ef

Polymerization initiating system and method to produce highly reactive olefin functional polymers

A method for producing highly reactive olefin polymers wherein at least 50 mol. % of the polymer chains have terminal double bonds, and a novel polymerization initiating system for accomplishing same.




ef

Polyolefin production using an improved catalyst system

Polyolefin production using an improved catalyst system and, in particular, a method for production of a polyolefin is disclosed. One or more monomers are contacted with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes titanium tetrachloride as a catalyst precursor and magnesium ethylate as a support for the catalyst precursor. The catalyst system also includes a hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst represented by the formula R3Al, where R is an alkyl radical having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and where the molar ratio of the hydrocarbyl aluminum cocatalyst to the titanium tetrachloride catalyst precursor ranges from 50:1 to 400:1. The catalyst system also includes a halogenated hydrocarbon as a promoter, where the molar ratio of the halogenated hydrocarbon promoter to the titanium tetrachloride catalyst precursor ranges from 0.001:1 to 300:1.




ef

Olefin block copolymer and sheet-shaped molded body

The present description relates to an olefin block copolymer preferably useful to form nonslip pads due to excellences in elasticity and heat resistance, and a sheet-shaped molded body comprising the olefin block copolymer The olefin block copolymer includes a plurality of blocks or segments, each of which includes an ethylene or propylene repeating unit and an α-olefin repeating unit at different weight fractions. The olefin block copolymer satisfies a defined relationship when a load of 5 to 10 kg is applied to a sheet-shaped molded body of the block copolymer for 12 hours or longer at a temperature of 60° C. or higher, and then removed.




ef

Polyolefin strap comprising a random copolymer of propylene with 1-hexene

A strap comprising a propylene and 1-hexene copolymer containing from 0.3 wt % to less than 5 wt % of 1-hexene derived units said copolymer having a melt flow rate (MFR) determined according to ISO method 1133 (230° C., 2.16 kg ranging from 0.3 to less than 11 g/10 min.




ef

Organo-copper reagents for attaching perfluorosulfonic acid groups to polyolefins

An ion conducting membrane for fuel cells involves coupling a compound having a sulfonic acid group with a polymeric backbone. Each of the compounds having a sulfonic acid group and the polymeric backbone are first functionalized with a halogen.




ef

Bridged metallocene catalyst systems with switchable hydrogen and comonomer effects

The present invention provides polymerization processes utilizing an ansa-metallocene catalyst system for the production of olefin polymers. Polymers produced from the polymerization processes have properties that vary based upon the presence or the absence of hydrogen and/or comonomer in the polymerization process.




ef

Modular ducting sections and networked utilities ducting system formed therefrom

This invention provides a modular ducting section and a networked utilities ducting system and rain and road water management system formed from two or more modular ducting sections laying end-to-end. Each modular ducting section comprises open-topped utility channels for carrying utility service supply lines such as electricity, gas, water, or communications, an open-topped catchment channel for carrying rain water captured from a building structure or garden, and a supply channel for supplying an end user with utility services via a supply line, while also allowing the end user to feed an end-user generated utility supply back into the corresponding utility service supply line via a return line. Each modular ducting section further comprises a road water runoff flange and a main channel cover, which when combined, form a curb-side structure that functions to keep any contaminated road water from the reusable rain water collected in the catchment channel.




ef

Modifying compaction effort based on material compactability

A vibratory compactor having a first compacting element having a variable vibratory mechanism that sets a modifiable compaction effort, a second compacting element, a first sensor configured to measure a first surface compactability associated with the first compacting element, a second sensor configured to measure a second surface compactability associated with the second compacting element and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the first surface compactability, receive the second surface compactability, determine a target compaction effort for the first compacting element based on the first surface compactability and the second surface compactability, and modify the variable vibratory mechanism to set the compaction effort at the target compaction effort.




ef

Refillable toothbrush and toothpaste cartridge

Disclosed herein is a refillable toothbrush with a refillable toothpaste chamber also adapted to contain a toothpaste cartridge. Thus the toothpaste chamber can be filled directly by toothpaste from different types of toothpaste tubes, or the consumer can use a toothpaste cartridge. An essential distinctive feature of the present invention is realization of two functions by means of the protective cap: its direct function—protecting the bristles in stowed position, and an additional function, namely—feeding toothpaste to the bristle section. The toothbrush is made of a small number of simple parts, is easy to manufacture, has the opportunity to be simply assembled-disassembled, and is easily cleaned. To facilitate cleaning of the toothbrush head conduit from the remnants of toothpaste before the next recharge of the toothbrush, it can be complete with a special removable rod having an ability to be let-in the conduit. A distinctive feature of the removable rod is that it fulfills additional useful functions: prevents paste hardening in conduit at long non-use of a brush; can serve as a toothpick; can serve as means for piercing membrane of a cartridge. The toothbrush can also be complete with a special clip for fixing it in the user's pocket. A special design of the clip provides it with an additional function that allows for the user to dose out more precisely supplied toothpaste to the bristles. A new kind of cartridge is also disclosed herein.




ef

TV phone apparatus and control method therefor

Wireless circuit 201 performs transmission and reception of communication data. Cameras 204 and 205 take two moving images with different parallaxes and output two pieces of moving image data. Voice input/output section 202 acquires voice and outputs voice data. CPU 206 transmits multiple pieces of moving image data and voice data via wireless circuit 201, and, when the reception quality of communication data becomes equal to or below a reference value, stops at least one of cameras 204 and 205 to stop transmission of at least one of the multiple pieces of moving image data.




ef

Illumination apparatus confining light by total internal reflection and methods of forming the same

In various embodiments, an illumination apparatus includes an air gap between a sub-assembly and a waveguide attached thereto at a plurality of discrete attachment points, as well as a bare-die light-emitting diode encapsulated by the waveguide.




ef

Energy efficient sign

A light directing composite film includes a planar top major surface, a planar bottom major surface, a plurality of lenticular lens elements disposed between the top major surface and the bottom major surface, and a plurality of light reflection regions and light transmission regions disposed between the plurality of lenticular lens and the planar bottom major surface.




ef

Reflector assembly for eliminating unwanted stray lights

A reflector assembly for eliminating unwanted stray lights comprising a reflector body having a reflector body focal point on a reflector body optical axis where a light source is positioned and a front opening for receiving a lens, wherein the lens is configured to reflect light rays which emanate from the light source to strike the lens to the reflector body which is configured to reflect the light rays reflected by the lens back to the light source, and to reflect light rays which emanate from the light source and reflected by the reflector body to strike the lens back to the light source.




ef

Reflective color display with backlighting

A reflective color pixel has a top surface for receiving ambient light for front lighting, a plurality of sub-pixels including a first sub-pixel, and a waveguide disposed underneath the sub-pixels for transmitting light for backlighting to the sub-pixels. The first sub-pixel includes a first luminescent material configured to absorb either the ambient light or the light for backlighting and generate light of a first color.




ef

Backlight unit with reflection structure formed on light guide plate and display device thereof

Embodiments of the invention disclose a backlight unit, including: a light guide plate, a light source member, a reflection film, wherein: the light guide plate (LGP) includes a light incident side, a light emission side and a bottom side opposite to the light emission side, the light guide plate is for emitting light entered from the light incident side through the light emission side; the light source member is disposed on the light incident side of the LGP and light emitted by the light source member enters the LGP through the light incident side of the LGP; the reflection film is at least disposed on the bottom side of the LGP and is for reflecting light back into the LGP; wherein a reflection structure is disposed on the bottom side of the LGP and a microstructure is disposed on the light emission side of the LGP.




ef

LED assembly having a refractor that provides improved light control

An LED assembly that includes optics and optical arrangements for light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction. In other embodiments, an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction. In some embodiments, both a reflector and optical element are provided in the LED assembly to control the directionality of the emitted light. Such embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of an LED by ensuring that generated light is being directed to the target area of choice.




ef

Device for occluding vascular defects

A multi-layer occluder for treating a target site within the body is provided. The occluder may include first and second layers. For example, the first layer may include braided strands of metallic material, and the second layer may include braided strands of polymeric material. At least one of the first or second layers may be configured to facilitate thrombosis.




ef

Filamentary devices for treatment of vascular defects

Braid-balls suitable for aneurysm occlusion and/or parent vessel occlusion/sacrifice (e.g., in treating neurovascular defects) are disclosed. Especially for aneurysm treatment, but also for either one of the aforementioned treatments, the form of the ball is very important. In particular, the density of the device is paramount in applications where braid itself is intended to moderate or stop blood flow—allowing thrombosis within a volume formed by the ball.




ef

Cutting or scoring balloon and apparatus therefor

A cutting or scoring balloon (26) is provided with a plurality of cutting or scoring elements (34) and is wrapped onto a balloon catheter (12) such that the cutting or scoring elements (34) overlie the balloon wall (36) with the balloon wall (36) pleated underneath the cutting or scoring elements (34). The cutting or scoring elements (34) remain exposed when the balloon (26) is pleated and wrapped onto the balloon catheter (12) and in a tightly wrapped configuration.




ef

Ceramic article with reduced surface defect density and process for producing a ceramic article

A machined ceramic article having an initial surface defect density and an initial surface roughness is provided. The machined ceramic article is heated to a temperature range between about 1000° C. and about 1800° C. at a ramping rate of about 0.1° C. per minute to about 20° C. per minute. The machined ceramic article is heat-treated in air atmosphere. The machined ceramic article is heat treated at one or more temperatures within the temperature range for a duration of up to about 24 hours. The machined ceramic article is then cooled at the ramping rate, wherein after the heat treatment the machined ceramic article has a reduced surface defect density and a reduced surface roughness.




ef

Imprinting apparatus and method therefor

There is provided an imprinting apparatus that transfers a pattern of a mold to a resin on a substrate, the imprinting apparatus including a deposition mechanism configured to deposit the resin onto the substrate; a first driving mechanism configured to change a relative position, on a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, of the substrate and the mold; a second driving mechanism configured to change the relative position, on a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, of the substrate and the deposition mechanism; and a control unit configured to control the deposition mechanism and the driving mechanism so as to perform a resin deposition process of depositing the resin onto the substrate and an imprint process of transferring the pattern of the mold to the resin on the substrate in parallel.




ef

Methods for efficiently combining partial ABR recordings

Recording reconstruction from multiple overlapping recordings may be provided. New recorders may copy manifests from working recorders, as opposed to reconstructing from failed recorders, to construct manifests that refer to video fragments from different recorders. Origin servers may follow these reconstructed manifests to obtain any fragment in the recording, in any combination of recorder failure/take-over/restart, as long as there was at least one recorder functioning at all times.




ef

Cutting tool, cutting tool body and cutting tool support pad therefor

A cutting tool has at least one cutting tool support pad. The cutting tool support pad includes two opposing primary surfaces, each primary surface includes an abutment surface and at least one convex contact surface. For each primary surface, the at least one contact surface extends outwardly further than the abutment surface.




ef

Multi-effective material removal tool

Material removal tool (100), such as for forming surfaces of valve seats, includes an integral or separable reduced diameter circumferential insert housing (106) including a plurality of inserts (120) bonded thereto. The plurality of inserts (120) include cutting surfaces (122) at different axial and radial positions relative to the axis (112) of the material removal tool (100). Cutting surfaces (122) at different axial and radial positions are arranged at different angles to the axis (112), and at least one cutting surface (122) on at least one insert is at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the axis (112). Cutting surfaces (122) can be located on one insert-type or different insert-types and can have different combinations of cutting surfaces (122). When arranged circumferentially on the insert housing (106), a N-effective material removal tool (100) is formed. Methods of machining using the N-effective material removal tool (100) is also disclosed.




ef

Air defense system architecture combining passive radars and active radars

The architecture includes a passive radar using opportunistic transmitters and a plurality of active radars that cooperate in the form of a coalition to assure the surveillance of an area of space. The passive radar and the active radars that form the architecture include means for exchanging information and the passive radar is configured to adopt two alternate operating modes: (i) a “watching” mode in which the passive radar carries out surveillance of the area of space concerned and generates detection information, and (ii) an “on-demand data feed” mode in which the passive radar executes at the request of one or more active radars an object search in a given sector of the area under surveillance or an analysis of certain characteristics of the signal received in a given sector.




ef

Asymmetric series power packs with efficient dc-dc conversion

Systems and methods to operate a power supply. A power supply has an inductor and a capacitor coupled in a substantially series connection. The power supply has a first selectably conductive path that selectably couples a first power pack to the series reactive circuit and a second selectably conductive path that selectably couples the series reactive circuit to a substantially series combination of the first power pack and a second power pack. When the first power pack output voltage is above the threshold, the first selectably conductive path couples electrical current between the first power pack to the series reactive circuit. Otherwise, the second selectably conductive path couples electrical current between the series combination and the series reactive circuit. The controller further transfers charge from the second power pack to the first power pack.




ef

Primary unit control of resonant inductive power transfer system for optimum efficiency

A circuit and method for wirelessly coupling an electrical energy between an electrical energy source and at least one load is provided. The circuit comprises a primary unit and at least one secondary unit. The primary unit includes an input node for receiving an input voltage produced by the energy source; a transmitter circuit including a transmitter coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field; and a regulator. The regulator is configured to sense a current consumption of the primary unit, determine a gradient of the current consumption with respect to different input voltages, and determine an optimal input voltage based on the gradient. The at least one secondary unit comprises a receiver circuit and a load. The receiver unit includes a coil that wirelessly and inductively couples with the electromagnetic field of the primary unit to receive power therefrom. The receiver unit further includes a regulator circuit configured to provide a constant power to an output node.




ef

Method for operating a parking brake module in the event of defects and parking brake module suitable for performing the method

A method is provided for operating a parking brake module that is at least partially integrated into a compressed air generation system in the event of defects, having a control unit, solenoid valves, and a relay valve for aerating and deaerating at least one spring-loaded brake cylinder. A pressure in the parking brake module which is elevated compared to a normal pressure is determined. A constant compressed air delivery is stopped. A reduced switch-off pressure of the compressed air generation system is set. The pressure level in the parking brake module is lowered to the reduced switch-off pressure through repeated activation of the relay valve.




ef

Predictive pulse width modulation for an open delta H-bridge driven high efficiency ironless permanent magnet machine

Embodiments of the present method and system permit an effective method for determining the optimum selection of pulse width modulation polarity and type including determining machine parameters, inputting the machine parameters into a predicted duty cycle module, determining the optimum polarity of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on a pulse width modulation generation algorithm, and determining the optimum type of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on the pulse width modulation generation algorithm.




ef

Controller and method for improving motor driving efficiency

The present invention discloses a controller and a method for improving motor driving efficiency. According to the present invention, multiple control parameters are inputted to the controller so that the controller can adjust timings of PWM driving signals for driving the motor to advance or delay the turned-ON or turned-OFF points, whereby the motor is driven efficiently.




ef

Adapter to empty rear end load or side load refuse containers into fork borne intermediate container

An adapter for front forks of a front loading commodity collection truck allows the truck to collect from rear load and side load style containers. An intermediate container is carried on the forks of the truck. An engagement apparatus is mounted on the intermediate container and is laterally extendible to engage the commercial container at curbside and draw the container to the intermediate container. The engagement apparatus will lift the commercial container and tip it over the intermediate container. Controls in the cab of the truck control operation of the adapter. The adapter can be removed easily from the forks when a front loading refuse container is encountered.




ef

Defining a radio frequency identification read area

Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader.




ef

Method for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas and device thereof

A method for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes the following steps. Provide a sample of the liquefied petroleum gas, and one main component group of the liquefied petroleum gas includes at least one sub component group. Analyze the sample of the liquefied petroleum gas so as to obtain a first measured THC corresponding to the main component group and a second measured THC corresponding to the sub component group. Obtain a regressed THC according to the second measured THC and a predetermined relationship of THC. Obtain a result of THC according to the first measured THC, the regressed THC, and a predetermined range of THC. The predetermined range of THC corresponds to the main component group. The device for analyzing the liquefied petroleum gas includes an inlet, a multiposition valve, a first column, a second column, an analyzing apparatus, and a computing unit.




ef

End effector identification by mechanical features

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle portion, a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis and a loading unit. The loading unit includes a tool assembly, the loading adapted to be coupled to the body portion. The instrument also includes a sensor tube movably positioned within the body portion, the sensor tube adapted to engage the loading unit and a load switch coupled to a microcontroller. The load switch is adapted to be actuated by the sensor tube when the sensor tube is engaged by the loading unit being inserted into the body portion.




ef

Selective MMP inhibitors having reduced side-effects

The subject invention pertains to matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors that exhibit an IC50 of below 10−4M against MMP and have substantially no activity against non-MMP metalloproteinase-related events. The MMP inhibitors of the invention have reduced side-effects, especially with respect to joint pain.




ef

Refrigerator, monitoring system having refrigerator and control method thereof

A refrigerator for monitoring the status of another space by means of a display device mounted to the refrigerator, a monitoring system having the refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a body which is formed with a storage chamber, a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a display device which is mounted to a front side of the door, the display device having a receiving part for receiving a monitoring image signal from a predetermined outside signal supply source, an image signal processing part for processing the received monitoring image signal, a display part for displaying the monitoring image signal and a control part for controlling the image signal processing part so that the received monitoring image signal is displayed on the display part.




ef

Method and apparatus for inspecting defects of circuit patterns

The present invention relates to a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting defects in patterns formed on a semiconductor device, on the GUI of which for the confirmation of the inspection results an area is provided for displaying any one of or facing each other the features amount of defects, and the image during inspection or the reacquired image, and on the GUI of which a means is provided for setting the classification class and importance of the defects, and based on the classification class and the importance of the defects information set by this setting means, the classification conditions or the defect judging conditions are automatically or manually set so that the inspection conditions may be set easily.




ef

Shortening particle compositions and dough products made therefrom

The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.




ef

Scroll refrigeration compressor including heat shield, bypass passage, and bypass valve

The scroll refrigeration compressor includes a sealed casing, stationary and moving volutes including spiral wraps engaged in one another and defining the variable-volume compression chambers, a delivery chamber defined by the plate of the stationary volute and the sealed casing, a heat shield disposed in the delivery chamber and dividing the delivery chamber into a first volume defined by the plate of the stationary volute and the heat shield and a second volume defined by the heat shield and the sealed casing, and at least one flow passage arranged to communicate the first and second volumes. The compressor further includes at least one bypass passage arranged to communicate the first volume with an intermediate compression chamber, and at least one bypass valve disposed in the first volume and movable between closing and opening positions for closing and opening the corresponding bypass passage.




ef

Periphery coating apparatus, periphery coating method and storage medium therefor

A periphery coating unit performs a scan-in process of moving a resist liquid nozzle 27 from an outside of an edge Wb of a wafer W to a position above a periphery region Wc of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging a resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27; and a scan-out process of moving the resist liquid nozzle 27 from the position above the periphery region Wc of the wafer W to the outside of the edge Wb of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging the resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27. Further, in the scan-out process, the resist liquid nozzle 27 is moved at a speed v2 lower than a speed v3 at which the resist liquid is moved to a side of the edge Wb of the wafer W.




ef

Lens holder driving device capable of avoiding deleterious effect on hall elements

An AF unit of a lens holder driving device includes a lens holder, a focusing coil, a permanent magnet having a plurality of permanent magnet pieces having first surfaces opposed to the focusing coil, a magnet holder holding the permanent magnet, and first and second leaf springs supporting the lens holder in a direction of an optical axis shiftably. An image stabilizer portion includes a fixed portion disposed near the second leaf spring, a supporting member swingably supporting the AF unit with respect to the fixed portion, an image stabilizer coil having a plurality of image stabilizer coil portions disposed so as to oppose to second surfaces of the plurality of permanent magnet pieces that are perpendicular to the first surfaces, and a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is disposed at a position where the image stabilizer coil portion is separated into a plurality of coil parts.




ef

Assembly kit for creating three-dimensional formations, especially toy structures from prefabricated modular building blocks

An improved set of toy building or construction blocks, each block having a substantially square cross-section and a generally rectilinear configuration. Incorporated into the structure of the individual toy blocks are transversely oriented slots, grooves and protrusions of predetermined size and location. The slots, grooves and protrusions of pre-determined size and location are of either male or female configuration disposed medially along one or more plane of each block. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced perpendicular to the female slot of one end of another block, a frictional engagement is created resulting in a right angle. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced to the female slot in a linear fashion the result is a line segment. Joining a plurality of said toy building or construction blocks using various perpendicular connections in conjunction with linear connections results in the stable formation of construction or geometric structures without the use of fasteners or other connecting elements.




ef

Efficient third-order distributed feedback laser with enhanced beam pattern

A third-order distributed feedback laser has an active medium disposed on a substrate as a linear array of segments having a series of periodically spaced interstices therebetween and a first conductive layer disposed on a surface of the active medium on each of the segments and along a strip from each of the segments to a conductive electrical contact pad for application of current along a path including the active medium. Upon application of a current through the active medium, the active medium functions as an optical waveguide, and there is established an alternating electric field, at a THz frequency, both in the active medium and emerging from the interstices. Spacing of adjacent segments is approximately half of a wavelength of the THz frequency in free space or an odd integral multiple thereof, so that the linear array has a coherence length greater than the length of the linear array.




ef

Sheet processing apparatus having a sheet insertion function, control method therefor, image forming apparatus, and program for implementing the control method

A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500.




ef

Notepad forming method and apparatus therefor

Theres is disclosed a device (10) for manufacturing a notepad (15) comprising a stack of sheets, a first side of each sheet having an adhesive to attach the first side to a reverse face of a sheet immediately facing said first side in said stack. The device (10) including a sheet feeder (20) for loading one or more loose sheets (24) of similar dimensions with the reverse face of each sheet (24) in said stack facing in the same direction and feeding each said sheet downstream of said device (10). A cutting means (40) is provided to cut each sheet (24) or a number of said sheets (24) to predetermined dimensions. An adhesive applicator (60) applies adhesive to a portion or portions of the first side of each sheet (24). A stacking means (100) stacks the cut sheets one on top of the other whereby a forming means (120) forms the cut sheets together to form the notepad (15).




ef

Heterogeneous programmable device and configuration software adapted therefor

A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes analyzing the user logic design to identify unidirectional logic paths within the user logic design and cyclic logic paths within the user logic design, assigning the cyclic logic paths to logic in a first portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a first data rate, assigning the unidirectional logic paths to logic in a second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a second data rate lower than the first data rate, and pipelining the unidirectional data paths in the second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device to compensate for the lower second data rate. A programmable integrated circuit device adapted to carry out such method may have logic regions operating at different rates, including logic regions with programmably selectable data rates.




ef

Pressure relief/drain valve for concrete pumpers

Pressure relief/drainage valve for a concrete pumper having a valve body with an axially extending passageway through which concrete flowing in a pumping line passes, an outlet port in a side wall of the passageway, and a valve member which prevents concrete from passing through the port when the valve is a closed position and permits concrete to discharge through the outlet port when the valve is in an open position.




ef

Power-efficient actuator assemblies and methods of manufacture

Power-efficient actuator apparatus and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator assembly utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) filament driven by an electronic power source to induce movement in the underlying assembly to actuate a load (e.g., water valve). In addition, a circuit board is included which allows the actuator assembly to be readily incorporated or retrofit into a wide range of systems such that the signal characteristics of the supply line can, among other applications, be conditioned in order to protect the SMA filament. Furthermore, the circuit board can also readily be adapted for use with “green” power sources such as photovoltaic systems and the like. Methods for manufacturing and utilizing the aforementioned actuator assembly are also disclosed.




ef

Back plate component having reflective sheet reinforcing structure and liquid crystal display device including the same

Provided is a back plate component having reflective sheet reinforcing structure. The back plate component includes: a frame, a reflective sheet and a plurality of supporting film sheets. The frame includes a plurality of lateral beams and vertical beams, and at least one hollow part is included between the lateral beams and the vertical beams. The reflective sheet is attached to the frame, and includes a reflective surface and a back surface corresponding to the reflective surface. A portion of the back surface covers the whole hollow part. The plurality of supporting film sheets is attached to the back surface at a region corresponding to the hollow part, and includes a material the same as that of the reflective sheet. A liquid crystal display device is further disclosed herein.




ef

Devices and methods for reducing matrix effects

Devices and methods are provided for reducing matrix effects in protein precipitated bioanalytical samples comprising: a support, and a sorbent associated with the support capable of binding matrix interfering agents present in the bioanalytical sample, wherein the device further comprises filtering means for removing precipitated protein particles. The filtering means is a size exclusion filter or a polymeric or inorganic monolith having a maximum pore size less than or equal to the diameter of the particles to be removed from the sample, and can be integral with the sorbent or associated with the sorbent. The sorbent is characterized by sufficient selectivity between the matrix interfering agents and analytes of interest to provide retention of the matrix interfering agents while providing elution of the analytes of interest (e.g., a reversed phase or a polar modified reversed phase). Typical devices incorporating these features include luer syringe filters, individual filter cartridges, multiwell plates, pipette tips, or inline columns for multiple or single use.