1. A vertical axis wind turbine apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sail members arranged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation; and
a base member in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation;
wherein first ends of the plurality of sail members converge to and are rotatably supported at a substantially single point along the axis of rotation, and second ends of the plurality of sail members are coupled to the base member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of sad members comprises a rigid or semi-rigid structure.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the structure is configured to define a predetermined shape to the corresponding sail member.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of sail members releasably couple with the base member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a disk shape.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises multiple frame members arranged in a substantially common plane.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member is configured to provide for imparting one or more predetermined shapes to one or more of the plurality of sail members.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member comprises coupling mechanisms arranged in one or more predetermined shapes.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base member is at least partially collapsible.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sail members couple with the base member such that they substantially meet at a center point.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sail members couple with the base member such that they overlap near the axis of rotation.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a top member configured to couple the second ends of the plurality of sail members together at the substantially single point.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the top member is rotatably coupled to supporting structure.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a generator coupled with the base member.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the base member and the generator are coupled by a friction wheel.
16. A vertical axis wind turbine system comprising:
a plurality of sail members arranged about an axis of rotation, the plurality of sail members having first ends converging to a single point along the axis of rotation;
a base member in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation configured to couple with second ends of the plurality of sail members;
wherein the plurality of sail members and the base member are configured to rotate about the axis of rotation in response to fluid forces acting thereon; and
a generator configured to convert kinetic energy from the rotating plurality of sail members and the base member into electrical energy.
17. An array of vertical axis wind turbines comprising:
a plurality of vertical axis wind turbines, each comprising:
a plurality of sail members, each having a first end and a second end, the plurality of sail members being arranged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation; and
a base member oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation;
wherein the first end of each of the plurality of sail members converges to and is rotatably supported at a substantially single point, and the second end of each of the plurality of sail members is coupled to the base member;
the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines arranged in a predetermined configuration and coupled through common support structure.
18. The array of claim 17, the predetermined configuration comprising a hub-type configuration.
19. The array of claim 17, the predetermined configuration comprising a string-type configuration.
20. The army of claim 17, the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines coupled through a common electrical grid.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A software method useable in a computer database system with a display device for inferring and displaying a selection of valid table joins for a relational database query specifying a plurality of user-selected database tables, the method comprising the following steps:
(a) assisting in a user’s selection of a table join by displaying all user-selected database tables in a join overview diagram and automatically inferring and displaying in a join grid each join grid row having a potential valid table join for a pair of user-selected database tables;
(b) accepting the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid; and
(c) responsive to the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid, placing a join indicator in the join overview diagram between icons representing the pair of user-selected database tables from the user-selected join grid row.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user’s selection of the join grid row being performed with a single operation.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each said join grid row representing a first join column of a first table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, a second join column of a second table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, and a join criteria indicating the first table and the second table being joined by the first and second join columns.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the join criteria including a join operator and a join type, and being selectable from a drop-down list box.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the display device allowing logical ordering of all said join grid rows by the first and second table and column name, and the join criteria.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the join overview diagram showing icons of all user-selected database tables in the query, and all potential or selected valid table joins.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step for assisting the user in creating a user-defined table join by selecting elements from drop-down list boxes of an empty join grid row, and displaying said user-defined table join in the join grid and in the join overview diagram.
8. A system for inferring and displaying a selection of valid table joins for a relational database query specifying a plurality of user-selected database tables, comprising:
a computer having a display device and an electronic storage device coupled thereto for storing a relational database, the query being performed by the computer to retrieve data from the relational database;
means, performed by the computer, for assisting in a user’s selection of a table join by displaying all user-selected database tables in a join overview diagram and automatically inferring and displaying in a join grid each join grid row having a potential valid table join for a pair of user-selected database tables;
means, performed by the computer, accepting the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid; and
means, performed by the computer, responsive to the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid for placing a join indicator in the join overview diagram between icons representing the pair of user-selected database tables from the user-selected join grid row.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the user’s selection of the join grid row being performed with a single operation.
10. The system according to claim 8, wherein each said join grid row representing a first join column of a first table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, a second join column of a second table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, and a join criteria indicating the first table and the second table being joined by the first and second join columns.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the join criteria including a join operator and a join type, and being selectable from a drop-down list box.
12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the display device allowing logical ordering of all said join grid rows by the first and second table and column name, and the join criteria.
13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the join overview diagram showing icons of all user-selected database tables in the query, and all potential or selected valid table joins.
14. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a means for assisting the user in creating a user-defined table join by selecting elements from drop-down list boxes of an empty join grid row, and displaying said user-defined table join in the join grid and in the join overview diagram.
15. A program storage device readable by a computer tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for inferring and displaying on a display device a selection of valid table joins for a relational database query specifying a plurality of user-selected database tables stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps:
(a) assisting in a user’s selection of a table join by displaying all user-selected database tables in a join overview diagram and automatically inferring and displaying in a join grid each join grid row having a potential valid table join for a pair of user-selected database tables;
(b) accepting the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid; and
(c) responsive to the user’s selection of a join grid row from the join grid, placing a join indicator in the join overview diagram between icons representing the pair of user-selected database tables from the user-selected join grid row.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the user’s selection of the join grid row being performed with a single operation.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein each said join grid row representing a first join column of a first table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, a second join column of a second table from the plurality of user-selected database tables, and a join criteria indicating the first table and the second table being joined by the first and second join columns.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the join criteria including a join operator and a join type, and being selectable from a drop-down list box.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display device allowing logical ordering of all said join grid rows by the first and second table and column name, an d the join criteria.
20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the join overview diagram showing icons of all user-selected database tables in the query, and all potential or selected valid table joins.
21. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a step for assisting the user in creating a user-defined table join by selecting elements from drop-down list boxes of an empty join grid row, and displaying said user-defined table join in the join grid and in the join overview diagram.