Author: claimsbot

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for wavelength shifting photonic signals to available channels, the apparatus comprising:
at least one channel shifter wherein each channel shifter comprises:
a photonic input path configured to carry a photonic input signal having a wavelength that is definable as a function of time;
a photonic output path configured to carry a photonic output signal in one of a plurality of channels each channel having a wavelength that is definable as a function of time;
a wavelength shifter configured to receive the shift signal and shift the wavelength of the photonic input signal and thereby provide the photonic output signal;
a wavelength detector configured to receive the photonic input signal and provide a wavelength signature corresponding to the wavelength thereof, and

a channel allocator configured to receive the wavelength signature of each channel shifter and provide a shift signal enabling the wavelength shifter of each channel shifter to produce a photonic output signal having a wavelength that substantially corresponds to the wavelength of one of a plurality of channels.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength shifter is further configured to receive a data signal and encode the data signal into the photonic output signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength shifter is configured to encode by Frequency Shift Keying.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength shifter is configured to encode by Frequency Shift Keying with orthogonal codes.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength shifter is configured to encode by ONOFF Keying.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wavelength shifter is configured to encode by pre-modulating with orthogonal codes.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift signal provides an allowable range of wavelength shifting.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift signal comprises a spreading function.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift signal comprises a gathering function.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift signal comprises the difference of two spreading functions.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength shifter comprises a phase modulator.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength shifter comprises a quadrature modulation device.
13. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the quadrature modulation device comprises an upper branch and a lower branch, driven by an upper and a lower waveform component, respectively, the upper and the lower waveform component substantially 90 degrees out of phase.
14. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the upper and lower branches has a respective transfer function corresponding thereto and wherein the upper and lower waveform components are substantially sinusoids divided by the respective transfer functions.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower waveform components are substantially sawtooth in shape.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the upper and lower waveform components are substantially triangular in shape.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength shifter comprises a modulation waveform that is substantially sawtooth in shape.
18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength shifter comprises a modulation waveform that is substantially triangular in shape.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength error detector is tunable to an arbitrary wavelength.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photonic output signal comprises a representative channel, and the wavelength error detector is configured to detect the errors of wavelength of the representative channel.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wavelength error detector averages the errors of wavelength of multiple channels.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A connection system for a tubular string, comprising:
first and second tubular members;
a connector sleeve mounted to an end of the second tubular member, the connector sleeve having a connector sleeve axis and being rotatable about the connector sleeve axis relative to the second the tubular member, the connector sleeve being connectable to the first tubular member in response to rotation of the connector sleeve about the connector sleeve axis relative to the first tubular member for securing the tubular members to each other;
a curved rack of gear teeth, the rack being engagable with the connector sleeve for causing rotation of the connector sleeve in unison with the rack while the rack is engaged with the connector sleeve, the rack extending less than 180 degrees around the connector sleeve;
the rack having a receptacle that extends along a length of the rack from one end to another end of the rack;
a power tool that rotates a drive shaft;
a gear mounted to the drive shaft in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction about the connector sleeve axis when the drive shaft is rotated, causing the connector sleeve to rotate about the connector sleeve axis relative to the first and second tubular members to secure the first and second tubular members together;
a retainer extending from the power tool into the receptacle, the rack being slidable relative to the retainer when the gear rotates; and
the rack being detachable from the connector sleeve while the first and second tubular members remain secured together.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:
the rack has a radius formed about a center point that coincides with the connector sleeve axis while the rack engages the connector sleeve.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gear teeth of the rack are located on a surface of the rack that faces generally in an axial direction relative to the connector sleeve axis.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector sleeve and the rack have a lug and slot arrangement that releasably attach the rack to the connector sleeve.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:
the connector sleeve has at least one slot formed therein; and
the rack has at least one lug that engages the slot to releasably retain the rack with the connector sleeve.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein:
the receptacle has a lip engaged by the retainer, the lip supporting a weight of the power tool.
7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a locking element in engagement with an inner portion of the connector sleeve, the locking element having at least a portion that moves radially inward relative to the connector sleeve in response to the rotation of the connector sleeve relative to the locking element for engaging a profile on the first tubular member to make up the tubular members to each other.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the gear teeth face generally in an axial direction relative to the connector sleeve axis.
9. A connection system for a tubular string, comprising:
first and second tubular members;
a connector having mating components on ends of the first and second tubular members for securing the first and second tubular members to each other;
one of the mating components comprising a connector sleeve having an axis and securable to the first tubular member in response to rotation of the connector sleeve about the axis relative to the first tubular member and to the second tubular member, the connector sleeve having an inner side containing a set of internal threads;
the other of the mating components comprising a set of external threads formed on the second tubular member, the internal threads of the connector sleeve engaging the external threads of the second tubular member;
a rack of gear teeth, the rack being curved about the axis of the connector sleeve;
engagement means for releasably coupling the rack to the connector sleeve;
a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft; and
a gear mounted to the drive shaft and in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to secure the first and second tubular members to each other; and
a retainer for releasably connecting the power tool to the rack such that the rack is slidable relative to the power tool when the gear is rotating;
a locking element in engagement with the inner side of the connector sleeve, the locking element having at least a portion that moves radially inward in response to the rotation of the connector sleeve relative to the locking element for engaging a profile on the first tubular member.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein:
the connector sleeve has a radially outward facing sidewall; and the engagement means comprises:
a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots in the sidewall of the connector sleeve; and
a plurality of lugs spaced apart along a length of the rack for sliding into the slots.
11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the rack extends no more than 180 degrees.
12. A connection system for a tubular string, comprising:
first and second tubular members;
a connector having mating components on ends of the first and second tubular members for securing the first and second tubular members to each other;
one of the mating components comprising a connector sleeve having an axis and securable to the first tubular member in response to rotation of the connector sleeve about the axis relative to the first tubular member, the connector sleeve having an inner side containing a set of internal threads;
the other of the mating components comprising a set of external threads formed on the second tubular member, the internal threads of the connector sleeve engaging the external threads of the second tubular member;
a rack of gear teeth, the rack being curved about the axis of the connector sleeve;
an engagement arrangement for releasably coupling the rack to the connector sleeve;
a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft; and
a gear mounted to the drive shaft and in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to secure the first and second tubular members to each other; and
a retainer arrangement between the power tool and the rack to connect the power tool to the rack, the rack being slidable relative to power tool when the gear is rotating;
wherein the rack extends less than 180 degrees around the connector sleeve, and the retainer arrangement comprises:
the rack having a receptacle extending along a length of the rack from one end to another end of the rack, the receptacle having an elongated opening that faces radially outward and a lip adjacent the opening and facing radially inward; and
an adapter mounted to the power tool and extending radially inward therefrom alongside the drive shaft, the adapter having a portion that fits within the elongated opening of the receptacle, the adapter having an inner end closely received within the receptacle and having a radially outward-facing shoulder that engages the lip.
13. A connection system for a tubular string, comprising:
first and second tubular members;
a connector having mating components on ends of the first and second tubular members for securing the first and second tubular members to each other;
one of the mating components comprising a connector sleeve having an axis and securable to the first tubular member in response to rotation of the connector sleeve about the axis relative to the first tubular member, the connector sleeve having an inner side containing a set of internal threads;
the other of the mating components comprising a set of external threads formed on the second tubular member, the internal threads of the connector sleeve engaging the external threads of the second tubular member;
a rack of gear teeth, the rack being curved about the axis of the connector sleeve;
an engagement arrangement for releasably coupling the rack to the connector sleeve;
a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft; and
a gear mounted to the drive shaft and in engagement with the gear teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated, thereby rotating the connector sleeve to secure the first and second tubular members to each other;
a retainer arrangement between the power tool and the rack to connect the power tool to the rack, the rack being slidable relative to power tool when the gear is rotating; and
wherein the engagement arrangement positions a radially inward facing surface of the rack in contact with the first tubular member;
the retainer arrangement comprising the rack having a receptacle extending along a length of the rack from one end to another end of the rack, an adapter mounted to the power tool and extending radially inward therefrom alongside the drive shaft, and the adapter having a portion that fits within the elongated opening of the receptacle.

What is claimed is:

1. A cathode cartridge of a testing device for electroplating, comprising:
a tabular cathode conductor, which has an orifice having a same shape to that of plated departments of a plated base as a negative plate, which has a plurality of a protruding portion that presses contact to a peripheral part around said plated departments, and which is able to connect with a direct voltage source by an exposed portion thereof, which is not soaked in plating solution,
a tubular rear insulator, which covers both a backside of said plated base and a backside of said cathode conductor, and has a recess, into which said plate base and said cathode conductor get just.
a tabular front insulator, which has an orifice having the same shape to that of the plated departments, which covers a front side of the cathode conductor,
an elastic thin board, which has a recess, into which said plate base and said rear insulator get just.
2. a cathode cartridge according to claim 1 characterized as equipped with a dummy plate which has an orifice having a same shape to that of said plated base and is connected to a direct voltage source to be a negative pole.
3. a cathode cartridge of a testing device for electroplating, comprising:
In a testing device for electroplating equipped with a plating tank for injecting a plating solvent, a positive pole placing in said plating tank, a negative pole placing parallel to said positive pole in said plating tank, and a direct voltage source to apply a voltage between said positive pole and said negative pole,
a scupper for a plating solvent, which is provided in a bottom of said plating tank,
a inflow hole for a plating solvent, which is provided in a bottom of said plating tank to mix around a surface of said plating base,
a circulation pump for a plating solvent, which is connected to aspirate a plating solvent from said scupper and to brush flow a plating solvent from said inflow hole.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of bus bars, a plurality of safety valves, and a discharge duct, each of the battery cells being covered with an exterior case having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, each of the battery cells having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal extending from the exterior case, and the battery cells being connected in series through the bus bars to make a series connection structure,
wherein the battery cells are divided into a plurality of stacked groups so that the battery cells are stacked in each of the battery stacked groups along a thickness direction of the exterior case of each of the battery cells and all the battery cells are electrically connected in series by the bus bars,
one stacked group has a smaller number of the battery cells than the number of the battery cells in the other stacked group, and the stacked groups arranged in a battery case make a stair structure,
the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell positioned at one end of the battery cells connected in series in the series connection structure is arranged adjacent to the stair structure,
the stair structure has a lower step part and a higher step part formed in the thickness direction along which the battery cells are stacked, with a control board being arranged on the lower step part of the stair structure, and devices mounted on the control board detect a state of each of the battery cells,
a power board and the control board are mounted on a single board, the power board being arranged outside of the stair structure, the power board having power elements mounted thereon, and
the battery cells are connected in series through a voltage detection terminal of the battery pack, the voltage detection terminal being electrically connected to the single board on which the control board and the power board are mounted.
2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein
the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of each of the battery cells and the bus bars are arranged on the same end surface of the battery case in which the battery cells are arranged within each of the stacked groups.
3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein
the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of each of the battery cells, the bus bars, the safety valves and discharge duct are arranged on the same end surface of the battery case in which the battery cells are arranged in each of the stacked groups.
4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein
each of the safety valves is formed on an area between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the corresponding battery cell, and the safety valve of the battery cell is broken when a pressure of an inside of the battery cell exceeds a predetermined pressure,
the discharge duct has a discharge passage, an inside wall surface of the discharge passage faces the safety valves, and
the bus bars are arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the battery pack to electrically connect the adjacent battery cells to each other, the bus bars being disposed at locations spaced from the safety valve such that the bus bars are not disposed between the safety valves and the discharge passage along a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction along which the battery cells are stacked.