore the electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can capture a high quality image in a dark environment.

Various electronic devices such as a smartphone, tablet personal computer (PC), portable multimedia player (PMP), personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop PC, and wearable device can provide various functions such as a social networking service (SNS), Internet, multimedia, photo/video capture and play, and documentation task as well as a telephone function.
In particular, the culture of photographing a user's own face by using a front camera installed in an electronic device is growing rapidly. However, there are difficulties in capturing an image with the front camera in a dark place because the front camera is not equipped with a lighting device.
In order to overcome these difficulties, photographing technologies of using a light source of a display are being developed in the field of photographing an image by using a front camera.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Electronic device and method for capturing image by using display


A method includes generating a temperature-corrected nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement-derived value corresponding to a target temperature using at least one of a dimension-reduction operation or a parameter-correlation operation based on a difference between the target temperature and a sample temperature. The method also includes determining a formation property based on the temperature-corrected NMR measurement-derived value corresponding to the target temperature.

The disclosure generally relates to the field of measurement, and more particularly to using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements.
Various well operations, such as stimulation operations and drilling operations, include activities to measure formation properties using NMR methods. NMR equipment can be positioned on wireline tools and/or drilling tools in a borehole of the formation. NMR equipment can also be positioned above the formation and can make surface measurements. An NMR measurement can be interpreted as a signal or set of signals, from which measurements such as NMR peak amplitudes and NMR relaxation time distributions can be determined.

Temperature correction of NMR relaxation time distributions


A vibrating arrangement includes at least one elongate silo tube for receiving filling material, the silo tube having a longitudinal direction, a lengthwise filling material outlet at one end of the silo tube and a casing. At least one vibrator is disposed on the silo tube. At least one outer closure is disposed on the casing of the silo tube. At least one filling material container is disposed so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the silo tube before the outer closures, in which the filling material container has at least one opening facing the casing of the silo tube.

Vibrating arrangements for producing columns of material or filling material in the earth are generally known. The columns of material consist, for example, of sand or gravel, the grain or grit size of which can be coordinated in each case with the use location. Vibrating arrangements of this type comprise at least one silo tube or material tube with a filling material outlet at one end, and a vibrator arranged on the silo tube. In the case of vibrating arrangements which are designed as depth vibrators, the vibrator is arranged at a lower end of the silo tube and is located in the ground during operation, and, in the case of top vibrators, the vibrator is arranged at the top of the material tube.
Known vibrating arrangements have a filling material container which is arranged in the upper region of the silo tube and which serves to supply filling material to the silo tube. In this case, the filling material container has to be filled at some height above the ground using a suitable construction machine, which may constitute a considerable outlay.
WO 90/15904 proposes a method for producing columns of filling material, in which a silo tube is filled with filling material at ground level. For this purpose, the silo tube is provided with openings through which the filling material is intended to flow into the silo tube. The openings are not closable, and therefore earth can penetrate the silo tube when the silo tube is located within the cavity.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a vibrating arrangement which does not have the abovementioned disadvantages.

Vibrating arrangement for producing columns of filling material


A resilient watertight light baton is disclosed having multicolored light source and power source mounted therein. The light sources are in electrical communication with the power source via magnetic switches and resistor elements. The exterior walls of the light baton are machined to effectively transmit light from the light source. The body of the light baton further includes a ring switch about a portion of the body proximate to the light source. The ring switch includes a magnetic portion. As the ring switch is rotated and the magnetic portion is brought proximate to the magnetic switches, the electrical communication is completed thereby activating the light source.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of communication and more particularly to an apparatus for hand held line of sight signaling.
2. Description of Related Art
Visual signaling is a common and easily understood method of relaying information from at least one person to another. Visual signaling is often used in environments hostile to other forms of communication. Such environments include traffic intersections, airports, mountain ranges, underwater and the like. Provided the environment is hospitable to the transmission of light from a source point to a receiver point, visual signaling provides an effective means of communication. However, such environments tend to be destructive on the visual signaling device.
One type of visual signaling device is a light baton or wand. Light batons are hand held devices which, at the control of the holder emit, colored and white light. Light batons are used to direct of pedestrians, motor vehicles, aviation vehicles, and the like. The baton may be used to generate light signals indicating safe and clear passage, dangerous and hazardous conditions, direction to proceed, or identifying one's location.
A common problem encountered in use of light batons is the shortened life span of the baton from usage in hostile and rugged environments. These environments expose the baton to manual battering as well as the natural elements. As a result, a need exists for a light baton having characteristics that can withstand use in hostile and rigid environments.
Several apparatuses and methods have been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,309 to Baravaglio et al. discloses a signaling baton having a sealed cylindrical shape, made of synthetic materials, and including reflectors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,568 to Dong et al. discloses a light baton having LEDs, a second light source, a top and bottom cap, and electrical source and switches. U.S. Pat. No. 2,611,019 to Warner discloses a baton having machined surfaces intended to improve light transmission. U.S. Pat. No. 1,946,059 to Buchholz discloses a flashlight having different colored light sources within the flashlight body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,317 to Lin discloses a light baton including a pliable bulb holding bar for use in decorative advertising. U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,679 to Chin-Fa discloses a traffic directing light stick having a lamp element and a sound generating element. U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,432 to Coffman discloses a rechargeable portable illuminating device having elements for displaying a spotlight, a fluorescent light and strobe light.
While these various inventions in the prior art have provided improvements in visual signaling devices, none provides a visual signaling light emitting wand with a choice of different colors.

Hand held light wand for visual signaling


This invention relates to the treatment of atherosclerosis via raising the level of HDL cholesterol by administration of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, or --(CH.sub.2).sub.0-6 Ar.sup.1 where Ar.sup.1 is phenyl, furanyl, pyridinyl or thienyl, and Ar.sup.1 is optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, --CO.sub.2 H or OH; and Ar is phenyl, napthyl, furanyl, pyridinyl or thienyl optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, --CO.sub.2 H or OH.

It is widely believed that HDL is a "protective" lipoprotein [Gloria Lena Vega and Scott Grundy, Current Opinion in Lipidology, 7, 209-216 (1996)] and that increasing plasma levels of HDL may offer a direct protection against the development of atherosclerosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that both the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in humans and the severity of experimental atherosclerosis in animals are inversely correlated with serum HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (Russ et al., Am. J. Med. 11 (1951) 480-493; Gofman et al, Circulation, 34 (1966) 679-697; Miller and Miller, Lancet. 1 (1975) 16-19; Gordon et al., Circulation, 79 (1989) 8-15; Stampfer et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 325 (1991) 373-381; Badimon et al., Lab. Invest., 60 (1989) 455-461). Atherosclerosis is the process of accumulation of cholesterol within the arterial wall which results in the occlusion, or stenosis, of coronary and cerebral arterial vessels and subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. Angiographical studies have shown that elevated levels of some HDL particles in humans appears to be correlated to a decreased number of sites of stenosis in the coronary arteries of humans (Miller et al., Br. Med. J., 282 (1981) 1741-1744).
There are several mechanisms by which HDL may protect against the progression of atherosclerosis. Studies in vitro have shown that HDL is capable of removing cholesterol from cells (Picardo et al., Arteriosclerosis, 6 (1986) 434-441). Data of this nature suggest that one antiatherogenic property of HDL may lie in its ability to deplete tissues of excess free cholesterol and eventually lead to the delivery of this cholesterol to the liver (Glomset, J. Lipid Res., 9 (1968) 155-167). This has been supported by experiments showing efficient transfer of cholesterol from HDL to the liver (Glass et al., Circulation, 66 (Suppl. II) (1982) 102; MacKinnon et al., J. Biol. Chem., 261 (1986) 2548-2552). In addition, HDL may serve as a reservoir in the circulation for apoproteins necessary for the rapid metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (Grow and Fried, J. Biol. Chem., 253 (1978) 1834-1841; Lagocki and Scanu, J. Biol. Chem., 255 (1980) 3701-3706; Schaefer et al., J. Lipid Res., 23 (1982) 1259-1273). Accordingly, agents which increase HDL cholesterol concentrations are useful as anti-atherosclerotic agents, particularly in the treatment of dyslipoproteinemias and coronary heart disease.

Elevation of HDL cholesterol by 2-(-4-chlorol-1-aryl-butylidene)-hydrazinecarbothioamides


A fuel pressure regulator wherein the diaphragm is eliminated from the crimp securing the first and second portions of the regulator housing together, thus minimizing the strain on the diaphragm thereby extending the life of the diaphragm and the pressure regulator. The diaphragm has an annular flange that is disposed within an annular area defined by an annular interior periphery of the second housing portion and an annular exterior periphery of an end plate retained between first and second housing portions of the regulator. The diaphragm is thereby axially and radially restrained between the first and second housing portions without being clamped between the first and second housing portions thereby increasing the life expectancy of the diaphragm. The fuel pressure regulator further utilizes a valve member having an annular sealing surface. This annular sealing surface is spring biased against the diaphragm and enables a higher unit pressure at the seat thereby improving the sealing characteristics between the upstream portion of the regulator and the downstream portion of the regulator. The fuel flow through the regulator is controlled by a control spring opposingly biasing the diaphragm against the sealing surface of the valve member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fuel pressure regulators for use in fuel delivery systems of vehicles, and more particularly to diaphragmed fuel pressure regulators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuel pressure regulators for use in fuel delivery systems of vehicles are well known in the art. In a typical fuel delivery system for a vehicle, the fuel delivery system includes a fuel tank, a fuel pump, a fuel filter, a fuel pressure regulator, a fuel return line, and a fuel metering device for supplying the appropriate amount of fuel to the vehicle engine.
The fuel pump, typically electrically operated, constantly draws fuel through an inlet disposed within the fuel tank. The fuel is forced through the pump outlet where it enters a fuel filter/regulator assembly through a fuel supply port. Most of the fuel passes through the fuel filter and out through an outlet port that is connected to a fuel line that leads to a fuel metering device, such as a carburetor or fuel injectors, for supplying fuel to the vehicle engine. Due to the fuel pump constantly pumping fuel into the fuel line at flow rates usually higher than what is required by the engine, a device is required to return excess flow back to the tank to avoid excess pressure buildup. Most modern fuel delivery systems require that the pressure in the fuel metering device remain relatively constant, within certain tolerances. As such, a fuel pressure regulator is required to regulate the pressure in the fuel line. The fuel pressure regulator acts as a pressure release valve by enabling the excess fuel to be returned to the fuel tank, thus relieving the excess pressure in the fuel line. The fuel pressure regulator acts by opening a valve member when the pressure on the upstream side of the regulator exceeds a predetermined pressure level. When the pressure on the upstream side of the regulator returns to the predetermined pressure level, the valve member closes. Thus the fuel pressure regulator acts to keep the pressure in the fuel line relatively constant within certain prescribed tolerances.
Most fuel pressure regulators utilize a diaphragm and valve assembly which act to seal the upstream side of the regulator from the downstream side of the regulator. When the pressure on the upstream side of the diaphragm exceeds a predetermined pressure differential, the diaphragm is caused to deflect thus causing a valve member to open to release fuel through the regulator and out through the return line where it is returned to the fuel tank. Thus, it should be appreciated that if the diaphragm does not properly seal the upstream side of the diaphragm from the downstream side of the diaphragm, it would be impossible to regulate the fuel line pressure because a proper pressure differential could not be maintained. It should be readily apparent, then, that the life of the fuel pressure regulator is dependent on the life of the diaphragm. If the diaphragm fails to properly seal or becomes worn, the performance of the pressure regulator will suffer or fail.
In most conventional pressure regulators the diaphragm is typically fabricated from synthetic rubber and is usually restrained within the housing by crimping or clamping it between the upper housing portions and lower housing portions of the regulator. The clamping pressure is critical. Too little pressure on the edges of the diaphragm and the diaphragm will not be adequately sealed or held in place. Too much clamping pressure causes premature failure of the diaphragm where it is clamped. Since there is such a narrow tolerance for the clamping pressure, this increases the costs of manufacture and the likelihood of failure if tolerances are not met Consequently, there is a need for a solution to this problem.
Thus, there is a need in the industry for an extended life pressure regulator which secures the diaphragm in the device without direct clamping forces yet maintains an adequate seal between the upstream and downstream sides of the diaphragm.
Additionally, there is a need in the industry for improving the seating characteristics of the valve member for creating a tighter seal between the upstream side of the diaphragm and downstream side of the diaphragm. By improving the seating of the valve member, stricter tolerances can be achieved and thus the efficiency of the fuel delivery system can be improved.
Furthermore there is a need in the industry for miniaturizing fuel pressure regulators and for reducing the costs of manufacturing fuel pressure regulators.


An evaluator (210) having an input (207) for receiving a signal indicative of a channel current sensed via a sensor in a mutlichannel current sharing system, and circuitry (313, 319) coupled to the input (207) and responsive to the signal for indicating an unreliable sensing for the sensor when a low current condition occurs for a time period exceeding the switching time period of the channel current. Further, the apparatus can include an additional input (207) and circuitry (313, 319) for evaluating an additional sensor sensing an additional channel current. The low current condition is characterized by thresholds corresponding to the peak level and a valley level of the channel current over a switching time period.

Multiphase DC/DC converters have gained a significant market share in high current low output voltage applications. Conventional converters include an integrated pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, power MOSFETs and an output filter, such as that shown in the FIG. 1, in which power conversion is performed by a plurality of power channels working in parallel. An output filter typically includes inductors (L) and capacitors (C). The MOSFETs control current in the output inductors in which a high-side switch selectively couples the inductor to a positive power supply while a low-side switch selectively couples the inductor to ground. The PWM controller controls the high-side and low-side switches. An important function of the PWM controller is to assure equal sharing between the plurality of channels and provide protection functions to the MOSFETs. Conventional current sharing functions include sensing channel current (typically via sensor circuitry such as the resistors shown in FIG. 1), comparing channel currents to the average system current, and adjusting control signals of the PWM controller in accordance with the results. The sensed channel current information can also be used to monitor the state of a load.
Components of the current sensing circuitry, are typically not integrated with the PWM controller and thus are susceptible to damage or variations from manufacturing, testing, and operation. For example, current sense resistors or printed wires can be damaged during the processes of placing, soldering, washing, and handling at manufacturing, or burned out due to a severe overload. In any of these cases the channel current information (typically produced in the form of a representative signal) obtained from the current sense resistor will not be a true representation or is not produced at all, falsely indicating a zero current.
Conventional current share schemes will respond to such a false zero current indication by steering more current to that channel creating a severe overload for the components within this channel. An example of a behavioral pattern of a four-channel system with a failure in the second channel current sense path is illustrated in the graph shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in the graph, most of the load current, approximately 60A, has been steered into the second channel. Eventually, the overall system will encounter catastrophic damage as a single channel of a multiphase system is typically designed to carry a load that is only 1/n of the system load. Therefore, a need exist for a effective approach for detecting sensing component irregularity or failure for improving overall system reliability and robustness and/or increasing manufacturing yields.

Current sense components failure detection in a multi-phase power system


In the present invention, by inputting an upper head size to a computer in addition to a front & back length-size and a right & left width-size of a head portion of a helmet wearer and by data-processing them, there is employed a configuration in which a kind of the helmet size and a shape of a pad such as a pad, in the region consisting of the head-top portion and the vicinity thereof, or the like, which fit the head portion of the helmet wearer, are to be selected. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a selection method in which it is possible to easily select a kind of a preferable size of the helmet, and a preferable shape of the pad in the region consisting of the head-top portion and the vicinity thereof.

For the helmet size, generally, there have been known six kinds of an XS size (53 cm to 54 cm), an S size (55 cm to 56 cm), an M size (57 cm to 58 cm), an L size (59 cm to 60 cm), an XL size (61 cm to 62 cm) and an XXL size (63 cm to 64 cm). It should be noted that the numerical values in aforesaid parentheses are values indicating the circumferential length of the head portion of the helmet wearer. Then, for the helmets having these six kinds of sizes, the portions corresponding to the head circumferential lengths of the head-portion accommodating spaces thereof are formed as substantially elliptical shapes which are substantially analogous to one another.
In a helmet sales dealer selling helmets, in case of selling a helmet to a person expected to buy a helmet such as a person expected to wear a helmet or the like, who is expected to wear a helmet, there is employed a configuration in which a helmet having a size offered by a person expected to buy the helmet is to be sold to this person expected to buy the helmet or in which the circumferential length of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet is actually measured by a tape measure or the like, the kind of the fitted size is selected depending on the fitted size indication on the tape measurement corresponding to that actual measurement value, and a helmet having this selected kind of size is to be sold.
Also, in US2004/0204904A1, there is disclosed a method of selecting a kind of a helmet size and a shape of a pad by using a computer. Then, in aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, there is disclosed also a method of adjusting the helmet size by using aforesaid selection method. Further, in aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, there is disclosed a head size measuring tool used for actually measuring a front & back length-size and a right & left width-size of the head portion of a person expected to wear the helmet.
Specifically, in aforesaid head size measuring tool of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, by moving a second measuring tool piece having a substantially reverse L-shape reciprocatingly with respect to a first measuring tool piece having a substantially reverse L-shape, there is employed a configuration in which the front & back length-size and the right & left width-size of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet is to be actually measured. Then, in aforesaid selection method of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, by inputting the front & back length-size and the right & left width-size of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet as data respectively to a computer which can utilize a program necessary for the selection of aforesaid kind of the helmet size and aforesaid shape of the pad, and by data-processing aforesaid front & back length-size and aforesaid right & left width-size by using aforesaid program, there is employed a configuration in which there are carried out the respective selections of the kind of aforesaid helmet size and the shape of aforesaid pad, which respectively fit aforesaid person expected to wear the helmet. Further, in aforesaid adjustment method of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, there is employed a configuration in which the helmet size is adjusted by using the selection result selected in aforesaid selection method of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1.
However, according to the head size measuring tool of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, even if supposedly taking account of the actual measurement of the upper head height size of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet, which needs to be used in a first view point of the present invention described later, it is extremely difficult for this upper head height size to be actually measured accurately.
Also, in the selection method of the kind of the helmet size and the shape of the pad of aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, it is not taken into account at all about a matter of actually measuring the upper head height size of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet such as shown in a first view point of the present invention described later. For this reason, there is a fear that the kind of the selected helmet size or the shape of selected pad does not adequately fit the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet caused by the individual difference of the upper head height size.
Further, in the selection method of the kind of the helmet size and the shape of the pad shown in aforesaid US2004/0204904A1, a matter of actually measuring the right & left front-cheek width-size and the right & left back-cheek width-size of the head portion of the person expected to wear the helmet such as shown in a second view point of the present invention which will be described later is not taken into account at all. For this reason, on an occasion of the selection of the cheek pads on the left side and on the right side, there is employed a configuration in which a helmet mounted with a standard size cheek pad is worn by a person expected to wear the helmet and thereafter, the fit state of the size of the mounted cheek pad is found out from the person expected to wear the helmet. Then, in a case in which the size of the mounted cheek pad does not fit the person expected to wear the helmet, a cheek pad having a different size is re-mounted on the helmet and thereafter, there is employed a configuration in which the operation of finding out aforesaid fit state from the person expected to wear the helmet is repeated. Therefore, it takes a lot of trouble with the selection of the cheek pad and concurrently, there occurs a case in which it is not possible to obtain an objective fit state with regard to the cheek pad.

Method of selecting kind of size of a helmet and shape of a pad, method of adjusting helmet size by using the selection method, and head size measuring tool used in aforesaid selection method


A casting handle for a fishing rod includes a reel mount which has a reel leg placing section in the upper surface which is to place a reel leg in position to hold the reel, a lower surface curved in such a manner that it is lowered most at the middle in the direction of width and raised towards both side edges, and a sideward expanded portion which is formed by expanding horizontally the portion of the reel leg placing section which is substantially the rear half of the reel leg placing section. The rear end portions of the edge lines of the sideward expanded portion ar raised obliquely backwardly on one side of the reel mount which is opposite to the other side where a trigger is protruded. With the casting handle, the angler can hold the casting handle stable in the casting operation, and the fingers gripping the casting handle feel fitted on and comfortable with it during the palming operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fishing rods, and more particularly to a casting handle for a fishing rod.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, an angler performs both a casting operation and a palming operation with a fishing rod equipped with a casting handle. In the casting operation, the angler throws the bait to a desired point from behind while holding the grip of the fishing rod with one hand. The palming operation follows the casting operation. In the palming operation, the angler holds the fishing rod substantially horizontal while gripping the reel mount mainly.
In the casting motion, the angler may cast the line in a twisting or whipping motion so that the bait is accurately thrown to the aimed point. In this case, forced are applied to the hand of the angler, particularly to the fingers, in many directions. In the palming motion, sometimes the angler must hold the fishing rod horizontal for a long time while concentrating attention to the rod itself. Thus, the palming operation is rather difficult to continue without substantial discomfort.
In order to eliminate the difficulty accompanying the palming operation, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 174624/1990 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined published application") has proposed a reel mount which has a lower surface curved in cross section, whose plan view is an elongated ellipse having a wide portion.
In the proposition disclosed by the prior art, the fingertips to which forces are applied most during the palming operation are not taken into account, and instead main attention is paid to the improvement in the feeling of fitness of the fingers. Furthermore, the proposition does not take casting operation into consideration. Therefore, the proposition still involves problems to be solved in the improvement of the stability of the grip in the casting operation and the comfortableness of the fingertips during the palming operation.


The present invention is an X-ray system having a source-detector module, which includes X-ray sources and detectors, for scanning an object being inspected, a scan engine coupled to the source-detector module for collecting scan data from the source detector module, an image reconstruction engine coupled to the scan engine for converting the collected scan data into one or more X-ray images, and a scan controller coupled with at least one of the source detector module, the scan engine, and the image reconstruction engine optimize operations of the X-ray system.

Applicant has developed a new generation of X-ray systems that implement X-ray sources with more than one electron gun and one or more high voltage anodes within a single vacuum envelope.
The rapid switching of electron guns under electrostatic control enables the fast movement of the effective focal spot of the X-ray tube and the rapid generation of sets of tomographic X-ray scan data without the use of moving parts. By configuring the firing sequence of the electron guns appropriately, an optimal set of X-ray projection data can be collected at rates far higher than in conventional systems.
Accordingly, because Applicant's latest generation X-ray tomography systems are capable of generating very high resolution tomography X-ray data at high speeds, a number of new data acquisition and data transmission and distribution systems are enabled, and/or required, to take full advantage of, and/or optimally manage, these high data rate systems. For example, current storage systems and data transmission networks are unable to effectively transfer high volumes of image data to network of operator workstations without undue delay. Moreover, such delay increases as the number of image generating systems on a network increases and as the number of operators required to analyze images also increases.
Therefore, improved data acquisition, transmission and distribution systems are needed to take full advantage of, and/or optimally manage, high resolution X-ray data generated at high speeds, such as data rates greater than 1 Gbit/second.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Imaging, data acquisition, data transmission, and data distribution methods and systems for high data rate tomographic X-ray scanners