A sealing machine and the protecting structure that fit a wide range of sealing conditions and plastic bag materials, and prevent the plastic bag from breaking around the sealing line due to excessive fusion and tension are disclosed. The sealing machine comprises a pair of block members, each block member is disposed with an electrical heating wire, each electrical heating wire is covered with a first protecting belt, and each first protecting belt is covered with a second protecting belt. Each first protecting belt or second protecting belt comprises a plurality of apertures.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-2C, there are shown schematic diagrams of operational steps, enlarged view and side views of operational steps of a conventional sealing machine. As illustrated, the sealing machine 20 of the prior art comprises two block members 22, two electrical heating wires 24 respectively mounted at the block members 22 opposite to each other, and two protecting belts 26 respectively covered on the electrical heating wires 24 to protect the electrical heating wires 24 against contamination of fused material of the plastic bag 10 during a sealing operation.
During operation of the aforesaid sealing machine 20, a plastic bag 10 that is filled with goods 15 are pressed together from the top and bottom sides or the opposite lateral sides around the opening by the block members 22, and the plastic bag 10 is folded along the folding lines 12. When the block members 22 are pressed on the plastic bag 10 against each other, the temperature of the electrical heating wires 24 causes the plastic material of the plastic bag 10 to be fused together and form a sealing line 14, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A-2C.
After the plastic bag 10 is folded, there are two four-layer film parts 16 and one double-layer film part 18 in the plastic bag 10 around the sealing position. The four-layer film parts 16 and the double-layer film part 18 require different sealing conditions (for example, the sealing temperature of the electrical heating wires and the pressure of the block members). The sealing conditions suitable for sealing the four-layer film parts may cause the double-layer film part to be excessively fused. At this time, under the effect of bilateral tension force of the plastic bag 10, a split 19 can be formed in the double-layer film part 18 of the plastic bag 10 around the sealing line 14, as shown in FIG. 1D.

Sealing machine and the protecting structure for the same


A bone fastener assembly including a bone screw, a receiver, a crown, a seat, and a contact pin is provided. The contact pin is formed as a leaf spring resiliently biased in a first position that affords generation of spring force via deformation thereof, and the contact pin acts as a tensioner to ultimately press against a head portion of the screw to aid movement prevention of the head portion relative to the receiver.

Multi-axial screw assemblies are used to facilitate placement and attachment of spinal rods relative to the spine. The spinal rods can be used in correcting spinal abnormalities. Typically, such multi-axial screw assemblies include at least a bone screw portion and a receiver portion attached to one another. The bone screw portions are attached to vertebrae, and the receiver portions receive portions of the spinal rods. Furthermore, the receiver portions of typical pedicle screw assemblies are angularly and fixedly positionable with respect to the screw portions to afford attachment of the spinal rods between vertebrae. The receiver portion is angularly/pivotally positionable relative to a screw portion prior to being fastened to a rod. However, without some friction between those components, the receiver portion would potentially flop freely relative to the screw portion. Therefore, there is a need for a contact pin portion receivable within the receiver portion that can provide enough friction between the components so that the receiver portion can be adjusted to approximately the final position and the components will stay in that position.


Copying data in a table from a source database to a target database is performed by copying the table into a conflicts schema. A first INSERT/SELECT statement is executed to copy data from the table. Then, in response to a determination that the table definition for the table in a source database dictionary is not compatible with a table definition for the table in a target database dictionary, the INSERT/SELECT statement execution is rolled back in response to a determination that the data from the first INSERT/SELECT statement did not fit in a table in the target schema of the target database. A second INSERT/SELECT statement is executed including a WHERE clause to copy data from the table to the target schema of the target database. In response to a determination that the second INSERT/SELECT statement did not copy data from the table to the target schema of the target database, a third INSERT/SELECT statement is executed forcing the data to fit.

A database dictionary is a data structure that stores metadata about the structure and organization of the database. It may, for example, store definitions of all schema objects in the database, space allocation, default values, privileges, etc. A schema is a logical area in the database which contains the table. When database table entries are copied from one database to another database, there may be differences between the database dictionary of the source database and the database dictionary of the target database. For example, a particular table in a schema in a source database may contain data types that are different than the data types for that particular table in a schema of the target database. Such differences may prevent the integration of the particular table entries into the target database. Even small differences can result in a conflict, and copy or move commands may not be able to handle such conflicts.

Automated resolution of database dictionary conflicts


Semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor substrate with a first semiconductor fin aligned end-to-end with a second semiconductor with a recess between facing ends of the first and second semiconductor fins. A first insulator pattern is formed adjacent sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor fins and a second insulator pattern is formed within the first recess. The second insulator pattern may have a top surface higher than a top surface of the first insulator pattern, such as to the height of the top surface of the fins (or higher or lower). First and second gates extend along sidewalls and a top surface of the first semiconductor fin. A dummy gate electrode may be formed on the top surface of the second insulator. Methods for manufacture of the same and modifications are also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a fabricating method thereof, and more particularly to a semiconductor device using a three-dimensional channel and a fabricating method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one of scaling techniques for increasing the density of integrated circuit devices, a transistor has been proposed, in which a fin- or nanowire-shaped active pattern is formed with a substrate and a gate is then formed on a surface of the active pattern.
Since the transistor uses a three-dimensional (3D) channel, scaling of the multi-gate transistor can be achieved. In addition, current controlling capability can be improved and a short channel effect (SCE), in which an electric potential of a channel region is affected by a drain voltage, can be effectively suppressed.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same

Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do


An automatic fishing line casting system for casting a fishing line connected to an elongated fishing pole. The fishing pole having a reel and a plurality of eyelets mounted along a length of the fishing pole. The fishing line extends through each of the eyelets. The automatic fishing line casting system includes an elongated barrel that has open first and second ends. A peripheral wall extends between the open first and second ends defining a bore extending through the barrel. A projectile is removably positioned in the bore of the barrel and is couplable to a portion of the fishing line. A propellant is positioned in an interior of a cartridge for propelling the projectile from the barrel. A housing is mounted to the open first end of the barrel for holding the cartridge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing line casting devices and more particularly pertains to a new automatic fishing line casting system for casting a fishing line connected to an elongated fishing pole. The fishing pole having a reel and a plurality of eyelets mounted along a length of the fishing pole. The fishing line extends through each of the eyelets.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of fishing line casting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, fishing line casting devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,060,413; 2,958,975; 3,717,947; 4,501,085; 2,977,706; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 377,204.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new automatic fishing line casting system. The inventive device includes an elongated barrel that has open first and second ends. A peripheral wall extends between the open first and second ends defining a bore extending through the barrel. A projectile is removably positioned in the bore of the barrel and is couplable to a portion of the fishing line. A propellant is positioned in an interior of a cartridge for propelling the projectile from the barrel. A housing is mounted to the open first end of the barrel for holding the cartridge.
In these respects, the automatic fishing line casting system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of casting a fishing line connected to an elongated fishing pole. The fishing pole having a reel and a plurality of eyelets mounted along a length of the fishing pole. The fishing line extends through each of the eyelets.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fishing line casting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new automatic fishing line casting system construction wherein the same can be utilized for casting a fishing line connected to an elongated fishing pole. The fishing pole having a reel and a plurality of eyelets mounted along a length of the fishing pole. The fishing line extends through each of the eyelets.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the fishing line casting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new automatic fishing line casting system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fishing line casting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongated barrel that has open first and second ends. A peripheral wall extends between the open first and second ends defining a bore extending through the barrel. A projectile is removably positioned in the bore of the barrel and is couplable to a portion of the fishing line. A propellant is positioned in an interior of a cartridge for propelling the projectile from the barrel. A housing is mounted to the open first end of the barrel for holding the cartridge.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the fishing line casting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new automatic fishing line casting system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fishing line casting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such automatic fishing line casting system economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system for casting a fishing line connected to an elongated fishing pole. The fishing pole having a reel and a plurality of eyelets mounted along a length of the fishing pole. The fishing line extends through each of the eyelets.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system which includes an elongated barrel that has open first and second ends. A peripheral wall extends between the open first and second ends defining a bore extending through the barrel. A projectile is removably positioned in the bore of the barrel and is couplable to a portion of the fishing line. A propellant is positioned in an interior of a cartridge for propelling the projectile from the barrel. A housing is mounted to the open first end of the barrel for holding the cartridge.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system that permits users unable to cast a fishing line to go fishing. The present invention is particularly beneficial to the elderly and young who have either lost or have not obtained enough strength the cast a fishing line.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new automatic fishing line casting system that permits users to cast a fishing line further than by hand. The present invention employs a propellant to cast the fishing line further than a user can cast by hand permitting a user to catch fish further away.
Additionally, the present invention permits a user to cast a fishing line where there is not enough room to cast. Users often fish from a bank of a river where trees pose potential entanglement hazards. The present invention permits a user to cast their fishing line by pointing their fishing pole in the casting direction. The propellant casts the fishing line to the desired location.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


A neural network demodulator is used within a receiver to provide Inter Symbol Interference (ISI) channel equalization and to correct for I/Q/phase imbalance. The neural network is trained with a single integrated training step to simultaneously handle the channel impairments of ISI equalization and I/Q phase imbalance as opposed to prior art methods of separately addressing each channel impairment in sequence.

High-Speed communications systems typically use a wide band channel where the transmission is achieved using Radio Frequency (RF) carriers. RF transmission as it exists today either uses closely spaced narrow band multiple carriers or a small number of carriers containing baseband modulated signals.
An example of a closely spaced narrow band multiple carrier system is the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system, which uses a large number of RF carriers with each carrier carrying two base band modulation signals (I/Q). Since OFDM uses orthogonal carriers, the transmission does not suffer any Inter-Frequency-Interference (IFI). Also, the data processing at the receiver uses a simple Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique. Due to the orthogonality of the RF carriers, an OFDM transmission system is more robust to Inter-Symbol-Interference (ISI). However, when ISI exists, the system requires the use of a Cyclic Prefix as an overhead and a channel equalizer to handle ISI.
An example of a small number of carriers containing baseband modulated signals is the "Kelquan" system based on the teachings presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,956,372 and 8,233,564 where closely spaced non-orthogonal frequencies are used to create baseband modulated signals which are carried in a small number of RF carriers as I/Q channels over a wideband bandwidth. In this system, the data is recovered optimally after the IFI suppression using a Neural Network Matched Filter. This system requires no overhead, but needs a robust equalizer to handle ISI.
In both of the above scenarios, the performance of high-speed digital transmission suffers high degradation due to the effects of channel impairments. Specifically, the channel impairments, which include Inter-Symbol-Interference and the leakage of I/Q modulated signals, which are sent over each of the RF carriers, significantly degrades the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance. The ISI is caused by the change of bandwidth of the frequencies of specific symbols, spilling over to the next set of symbols, or to the previous set of symbols. The leakage of I/Q signals on each other is caused by the imperfect phase alignment between the transmit and receiver carrier phases. In OFDM systems, the leakage of I/Q signals can be more predominant in wireless channels as opposed to wireline channels. In a small number of carrier based systems, both wireline and wireless channels experience leakage of I/Q due to imperfect phase imbalance. As the transmit systems carry large data rates, the sensitivity to these channel impairments become significant.
In accordance with the invention described herein, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based demodulator is shown that handles the ISI and I/Q leakage due to phase imbalance as a single apparatus. The novel design of this demodulator simplifies the adaptive demodulator complexity and improves the data recovery process significantly in terms of Bit Error Rates (BER).
While the invention is applicable to broader transmission channels, the preferred embodiment is a system that has a small number of RF carriers for transmission over a wideband channel.
Traditional systems use two different systems to handle these two channel impairments, where each system requires separate training time during initialization. When both impairments are handled separately with each requiring its own training time, the computation time to optimize the design with appropriate correction coefficients increases. Also, there could be bottlenecks in the design process to achieve optimal system performance, when these two impairments are handled sequentially, one after another. The teaching of this invention is directed to an integrated demodulator that avoids this pitfall by simultaneously handling both I/Q imbalance and ISI with a single training sequence. This process develops the necessary coefficients for an ANN demodulator to achieve optimum performance.
In summary, this invention teaches the design of an Artificial Neural Network based Demodulator that achieves the following functions at the receiver:                1. Compensates for the I/Q imbalance due to carrier phase miss-alignment between the transmitter and receiver        2. Equalizes the ISI introduced by the channel        3. Equalizes the ISI introduced by the channel filter        4. Recovers the original data which was used for modulation at the sending side.
The proposed invention achieves significant advantages over traditional methods of handling transmission impairments, for example,                It reduces the computational complexity of the demodulation process using single operation as opposed to multiple operations.        It leads to more accurate and robust handling of channel impairments at the receiver due to integrated operation instead of sequential operations.        It increases the battery life of mobile apparatus (particularly useful to handheld devices) by extending the mean time before failure.
Equalization techniques broadly support handling transmission impairments over different channels: wireline communications or wireless communications or highly dispersive channels. The transmission impairments can be different in different channels.
In wireline channels, the channel equalization is designed to handle ISI and reflections. The concept of equalization relates to the loss compensation for the equalizer as a figure of merit, which is used to derive the performance of the data recovery at the receiver. Since the distance between the sending side and the receiving side is fixed, the channel characteristics are known 'a priori' and it is possible to a use a Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) equalizer to minimize the effect of ISI. When the channel transfer function is unknown, it is imperative to use an adaptive MMSE equalizer.
There are implementations of equalizers used to handle ISI based on Least Mean Squared Error (LMSE). This equalizer performs well in minimizing the effect of ISI as long as the phase variation on the channel is low. Although a LMSE equalizer works well in a minimum phase channel, its performance is very limited in a channel with spectral nulls. In such cases, the convergence of an LMS equalizer is not guaranteed and ISI effects cannot be minimized.
Another alternative to handle the ISI problem is the use of a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE). While the DFE outperforms the LMS, it is more complex than the LMS equalizer. Furthermore the DFE suffers from an error propagation problem and therefore is only used at very high SNR scenario. The MMSE, LMSE and DFE equalizers can only minimize the effect of ISI on the performance, but cannot handle the I/Q phase alignment problem. The present invention of an integrated demodulator which both equalizes ISI and compensates I/Q/imbalance outperforms a LMSE equalizer even for non-minimum phase variation in the channel.
In wireless channels, the channel equalization is more complex when handling ISI due to rapid changes in channel behavior because of mobility and channel fading. The channel can be modeled as a highly dispersive channel and will require a more complex operation to reduce or eliminate the ISI effects. These channels tend to be more time invariant, but are adaptive and therefore, the channel equalizers tend to be adaptive to compensate and adjust for the slow variations of the channel.
Some of the equalization methods used to handle wireless channels include:
a. The method to nullify or mitigate the effect of channel response by employing a training period to initialize the channel equalizer that has a simple adaptive system. Some techniques in this category include also a blind equalization technique without a training period by employing different and possible-to-estimate channel characteristics.
b. For OFDM channels, which use a narrow frequency band, the channel equalization reduces the problem to handle flat fading or a frequency non-selective system.
c. For handling channel fading, techniques such as multiple transmission of the same information over independent channels and waiting for the fading to recede before sending have been exploited. The ultimate measure is the improvement of probability of error in fading channels.
In summary, there are many teachings to design channel equalizers based on neural networks to handle one selective parameter at a time. As such, designing the equalizer to handle multiple effects on the channel is more optimum and robust than handling parameters one at a time which can cause delay in processing to achieve optimization.
The proposed teaching in this invention is to demonstrate designing the inventive demodulator to handle the effects of more than one parameter simultaneously with a single training sequence while achieving optimum performance for data recovery at the receiver.

Adaptive demodulation method and apparatus using an artificial neural network to improve data recovery in high speed channels


A apparatus for monitoring and controlling a power system having an alternating current bus. The apparatus includes a module which is coupled to the bus and which digitizes and modulates at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform present on the bus. A control unit which is also coupled to the bus demodulates the digitized waveform and calculates a parameter selected from the group consisting of average current, root mean square current, peak current, current crest factor, average voltage, root mean square voltage, peak voltage, voltage crest factor, voltage surge, current waveform shape, voltage waveform shape, current waveform harmonic structure, voltage waveform harmonic structure and combinations thereof. The calculated parameter is used to monitor conditions on the bus and control loads connected to modules of the system.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of monitoring and controlling a power system having an alternating current bus.
Devices that monitor and/or control various electrical parameters, such as voltage, current, and power utilized by one or more loads connected to an alternating current bus of a power system are known. These devices can be used to determine such things as inefficient uses of electricity and detect problems on the alternating current bus. Such devices may also be used to manage loads connected to the bus by controlling these parameters. Such control can help reduce or eliminate inefficiencies and prevent damage to the alternating current bus. Such control can also help actuate the one or more loads as desired.
The present invention is an improvement over these devices. An embodiment of the present invention includes a monitoring and control apparatus for a power system having an alternating current bus which includes at least one line, a neutral, and a ground. The apparatus includes a module coupled to the bus for digitizing either or both a voltage waveform or a current waveform, both of which may appear on the bus. The voltage and current waveforms may be sinusoidal, with a frequency of approximately 60 Hz. The module may also modulate the digitized waveform onto a carrier. The apparatus also includes a control unit that is coupled to the bus which demodulates the digitized waveform and calculates at least one of the following: average current, root mean square current, peak current, current crest factor, average voltage, root mean square voltage, peak voltage, voltage crest factor, voltage surge, current waveform shape, voltage waveform shape, current waveform harmonic structure, and voltage waveform harmonic structure.
The apparatus may further include a second module coupled to the bus that is responsive to a predetermined condition at the first module. The first module may be programmed by the control unit to sense a condition at that module and direct the second module to respond as a result of that condition. The control unit may be configured to control at least one of the following: the power supplied to a load at one or more of the modules, activation/deactivation of one or more of the modules, digitization of the voltage waveform, the current waveform, or both the voltage and current waveforms on the bus at one or more of the modules, and transmission of the digitized waveform to the control unit. The modules may each include a transceiver and the control unit may also include a transceiver, each of which are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. A load may be coupled to each module and the module configurable to control a load voltage, a load current, or both the load voltage and the load current.
The module may rectify the voltage waveform, the current waveform, or both the voltage and current waveforms before digitizing the waveform. This rectification may be of full cycle of the waveform.
In one or more embodiments of the apparatus, the control unit may be a computer. Additionally, in one or more embodiments of the apparatus, the module and control unit may each include transceivers, that are configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. Furthermore, the module may be coupled to a load and configurable to control a load voltage, a load current, or both the load voltage and the load current.
An embodiment of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention may further include a second module coupled to a second alternating current bus which includes at least one line, a neutral, and a ground. The second module digitizes a second voltage waveform, a second current waveform, or both the second voltage waveform and the second current waveform on the second bus. Subsequent to digitizing, the second module modulates the digitized waveform onto a second carrier. This embodiment may include a second control unit that demodulates the digitized waveform of the second module and calculates at least one of the values that may be calculated by the first control unit. In this embodiment, the control units may be in communication with one another whereby one or more waveforms digitized by the second module are received by either control unit. At least one of the control units may be configured to control at least one of the following: the power supplied to a load at each of the modules, activation/deactivation of the modules, digitization of at least one of the first voltage waveform and the first current waveform by the first module, digitization of at least one of the second voltage waveform and the second current waveform by the second module, and transmission of the digitized waveforms to the control unit.
The present invention also is directed to a method of monitoring and controlling a power system having an alternating current bus which includes at least one line, a neutral, and a ground. The method includes the steps of rectifying a voltage waveform, a current waveform, or both the voltage and current waveforms which may appear on the bus. The method also includes the steps of digitizing the rectified waveform and transmitting the digitized waveform to a control unit. The method additionally includes the step of calculating at least one of the following: average current, root mean square current, peak current, current crest factor, average voltage, root mean square voltage, peak voltage, voltage crest factor, voltage surge, current waveform shape, voltage waveform shape, current waveform harmonic structure, and voltage waveform harmonic structure.
The method may also include the steps of programming a first module coupled to the bus to sense a predetermined condition at the first module and controlling a second module coupled to the bus in response to the predetermined condition at the first module. The method may additionally include the step of activating a module coupled to the bus to control at least one of the following: the power supplied to a load at one or more modules coupled to the bus, activation/deactivation of one or more of the modules, digitization of the voltage waveforms, the current waveforms, or both waveforms, and transmission to the control unit.
The method may further include the step of displaying the calculation. Also, the transmitting step may include the steps of modulating the digitized waveform onto a carrier and demodulating the digitized waveform at the control unit.
The method may additionally include the steps of programming a module coupled to the bus to sense a predetermined condition at the first module and controlling the module in response to the predetermined condition. Furthermore, the method may include the step of programming each module coupled to the bus to have an identifier that allows each module and the control unit to recognize each module coupled to the bus.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Apparatus for and method of monitoring and controlling a power system


A method for friction stir welding two components, with a rotating tool that comprises a rotating or non-rotating shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone, and with a stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone, in which method a stirring pin with a section slidably plunges in a slide on which the components are supported, which slide is guided along the joining zone on a side of the component, which side faces away from the tool, so that during welding an automatic relative movement between the stirring pin and the slide or the shoulder surface of the tool and a support surface of the slide, which support surface supports the components, is made possible, as well as a device for implementing such a method.

The invention relates to a method for friction stir welding to connect two components with a tool comprising a shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone and a rotating stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone, and to a device for connecting two components by friction stir welding with a tool that comprises a shoulder surface for subjecting the components to a process force in the region of a joining zone and a rotatable stirring pin for stirring plasticized material or for plasticizing and stirring the components in the region of the joining zone.
Friction stir welding makes it possible to integrally join two components that with the use of conventional melt welding methods cannot be welded, or that can only be welded with great difficulty. Friction stir welding is predominantly used for welding light metals. There is no need to add welding filler. In a known friction stir welding method, as described, for example, in WO 93/10935 A1, a stirring pin or welding pin, which extends from a shoulder surface of a rotating cylinder, is pressed into a butt joint of two components and is guided along said butt joint, wherein the shoulder surface of the cylinder subjects the components to a one-sided process force. As a result of the friction between the shoulder surface and the components heat arises, by means of which the material in the butt joint is plasticized, and the material is then stirred as a result of the immersion of the stirring pin. In the region of the butt joint or of the joining zone the components are supported on a counter-holder, which due to the process forces and contact with the stirring pin is subjected to very considerable wear and thus needs to be sporadically replaced correspondingly. In particular in the case of spherically-shaped large area components or spherically-extending joining zones, for example in the case of shell elements of an aircraft fuselage, wear of the counter-holders is considerably increased because apart from the process forces further factors such as differing thermal expansion coefficients and component tolerances have an additional negative influence on the state of the support. However, in particular the distance between the stirring pin head or the stirring pin tip and the counter-holder is a very critical process variable that must be closely observed in order to allow adequate stirring of the plasticized material. Even minimally insufficient immersion depth of the stirring pin, i.e. excessive spacing of the stirring pin tip from the support, results in a noticeable reduction in the quality of the weld seam. In addition to this, variations in the thickness of the components and different gap widths in the region of the joining zone result in a change in the immersion depth of the stirring pin. Furthermore, the stirring pin has a tendency, as a result of the process forces occurring, to drift in the transverse direction of the joining zone, which also results in a reduction in the quality of the weld seam.
A known solution for taking into account at least the variations in the thickness of the components in the region of the joining zone thus provides for pressing the shoulder surface in a force-controlled manner at a constant force against the components, and for designing the stirring pin so that it is movable along its vertical axis and is thus position controlled. To this effect, for example, in the direction of welding in front of the stirring pin a stylus device for sensing instances of unevenness in the material or variations in the thickness of the components is provided, which then immediately reports the aforesaid to an actuator for adjusting the immersion depth of the stirring pin. However, such a control device or regulating device is costly and complex, both from the point of view of device technology and control technology.
A known device-related and method-related solution, which at all times ensures adequate immersion depth or stirring, is also shown in WO 93/10935 A1 and in WO 00/02699 A1. The bobbin tool described therein comprises two opposite shoulder surfaces between which the components are clamped. One shoulder surface is formed by the cylinder, and the other shoulder surface by a plate-shaped head. The welding pin penetrates the cylinder and is rotatably held in said cylinder. In this method the components are subjected in the butt joint region by opposing process forces of equal force so that friction stir welding takes place so as to be quasi-neutral in terms of the vertical force. Apart from an always adequate immersion depth and good tracking of the stirring pin, this method provides other advantages, in particular a homogeneous heat input and little distortion of the components. However, the stirring pin is highly loaded because by way of it both the forces for rotating the plate and the forces for transversally moving the plate are inserted. Further disadvantages include a seam collapse on the sides of the plate surface (second shoulder surface) and comparatively expensive control technology or regulating technology. Moreover, welding thin-walled components is problematic because of the high heat input.
Very recent developments thus provide for weld tools with a stationary, non-rotating, shoulder and a rotating stirring pin. In this manner no heat is introduced into the component through the shoulder but only through the stirring pin.
In the case of curved component regions, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,835 B1 provides for a slide that is movable in longitudinal direction of the seam, which slide is guided on the back of the components and is in active engagement with the stirring pin, for example having positive fit, so that the slide is quasi pulled towards the rear, and the component regions are clamped between the shoulder surface and the slide. However, with this solution it is not possible to react to varying material thicknesses during the welding process.

Method and device for friction stir welding


A patient's skin puncturing device, particularly for collecting a blood sample for diagnostic purposes, including a housing, a lancet slidably positioned inside the housing and having a body with a sheathed puncturing needle seated therein, and a push button positioned at the one end of the housing. Between a face end of the push button and the lancet body a drive spring is placed, and between the other end of the housing, which is provided with an opening for the puncturing needle, and the lancet body a return spring is placed. Between the housing and the lancet body is placed a lancet actuation lock, preferably in the form of interlocks of a washer. The device has a drive spring catch, preferably in the form of grabs of the washer, to preclude the drive spring from following the lancet in the puncture phase and in the retraction phase of the lancet.

From the patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,420 the puncturing device is known comprising a sleeve and a push button positioned at one sleeve end. The other sleeve end terminates with a bottom with an opening therein. Inside the sleeve a piston is slidably positioned, terminating with a push rod at the end closer to the push button, and with a puncturing needle at the end closer to the bottom opening. Inside the sleeve, between the push button face and the piston a drive spring is located, and between the piston and the sleeve bottom a return spring is placed. The piston comprises locking means of an actuation of the piston with the puncturing needle, which is located on an outer perimeter of the piston and is in the form of wings resting on an internal projection of the sleeve. When the device is used, the push button is pressed down by an user, which causes the drive spring compression until the moment when the piston actuation locking means is broken off and the piston with the puncturing needle starts to move along the sleeve towards the bottom opening. Thus, the wings get broken and a subsequent re-use of the device is not possible.
In the patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,120 is disclosed the patient's skin puncturing device in which, in one of its embodiments, an additional structure element in the form of a washer is provided. The washer comprises locking means of an actuation of a piston with a puncturing needle, which protects the device against its actuation until the moment when a push button is pressed down and the piston actuation locking means is broken off.
In the up to now known puncturing devices, in a puncture phase a free end of the drive spring drives a puncturing assembly and follows it, and in the puncture phase and in a retraction phase of the puncturing assembly a gravity force of the drive spring and a force deriving from dynamic drive spring expansion affect the puncturing assembly. In the puncture phase, these forces displace the puncture assembly along a housing to the opening for the puncture needle. In the retraction phase of the puncturing assembly, these forces affect the puncturing assembly back in the reaction to the puncturing assembly impacts into the drive spring free end. These impacts induce unfavourable dynamic drive spring tensions and cause that the puncture assembly, quick-retracting under the influence of the return spring, bounces from the expanded drive spring.
In the known puncturing devices, it is observed a disadvantageous effect of multiple skin puncture as a consequence of series of successive rebounds of the puncturing assembly from the drive spring. During these rebounds of the puncturing assembly a tip of the puncturing needle penetrates into a wound. The rebounds accompany with the puncturing device vibrations which are adverse for the user's and/or patient's feelings.


A clamp for the blade of a hand held reciprocating tool includes a spindle coupled to the drive mechanism. A slot is formed in the spindle for receiving the blade tang and a collar is threadably received on the spindle. A blade clamping member is disposed between the collar and the blade and includes an engaging member for engaging a hole in the blade tang and a pair of ears which engage the upper and lower shoulders of the blade tang to provide three points of engagement when the collar is tightened. The clamp also includes a nose section which engages the blade at its junction with the tang to provide reinforcement against breakage.

Hand held reciprocating tools, such as electric reciprocating saws, include removable blades which permit the use of different cutting edges as may be necessary for cutting different materials and for the replacement of worn or damaged blades. This requires a blade mounting system which allows rapid blade replacement while accurately and firmly coupling the blade to the tool. One problem with blades for hand held reciprocating saws is breakage at the junction between the blade and the substantially narrower tang.

Keyless clamp assembly for reciprocating tool


This filter is used to purify air by removing foreign matters such as liquid droplets contained in the air. A separation unit (23) is formed with a port block (13) and a separation cylinder (20), and the port block is formed with a primary port (11) and a secondary port (12). From the secondary port (12), the air purified by removing the foreign matters in a separation chamber (25) of the separation unit (23) is flowed out. A discharge pipe (37) for guiding the purified air to the secondary port (12) is disposed in a center portion of a swirl flow generating chamber (24). The foreign matters discharged from the discharging port (31) are collected in a collection container (27). In the collection container (27), a baffle plate 51 having a liquid guiding surface (50) is provided. A fin (52) is provided in an outer peripheral portion of the baffle plate (51), and the liquid guiding surface (50) positioned at a center portion of the baffle plate (51) is flat.

A pneumatic device, such as a pneumatic cylinder, is supplied with air from a pneumatic source via a pneumatic line such as piping or hose. By connecting the pneumatic source and the pneumatic device via the pneumatic line, a pneumatic circuit is formed. Air to be supplied from the pneumatic source to the pneumatic device is handled as air to be treated, and the pneumatic circuit is provided with a filter for removing foreign matters, such as water droplets or oil droplets or dusts, contained in the air to be treated.
As one type of the filter provided in the pneumatic circuit, Patent Document 1 discloses a filter having a main block, that is, a port block formed with a primary port and a secondary port, and a filter element attached to the port block. The filter element is adapted to remove foreign matters being composed of liquid droplets such as water droplets or dusts such as powdery and granular materials which are contained in the air to be treated and flowing from the primary port, and to discharge the purified air to the secondary port. In order to receive the foreign matters such as liquid droplets removed by the filter element, a filter bowl, namely, a collection container is attached to the port block.
As a filter to be used in the pneumatic circuit, forms being called air filter, mist filter, and micro mist filter are known, and these filters are defined according to foreign matter removal performance set on the basis of an inner diameter of air holes of a filter element or the like.
A filter adapted to swirl liquid to remove foreign matters mixed in liquid coolant is disclosed in Patent Document 2. This filter is adapted to swirl liquid to remove foreign matters from liquid on the basis of the differences in specific gravity and centrifugal force between the liquid and foreign matters.


An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (2), a plurality of terminals (3) received in the insulative housing (2) and a shielding shell (4) covering the insulative housing. The insulative housing (2) includes a mating opening (24) extending along a longitudinal direction and a pair of grooves (231) extending with an angle to the mating opening and opening to an exterior. The shielding shell is provided with two shielding shell (41), (42) attached to an outer periphery of the insulative housing (2), which their ends are received and retained in the grooves (231).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, especially to an electrical connector having a shielding shell.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,954,363 issued to Fan et al. on Oct. 11, 2005, discloses a conventional connector mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for engaging with a mating connector. The conventional connector includes a housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing and a pair of shells covering the housing. The housing includes a pair of longitudinal side walls and a pair of end walls connecting with ends of the longitudinal side wall. Two flanges extend outwards from ends of the end wall along a longitudinal direction of the housing with a slot between of the end wall and the flange. Each of the shells includes a blade portion attached on outer of the side walls, and a pair of side portion curving from opposite ends of the blade portion and attached on outers of the end walls of the housing. The side portions of the shells are provided with legs, which are used to be inserted into and retained in the slots of the housing so as fitly attach the shell to the housing.
However, the length of the connector along the longitudinal direction will increase for the two flange of the housing, and the mounting area of the connector on the PCB will also increase.
Therefore, an improved electrical connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages of the relate arts.

Electrical connector having a shielding shell


A secondary power distribution box (SPDB), solid state power controller (SSPC) line replacement module or printed board assembly (LRM/PBA), integrated power distribution and avionics system, and method of power distribution are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving electrical power from a power source at a power feeder network, communicating with at least one load of a plurality of loads at least in part over the power feeder network, and coupling the electrical power to the at least one load of the plurality of loads in response to the communicating.

It is widely recognized that the benefits of the evolving "connected aircraft" concept are considerably greater than merely enabling airline passengers to access and surf the Internet while aircraft are in-flight. For example, aircraft program developers envision that future "connected aircraft" will be capable of capturing data indicating the "health" of every aircraft system and equipment, including the avionics system, while in-flight. This in-flight data is expected to be utilized, for example, to enhance the scheduling of aircraft maintenance and monitoring of the overall health trend of the aircraft in fleets. However, the ability to capture such data while in-flight requires the aircraft involved to have system-wide data access and substantial data processing and communication capabilities, which come at a very high cost. Consequently, it is critical that aircraft designers will be capable of achieving these capabilities cost-effectively and ideally with the minimal introduction of new, dedicated equipment.
In the existing aircraft, electrical power is generated by numerous power sources and distributed to power buses in a primary distribution panel (PDP). The electrical power is then delivered from the PDP to various electrical loads (e.g., avionics, utilities, actuators, controllers, sensors) by a secondary electric power distribution system (SEPDS). The SEPDS includes a plurality of secondary power distribution boxes (SPDBs) located throughout the aircraft. Each SPDB contains numerous solid state power control (SSPC) line replacement modules (LRMs) or printed board assemblies (PBAs), and each SSPC LRM/PBA comprises multiple SSPC channels that control the electric power delivery to their corresponding electrical loads via bundles of electrical wires or feeders. These loads can include, for example, sensors, remote data concentrators (RDCs), and avionics controllers and the like.
Notably, a substantial number of the sensors in the aircraft are hard-wired to corresponding RDCs. In turn, each RDC is linked to one or more of the aircraft's controllers by dedicated serial data buses, and the data signals from each one of the sensors are coupled to the controllers via the serial data buses. These signal wires and the feeder wires connecting to the SPDBs form a very complex wire harness, which not only requires the use of special integration panels to facilitate the construction and installation of the wire bundles, but can also create large electromagnetic interference (EMI) loops and increase the likelihood of fault current hazards. Since the SEPDS and the avionics system are traditionally designed as separate aircraft systems, it is difficult (if not impossible) to produce an optimal wiring harness that can take advantage of the colocation of the SEPDS and the avionics system and the computation resources built-in with the SSPC-based SEPDS.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for a technique that can be utilized to take advantage of the data processing capabilities of the SSPC LRM/PBAs, and the distributed natures of the new generation avionics' systems to gather data from the many sensors and systems of the aircraft to truly implement the connected aircraft.

Secondary electric power distribution system (SEPDS) to facilitate aircraft connectivity


The present invention is a passenger assembly for a stroller and is adaptable to almost any stroller and is capable of practice in numerous embodiments. The preferred embodiment features a chassis mounted platform with adjustable mounting arms. A mounting mechanism is located at the terminus of each arm and is attachable and removable from the stroller frame with the passenger assembly. A number of potential mounting mechanisms are disclosed. An extension handle is provided to allow users greater control of the stroller from a distance further than normal, as the assembly occupies the position proximate the stroller, where the user ordinarily stands. Modules are capable of addition to the assembly, such as a seat or basket, or a stow strap for securement of the assembly when not in use.

Stroller passenger assemblies are known in the prior art. They are used to provide an additional seat or platform for a child either on or attached to a stroller. Advantages of such devices are readily appreciable for households with more than one small child. However, the present state of the art lacks a stroller passenger assembly that is readily adaptable to different strollers of different types with minimal alteration to either the stroller or the assembly. Likewise, a number of passenger assemblies require mounting significant hardware on the stroller, reducing unit interchangeability.
In this respect, the passenger assembly according to the present invention departs substantially from the usual designs in the prior art. In doing so, this invention provides an adaptable passenger assembly utilizable on all types of strollers. The invention also provides such adaptability in a convenient manner, leaving no major mechanical components on the stroller and in a manner that is readily removed from one stroller and utilizable on a stroller of another type. In embodiments where a component is left on the stroller frame, it is easily removed and still adaptable to other stroller frames.


Thermally shock-resistant chemically bonded agglomerates suitable for use as a combustible fuel or in a gasification process are produced by:. (a) mixing particulate organic material comprising particulate carbonaceous fuel and/or animal excrement (such as dewatered comminuted sewage sludge) with a lignosulfonate, in the presence of water, with application of heat sufficient to maintain the lignosulfonate in fluid form, so as to deposit a film of lignosulfonate over the surface of the particulate material; PA1 (b) oxidatively conditioning the lignosulfonate coated particulate material under conditions permitting escape of water present in the mixed particulate material, the conditioning either being in the presence of calcium ions or being followed by mixing the conditioned particulate material with lime; and PA1 (c) shaping the resulting free-flowing plastic mixture under pressure, to form the thermally shock-resistant agglomerates.

The present invention is concerned with agglomerates obtained from organic waste (such as sewage sludge solids or refuse derived fuel), which are suitable for use in a gasification process or as a combustible fuel for use in a boiler or the like.
Sewage sludge is the insoluble part of raw sewage, which may be present in the residue left after aerobic or anaerobic treatment of sewage; current methods of disposal of sewage sludge include landfill and dumping at sea, neither of which is satisfactory from an environmental point of view. Difficulties are encountered with incineration of sewage sludge, because of the high water content of sewage sludge, the presence of toxic heavy metals, and the fact that safe incineration would require flame temperatures in the region of plasma temperatures.
However, various processes have been recently proposed for the production of fuel gas from waste materials, including sewage sludge. Typical such processes, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,931 and WO94/17161, involve mixing dewatered sewage sludge with crushed coal and comminuted cellulosic waste solids in defined ratios and water contents, pressing the resulting mixture into briquettes or pellets, and gasifying the briquette by reaction with oxygen and steam to produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
Among the binders disclosed for such briquettes are molasses, black liquor, lignin sulfonate derivatives, brewery wastes, starch wastes, bentonite, slaked lime, unslaked lime, bitumen and pitch. No indication of preference is given for any of these binders, and no conditions are given for use of these binders.
Briquettes based on organic waste materials, such as those described above, may be gasified to produce a fuel gas, which can be burnt in a gas turbine, followed by exhaust gas recovery to generate steam, which in turn can be used to drive a steam turbine, both turbines being connected to generators to generate electricity.
For satisfactory commercial use in such a gasification process, the briquettes must meet the following criteria:
(a) they must have sufficient physical strength (cold green strength), in terms of crush strength, shatter resistance and abrasion/attrition resistance, for them to survive transportation, handling and feeding to the gasification process without disintegrating; PA0 (b) they must maintain their structural integrity in the gasifier as they flow down the fuel bed under gravity (that is, they should not disintegrate or form dust as they pass through the various reaction zones of the gasifier, including the drying, devolatilisation, pyrolysis and gasification zones); PA0 (c) they should be resistant to thermal shock (that is, they should be capable of withstanding instantaneous exposure to high temperatures, which, for demonstration purposes, may be those in an oven at about 800 degrees Celsius, without disintegration or significant loss of structural integrity); PA0 (d) they should have good carbonization properties, that is, they should be amenable to gasification; PA0 (e) they should not stick together, in order to avoid blocking of the gas flow and to ensure maintenance of bed voidage (the inherent porosity of the briquettes themselves is also helpful in the various reactions they undergo in the gasifier); and PA0 (f) in the case of a slagging gasifier, the ash content should form a molten slag pool, which can be tapped intermittently and quenched to give a solid vitreous frit which encapsulates the heavy metals and the like.
The above criteria must be met within the financial constraints of a commercially viable process.
We have now devised a method of making improved briquettes and other agglomerates, which involves the use of a specially selected class of binder, such that the resulting agglomerates readily meet the above criteria, and are selectively suitable either for use in a gasification process as described above, or in a combustion process.

Method of forming chemically bonded agglomerates


An electrical circuit includes: a controlled switch; one or more temperature sensors in thermal contact with the controlled switch; and a control unit configured to: receive a temperature signal from the one or more temperature sensors; compare the received temperature signal to a predetermined threshold; and in response to the received temperature signal exceeding the predetermined threshold, render the controlled switch inoperative.

1. Technical Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present inventive concept relate to current sensing, and more particularly to sensing overcurrent conditions in a voice coil motor circuit.
2. Related Art
During the lifetime of a data storage device there is a potential for metal debris resulting from internal component wear to come in contact with the coil of the voice coil motor (VCM). Over time this metal could damage the coil causing a short circuit to ground in the VCM drive circuitry. As a result, a large amount of current flowing to ground through the VCM drive circuitry and power supply circuitry can cause the affected printed circuit board assemblies to burn.
Conventionally, electronic fuses (E-fuses) may be used for over voltage and overcurrent protection. However, the response time of an E-fuse is insufficient to prevent damage caused by the rapid discharge of current built up in it in the inductance of the VCM coil resulting from a short circuit to ground.

Voice coil motor temperature sensing circuit to reduce catastrophic failure due to voice coil motor coil shorting to ground


A computer-implemented method to correct motion and interpolation effects for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis is provided. The method estimates the motion on every voxel of the data and removes those effects to leave a residual signal that can be analyzed to high accuracy. The estimation of the motion includes solving a normal matrix equation based on the local translational motion of each voxel of the head, and a regularization parameter that depends on the local spatial structure of the head. Methods to regularize a matrix from the normal equation using the regularization parameter are also provided. A rolling filter implementation for real-time processing and motion correction is provided.

Clinical subjects often have large and rapid movements during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan session, and both of these types of errors need to be avoided or corrected for a successful analysis. Many current clinical data sets cannot be analyzed because of subject motion during the scan session. Head motion causes failures in fMRI analysis and a great deal of effort has been expended to train subjects to be motionless, or constrain their heads in the scanner via packed pillows, bite bars, or custom head cast. These physical constraints are unpleasant at best, and not possible to use on many young, old, or disturbed subjects of interest.
Methods have been developed to attempt to correct for subject motion without solely relying on physical constraints. The first step in fMRI processing is to realign the data so all the images are registered to each other. Even after realignment and interpolation, there is unavoidable residual time series errors caused by the subject's movements. These errors occur regardless of the interpolation algorithm that is used because the spatial high frequency structure of the brain cannot be adequately captured with any interpolation algorithm using data samples that are spatially far apart. In other words, the errors are inherent due to limited spatial resolution of the data samples compared to brain structures of interest. Techniques using motion regressors in the design matrix during fMRI analysis have been developed to correct for motion correction. However, these existing techniques have not been effective against typical subject motions in high motion clinical data sets. In fact, those techniques are completely unusable for many high motion data sets. Technical papers relating to these techniques include Friston et al., "Movement related effects in fMRI time-series," Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Vol. 35 (1996), pp. 346-355 and Grootoonk et al., "Characterization and Correction of Interpolation Effects in the Realignment of fMRI Time Series", NeuroImage 11, 49-57 (2000). Grootoonk et al. utilizes a principle component analysis (PCA) that approximates the variations in intensity due to subject motion by using two functions: sine and cosine. However, the method of Grootoonk et al. fails to transition smoothly in the limit of low subject motion. This failure is unavoidable due to the functions that naturally arise as a consequence of the PCA in the algorithm of Grootoonk et al. Furthermore, the method of Grootoonk et al. is based on faulty assumptions by addressing the issue of poor interpolation algorithms and fails to appreciate the issue that actual fine-grain brain structure makes even perfect interpolation algorithms fail.
Existing techniques for motion correction in fMRI also suffer from difficulties with regularization. In particular, many existing techniques are over-regularized, causing errors for the corrected motion. Current fMRI motion correction algorithms also rely on poorly aligned images, thereby introducing unreliable results. In addition, many existing algorithms require many reads of the images to be corrected, which is computationally and time inefficient.

Robust motion correction for functional magnetic resonance imaging

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate and includes an organic light emitting device that overlaps the substrate and includes an organic layer. The organic light emitting display apparatus further includes a planarization layer that overlaps the organic light emitting device and includes an organic material, wherein the organic light emitting device is disposed between the substrate and the planarization layer. The organic light emitting display apparatus further includes an encapsulation layer that overlaps the planarization layer and includes an inorganic material, wherein the planarization layer is disposed between the organic light emitting device and a portion of the encapsulation layer. The organic light emitting display apparatus further includes an intermediate layer that is disposed between the planarization layer and the portion of the encapsulation layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting display apparatus and a method for manufacturing the organic light emitting display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting display apparatus typically includes an organic light emitting device that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and at least one organic emission layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The organic light emitting display apparatus may further include an encapsulation structure for protecting the organic light emitting device from moisture and/or heat.

Organic light-emitting display apparatus and related manufacturing method


A novel agricultural mulch and improved method of arranging the mulch on a growing field with furrows is disclosed wherein the mulch is made of an extensible paper substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface with side sections near the edges of the substrate capable of being turned up and bent back over the top surface of the paper substrate as the mulch is laid down over the growing field; the bottom surface of the paper substrate will be exposed for receiving soil from the field to anchor the mulch and protect it against the weathering of rain, sun and wind.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an agricultural mulch and a method of depositing the mulch on a growing field in a manner to extend the longevity of the mulch and protect the mulch against premature degradation and removal from the field.
2. Description of Background Art
Agricultural mulch films are used extensively throughout the world because of the many advantages they provide, including fertilizer retention, fumigant retention, retarded weed growth, increased soil retention of moisture and heat, and reduced soil erosion by winds and rain. Such mulching films also enhance soil structure by preventing soil crusting and soil compaction.
Polyethylene film both in a transparent state and an opaque state, has been the most common synthetic mulch to be used. However, polyethylene film is not degradable and it must be removed from the field and be burned, buried or otherwise discarded at the end of its useful life. The removal and burying or burning of plastic mulch is both costly and has an adverse effect on the ecology. There exists a need for a mulch that would decompose at the end of a growing season. Attempts to meet this need have led to the development of a variety of biodegradable and photodegradable mulch films. For example, Otey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,145 developed a biodegradable plastic film from starch, polyvinyl alcohol and glycerol, which film is covered with a water-resistant resin coating to prevent premature degradation. The water-resistant resin coating is prepared from a water-resistant resin, such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride, and poly-toluene diisocyanate prepolymer bonding agent.
Another biodegradable mulch film, disclosed by Clendinning, U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,937, is fabricated from a blend of a particulate addition polymer, such as polyethylene, in a matrix of biodegradable thermoplastic oxyalkanoyl polymer, such as .epsilon.-caprolactone homopolymer. Additional ingredients can be included in the blends. Such additional ingredients include naturally occurring biodegradable products, e.g., tree bark, sawdust, peat moss, cotton seed hulls, and the like, fibrous and non-fibrous fillers, e.g., talc, limestone, bentonite, asbestos, and the like, plant nutrients, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and the like.
In Iwasyk et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,405, there is disclosed a continuous foam mulch which is produced by applying and substantially simultaneously gelling a fluid aqueous foam which comprises at least 0.5 weight percent of dissolved polyvinyl alcohol and at least 50 percent, based on the weight of the polyvinyl alcohol, of emulsified asphalt or wax.
Still other agricultural mulch films have been disclosed by Vigneault et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,274,731, and Kane, U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,993. Vigneault et al., for example, discloses a mulch film comprised of at least one copolymer consisting essentially of ethylene and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid and the like. Vigneault et al. suggests that their films might also contain nutrients such as ammonia or phosphate-containing additives, and other filler for various mulching uses. Kane also discloses a plastic mulch film that may include solid water-soluble nutrients such as ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate and urea. However, the only plastic mulch films disclosed by Kane are comprised of polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyvinyl chloride acetate, styrene acrylonitrile, and the like. These plastic materials are not soluble in water and must, therefore, rely on some other mechanism to impart adequate degradability so that they may be used as an agricultural mulch film that does not have to be removed from the fields after the growing season.
One such degrading mechanism is disclosed by Newland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,510. In that patent, it is taught to include a prooxidant in a water-insoluble polyolefin film, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or poly(butene-1). Among the pro-oxidants that are disclosed are certain metal acetyl acetonates, metal alkyl benzoylacetates, metal acetyl acetonates, metal stearates and metal oleates.
Alternatives to plastic mulching films have also included paper strip material for sowing seeds. Soviet Patent, SU 1209059A disclosed a paper strip material such as blotting paper to which seeds and fertilizers are applied. The outer surface of the strip material has a coating of herbicide. Seeds are sandwiched between two strips glued together. Another tube-like paper seed strip is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,266.
Japanese Application No. A-59-169992, assigned to Nissan discloses fertilizer sheet production by spreading granules of slow action fertilizer over base paper coated with an adhesive. Japanese Patent #60025902, Feb. 2, 1985 assigned to Dainippon Jochugiku KK discloses an insecticidal paper which comprises paper coated with printing ink and binder containing volatile insecticide which is overcoated with a resin film. Coating used include nitrocellulose, polyamide, ethyl cellulose, acrylate resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, and urethane resins.
Japanese Patent #8647900, Mar. 8, 1986 assigned to Oji Paper Co., Ltd. discloses a moisture impermeable controlled release insecticidal sheet. The sheets are made from kraft paper, rubber latex and waxes or waxy substances, and insecticides, fungicides and fungistat.
British Patent No. 1,434,042, discloses a water-soluble or water-dispersible paper made from polyvinyl alcohol on which or into which an active ingredient is incorporated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,247 to Weber et al. discloses a porous fibrous cellulosic web at least partially saturated with latex at 30 dry parts per 100 parts fiber.
While the above-discussed mulch films, and others, have been used with some degree of success, no mulching film disclosed to date has been found to be completely satisfactory commercially in the balance of the important properties needed for a good agricultural mulch. These properties include, for example, good mechanical properties for application by machines and planting by machines, water resistance, field durability, the ability to retard weed growth, degradability and appropriate economics.
The agricultural mulch according to the invention is a special configuration of a mulch having a paper extensible substrate in which the mulch is disposed along the furrows of a growing field in a particular manner. The mulch itself may be coated on its top and bottom surfaces as described in the copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/660,894 claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to application Ser. No. 60/002,092 filed Aug. 10, 1995 as a provisional application per 35 U.S.C. 111(b).
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Agricultural mulch with extended longevity


A method of fabricating the flexible color display medium module includes the steps of: forming a flexible substrate on a rigidly substrate; forming a color filter film comprising a plurality of color filter patterns; forming the display medium layer on the color filter film; and separating the flexible substrate from the rigidly substrate. Since the display medium layer is immediately disposed on the color filter film, the accuracy of aligning the display medium layer and the color filter film may be improved and the parallax resulted from the light passed through the display medium layer and the color filter film may be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of fabricating display medium module, and more particularly, to methods of fabricating a flexible color display medium module and a display panel with the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With progress of the flat panel display technique, more and more electrical products, especially portable electrical products such as mobile phones, e-books, digital cameras and personal digital assistants etc., are equipped with flat panel display apparatuses. The development trend of the portable electrical product is to achieve light weight and thin thickness, so the flat panel display apparatus for the portable electrical product should have these features.
It is well known that the flexible panel display not only has features of light weight and thin thickness, but also has features of flexibility and is not easy to be broken. Therefore, the development of the flexible panel display has become increasingly important. Nowadays, the popular flexible display panel is the electro-phoretic display (so-called EPD) panel. During the fabricating process of conventional electro-phoretic display panel, an electro-phoretic film is disposed on a substrate with an active elements array or a passive elements array. Then, a color filter is assembled on the electro-phoretic film.
However, during the process of assembling the color filter, the parallax is resulted with the light passed through the color filter film and the display medium layer due to the unaligned color filter and the electro-phoretic film and the quality of images displayed by the display panel is debased.

Methods of fabricating display device and felxible color display medium module thereof


A wall panel jack comprising a turnbuckle connecting a cradle shaft to a foot shaft, a cradle pivotably attached to an extreme of the cradle shaft opposite the turnbuckle, and a foot pivotably attached to an extreme of the foot shaft opposite the turnbuckle. The turnbuckle incorporates a turnbuckle bore with a turnbuckle bore cradle thread and a turnbuckle bore foot thread. The cradle shaft has a cradle shaft thread sized to mate with the turnbuckle bore cradle thread, and the foot shaft has a foot shaft thread sized to mate with the turnbuckle bore foot thread. The cradle incorporates a cradle groove sized to admit the lower edge of a wall panel, and the foot incorporates a foot pad made of non-slip material. Rotation of the turnbuckle varies the distance between the cradle groove and the foot pad. The method includes the steps of placing a suction cup handle in the cradle groove; positioning the wall panel jack vertically, the cradle topmost, with the foot on a floor and the suction cup against the wall panel; moving the foot away from the wall until the wall panel jack is disposed at an angle of 5-10 degrees relative to the wall; attaching the suction cup to the wall panel; lifting the wall panel into a position slightly higher than its intended installed height by rotating the turnbuckle; placing blocks on the floor under the wall panel; lowering the wall panel onto the blocks by rotating the turnbuckle; and fastening the wall panel to the wall.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to jacks, and in particular to a wall panel jack.
2. Background of the Invention
Until approximately the midpoint of the current millenium, fireplaces were required in every room which was inhabited during the winter-time in cold climates. Reasons for this included the inefficient insulation available during that time period, as well as the inherent inefficiency of fireplace heating. Castle walls were typically bare stone, and wooden buildings featured rough-hewn wood interior walls.
With the advent of wall hangings such as tapestries and curtains, and more efficient space heating, for the first time people could enjoy the luxury of individual bedrooms without having to worry about freezing during the long, cold winter nights.
As time went by, more and more wall hangings became available. Modern homes frequently feature mirrors or other decorative glass panels permanently mounted to interior wall surfaces. Other interior wall construction options include smooth panels which enhance the aesthetics of the wall surface.
Along with the numerous smooth-surfaced wall hangings which have become commercially available have come the problems associated with their installation. Large wall hangings may be very heavy, especially if made out of glass (such as is the case with mirrors) or dense synthetics.
Existing Practice
Current wall installation practice for large, smooth panels involves the steps of affixing a suction cup to the panel to be installed, holding the panel in place slightly higher than its final installed position, placing blocks under the panel, lowering the panel onto the blocks, and then permanently attaching the panel to the wall using conventional means, i.e. glue, panel-mounted clips which lock onto wall-mounted track, etc.
As may be readily appreciated, where a wall panel weighs anything more than a nominal amount, at least two installers will be required: one to hold up the panel; the other to place the blocks. And where the panel to be installed weighs a substantial amount, such as is frequently the case with large wall mirrors, two or more installers may be necessary to hold the panel in place while it is being blocked up in the installed position.
There are a number of problems associated with the current methods of wall panel installation. As has already been mentioned, a minimum of two installers are almost always required where the panel to be installed weighs a substantial amount. Thus the cost of installation is virtually doubled, because almost the entire installation cost is labor. Another problem associated with current installation methods is the possible health hazard of lifting a heavy wall panel into place, and then and holding it in position until it can be properly blocked. Many days of missed work are caused each year due to work-related lifting injuries.
Finally, current installation practice requires that one or more installers manually hold a wall panel to be installed in place until it is blocked. The hand tends to wander, especially when holding up a heavy weight. Thus, the current installation methods are susceptible to the risk that a panel may not be installed in precisely the desired location.


In some embodiments, a method receives a connection to a data source. The method analyzes metadata of the data source to determine a first type of metadata for a first type of database access and a second type of metadata for a second type of database access. The first type of metadata and the second type of metadata are combined into a data structure. Then, the method stores the data structure where the data structure is used to analyze a query to determine which of the first type of database access and the second type of database access to use for the query.

A user may configure a connection to a data source with online analytical processing (OLAP) database access or relational database access. The access features for OLAP databases and relational databases are different. Typically, a user may design a document for a specific database connection. For example, if a user starts with a relational database connection, that user will have to use the relational database access to query objects in the relational database. However, if the user wants to query OLAP objects using the relational database connection, the user cannot take advantage of features offered by OLAP databases, such as hierarchies. Similarly, if a user selects an OLAP connection, the user may be able to use relational database queries, but these queries may be much slower than if a pure relational database connection was used.

Hybrid online analytical processing (OLAP) and relational query processing


In a field emission electron gun including emitters (104) on predetermined parts of a substrate (109), an insulator film (105) on a remaining part of the substrate, a first gate electrode (101) on the insulator film so as to surround the emitters with a space left between each emitter and the first gate electrode and to have an outer peripheral surface defining an emission region (E), a gate edge portion (106) of a conductor is formed on the insulator film to surround the outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode. A second gate electrode (102) is formed on the insulator film to surround the gate edge portion with a distance left between the gate edge portion and the second gate electrode applied with a second voltage less than a first voltage applied to the first gate electrode.

This invention relates to a field emission electron gun including a plurality of sharp-pointed emitters.
A field emission electron gun includes an emitter for emitting electrons and an anode electrode. The emitter is of a sharp pointed shape for concentrating an electric field. In general, a plurality of emitters are integrated in order to increase a total current of the field emission electron gun. The field emission electron gun further includes a first gate electrode surrounding the emitter with a space left therebetween and having an outer peripheral surface defining an emission region. A second gate electrode surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the first gate electrode with a distance left therebetween.
The field emission electron gun is employed for a wide range of applications. If the field emission electron gun is used in a planar display device, a fluorescent member is located at a distance on the order of 1 mm from the electron gun. Electrons are emitted from the emitters of the emission region as an electron beam towards the fluorescent member.
Naturally, the electron beam is emitted with a particular diverging angle. If the diverging angle is large, the electron beam can not form a sufficiently small diameter or cross-sectional area on the fluorescent member. This decreases the luminance of the fluorescent member.
Empirically, it has been confirmed that the diverging angle ranges between 20 and 30 degrees. In order to assure a sufficient luminance, various proposals have been made to suppress the diverging angle. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications (JP-A) Nos. 343000/1993, 242794/1993, 266806/1993, and 29484/1995 disclose the use of a deflection electrode or a focusing electrode to cause repulsion of electrons so as to suppress the divergence of the electron beam.
As will later be described, a conventional field emission electron gun is incapable of minimizing nonuniform influence of a surrounding electric potential condition on electrons emitted from emitters of the emission region.

Field emission electron gun capable of minimizing nonuniform influence of surrounding electric potential condition on electrons emitted from emitters


NCAPG2, a component of condensin complex II, protein and novel peptides derived from the protein are provided. The peptide may include a fragment of the NCAPG2 protein. The peptide may be a peptide including a fragment of NCAPG2 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7, wherein the fragment includes the amino acid residue number 805 or 1010 of SEQ ID NO: 7, a peptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, or a peptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11. The protein or peptides can be used for preparing and screening pharmaceutical compositions for treating diseases or disorders associated with abnormal cell division including cancer.

Chromosome condensation during the mitosis is critical for proper bi-oriented chromosome separation (Hirano 2012; Thadani et al. 2012). The production of this mitosis-specific chromosome structure depends mainly on three multi-protein complexes: two condensin complexes and one cohesion complex (Wood et al. 2010). Each condensin complex is composed of two ATPase subunit heterodimers (structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) 2 & 4) and three non-SMC regulatory subunits (Wood et al. 2010; Hirano 2012). A unique set of three non-SMC regulatory components defines each condensin complex, NCAP-D2, NCAP-G, and NCAP-H are parts of condensin complex I, and NCAP-D3, NCAP-G2, and NCAP-H2 are components of condensin complex II (Wood et al. 2010; Green et al. 2012; Hirano 2012). NCAPG and NCAPD2 in condensin I, and NCAPG2 and NCAPD3 in condensin II are HEAT-repeat-containing regulatory subunits (Neuwald and Hirano 2000). Condensin complex I, which has a conserved structure in yeast and eukaryotes, is considered a canonical condensin complex for the condensation of eukaryotic chromosomes (Hirano 2012). Condensin complex II regulates not only chromosome condensation, but also diverse cellular functions, including chromosome segregation, DNA repair, sister chromatid resolution, gene expression regulation, and histone modulation (Hagstrom et al. 2002; Stear and Roth 2002; Ono et al. 2004; Smith et al. 2004; Xu et al. 2006; Wood et al. 2008; Csankovszki et al. 2009; Samoshkin et al. 2009; Liu et al. 2010; Floyd et al. 2013; Ono et al. 2013). Interestingly, homozygous mutants of all nematode condensin complex II components show nuclei of abnormal sizes or uneven distribution (Csankovszki et al. 2009). In human cells, the depletion of any components of condensin complex II also results in defects in chromosome alignment or segregation (Ono et al. 2004). Besides, the manner of regulation of chromosome segregation by each condensin component is dissimilar. While NCAPD3 depletion has a major effect on centrosome separation, NCAPG2 depletion appears more frequently as misaligned chromosomes in the metaphase plate (Ono et al. 2004). Recent studies have begun to address how each condensin components control regulatory function for the mitosis progress. For chromosome segregation in particular, recent reports have shown that NCAPD3 contributes to PLK1 loading in the chromosome arm. However, the detailed mechanical feature of each condensin complex II component regulating chromosome segregation is not known. Particularly, condensin complex II localized in kinetochore relative to condensin complex I (Hirota et al. 2004), the function of condensin complex II component in kinetochore for chromosome segregation is remained to dissolve.
The first step of chromosome segregation is the microtubule attachment to the kinetochore on the chromosome (Foley and Kapoor 2013). The kinetochore is the protein complex assembly that corresponds to the centromere of the chromosome where sister chromatids are linked (Foley and Kapoor 2013). The microtubule-kinetochore interactions require precise control to achieve the correct bi-oriented interaction. The early event of microtubule attachment to the kinetochore prior to the stabilization of interactions is governed by Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) (Barr et al. 2004; Lens et al. 2010; Carmena et al. 2012; Liu et al. 2012a; Foley and Kapoor 2013). PLK1 localizes diversely during mitosis according to the microtubule movement, from the centrosome to the kinetochore and then to the midbody (Lee et al. 1998; Barr et al. 2004; Lens et al. 2010). PLK1 localizes in the kinetochore until chromosome alignment is completed in the metaphase plate (Lens et al. 2010). When each kinetochore is not occupied properly by a microtubule, kinetochore-localized PLK1 phosphorylates BubR1, awaiting the onset of anaphase (Lampson and Kapoor 2005; Elowe et al. 2007; Matsumura et al. 2007; Liu et al. 2012a; Suijkerbuijk et al. 2012). Although it has been reported that some proteins in the kinetochore are responsible for PLK1 localization to the kinetochore, further research is needed to determine which substrate contributes to microtubule-dependent temporal and spatial rearrangements at the centromere to achieve microtubule binding (Foley and Kapoor 2013).
Here, we investigated the function of NCAPG2 in chromosome segregation during mitosis using C. elegans, a nematode model, and a human cell line. Our results demonstrate that NCAPG2 contributes to chromosome segregation by microtubule-kinetochore attachment regulation mediating PLK1 localization at the kinetochore. This function of NCAPG2 is conserved in both nematodes and mammals and is essential for achieving chromosome integrity in cell division.

Peptides derived from NCAPG2 and their use