Provided in embodiments of the present invention are a method and device for transmitting a high-definition video signal, comprising: isolating from the high-definition video signal a brightness signal and a chrominance signal, and, by using an analog signal transmission mode, using non-overlapping frequency hands to transmit respectively the brightness signal and the chrominance signal. The solution of the present invention employs the analog signal transmission method, utilizes independent frequency bands to transmit respectively the brightness signal and the chrominance signal, and ensures that the brightness signal and the chrominance signal do not affect each other, thus ensuring video quality and timeliness of the high-definition video signal when transmitted over a long distance.

In the safety and guard industry, a high-definition video signal, e.g., a video stream acquired by a high-definition video camera, is generally transmitted over a network after the high-definition video signal is encoded, or transmitted by transmitting original data of the high-definition video signal using a data transmission standard of Serial Digital Interface (SDI).
A network line is required for the high-definition video signal to be transmitted over the network after being encoded, which results in a loss of the quality of video and a delay of an image. The problems of a loss of the quality of video and a delay of an image may be exacerbated for transmission over a long distance so that it may be difficult to guarantee the quality of video and the real-time characteristic of the high-definition video signal transmitted over a long distance.
When the high-definition video signal is transmitted by transmitting the original data using the data transmission standard of SDI, the transmission distance is limited due to a large amount of data of the high-definition video signal ensuring the quality of data transmission. For example, the high-definition video signal in the 720p format or the 1080p format has to be transmitted over the longest distance below 100 meters in order to ensure the quality of data transmission. Thus the video quality of the high-definition video signal transmitted over a long distance cannot be guaranteed by transmitting the original data using the data transmission standard of SDI.
The traditional analog video transmitted over a long distance generally applies a Composite Video Blanking and Synchronization (CVBS) method, which can not satisfy the transmission of the high-definition video signal above 960H.
In summary, the quality of video and the real-time characteristic required for the high-definition video signal to be transmitted can be guaranteed in none of the existing long-distance transmission solutions.

Method and device for transmitting high-definition video signal


Improvement of the performance, usability, and functionality of software for editing three dimensional computer models and textures is described. Editing operations are performed on the model in an ordered list to reduce the amount of memory required to maintain previous versions, and certain editing operations are precalculated to reduce the amount of real time calculation required. Improvements to usability and functionality are provided by more precisely selecting portions of a model for editing, allowing textures to be moved more easily on the model, and allowing better blending of the appearance of adjacent textures.

There is increasing interest in the use of three-dimensional models of physical objects to improve productivity and innovation in fields such as digital imaging, computer animation, special effects in film, prototype imaging in product development, topography, reconstructive and plastic surgery, dentistry, architecture, industrial design, anthropology, milling and object production, biology, and internal medicine. In addition, with the recent explosion of the Internet and the World Wide Web, there is a demand for computer-generated 3D models for use on Web sites. Although 2D images currently predominate in the display and manipulation of graphic images on the World Wide Web, the use of 3D object models is a more efficient way to present graphic information for interactive graphics, animated special effects and other applications. The use of 3D models is growing in Web-based and other applications and continued growth is expected as personal computer systems become more powerful and bandwidth limitations are eliminated.
There are a number of ways of creating 3D models. Creating the model directly from the physical object itself is probably the most accurate and time efficient method. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. For example, a 3D model can be created using silhouette capture, as described in copending application entitled "System and Method of Three-Dimensional Image Capture and Modeling" filed concurrently with this application and assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 09/819,499, the whole of which is incorporated herein by reference. Laser scanning techniques may also be used to create 3D models from real-world objects. Alternatively, the 3D model may be constructed "by hand" on a computer by an artist who draws the model directly by placing vertices or faces or by combining smaller geometric shapes to form the overall model.
A 3D model is typically constructed using 3D spatial data and color or other data (called "texture data") that is associated with specific areas of the model (such texture data is used to render displays or images of those portions of the model). Spatial data includes 3D X, Y, Z coordinates that describe the physical dimensions, contours and features of the object being modeled. This 3D point data usually defines a "wire-frame" model that describes the surface of the object being modeled and represents it as a series of interconnected planar shapes (sometimes called "geometric primitives" or "faces"), such as a mesh of triangles, quadrangles or more complex polygons. These wire frame models can be either gridded mesh models or irregular mesh models.
Gridded mesh models superimpose a grid structure as the basic framework for the model surface. The computer connects the grid points to form even-sized geometric shapes that fit within the overall grid structure. While gridded models provide regular, predictable structures, they are not well-suited for mesh constructions based on an irregular set of data points, such as those generated through laser scanning or silhouette capture of real world objects. The need to interpolate an irregular set of data points into a regular grid structure increases computation time and decreases the overall accuracy of the model. Gridded mesh models are more typically used when the model is constructed by hand.
More frequently, 3D models created from real-world objects use an irregular mesh model, such as an irregular triangulated mesh, to represent the real-world object more accurately. An irregular mesh model imposes no grid structure upon the model. Instead, the actual 3D X, Y, Z data points are used directly as the vertices in each planar shape or "face" of the mesh.
In addition to using spatial data, 3D object modeling systems also include texture data as a part of the object model. Texture data is color and pattern information that replicates an object's surface features. Some 3D object modeling systems maintain texture data separately from the "wire-frame" mesh data and apply the texture data to the mesh only when rendering the surface features. Those object modeling systems typically include two distinct and separate processes: first, in a mesh building phase, the system constructs a "wire frame" mesh to represent the object's spatial structure using only 3D X, Y, Z values (and other related spatial information) and, second, during a "texture map" building phase, the system assigns texture data to each of the faces of the mesh model, so that when the model is later rendered, the displaying device can overlay texture data on the geometric faces of the model. The rough face of a brick, the smooth and reflective surface of a mirror and the details of a product label can all be overlaid onto a mesh wire frame model using texture mapping techniques.
For models of real-world objects, texture data typically comes from 2D photographic images. The 3D spatial coordinate values of a mesh model face can be related and linked to specific points (i.e. two-dimensional x, y pixel locations) in the digitized versions of the collected photo images. Commercially available digital cameras output image frames, each of which includes a 2D matrix of pixels (e.g. 640×480 pixels in dimension), with each pixel having, for example, a three-byte (24 bit) red, green and blue (R, G, B) color assignment. Such a 3D object modeling system will then store each such photographic image as a "bitmap" (such as in TIFF format). The 3D object modeling system will link each mesh face in the generated 3D mesh model to a specific area in a selected bitmap that contains the appropriate texture data. When showing a view of the 3D model, a displaying device then clips relevant areas of the appropriate bitmap and overlays the clip on the associated mesh face.
Regardless of how the model is created, at least some manual adjustment of the model is usually necessary to attain the desired finished appearance. In the case of a model created by hand, the entire creation process is one of manual placement and adjustment of vertices, faces, and textures. Many users have difficulty making these adjustments because they require manipulating a three dimensional object (i.e. the mesh model) in what is essentially a two dimensional space (i.e. the computer screen) using tools that generally move in only two dimensions (i.e. the mouse and cursor keys). Other difficulties arise from the fact that mesh manipulation is limited to manipulating entire faces or vertices. For example, when a user wishes to change the appearance of a large flat area on the mesh that has only a few faces, additional faces and vertices must be added if any significant change is desired. Adding vertices and faces can be very difficult if it has to be done manually, especially for a novice user. Even those users who are proficient at these kinds of manipulation likely experienced a significant learning curve before becoming proficient. It would be useful to allow users more precision in manipulating mesh models as well as increasing ease of use.
Furthermore, most users find it useful to be able to manipulate the mesh in real time rather than make an adjustment to the model and then wait while the computer system renders the model. However, real time 3D rendering requires that the computer system perform a tremendous number of calculations in a short period of time. Users also frequently make changes to a mesh model, discard those changes as unwanted, and revert back to a prior version. This functionality is generally implemented by what is known as an "undo" operation. Implementing this operation usually requires that a copy of every previous version of the mesh model to be kept in memory. If the mesh model is of any significant size, the memory limitations of the computer may become taxed relatively quickly. It would be useful to be able to reduce the amount of real time calculations and memory requirements necessary to perform the 3D mesh manipulation.

Tools for 3D mesh and texture manipulation


An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels for capturing incident light that is converted to a signal representing an image; wherein noise is combined with a signal representing both the image and a reset level; a plurality of dark reference pixels that generate noise that substantially correspond or equally correspond to the noise in the image and reset level; and a sample and hold circuit that reads out the image signal and cancels or substantially cancels out the noise from the image signal and reset level by canceling the noise from image and reset level with the noise generated from the dark reference pixels.

As is well known in the art, digital cameras include image sensors for capturing electronic representations of a scene. As with most electronic devices, unwanted noise is generated in image sensors that degrade the quality of the image. Obviously, it is desirable to eliminate this noise for improving image quality.
Consequently a need exists for a method and apparatus for eliminating this unwanted noise.

Low noise sample and hold circuit for image sensors


An oil mist separator for separating aerosol oil from an oil-laden gas has an impactor. The impactor has a nozzle device with at least one nozzle for gas to be freed from oil, wherein the at least one nozzle has a streaming region. The impactor further has at least one deflector body having a separating region for the oil, wherein the separating region is positioned in the streaming region of the at least one nozzle. The separating region has a surface structure that is monolithically formed with the at least one deflector body. The surface structure has elevations and recesses arranged alternatingly in all directions transversely to a main streaming direction of the at least one nozzle.

The invention concerns an oil mist separator for separating aerosol oil from an oil-laden gas, in particular blow-by gas, in particular of a crankcase venting device of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle. The oil mist separator comprises at least one impactor that comprises a nozzle device with at least one nozzle for the gas to be freed from oil and at least one deflector body having a separating region for the oil which region lies in a streaming region of the at least one nozzle.
DE 10 2009 024 701 A1 discloses an oil mist separator embodied as an impactor for a crankcase venting device. The oil mist separator has a nozzle device with at least one nozzle. A deflector wall which is positioned opposite the at least one nozzle is covered with a separator material. The separator material is a nonwoven, a weft-knit material or a warp-knit material.
The invention has the object to design an oil mist separator of the aforementioned kind in such a way that it is of a simple configuration and is easy to produce and moreover achieves improved separating efficiency.

Oil mist separator for separating aerosol oil from an oil-laden gas


An innovative robotic foam application process that integrates system communications, non-contact vehicle insertion point locations, and applications controls to accurately dispense a two-component structural foam at a high volume and flow rate. The process begins by first inserting a baffle within the support structure. After an electrocoat application and bake, the baffles expand and are sealed within the support structure to form cavities having a fill hole. A hydraulic driven robotic dispensing system equipped with a high-pressure static mixer senses the respective fill hole, moves a robotic arm to a location sensed, and injects a high volume of mixed two-component viscous material within each of the respective located fill holes at a high fill rate. After dispensing, the viscous material undergoes an exothermic curing reaction to cure and is expanded to substantially fill each cavity.

In recent years, the automobile industry has attempted to improve the soundproof property of the riding space while maintaining handling, drivability and durability of the vehicle. In order to achieve these requirements, demands have been made to provide to provide the rigidity and the soundproof property to a variety of areas where loads are imposed.
It has been suggested that one method for increasing the rigidity of the vehicle body is to introduce a two-component (also known as a two-pack or 2K) foam into a closed section of the vehicle's pillars.
Various problems, however, are inherent in currently available technologies or may result by injecting the two-component foam composition into the closed sectional structure. For example, while low volume dispensing of two-component mixtures is well known, there is no known process capable of injecting the foam at a sufficient rate and volume into a vehicle structure with numerous openings that ensures that the cavities are completely filled.
Further, while manual dispensing of higher volume mixtures is also well known, there is no known automated processes that successfully and accurately dispenses high volumes of foam at a high flow rate.

Method for robotically applying large volumes of structural foam within automotive applications


Systems and methods for providing a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: providing a first layer of a cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem, the first layer being in data communication with at least one network resource via a network cloud; providing a second layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the first layer, the second layer being in data communication with at least one mobile device; providing a third layer of the cloud-based vehicle information and control ecosystem in data communication with the second layer, the third layer including a subsystem for linking the third layer to at least one electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle; and causing, by use of a data processor, data indicative of a state change occurring in the at least one ECU to be communicated to a component in the first layer.

An increasing number of vehicles are being equipped with one or more independent computer and electronic processing systems. Certain of the processing systems are provided for vehicle operation or efficiency. For example, many vehicles are now equipped with computer systems for controlling engine parameters, brake systems, tire pressure and other vehicle operating characteristics. A diagnostic system may also be provided that collects and stores information regarding the performance of the vehicle's engine, transmission, fuel system and other components. The diagnostic system can typically be connected to an external computer to download or monitor the diagnostic information to aid a mechanic during servicing of the vehicle.
Additionally, other processing systems may be provided for vehicle driver or passenger comfort and/or convenience. For example, vehicles commonly include navigation and global positioning systems and services, which provide travel directions and emergency roadside assistance. Vehicles are also provided with multimedia entertainment systems that include sound systems, e.g., satellite radio, broadcast radio, compact disk and MP3 players and video players. Still further, vehicles may include cabin climate control, electronic seat and mirror repositioning and other operator comfort features.
However, each of the above processing systems is independent, non-integrated and incompatible. That is, such processing systems provide their own sensors, input and output devices, power supply connections and processing logic. Moreover, such processing systems may include sophisticated and expensive processing components, such as application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips or other proprietary hardware and/or software logic that is incompatible with other processing systems in the vehicle.
Moreover, these processing systems in vehicles have failed to exploit the advantages of wide-area data networking. Although some vehicles support the use and integration of mobile phones in some vehicle subsystems for voice communications, conventional vehicle systems do not support the integration of wide-area data networking or the use of information obtained from or sent to network resources.

Cloud-based vehicle information and control system


The disclosure is related to selecting an access point by a wireless terminal. Access points in an area associated with the wireless terminal may be scanned. From the scanned access points, candidate access points may be determined by filtering out improper access points from the scanned access points. A target access point may be selected from the candidate access points based on wireless link quality of each candidate access point.

A typical wireless communication network may include wireless terminals, access points (APs), a gateway, and a core network. Typically, wireless terminals may be coupled to APs through a wireless communication link and the APs may be coupled to the gateway through a wired communication link. The gateway may connect the access points with the core network. In such a typical wireless communication network, the wireless terminals may communicate with other parties through the APs.
When a wireless terminal is adjacent to multiple APs, the wireless terminal may select one having an optimal status among the adjacent APs for communication. Typically, the wireless terminal may consider received signal strength indicators (RSSIs) associated with the multiple adjacent APs to select the optimal AP. The APs, however, may have statuses dynamically changed according to various factors such as a wireless connection status, a wired connection status, and a system status. In order to select the optimal AP, such various factors might be considered.

Establishing wireless connection based on network status


Multiple, different, independent constellations (10, 20) of satellites (2, 21-23) share a portion of a common frequency spectrum such as a single carrier frequency. The satellites' antennas (11) may be either multi-beam or omni-directional, while those of earth stations (13, 14) are directional. When interference occurs between communications of a satellite (31) of a first constellation (10) and a satellite (41) of a second constellation (20), any of several interference-mitigation options may be employed, such as the first satellite (31) handing off communications to a second satellite (32) of the same constellation (10), or temporarily suspending communications. The remedial action may occur in response to either predicted or detected interference.

Satellite communications systems transmit information to and receive information from users, either directly via user-held units or via ground-based or vehicle-based stations (e.g. in automobiles, trucks, airplanes, ships, etc.).
Such information may constitute voice, paging information, audio-visual information, FAX data, and so on.
An increasing number of independent satellite communications systems are in the planning, capitalization, implementation, or operational stages, and each system is competing with other systems to obtain operational licenses from appropriate geo-political jurisdictions to what constitutes a very limited amount of radio frequency spectrum.
Therefore, there is a substantial need to provide a way for two or more independent satellite-based communications systems to share a common frequency spectrum.
There is also a substantial need to provide a method of operating two or more independent satellite-based communications systems which share a common frequency spectrum, such as a common frequency band or carrier frequency.
There is also a substantial need for an earth station in a satellite communications system which can predict or detect interference in communications between it and two or more different satellites, or between at least one other earth station and two or more different satellites, and take appropriate measures to report and/or mitigate such interference.

Independent satellite-based communications systems sharing common frequency spectrum and method of operation thereof


An air conditioner comprises a freezing cycle circuit, which includes, successively provided on a main duct line 11 in the mentioned order, a compressor 10, a four-way valve 12, an external heat exchanger 13, a pressure reducer 14, and an internal heat exchanger 11, the main duct line 11 branching into at least an upper and a lower part coolant flow line 20 and 30 in the internal heat exchanger 15, and an on-off valve 10 provided on the upper part coolant flow line 20 and closed in a low capacity cooling operation. The air conditioner can gently cool and gently dry air in a room without causing chillness to be felt.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to air conditioners and methods of controlling the same. More particularly, the invention relates to techniques concerning an air conditioner, which can provide a gentle cooling mode for gently cooling a room while the temperature thereof is held in the neighborhood of a predetermined temperature, and a gentle drying mode for drying air in the room while substantially maintaining the present temperature of the room, in addition to a cooling mode and a heating mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Air conditioners are roughly classified into a separate type in which an interior unit and an exterior unit are separated from each other, and an integral type in which the two units are accommodated in the same housing. In either type, a freezing cycle circuit of heat pump type is provided, in which a compressor, a four-way valve, an integral heat exchanger, a pressure reducer (or an expansion valve) and an internal heat exchanger are successively provided on a main duct line in the mentioned order.
The freezing cycle circuit is used in a heating mode and also a cooling mode by switching its four-way valve. The internal heat exchanger, however, is recently in a trend of increasing a size for improving its heat exchange capacity and reducing the power consumption. The internal heat exchanger also has a coolant heat exchanger with a plurality of branches for increasing the heat exchange efficiency in the cooling operation and also in the heating operation.
Correspondingly, the air conditioner can be set in a plurality of operating modes such as a "strong cooling" mode, an "intermediate cooling" mode, a "weak cooling" mode and a "drying" mode (or commonly termed substantial weak cooling mode).
In the drying mode, intermittent operation of the internal unit fan or like control is provided. Such a measure, however, has a problem that it cannot permit sufficient drying. Another well-known method for drying uses an expansion valve, which is provided on the coolant flow line in the internal heat exchanger and permits drying by re-heating. In this case, however, the coolant flow line cannot be branched. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency in the cooing and heating operations is inferior to the case where the coolant flow line is branched.
Accordingly, a construction as shown in FIG. 16 is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-105646. In this construction, an internal heat exchanger 4 is provided in an internal unit housing 1 such that it faces air suction holes 2 formed in the front wall of the housing 1. A fan 5 is provided adjacent the housing rear wall to take air from the air-conditioned room into the housing through the air suction holes 2 and blow out air having been heat exchanged in the internal heat exchanger 4 through an air blow-out opening 3 provided in the bottom of the housing adjacent the front wall thereof. The internal heat exchanger 4 has a coolant flow line 9, which is branched into a first branch line 9a extending upward from the side of a substantially central inlet of the internal heat exchanger 4 and a second branch line 9b extending downward. On their outlet side, the two branch lines 9a and 9b are joined together by a coupler 9c provided outside the internal heat exchanger 4. An on-off valve 10 is provided on the second branch 9b and closed when a predetermined temperature is approached by the temperature of the air-conditioned room.
In this system, when the temperature of the room becomes the neighborhood of a predetermined temperature during a cooling operation, the on-off valve 10 is turned off, and coolant is allowed to flow through the first branch Line 9a. Thus, the cooling air is reduced to one half for gently reducing the temperature in the air-conditioned room. In this operation, drain water produced as a result of condensation in an upper part of the internal heat exchanger 4, falls as drops and is gasified by air passing through a lower part of the internal heat exchanger 4. Therefore, the drying of the room is prevented.
As shown, by the closing of the on-off valve 10 on the second branch line 10 in the neighborhood of the predetermined temperature, a substantial drying effect can no longer be expected due to the gasification of drain in a lower part of the internal heat exchanger 4, although the cooling air output is reduced to one half. For this reason, the on-off valve is opened when drying the room. Therefore, this prior art system still has the problem of excessive reduction of the temperature of the air-conditioned room.
The invention seeks to solve the above problems inherent in the prior art air conditioner. Specifically, it is a first object of the invention to provide an air conditioner, which permits drying of a room without substantially reducing the temperature thereof, i.e., without causing any chillness to be felt, and can improve the comfortability of the room.
A second object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling an air conditioner, which can realize a gentle cooling mode in which the air-conditioned room is dried while holding the temperature thereof in the neighborhood of a predetermined temperature, and also a gentle drying mode in which the room is dried while substantially holding the prevailing temperature.

Air conditioner and control method of the same


A wireless power transfer and rapid charging system with maximum power tracking and a method for the same are revealed. The system includes a transmitter device and a receiver device. First the transmitter device performs maximum power tracking and outputs a fixed resonant frequency. Now the receiver device charges a battery. A voltage detection circuit of the receiver device is detecting charging state of the battery. A high-frequency receiving circuit of the transmitter device checks whether a high-frequency transmission circuit transmits a fully-charged signal. When the high-frequency receiving circuit of the transmitter device receives the fully-charged signal that represents the battery is fully charged, the transmitter device shuts down the power and enters standby mode. Thereby wireless charging can be carried out in different environments. The greater transfer distances, lower output impedance, and higher wireless transmission efficiency can be achieved. The speed of wireless charging is also increased.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless power transfer and charging system and a method for the same, especially to a wireless power transfer and rapid charging system with maximum power tracking and a method for the same that carry out wireless charging in different environments. An optimal transfer frequency is found, the system provides longer transmission distance, reduced output impedance, greater wireless transmission efficiency, and higher speed of wireless charging.
Descriptions of Related Art
Wireless charging is also called inductive charging or non-contact inductive charging. Energy is transferred from a charger to a device by near-field induction (inductive coupling). The device uses the energy received for its own operation and charging of the battery. No physical wire connection is required between the charger and the device. Thus there is no contact metal exposed outside for the charger and the device. This is more convenient in use.
The wireless charging is based on electromagnetic induction. Generally a wireless charger includes a coil that creates an alternating electromagnetic field after being driven by alternating current while another coil in a device takes power from the electromagnetic field and converts it back into electrical current. The electrical current is used for charging the battery and supplying power to the device.
However, the wireless charging system with the expected functions also has shortcoming in practice such as limited transmission range, poor transmission efficiency, limited wireless environment, etc.
Thus there is room for improvement and a need to provide a wireless power transfer and rapid charging system and a method for the same that overcomes the shortcomings of conventional wireless charging devices.

Wireless power transfer and rapid charging system and method with maximum power tracking

National Yunlin University of Science and Technology


A vehicle sashless door sealing assembly, fastening assembly and method include an elongated structural member, a garnish member, and a door seal retainer disposed below the garnish assembly for holding a window pane door seal. The fastening assembly, which secures the garnish member and the door seal retainer to the elongated structural member, includes a collar having a radial flange portion interposed between the door seal retainer and an exterior surface of the garnish member and having an axial neck portion extending from the radial flange portion into a garnish aperture defined in the garnish member. The fastening assembly further includes a fastener received through a fastener aperture defined in the door seal retainer, through a fastener aperture defined in the collar and through a fastener aperture defined in the elongated structural member to thereby secure the garnish member and the door seal retainer to the elongated structural member.

Front pillars (i.e., A-pillars) on a vehicle are structural members of a body frame positioned between the windshield and the front doors. Conventionally, the front pillars support the roof structure as well and, therefore, must provide substantial support in rollover events. At the same time, the front pillars lie within sight lines of the vehicle operator and need to have a minimal profile to allow the operator to maintain proper vision with respect to the front pillars. Thus, there can be conflicting requirements with respect to the design of the front pillars. To provide a strong structural member for the body frame, each front pillar needs to have a maximum cross-sectional configuration, yet maintain a minimal cross-section for vision purposes.
Commonly, each front pillar is formed as a structural member having a closed cross-section by welding together an outer panel and an inner panel in an overlapping manner. Each of the outer panel and the inner panel typically includes weld flanges for joining the other. The weld flanges also provide for a sealing relationship with respect to both the windshield and the front door that are supported on the front pillars. However, because the weld flanges project outwardly from each front pillar, the traditional flange formation can be restrictive and can result in a correspondingly narrower field of view for the operator from within the passenger compartment.
In conventional vehicle construction, a separate roof rail member is secured at its forward end to an upper end of the front pillar (i.e., on each lateral side of the vehicle). The front pillar and the roof rail together define the forward side and the upper side of a vehicle door opening for ingress and egress to and from the passenger compartment. Like the front pillar, commonly, each roof rail is formed as a structural member having a closed cross-section by welding together an outer panel and an inner panel in an overlapping manner. Each of the outer panel and the inner panel typically includes weld flanges for joining the other. The weld flanges also provide for a sealing relationship with the front door and typically are connected to the roof provided on the vehicle.
Within the door opening, typically one of two types of doors is used, including a door with a sash and a door without a sash. When a door with a sash is used, the sash typically carries one seal that sealingly engages against the outer panel of the A-pillar and the outer panel of the roof rail. A second seal can be provided along the outer-most weld flange of the front pillar and the roof rail for sealingly engaging the sash on the vehicle door. When a door without a sash is used, a seal is typically provided along and connected to the outer panel members, respectively, of the front pillar and the roof rail. This seal then sealingly engages a distal end of the window pane of the sashless door. Thus, for the sashless door, only a single seal is used between the vehicle door and each of the front pillar and roof rail. In conventional designs, sashless door constructions generally apply the same material to all of the involved parts. In addition, the roof and/or windshield are not typically involved in conventional sashless door constructions because the roof and/or windshield are applied to the inner weld flange between the outer panel member and the inner panel member of each of the front pillars and the roof rails.

Sashless door sealing assembly, fastening assembly and method


Various techniques for facilitating communication with and across a clinical environment and a cloud environment are described. For example, a method for converting infusion pump messages having one format into standardized dataset messages having another format is described. When a connectivity adapter in the clinical environment detects a new pump protocol, the connectivity adapter may generate a message converter that can convert pump messages into standardized dataset messages. The message converter can be used to convert pump messages into standardized dataset messages. The standardized dataset messages may include information additional data or metadata not included in the pump messages.

Modern medical care often involves the use of medical infusion pumps to deliver fluids and/or fluid medicine to patients. Infusion pumps permit the controlled delivery of fluids to a patient and provide flexible yet controlled delivery schedules. Infusion pumps can communicate with a server configured to manage the infusion statuses of the individual infusion pumps.

Converting pump messages in new pump protocol to standardized dataset messages


A needle assembly positionable within anatomy of a patient under visual guidance from an ultrasound system. The needle assembly includes an elongate body and a sidewall including an inner surface defining a lumen. A reverberation feature may include opposing portions of the inner surface defining a gap shaped differently than and/or sized smaller than an inner diameter of the lumen. The reverberation feature is configured to reverberate an incident wave to produce reflected waves, from which a visual artifact is generated with the ultrasound system. The opposing portions may be disposed at superior and inferior aspects of the sidewall. The reverberation feature may include opposing planar surfaces oriented parallel or inclined relative to a longitudinal axis, and/or opposing arcuate surfaces extending towards the longitudinal axis. Methods of positioning the needle assembly near target anatomy of a patient, for example within a vessel, under visual guidance are disclosed.

Percutaneous needle placement is a routine task performed in associated with any number of medical procedures, for example therapy delivery, joint aspiration (arthrocentesis), tissue collection (biopsy), and the like. Of particular interest is vascular access, or obtaining access to a vessel (e.g., vein or artery) for the purpose of intravenous (IV) therapy or blood sampling. Typically, the IV placement of the needle relies on the skill and expertise of the treating medical professional to ensure adequate access while avoiding injury to the surrounding structures. For any number of reasons, IV access may be difficult, for example, inexperience of the treating medical professional and/or unreliable, hidden, collapsed, fragile veins, a phenomena known as difficult venous access (DVA).
Ultrasound guidance is becoming increasingly common in the IV placement of a needle assembly. An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound device, for example a handheld probe, which directs incident waves and receives waves reflected from structures internal to the patient anatomy. Based on assumptions of the speed of sound within tissue, the time delay of the reflected waves are used to create a two-dimensional image of the patient anatomy. FIG. 1 shows the placement of a needle assembly 20 under guidance from an ultrasound device 22 using an "out of plane" technique utilized to view the needle in cross section, and FIG. 2 shows an exemplary output of a display of an ultrasound system. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the cross section of the needle assembly 20, and cross sections of a vein (V) and an artery (A).
It is of critical importance to identify the location of the tip of the needle assembly 20 as it is advancing within the patient anatomy. The known needle assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2, however, is indifferent to this consideration, as it is not specifically identifiable of where along a shaft of the needle assembly 20 is intersecting the incident wave of the ultrasound device 22. As a result, the known arrangement again relies on the skill and expertise of the treating medical professional to coordinate positions of the needle assembly 20 and the ultrasound device 22. Moreover, the representation of the cross section of the needle assembly 20 is often faint or otherwise difficult to visualize due to a variety of factors.
The needle assembly 20 is typically percutaneously advanced at an angle of approach, identified as θ in FIG. 1. With shallower angles of approach, the ultrasound waves reflected from the needle assembly 20 may be generally satisfactory for visualization; however, visualization is less reliable as the angle of approach becomes greater (i.e., steeper).
A known solution is to include removed material (e.g., etchings or indentations) within a sidewall of a needle body having a smooth tubular lumen. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,401,124 and 9,445,837 disclose features including removed material that purportedly increases the reflectivity of the ultrasound waves. The features require particularly complex geometries, and the reflectivity remains suboptimal at various angles of approach.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a needle system and methods of positioning a needle assembly within the patient anatomy under visual guidance from the ultrasound system that overcome one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Needle assembly with reverberation feature to facilitate ultrasound guidance of the needle assembly


A filter for subterranean environments includes an inner support member, a filter body containing a filter medium disposed around the inner support member, and at least one end connector connected to a lengthwise end of the filter body and sealed against the inner support member without being welded to the inner support member. The end connector may be restrained from movement relative to the inner support member in a lengthwise direction of the inner support member, without being welded to the inner support member, to resist axial forces acting on the filter during installation or operation in a well. Alternatively, the end connector may be capable of movement with respect to the inner support member in a lengthwise direction of the inner support member to enable the filter to undergo thermal expansion without damage to the filter body or other portions of the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to filters for use in subterranean environments, such as in oil and gas wells, water wells, and geothermal wells, and in other applications in which it is desired to remove a liquid or gas from the ground without bringing soil particulates, such as sand or clay, up with the liquid or gas. In particular, it relates to a filter having improved end connectors for sealing the ends of the filter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Filters are frequently used in subterranean wells in order to remove particulates from liquids or gases produced by the wells. Typical particulates which need to be filtered out are sand and clay, and for this reason, well filters for this purpose are often referred to as sand screens.
A well filter typically comprises a filter body mounted on the exterior of a pipe or other tubular support member. The filter is generally installed in series with a plurality of pipes forming a pipe string, and the filter is introduced into the well along with the pipe string. For example, in the case of an oil or gas well, the pipe string is a production string through which oil or gas is transported from a production zone within the well to the exterior of the well. When a pipe string containing the filter is being inserted into a well, the filter may come into contact with and catch on objects within the well bore. To prevent the filter body from sliding along the inner support member when such contact takes place, it is desirable to provide some restraint to lengthwise movement by the filter body. One method of restraint is to secure the filter body to annular metal end connector and to weld the end connectors to the inner support member. However, the inner support member of the filter is frequently a standard API grade of production pipe, which is normally made of a medium to high carbon grade of steel, whereas it may be desirable from the standpoint of corrosion resistance for the end connectors and filter body to be made of a different metal, such as austenitic stainless steel. It is notoriously difficult to weld steel with carbon contents of 0.20% and higher without causing hard spots, especially in the heat affected zone (HAZ), thus sacrificing corrosion resistance and sometimes impact properties of the base metal. Thus, there is a need for a well filter in which end connectors can be reliably secured to an inner support member, such as an API production pipe, without employing welding.
In some wells, such as geothermal wells, a well filter may be subjected to elevated temperatures during use and may undergo significant thermal expansion with respect to its dimensions when it is assembled. When the inner support member and the filter body of a well filter have different thermal expansion coefficients, or when the inner support member and the filter body are heated to different temperatures from each other, the difference in the amount of thermal expansion of the inner support member and the filter body may cause the filter body to be torn loose from the inner support member, allowing unfiltered fluids to bypass the filter body. Therefore, although it is desirable to prevent lengthwise movement of the filter body with respect to the inner support member during installation of the filter in a well, after the filter has been installed, it is desirable to enable relative lengthwise movement between the filter body and the inner support member when thermal expansion takes place.


A pipe cutter having non-rotating, overlapping knives is provided. Also provided is a pipe cutter having non-rotatable overlapping knives wherein one of the knives is continuously reciprocated.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting spirally formed hollow metal pipes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pipe cutting apparatus having non-rotatable knives that overlap to cut a rotating pipe.
Hollow metal pipes are widely used for ventilation ducts. These pipes are formed from a continuous strip of thin metal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,742, issued Feb. 4, 1986, describes a preferred machine for making triple-ribbed, spiral seam pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 3,132,616 (Hale) describes another type of machine for making corrugated, spiral seamed pipe. Both types of machines start with a flat strip of metal. The strip passes through a series of rollers which bend the edges into predetermined shapes, and form parallel corrugations or reinforcing ribs in the strip. The strip then passes around the inner surface of a forming head (a mandrel) in a spiral manner, so that the strip takes a spiral shape with opposite edges of the strip meshing. The intermeshed edges of the strip are then compressed to form a pipe with a spiral lockseam. The strip is continuously fed into the machine to continuously produce spiral seamed pipe.
The pipe must be cut when it reaches a desired length. Previously, some pipe cutting machines used a rotary saw for cutting the pipe. In one machine, the saw is mounted outside the pipe, where it does not interfere with the pipe forming process. When the pipe is ready to be cut, it stops moving. The saw blade is then moved into its cutting position and penetrates the pipe. The metal strip material and pipe forming operation then begin again at a slow speed. This causes the pipe to move forward and rotate. The saw is adapted to move axially with the pipe for one complete rotation, whereupon the pipe is completely severed. The saw returns to its starting position, and the cut pipe section is discharged onto a run-off table. The tube forming process is then repeated to produce another section of pipe.
There are several disadvantages to using high speed saws to cut metal pipes. First, the saw blade, which rotates as fast as 5000 RPM, is dangerous to the machine operator and to anyone near the machine. Second, the saw generates a lot of sparks when it cuts the metal, which also creates a hazardous situation. Anyone near the machine must wear safety glasses to protect himself from the sparks. Third, the saw cut leaves burrs on the edge of the pipe. These burrs must be filed off by someone, who must be careful not to cut himself on the burrs. Finally, the cutting operation is very noisy.
Another apparatus for cutting spirally formed pipe uses passively rotatable knives. One rotatable knife is positioned inside the pipe and a second rotatable knife is positioned outside of the pipe. When cutting, the outer knife moves into an overlapping position with the inner knife so that the knives rotate as the pipe rotates and is cut between them. The rotatable knives each require a bearing assembly. Typically, bearing assemblies require multiple additional parts configured in a precise manner.
Accordingly, a pipe cutting apparatus is desirable that overcomes the disadvantages of a high speed saw and is less complex and less expensive than cutters having rotatable knives with individual bearing assemblies.

Pipe cutter having non-rotating, overlapping knives


An image recording apparatus capable of correctly determining a color shift value between recording heads of different color. The image recording apparatus has each recording head print two types of patches as patterns on a conveyance belt and has a reflection intensity detection unit read reflection intensities of the two patches to determine the color shift value and correct the color shift value so as not to include a position shift value between a reference position and a position where the actual reading has started. The image recording apparatus for recording a pattern to a color image conveyance medium and reading the recorded pattern comprises a feeding unit that feeds the color image conveyance medium along a feeding path, a first image forming unit that records the pattern to the color image conveyance medium in a first color, a second image forming unit that records the pattern to the color image conveyance medium in a second color, a reflection intensity detection unit that reads a reflection intensity of the pattern, an image formation control unit for calculating from the reflection intensity a color shift value of the second image forming unit with respect to the first image forming unit, wherein the first image forming unit records a first pattern of a first interval and the second image forming unit records a second pattern of a second interval overlapping the first pattern so that a first patch having the first pattern and the second pattern overlapped is formed, and wherein the first image forming unit records a third pattern of the second interval and the second image forming unit records a fourth pattern of the first interval overlapping the third pattern so that a second patch having the first pattern and the second pattern overlapped is formed.

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus.
A conventional color image recording apparatus such as, e.g., a color electrophotographic printer has multiple processing units containing recording devices arranged in a line as image formation sections. A tandem color image recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2001-134041 has four processing units, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), lined up as each type of image forming unit and sequentially copies toner images onto paper electrostatically held and fed on a conveyance belt. In such a color image recording apparatus, the printing speed can be increased because an image in four colors can be printed during a single feeding of the paper. Especially in a processing unit having a miniature LED head or the like as the recording device, the overall size of the apparatus can be reduced by disposing a line head that is mechanically affixed and combined with an image drum unit serving as the image formation section.
However, in the aforementioned conventional color image recording apparatus, due to the insufficient machining accuracy of the unit parts and the like forming the apparatus and the insufficient accuracy of mounting the recording head to the apparatus, it is difficult to prevent displacement between each recording head and image drum unit, and therefore the printing position cannot be held constant in relation to the printing medium. Thus, where a color image made of sequentially overlapping yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images in each line is copied, there arises a problem that the printing position is shifted between each color (color shift). A shift of the recording head in the lateral direction crossing the feeding direction of the conveyance belt causes a color shift in the overlapping colors in a main scanning direction. A shift thereof in the longitudinal direction causes a color shift in a secondary scanning direction. In addition, in a case where the mounting position of each line of the recording head is unevenly inclined in the secondary scanning direction, color shift of the overlapping colors occurs in a direction diagonal to the feeding direction. In the conventional color image recording apparatus, when the mounting position of a printing unit is displaced in a main scanning direction, a secondary scanning direction, or a diagonal direction, a displacement arises in the printing location causing a color shift between each of the colors. In order to detect and correct the color shift, the conventional color image recording apparatus prints a stripe pattern overlappingly on another stripe pattern different in color and in separation distance so as to form a patch.
FIG. 17 shows detection patterns 61 through 64 printed on a color image conveyance medium such as, e.g., a recording medium and the conveyance belt, and color shift detection values 0, −1, +1, and −1 respectively corresponding to the detection patterns 61, 62, 63, and 64. When it is detected that the portion of a detection pattern having lower reflective intensity is shifted to right, it is determined that the color recording head is shifted to downstream on the conveyance belt, i.e., a positive direction, with respect to the black recording head. The detection patterns 61, 62, and 63 show cases where there is no color shift of the color recording head with respect to the black recording head. However, in a case of the detection pattern 62, it is falsely determined that the color recording head is shifted to a negative direction since detection is started before the leading edge of the detection pattern 62 arrives at a reflection intensity detection unit 24.
On the other hand, in a case where detection begins after the leading edge of detection pattern 63 arrives at the reflection intensity detection unit 24, a color shift to a positive direction is falsely determined. In such a color shift detection method, an error arises in the color shift detection value because of variation of a time from when exposure begins for the photosensitive body to when the toner latent image arrives at the reflection intensity detection unit 24. To overcome this deficiency, the overall length of the patch having patterns shifted by a certain amount should be equal to or larger than the amount of shift in reading starting position of the reflection intensity detection unit 24 from a reference position.
The patch in FIG. 18 is made from two detection patterns where separation distances are described in the unit of 25.4/1200 mm=1200 dpi. The overall length of the patch is set to approximately 1.5 nm so as to correctly detect the color shift detection value without being affected by the shift in the reading starting position of the reflection intensity detection unit 24.
With such conventional color shift detection methods, it is necessary to configure the length of the patch having patterns shifted by a certain amount to be equal to or larger than the amount of shift in the reading starting position of the reflection intensity detection unit from the reference position, thus resulting in the drawbacks that the overall length of the patch used for the color shift detection process is lengthened.

Color image recording apparatus for determining a color shift value between image forming units


An ultrasonic system useful for providing imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring generally comprises an acoustic transducer assembly configured to enable the ultrasound system to perform the imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring functions. The acoustic transducer assembly comprises a single transducer that is operatively connected to an imaging subsystem, a therapy subsystem and a temperature monitoring subsystem. The ultrasound system may also include a display for imaging and temperature monitoring functions. An exemplary single transducer is configured such that when connected to the subsystems, the imaging subsystem can generate an image of a treatment region on the display, the therapy subsystem can generate high power acoustic energy to heat the treatment region, and the temperature monitoring subsystem can map and monitor the temperature of the treatment region and display the temperature on the display, all through the use of the single transducer. Additionally, the acoustic transducer assembly can be configured to provide three-dimensional imaging, temperature monitoring or therapeutic heating through the use of adaptive algorithms and/or rotational or translational movement. Moreover, a plurality of the exemplary single transducers can be provided to facilitate enhanced treatment capabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a non-invasive therapeutic ultrasonic system, and more particularly, to a system which is capable of acoustically imaging and heating a certain region to be treated (xe2x80x9cthe treatment regionxe2x80x9d) in target tissue for therapeutic purposes as well as acoustically monitoring the temperature profile of the treatment region.
2. Description of the Related Art
The absorption of energy in tissue, for example, in the human body produces an increase in temperature, which can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. The irradiation of ultrasound to the target tissue such as in the human body, which has been successfully used for decades mainly in increasingly sophisticated diagnostic imaging applications, also allows the target tissue to absorb a certain amount of energy. Thus, ultrasound may be used in the therapeutic uses.
Specifically, ultrasonic energy at frequencies above 1.5 MHZ has an acoustic wavelength less than 1 mm in the human tissue. This energy is easily controlled in beamwidth and depth of penetration, and has a favorable absorption characteristic in the tissue. These aspects allow the energy to be precisely localized such that regions may be selectively heated while sparing overlying tissue structures.
Ultrasound has significant advantages for therapeutic applications as compared to micro-wave radio-frequency (RF) energy or optical energy (laser light). In contrast with the ultrasound, the RF energy is characterized by long wavelengths in the tissue, with limited to poor control of energy deposition, and high absorption. These aspects of the RF energy constrain its therapeutic usage to large superficial areas. On the other hand, the optical energy which is typically emitted from lasers can be precisely controlled in beamwidth, but the opacity and high absorption in the tissue also limits its use to surface treatment or invasive procedures. Furthermore, the laser and RF energy are emitted from ionizing radiation sources which are typically associated with some risk, unlike acoustic transducers which are typically used for generating ultrasound.
However, in contrast with the diagnostic uses, the therapeutic uses of ultrasound such as hyperthermia and non-invasive surgery have seen relatively little progress due to several technological barriers.
The primary impediment has been a lack of the ability to monitor temperature in the treatment region during the therapeutic treatment process.
Specifically, one of objectives of the therapeutic application is to create a very well-placed thermal gradient in the target tissue to selectively destroy certain regions thereof. For example, hyperthermia technique typically requires to maintain the tissue temperature near about 43 degrees Celsius, while the goal of non-invasive surgery is typically to elevate the tissue temperature above and beyond about 55 degrees Celsius. Moreover, during the therapeutic treatment process, the physiological response of the target tissue is directly related to the spatial extent and temporal duration of the heating pattern. Consequently, in order to appropriately perform feedback and control of the therapeutic treatment process for obtaining successful results, it is absolutely essential to monitor the temperature in the target tissue, for example, so as to know whether or not the temperature in the treatment region has been raised to a level that produces a desired therapeutic effect or destruction in the tissue. In addition, it is preferable to know the temperature distribution in the treatment region and the vicinity thereof for enhancing the therapeutic effect.
In the conventional technique, the therapeutic ultrasonic system has typically relied upon thermocouple probes for monitoring the temperature in the treatment region and the vicinity thereof. However, the thermocouple probes are highly invasive because they have to be inserted into the region-of-interest. In addition, use of the thermocouple probes has necessarily led to very poor spatial resolution since only a small number of probes could be safely embedded in the region-of-interest. Furthermore, the thus embedded thermocouple probes are likely to disturb the acoustic propagation in the tissue and typically cause excessive heating at the probe interface during the therapeutic treatment process. This results in undesirably modified temperature distribution as well as erroneous measurements.
Another factor which has curtailed progress in the therapeutic uses of ultrasound has been the design of the conventional acoustic transducers.
In general, for the therapeutic treatment process, imaging of the treatment region is necessary to determine the location of the treatment region with respect to the acoustic transducers as well as to evaluate progress of the treatment process. Such essential functions of imaging as well as the aforementioned temperature monitoring may be implemented with the same acoustic transducer to be used for the therapeutic purposes, since the acoustic transducers can actually produce an image of the region-of-interest by employing well-established imaging technique such as B-scan imaging. However, the conventional acoustic transducers which are typically employed for the therapeutic purposes are acoustically large, often single-element devices having narrow bandwidth in the frequency domain. Although they are designed to efficiently transmit acoustic energy to the target tissue, the conventional acoustic transducers are typically unsuited for imaging of the treatment region and/or monitoring the temperature profile therein. This precludes development and implementation of these vital functions for performing a desirable precise therapeutic treatment process.
Some prior art references teach the use of ultrasound for therapeutic purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,820 to Itoh discloses an ultrasound therapy system having functions of imaging and heating the target using ultrasound beams for the therapeutic purposes. The system disclosed therein, however, does not have the temperature monitoring function.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,121 to Reichenberger et al. discloses a method and an apparatus for non-invasive measurement of a temperature change in a subject, in particular a living subject, using ultrasound waveforms. The method and apparatus disclosed therein, however, relies on a differential ultrasound image between two successive ultrasound images of the target. In other words, any temperature change is detected as a temperature-induced change in brightness between the two images, which appears in the differential image. Consequently, an actual real-time monitoring of the temperature may be difficult in the disclosed method and apparatus. Moreover, although the method and apparatus can detect changes in the temperature of the target, an absolute value of the target temperature may not be obtained therefrom. In addition, any movement of the target may introduce changes in the differential image, which may cause erroneous results.
Furthermore, although it is not distinctly intended to be applied in the therapeutic treatment process for the target tissue such as in the human body, U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,268 to Hayashi et al. discloses an ultrasonic temperature measuring apparatus in which a temperature of the target medium is calculated using a propagation time of ultrasonic waves which propagated for a predetermined distance in the target medium. The apparatus disclosed therein, however, is mainly described as employing separate ultrasonic elements which respectively function for a transmitter and a receiver of the ultrasonic waves.
While some prior art temperature monitoring techniques exist, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,633 issued to Fry on Feb. 28, 1989, such techniques are complex and have limited applicability. That is, use of such techniques essentially preclude use of the system for purposes of imaging, unless one were to use multiple transducers. In that regard, while two or more physically separated transducers can be used to accomplish imaging and therapy, typically with one configured for imaging and the other for therapy, such a system is susceptible to the generation of imprecise data and is overly complex and expensive.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a compact, non-invasive system capable of acoustically performing the therapeutic heating and the imaging of the treatment region in the target tissue as well as the temperature monitoring in the treatment region with a single acoustic transducer. Moreover, it would also be advantageous to provide a compact, non-invasive system capable of performing three-dimensional imaging, temperature monitoring and therapeutic heating of the treatment region to provide a more focused therapeutic treatment process.
In other applications, it would be advantageous to provide therapeutic ultrasonic systems with multiple transducers capable of facilitating the imaging, temperature monitoring, and therapeutic heating functions to obtain imaging and temperature information over a larger area of the region-of-interest and provide therapeutic heating more appropriately to the target tissue, for example, over a larger region-of-interest, with an increased intensity at the treatment region, or more readily focused towards the target tissue.
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a non-invasive therapeutic ultrasonic system is provided, which features a single acoustic transducer and some other subsystems capable of acoustically performing therapeutic heating and imaging of the treatment region as well as acoustically monitoring the temperature profile in the treatment region and the vicinity thereof. Also disclosed herein is a system architecture and associated components as well as algorithms which can be implemented to acoustically achieve the heating, imaging, and temperature monitoring functions. The imaging and monitoring functions allow precise feedback and control of the therapeutic treatment process so that the therapy can be conducted more successfully. In addition, because a single transducer is utilized perfect correspondence is obtained; that is, image artifacts and/or imprecise registration difficulties yielded through use of multiple transducers can be avoided.
A novel acoustic transducer disclosed herein is capable of generating high acoustic power for the therapeutic treatment process, while at the same time providing a good imaging function. Specifically, in order to obtain good lateral resolution in the imaging process, the acoustic transducer of the present invention is preferably divided into an array of sub-elements, each processing acoustic waves with a sufficient bandwidth for good axial resolution in the imaging process.
These imaging requirements are also extended to the acoustic temperature monitoring function of the treatment region. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, an acoustic temperature measurement subsystem disclosed herein is capable of non-invasively mapping the temperature distribution or profile in the target tissue in real-time. This feature is accomplished by measuring the time-of-flight and amplitude data of acoustic pulses through the region-of-interest while exploiting the temperature dependence of the speed of sound and acoustic attenuation in the target tissue. The acoustic nature of this process allows the same acoustic transducer which is used for the imaging and therapy functions to be used for the real-time temperature monitoring function. Alternatively, the use of the multiple acoustic transducers allows the temperature mapping to be conducted with a higher spatial resolution. The thus gathered valuable information on the temperature in the target tissue can be used to achieve precise control of the spatial distribution of heating, detailed knowledge of the heating duration, and quantitative temperature data during the therapeutic treatment process, which has not been previously possible in the conventional art.
In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, the acoustic transducers disclosed herein can be configured to provide three-dimensional imaging, temperature mapping and therapeutic heating of the treatment region. These three-dimensional features may be realized by any number of methods, such as, for example, the use of adaptive algorithms or the use of mechanical scanning devices.
Additional aspects of the present invention may include the ability to provide therapeutic ultrasonic systems with multiple transducers capable of facilitating the imaging, temperature monitoring, and therapeutic heating functions to obtain imaging and temperature information over a larger area of the region-of-interest and provide therapeutic heating more appropriately to the target tissue, for example, over a larger region-of-interest, with an increased intensity at the treatment region, or more readily focused towards the target tissue.

Imaging, therapy, and temperature monitoring ultrasonic system


An electronic device includes at least one electronic component and a temperature sensor located adjacent the electronic component for sensing a temperature condition of the electronic component. A display is provided for electronically displaying the temperature condition sensed by the sensor. The electronic component, the sensor and the display are integrated with one another as a single, self-contained module. In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the electronic component includes at least one memory circuit for storing data therein.

Electronic modules come in many different forms (e.g., computer motherboards, plug-in printed circuit boards, single in-line memory modules (SIMM) and dual in-line memory modules (DIMM)). These modules typically contain solid-state silicon memory such as non-volatile static random access memory and different types of volatile dynamic random access memory (DRAM, SDRAM). One problem that occurs with static or dynamic random access memory is that they consume much power and thereby generate undesirable heat when operated at higher than their normal operating frequencies. If no action is taken to dissipate the heat, then the memory can sustain damage.
Excessive heat generation is especially problematic for a class of users of computer systems known as the "power users" or "game enthusiasts". These users often remove the case of their personal computer so that the internal processor and memory sub-system (e.g., DRAM modules) connected thereto can be observed directly. This is necessary, as the "power users" or "game enthusiasts" run their systems at or beyond the upper boundaries of the intended frequency and voltage parameters in order to maximize performance. Because the primary undesired side effect of higher voltages and clock frequencies is potentially damaging heat, it is desirable to monitor and regulate the temperature of computer systems' memory modules to prevent performance degradation, errors and/or failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,136 to Lamb et al. (hereinafter "the Lamb patent") discloses a memory sub-system equipped with a digital temperature sensor to monitor the temperature in a memory unit contained therein. More particularly, the memory unit is provided with a number of integrated circuits placed on a printed circuit board that is to be inserted into an available interface card slot of the computer system. While the digital temperature sensor is adapted to operate on-board circuitry for controlling the speed of an external fan in response to sensed temperature being above a predetermined level, the memory sub-system is not adapted to visually display the temperature condition of the memory unit.

Electronic module with built-in temperature display


A droplet ejection head according to the present invention includes a layered body made up of a plurality of metal plates in which at least a part of a liquid passage is formed, and an ejection face in which an ejection port provided at one end of the liquid passage and ejecting an ink droplet is formed. The plurality of metal plates in the layered body include m metal plates whose lengthwise directions form the same angle with a rolling direction thereof, and n metal plates whose lengthwise directions form the same angle with the rolling direction. The angle formed between the lengthwise direction of the m metal plates and the rolling direction is different from the angle formed between the lengthwise direction of the n metal plates and the rolling direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a droplet ejection head which ejects droplets of ink or the like, and also to a method of manufacturing the droplet ejection head.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-169839 discloses an ink-jet head which ejects an ink droplet to a recording medium. The ink-jet head has a passage unit in which an internal ink passage is formed. The internal ink passage includes a common ink chamber and a plurality of individual ink passages each extending from an exit of the common ink chamber through a pressure chamber to a nozzle. The passage unit has a layered body made up of a plurality of thin metal plates. Through holes formed in the respective metal plates by an etching processing communicate with each other, thereby constituting an ink passage within the passage unit.

Droplet ejection head and method of manufacturing the same


A surface plasmon-semiconductor heterojunction resonant optoelectronic device and a preparation method thereof are provided. A surface ligand molecule is modified on a plasmonic nanostructure, a plasmonic crystal face structure is bound to the surface ligand molecule, a semiconductor nanostructure seed crystal is located on the plasmonic crystal face structure, a one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructure is located on the semiconductor nanostructure seed crystal, and all parts are in tight contact. The heterogeneous integration material achieves a lattice match at an interface, greatly reduces a loss caused by defects and rough crystal faces, and can achieve direct coupling of a surface plasmon mode and an optical mode. The heterogeneous integration material has a large application prospect in the fields of a nanolaser, a nano heat source and photoelectric detection and photocatalysis.

With continuous development of semiconductor theory, how to construct a semiconductor optoelectronic device with high quantum efficiency, low cost and mass production while miniaturization and integration of devices are being pursued is a hot spot direction of present research, and a trail is blazed in a series of new application fields. However, due to problems of band gap limitation of a semiconductor nano material and recombination of photo-generated carriers, conventional optoelectronic devices based on a semiconductor material have defects such as limited response wavelengths, and low quantum efficiency. Consequently, the devices limit its application range and further industrialization and marketization in aspects such as practicability, reliability, and cost. With the rise of surface plasmon research, a new opportunity is provided for development of the semiconductor-based optoelectronic device technologies. The surface plasmon has a significant near-field local enhancement characteristic, and can be used as a "nano antenna" to greatly improve local light intensity density. An adjustable resonance spectrum from an ultraviolet waveband to a mid-infrared waveband is achieved by changing factors such as geometry, materials, sizes and environmental mediums of a nanostructure. In addition, Purcell pointed out that density of states of an electromagnetic field around a material can be controlled by properly constructing a specific cavity and a waveguide structure, to further control the spontaneous emission rate of the material. This effect is referred to as the Purcell effect. Based on this effect, for effectively improving the quantum efficiency of the semiconductor material, high density of states and a small mode volume may help obtain a larger Purcell factor. Therefore, if the plasmonic effect and the Purcell effect can be effectively combined, that is, light emission frequency corresponding to the semiconductor material is close to the surface plasmon resonance frequency, the quantum efficiency of the semiconductor optoelectronic device is significantly improved, and a utilization rate of optical energy is greatly increased.
With the development of semiconductor processing techniques, research on active and passive optoelectronic devices based on surface plasmon-semiconductor heterogeneous integration is emerging endlessly. However, most of preparation processes achieve the heterogeneous integration of two different materials only by soldering, binding, modification, assembly, and the like. The fabrication processes are complex, the cost is high, and the cycle is long. At the same time, it is difficult for the above technical means to achieve the semiconductor material with an adjustable length-to-diameter ratio, controllable density and variable orientation on the plasmonic structure. Due to a crystal face mismatch between different materials, the formed heterogeneous-integration optoelectronic devices have a higher interface loss and many uncertainties. The practicality and stability of the devices also need to be further explored.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a high-efficiency heterogeneous-integration optoelectronic device that is high quality, stable, and capable of mass production, to avoid defects, such as poor "specificity" (leading to an extremely likely generation of a core-shell structure so that light wave conduction cannot be achieved), and being uncontrollable, caused by conventional technical means for constructing the crystal faces, so as to achieve direct and efficient coupling of a surface plasmon mode and an optical mode.

Surface plasmon-semiconductor heterojunction resonant optoelectronic device and preparation method therefor


An electrical cartridge of the present invention includes a spring that pushes an integrated circuit package into a thermal plate. The integrated circuit package and substrate are attached to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. A cover may be attached to an opposite side of the substrate. There is typically a space between the integrated circuit package and the thermal plate that is filled with a thermal grease. The spring is located between the cover and the substrate in a manner which deflects the spring and exerts a force on the substrate. The spring force pushes the substrate and the integrated circuit package into the thermal plate. The spring may be designed to always provide a sufficient force to ensure a minimum space between the integrated circuit package and the thermal plate for assemblies produced in a mass production process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic cartridge that contains an integrated circuit package(s).
2. Background Information
FIG. 1 shows an electronic cartridge that includes an integrated circuit package 1 which is mounted to a printed circuit board 2. The package 1 contains one or more integrated circuits (not shown). One edge of the circuit board 2 may have a plurality of conductive pads (not shown) that can be plugged into a card edge connector. The card edge connector may be mounted to a motherboard of a computer system.
The assembly may include a thermal plate 3 that is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit package 1. A heat sink (not shown) may be attached to the thermal plate 3 to facilitate the removal of heat generated by the integrated circuits. The printed circuit board 2 may be enclosed by a cover 4.
The integrated circuit generates heat that may flow into the thermal plate 3 through a metal lid 5 of the package 1. Manufacturing tolerances of the assembly may create an air gap between the lid 5 and the thermal plate 3. Air has a relatively low coefficient of thermal conductivity. The existence of an air gap may increase the temperature drop from the package 1 to the thermal plate 3 and the junction temperatures of the integrated circuit.
A thermal grease is typically inserted between the lid 5 and the thermal plate 3 to reduce the temperature drop across the assembly and the junction temperatures of the integrated circuit. Even with the application of a thermal grease the thickness of the space between the lid 5 and the thermal plate 3 may differ between assemblies because of variations in part tolerances. The varying space thickness reduces the predictability of the thermal interface resulting in different junction temperatures for different assemblies. It would be desirable to provide a design that creates a minimum space thickness or bondline for the thermal grease of each assembly.

Thermal interface attach mechanism for electrical packages


Dry powders of amino acids which exhibit great oral meltability and solubility, may be produced by spray drying a hydrous liquid of amino acids to produce a powder of amino acids, where the hydrous liquid of amino acids is prepared into the form of microfine liquid droplets in the presence of trehalose for spray drying, to obtain a powder having a mean particle size of 0.1 μm to 15 μm, as well as granulating and drying during the spray drying or after the spray drying, to obtain a granulated powder having a mean particle size of 20 μm to 1,000 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to powders of amino acids, which is a microfine or granulated amino acid powder containing trehalose. The present invention further relates to methods for producing such powders.
2. Discussion of the Background
Amino acids, amino acid salts, and amino acid derivatives (simply referred to as amino acids hereinafter) are widely used in medical diets for nutrition supplements, disease-specific amino acid preparations for oral administration and infusion for subject patients with renal impairment and liver disorders, infantile nutritious compositions, diet food materials, health foods, and functional foods. Further, amino acids are used in cosmetics and in veterinary preparations for dosing to animals, after being mixed in feeds and the like.
Trehalose, when contained in amino acids, not only serves as a saccharide nutrient but also suppresses the bittern taste of amino acids, advantageously, without any occurrence of the Maillard reaction (browning reaction). Therefore, the presence of trehalose therein is recommended. Specifically, those formulations described below are known.
For example, trehalose-coated (film) powders of amino acids are known, and may be prepared by one of the following methods. In a first method, a binder is added to a powder of amino acids in mixture to prepare granules by an extrusion granulation process, and the granules surfaces are then coated with trehalose as a coating material by fluid granulation. In a second method, trehalose and a binder are added to a powder of amino acids in mixture for coating by fluid granulation, and spraying an aqueous ethanol solution over the resulting coated powder for granulation (see, JP-A-6-227975).
Furthermore, an amino acid infusion containing trehalose and having the same effects as described above is also known (see, JP-A-6-70718).
Also known are amino acid food products containing trehalose, which are adjusted to a pH 3.0 to 6.0 by the addition of sour agents such as citric acid so as to prevent flavor deterioration due to heating of the amino acid, or flavor modification or color modification of the amino acid during long-term storage. The test results of heating the hydrous amino acid-containing solution are disclosed (see, JP-A-2000-4836).
As compositions for use in the suppression of blood amino acid variation following vigorous athletic motion, a hydrous solution of a composition of amino acids and sugar is disclosed, which contains at least 13 types of amino acids and trehalose. The hydrous solution is said to be effective for the improvement of athletic potential and the amelioration of fatigue (see, JP-A-2000-72669).
As described above, various findings exist about amino acid compositions containing trehalose, but only JP-A-6-227975 describes such a powder. Further, no amino acid powder with a high oral meltability, high solubility, and masked taste is known. In particularly, there remains a need for a dry power of a branched amino acid and a slightly soluble amino acid, which has improved oral meltability and solubility and suppressed bitterness.
As production methods of dry powders, meanwhile, the spray drying method, hot-air drying method, and freeze-drying method are known. Among them, the spray drying method is capable of producing microfine particles, and is a dry method for recovering a dry powder of spherical and spherical shell-shaped powder, by dispersing a solution or a particle slurry into the form of microfine particles in hot air, where the spray method uses pressure nozzle, rotating disk, and two-fluid nozzle and the like. In many cases, the mean particle size of the dry powder is about 20 μm to 500 μm (see, Handbook of Chemistry and Engineering, revised sixth edition, p. 770, p. 780 (1999), issued by Maruzen), while in the pharmaceutical field, a production example of microfine particles of 10 μm or less is introduced (see, JP-A-9-235238, JP-T-10-500672, and JP-A-11-114027). In recent years, a four-fluid nozzle has been developed, which has enabled mass-scale spray drying with a liquid droplet having a mean particle size of several micrometers (see, Chemical Apparatus, pp. 60-65 (June, 2000), and Japanese Patent No. 2,797,080, and JP-A-2002-17337, etc.).
Similar to the powders containing microfine amino acids, an inhalation dry composition containing the pharmacologically active component, interferon, as the essential component and containing a hydrophobic amino acid selected from leucine, isoleucine, and valine at 60% or more to less than 100% (mean particle size (volume-based distribution) of 0.1 μm or more to 10 μm or less) is disclosed for the purpose of avoiding the deliquescence of the inhalation dry composition, when left at a high humidity (see, JP-A-9-235238). In Example 2 of JP-A-9-235238, a dry particle powder is obtained as a control, by preparing a solution containing 3.5 g of isoleucine, 0.7 g of serum albumin, 695.8 g of deionized water, and 300 g of ethanol for spray drying, and then spraying the resulting solution with a spray dryer (aerodynamic mean particle size of 0.9897 μm). However, this Example does not include any description of oral meltability, solubility, and taste masking.
Moreover, it is also desired that the production of powders of amino acids by spray drying in such manner can be done on a mass scale; that the quality can be maintained; and that the oral meltability and solubility of the resulting powders are great. Accordingly, there remains a need for any improved process so as to satisfy these properties.

Powder of amino acids and method for producing the same


The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for determining indoor context information relating to a location of a mobile device. Indoor context information may be utilized by a mobile device or a network element to obtain an estimate of a location of the mobile device within an indoor environment.

1. Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to transmission of indoor context information to a mobile device.
2. Information
The Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) specifications produced by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) enable a client application, e.g., a SUPL Agent, to obtain a geographic location of a wireless terminal, e.g., a SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET). SUPL specifications also enable a SET to obtain its own location and the locations of other SETs and to transfer its location to a selected SUPL Agent.
SUPL-compliant systems may enable a SET to determine or otherwise obtain its location within an outdoor environment. For example, a SET may receive navigation signals from a satellite positioning system (SPS), and may triangulate its location or position if navigation signals from three or more satellites are received. In some indoor environments, however, navigation signals may not be available to allow a SET to triangulate its location or position.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for transmitting indoor context information


Earth-boring tools comprise a body comprising at least one pocket extending into the body. A first discrete cutting element segment is secured within the at least one pocket. At least another discrete cutting element segment is secured within the at least one pocket. Methods of forming a cutting structure secured to an earth-boring tool comprise disposing at least one discrete cutting element or at least one cutting element segment within a pocket or recess formed in a blade extending longitudinally and radially over a face of a body. At least one discrete wearable element or at least another discrete cutting element segment is disposed within the pocket or recess. The at least one discrete cutting element or at least one discrete cutting element segment and the at least one discrete wearable element or at least another discrete cutting element segment are secured to the blade within the pocket or recess.

Earth-boring tools for forming wellbores in subterranean earth formations may include a plurality of cutting elements secured to a body include, such as, for example, fixed-cutter earth-boring rotary drill bits (also referred to as "drag bits"). Such fixed-cutter bits include a plurality of cutting elements that are fixedly attached to a bit body of the drill bit, conventionally in pockets formed in blades and other exterior portions of the bit body. Other earth-boring tools may include rolling cone earth-boring drill bits, which include a plurality of roller cones attached to bearing pins on legs depending from a bit body. The roller cones may include cutting elements (sometimes called "teeth") milled or otherwise formed on the roller cones, which may include hardfacing on the outer surfaces of the cutting elements, or the roller cones may include cutting elements (sometimes called "inserts") attached to the roller cones, conventionally in pockets formed in the roller cones.
The cutting elements may be placed in the pockets in a variety of ways. For example, cutting elements may be front-loaded or top-loaded into the pockets. U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2008/0223622, published Sep. 18, 2008, to Duggan et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses placing cutting elements in pockets by top-loading. Briefly, a cutting element top-loaded into a pocket may be disposed over the pocket and lowered into the pocket, similar to the way bread may be lowered into a toaster. Typically, top-loading requires that the uppermost portion of the pocket be as large as, or larger than, the cutting element to permit the cutting element to enter the pocket from above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,699, issued Aug. 2, 1994, to Thigpen et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, discloses placing cutting elements in pockets by front-loading. Briefly, a cutting element front-loaded into a pocket may be aligned with a rotationally leading opening of the pocket and slid into the pocket, similar to the way a bullet may be slid into the chamber of a conventional revolver. Frequently, front-loading involves aligning a central axis of a cylindrical cutting element with a central axis of a complementarily cylindrical pocket and sliding the cutting element into the pocket.
Front-loading cutting elements may be difficult or impossible in some configurations, such as, for example, where a distance between two rotationally adjacent blades is smaller than the overall thickness of the cutting elements and the angle at which the cutting elements are inserted into the pockets does not permit the cutting elements to clear rotationally leading blades while being inserted into the pockets of rotationally following blades. In other words, narrow junk slots between adjacent blades may not permit cutting elements to enter the junk slots for front-loading into pockets that have openings into those junk slots. In such situations, cutting elements having a relatively small thickness or large back rake angles may be used to permit the cutting elements to be front-loaded. However, such approaches may shorten the useful life of the cutting elements in the first instance due to the relatively small volume of cutting element material or, in the second instance reduce the rate of penetration because of the relatively passive engagement of the cutting elements with the earth formation.

Cutting structures, earth-boring tools including such cutting structures, and related methods


A panel assembly includes a multilayer load bearing panel configured to enclose an opening to an interior compartment by positioning the panel in the opening. The panel has opposing first and second appearance layers and is reversible in the opening between first and second positions. In the first position, the first appearance layer is outwardly facing in the opening and the second appearance layer faces inwardly to the compartment. In the second position, the second appearance layer is outwardly facing in the opening and the first appearance layer faces inwardly to the compartment. One of the appearance layers is made of a protective polymeric coating such as a thermosetting polyurethane-based coating or thermoset polyurea coating. The other appearance layer is made of one of a laminate structure which can include a wood veneer, a textile, or a carpeting material. A method for making the multilayer panel is provided.

A panel can be used to enclose a structure which can define an opening or compartment which is to be covered by the panel. The panel may be configured as a load bearing panel to withstand a force or load imposed on the panel without failing and/or exceeding a maximum deflection. Load bearing panels are used in vehicles to enclose various structures. For example, door panels configured to withstand bending and deflection forces are used to enclose door structures. In another example, a floor panel may be positioned in a floor, trunk, storage, or cargo space of a vehicle to enclose an interior compartment used to enclose or store one or more vehicle components, such as a spare tire or vehicle jack, or other vehicle user items, such as luggage, tools, etc. A floor panel may be used in a vehicle including one or more retractable seats, where the floor panel is configured to cover the seat(s) when the seat(s) are fully retracted into a compartment defined by the floor structure of the vehicle. In this configuration, the panel should be configured to withstand loading and deflection forces imposed on the panel when the seats are in the retracted position, which may include withstanding a minimum knee loading requirement. The floor panel should be configured to withstand bending and deflection forces and loads imposed by items which may be place on the floor panel, which may include vehicle users standing, sitting or kneeling on the floor panel, or items placed on the exposed surface of the floor panel, which can include personal items of the vehicle user such as luggage, sporting goods, groceries, furniture, etc., and can further include industrial items such as tools and equipment. Further, the floor panel should be configured to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the vehicle user while being resistant to wear and tear during various types of use and loading with various items.