The present disclosure discloses a method for determining optimal preservation temperature of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm in wastewater treatment, and belongs to the technical field of environmental engineering. The method of the present disclosure characterizes the ratio of living cells, early apoptotic cells, late apoptotic cells and dead cells in the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm by flow cytometry, and the optimum storage temperature can be measured within a few hours. The method of the present disclosure performs correlation analysis on the characteristic indexes of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm activity recovery process to verify the reliability of the data. By using the method of the present disclosure, the step of recovering the biofilm activity can be omitted, the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen were over 90% and 85%, respectively.

The low content of organic pollutants in the inflow water of the wastewater treatment plant is always a technical difficulty for restricting the standard emission of total nitrogen, and simultaneously, along with the improvement of the emission standard of wastewater treatment, a large amount of soil is occupied by reconstruction and extension projects, a large amount of organic carbon source substances are added into a water body, so that the investment construction and operation cost are remarkably increased, and thus the energy saving and consumption reducing effects of the wastewater treatment plant are seriously influenced. Therefore, wastewater denitrification technologies based on land-saving objectives and low carbon source utilization are receiving increasing attention. The anaerobic ammonium oxidation technology refers to the process of anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria oxidizing ammonia nitrogen using nitrite and finally generating nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. This process does not require additional carbon source, and anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria can be better attached to the suspended filler. Therefore, anaerobic ammonia oxidation biofilm technology is of great significance for the operation of sewage treatment plants based on efficient nitrogen removal and energy saving.
However, in the actual operation of the project, the growth rate of anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria is low, and the generation time is long (about 15-20 days). If the anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria can be attached to the suspension filler to form an anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm, and cultivated, matured and stored, the wastewater treatment plant with low carbon source in inflow water and short land resources can be effectively helped to start running in a short time, and ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen can be discharged under the standard. The temperature is an important parameter influencing the activity of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm, and the temperature which is most suitable for storing the anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm is determined, so that the activity recovery process is simplified, the starting time of engineering application is shortened, and the energy saving and consumption reducing effects are realized. However, in the existing method, the optimum preservation temperature needs to be determined by re-inoculating the anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm into the bioreactor, and the time for determining the activity recovery effect of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm is about 8-35 d, and thus the long time consumption becomes important for restricting the engineering application of the method.

Method for determining optimal preservation temperature of anaerobic ammonium oxidation biofilm in wastewater treatment for total nitrogen removal


This disclosure presents a polyaxial pedicle screw system. The system may comprise one or more of a screw body, a screw insert, a head component, a bushing, and/or other components. The screw body may have a major diameter. The screw insert may comprise a spherical head having a head diameter. The head component may have an axial bore forming an interior surface which defines a bore diameter of the axial bore. The interior surface may define a narrowest part of the bore diameter of the axial bore at a first end of the head component. The head diameter of the spherical head of the screw insert and/or the major diameter of the screw body may be larger than the narrowest part of bore diameter of the axial bore.

There are various devices and systems for fixation of bone segments. One type of device is a pedicle screw. The pedicle screw provides a technique of gripping a spinal segment. A conventional pedicle screw is used in conjunction with a rod-receiving device and a rod. The rod-receiving device couples to the pedicle screw and mounts the rod. The rod-receiving device is often referred to as a "tulip."
A pedicle screw system may be polyaxial or monoaxial. A monoaxial pedicle screw system may have the tulip fixedly attached, or formed as part of, the screw itself. The monoaxial pedicle screw system does not permit rotation of the tulip relative the screw. A polyaxial screw system may be formed of multiple parts. Namely, the tulip and pedicle screw may be separate parts that attach together in a manner that allows the tulip to rotate relative the screw.


A heat and pressure fuser for fixing toner images to substrates. A dual heating lamp arrangement is utilized for elevating the surface temperature of a heated fuser roll. The operation of the dual heat lamps is controlled using dual thermistors for maintain steady state temperature fluctuations to .+-.3.degree. F. The thermistors are positioned, one adjacent the inboard end of the fuse and the other adjacent the outboard end thereof. The outboard thermistor is used to determine the desired on time of the fuser lamp and the inboard thermistor is used to determine which of the two lamps is on. If the inboard temperature is below a predetermined target value a 14 inch lamp is turned on. If the inboard temperature is at or above a predetermined target value an 11 inch lamp is turned.

This invention relates generally to a heat and pressure fuser for an electrophotographic printing machine, and more particularly the invention is directed to a dual tamp arrangement for elevating the surface temperature of a fuser roll and means for controlling the operation of the lamps for optimizing the operation of the fuser for fusing different size substrates.
In a typical electrophotographic printing process, a photoconductive member is charged to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to selectively dissipate the charges thereon in the irradiated areas. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. Generally, the developer material comprises toner particles adhering triboelectrically to carrier granules. The toner particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image forming a toner powder image on the photoconductive member. The toner powder image is then transferred from the photoconductive member to a copy sheet. The toner particles are heated to permanently affix the powder image to the copy sheet.
In order to fix or fuse the toner material onto a support member permanently by heat, it is necessary to elevate the temperature of the toner material to a point at which constituents of the toner material coalesce and become tacky. This action causes the toner to flow to some extent onto the fibers or pores of the support members or otherwise upon the surfaces thereof. Thereafter, as the toner material cools, solidification of the toner material occurs causing the toner material to be bonded firmly to the support member.
One approach to thermal fusing of toner material images onto the supporting substrate has been to pass the substrate with the unfused toner images thereon between a pair of opposed roller members at least one of which is internally heated. During operation of a fusing system of this type, the support member to which the toner images are electrostatically adhered is moved through the nip formed between the rolls with the toner image contacting the heated fuser roll to thereby effect heating of the toner images within the nip. Typical of such fusing devices are two roll systems wherein the fusing roll is coated with an adhesive material, such as a silicone rubber or other low surface energy elastomer or, for example, tetrafluoroethylene resin sold by E. I. DuPont De Nemours under the trademark Teflon. In these fusing systems, however, since the toner image is tackified by heat, it frequently happens that a part of the image carried on the supporting substrate will be retained by the heated fuser roller (commonly known as hot offset) and not penetrate into the substrate surface. The tackified toner may stick to the surface of the fuser roll and offset to a subsequent sheet of support substrate or offset to the pressure roll when there is no sheet passing through a fuser nip resulting in contamination of the pressure roll with subsequent offset of toner from the pressure roll to the image substrate. The foregoing problem is exacerbated when this type of fuser is required to fuse different size substrates.
The following publications may be relevant to the invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,353 granted to Marsh et al on Feb. 28, 1984 discloses an apparatus which includes a plurality of heating elements to fuse a powder energized in an ordered sequence corresponding to the surface area of the powder image being fused.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,270 granted on Jul. 13, 1993 to Scheuer et al discloses a single pass tri-level imaging apparatus wherein a pair of Electrostatic Voltmeters (ESV) are utilized to monitor various control patch voltages to allow for feedback control of Infra-Red Densitometer (IRD) readings.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,524 granted to Takiguchi on Aug. 27, 1974 discloses a copying machine having a heating unit including a central heating element and two end heating elements. A switch connects the central and two end heating elements in parallel across a voltage source when the larger of two different width copy sheets is used. The switch disconnects the two end heating elements from the voltage source when the smaller of two different width copy sheets is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,455 granted to Kitamura et al on Feb. 21, 1978 discloses a fusing device having a plate and a heater disposed transversely of the plate. The heater is divided into heater sections in the direction of the width of the copy sheet. A temperature sensor controls the power to each of the heater sections. The power furnished to the heating elements depends upon the width of the copy sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,147 granted to Baumann et al on May 22, 1990 discloses a device wherein image defining toner is transferred to cut sheets and fused at one of two fuser stations. One station is positioned to fuse the image on one side when duplex copying or printing is selected. The other fuser station performs fusing when simplex copying is selected but fuses the second side copy for duplexing. When flash lamps are employed for the fuser station, the lamps are composed of multiple bays with a single power source coupled to each bay in sequence so that the power source size need only accommodate the power level demand of one bay. The time between trigger pulses is extended by commencing fusing with an intermediate bay followed by the initial bay and then the final bay as the image area requiring fusing passes along its path in proximity to the faces of the flash lamp bays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,824 granted to Benzion Landa on Jul. 30, 1985 discloses an improved heater for electrophotographic copiers wherein a plurality of laterally spaced heaters dry or fix the transferred image along narrow longitudinally extending strips to prevent smearing of the image from subsequent contact with feed wheels or guides.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,456 granted to Kobayashi et al on Oct. 2, 1984 disclosed a heat-fixing device including a heat plate along which a transfer medium bearing thereon a toner image is advanced during which the toner image becomes fixed to the transfer medium by fusing, the heat plate including a plurality of heating sections arranged along the direction of advancement of said transfer medium each of the heating sections being provided with at least one electrical heater. The device also includes a control circuit for controlling the operation of the heaters such that, under a non-steady-condition, only selected ones of the heaters are set in operation thereby only the corresponding heating sections are positively heated; whereas, under a steady-state condition, all of the heaters are operated at the same time thereby maintaining all of the heating sections at a predetermined temperature.
U.S. Pat No. 4,825,242 granted to Michael R. Elter on Apr. 25, 1989 discloses an apparatus in which an image is fused to a sheet during a copy run. The number of sheets having images fused thereto is counted during the copy run. Heat is applied to at least the images of successive sheets of the copy run. The heat being applied to the images on successive sheets is controlled in response to the number of sheets counted. Two fuser lamps are energized in accordance with the size of substrate being fused.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,694 granted to Ohira et al on Apr. 27, 1993 discloses an image forming apparatus comprises an image forming portion for forming toner images on a sheet of paper, a fixing portion for fixing the toner images on the sheet of paper by heat, and a counter for counting the number of sheets on which images are fixed from the time of turning on of the power. The image forming portion forms toner images on the paper at a low speed until the counter counts a prescribed number. Since the number of sheets to be fixed is reduced at the start of operation, the temperature of the fixing portion is not very much lowered. Namely, the fixing operation can be started when the temperature of the fixing portion reaches a prescribed value. Therefore, the time required for warming up the image forming forming apparatus can be reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,325 granted to Euler on Apr. 29, 1985 describes a heated fixing roller having two heating elements located inside the roller. The heating elements are connected to a control system and a sensor to control the current being supplied to the heating elements. There is disposed within the heating roller a second electrical heating element, which is connected to the control system through an additional temperature sensor. This second element runs parallel to the roller axis. The first heating element has a middle coil in the middle zone of the heating roller and the second or other heating element has two end coils disposed near the edge zones of the heating roller adjacent the left and right of the middle zone. The middle coil in the middle zone overlaps with each end coil in each edge zone, and the current supply to the heating elements is controlled so that on the surface of the heating roller there results a surface temperature distribution in the axial direction which exhibits a local minimum or maximum in the middle zone and maxima near the two end faces of the roller, one of the two temperature sensors is located near the extremum of the surface temperature in the middle of the roller, and the other temperature sensor is located near the middle of one of the edge zones of the heating roller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,718 granted to k'Hondt et al on Aug. 20, 1991 discloses a device for fixing a powder image on a receiving support using heat that consists of an image transfer roller internally provided with a first heating element having the same heat-generating power over the entire length of the image transfer roller, and a second heating element which has a higher heat-generating power in the edge zones of the image transfer roller than in the middle zone of the roller, and a pressure roller internally provided with a third heating element which like the second heating element has a higher heat-generating power in the edge zones than in the middle zone. The device may be in a warm-up condition in which the temperature of the rollers is not yet at the working level, stand-by condition in which the temperature is at the working level but in which no fixing is carried out, and a fixing condition in which fixing is carried out. During warm-up, all the heating elements generate the maximum power. During stand-by, the first heating element is switched off and the effective powers of the second and third heating elements are set to a much lower value, so that the ratio between the amount of heat generated in the edge zones and the amount of heat generated in the middle zone is greater than during warm-up. During fixing, the effective powers of all three heating elements are set to a higher value than during stand-by, but the ratio between the amount of heat generated in the edge zones and the amount of heat generated in the middle zone is lower than during stand-by.
An imaging device or the type disclosed in the '270 patent requires the fuser to fix two different toners (black and color) simultaneously. Graininess in black solid areas resulting from interactions of the black latent image with the color developer brush is minimized by running with a high transferred mass. The high mass requires higher surface temperature to meet the desired fix performance which reduces the difference between nominal temperature and the onset of hot offset. Finally, the increased rubber coating thickness (needed to meet fuser roll life targets) increases the lag time of the system which, in turn, increases the steady state temperature fluctuations resulting from the simple on-off controller. Since the existing fusers are not well suited for fusing the types of images contemplated there is need for an improved fuser for such purpose.


A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display holding a liquid crystal layer between a picture element substrate on which a pixel electrode driven by a thin film transistor is formed and a opposed counter substrate and forming a terminal to an external driving circuit on the picture element substrate, includes forming a semiconductor layer on the substrate, forming a gate insulating film on the semiconductor layer, forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating film, forming a source-drain region in the semiconductor layer, forming a source-drain wire on the substrate, forming a terminal wire on the substrate, forming insulating inorganic films on regions of the terminal wire on the external driving circuit and a display area sides, forming an organic resin film on the insulating inorganic film, and forming a conductive film on the terminal wire. The conductive film has a predetermined distance to the organic resin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display provided with a terminal to be connected to an external driving circuit, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The liquid crystal display is formed so that an insulating substrate provided thereon with a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, a wire, a terminal to be connected to an external driving circuit, and the like, and an insulating substrate provided thereon with a color filter, a counter electrode and the like are disposed in an opposed state with a liquid crystal held therebetween.
The wire is formed out of a metal, such as Al, Cr, Mo and the like. The terminal to be connected to an external driving circuit is formed so that an electrode surface formed out of Cr and Mo is covered with a transparent conductive oxide film, such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) film and an indium zinc oxide (IZO) film.
To connect the external driving circuit and terminal together, anisotropic conductive particles are used. (See, e.g., JP-A-2000-155335 (page 6, FIG. 2).)
In the above-described liquid crystal display, the surface of the terminal to be connected to an external driving circuit is exposed, and in an atmospheric moisture-exposed state. Since the terminal surface is made of a conductive oxide film, the surface is rarely oxidized anymore in the atmospheric air, so that the connecting of the terminal to an external driving circuit can be done stably. However, since ITO and IZO are oxides, they are very active, and readily turn into cathodes in an oxidation-reduction reaction. For example, when the humidity is high with the water in the atmospheric air deposited on the surface of the terminal, a cell reaction is liable to occur between the terminal and Cr or Mo electrode which constitutes a lower layer electrode of ITO and IZO.

Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same


A method is disclosed. The method comprising receiving, by a processor computer from a coordination computer, a push transfer instruction message comprising a recipient address associated with a recipient, a data item, and a time period for transferring the data item to a recipient account associated with the recipient address. The method also includes storing, by the processor computer, the push transfer instruction message. After the time period, the push transfer instruction message comprising the data item is transmitted to a recipient authorizing entity computer associated with the recipient address to transfer the data item.

The rapid transmission of data items in a computer network can be problematic in some instances. For example, in some cases, too many transaction messages may be transmitted to one end point around the same time, thereby causing that end point to experience processing problems. In addition, sometimes, the end point that is intended to receive data may not be ready to process it. For example, a particular data item such as a data packet or a transaction amount may be received at an end point computer, but the end point computer is not yet able to process it for some reason (e.g., the software in the end point is not up to date, or an account at the end point has not yet been set up). This can also cause a sender device that initiates a data item transfer to resubmit it at a later time.
Embodiments of the disclosure address this problem and other problems individually and collectively.

System and method for timed data transmission


A method of charting a race course comprises the steps of applying an adhesive fastener (116-118) on the strip (110) for adhesively interconnecting the first (112) and second (114) ends and disposing a column of marker indicia (120) extending along the strip (110) between the ends thereof with each marker indicia (120) signifying a mile marker along a course. The method includes the steps of forming the station indicia (122) to portray the availability of first aid, a toilet, and/or a prominent landmark along the course. A topographical outline (129) is formed to extend along the strip (110) parallel to the column of marker indicia (120) for indicating variances in elevation above sea level along the course. The back of the strip is formed with a legend and advertising indicia.

1. Field of the Invention
A wristband presenting information useful to a participant in a race such as a running marathon, a triathlon, bikeathon, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While running a long marathon, e.g., twenty-six miles, a runner would like to have information readily available. The same applies to a participant in a triathlon or bikeathon. Obviously, a participant""s clothing is sparse and unsuited for carrying such information. In pursuit of availability and carryability, wristbands have been used to present such information. One such wristband includes an elongated strip having first and second ends, an adhesive for interconnecting the first and second ends, and a column of mile marker numbers extending along the strip. Each strip is designated for an estimated total time for running the marathon and includes an accumulated elapsed time aligned across the strip with each mile marker number. The runner may look at the strip and compare actual elapsed time to the elapsed time at each mile marker on the strip to determine the difference between the actual and desired pace. Such a device provides a pace for finishing the race in a predetermined elapsed time.
However, it often occurs that the participant requires other information about the course while participating in the race. In addition, business entities that sell goods or services to people who participate in such races desire to advertise those goods and services to the participants. Likewise, it is necessary for the promoters of the race to raise money to support the race. A method is needed to bring these needs to resolution.
The invention provides a method of charting a race course comprising the steps of providing an elongated strip having first and second ends, positioning a fastener on the strip for interconnecting the first and second ends, and disposing a column of marker indicia extending along the strip between the ends thereof with each marker indicia signifying a distance along a course. The method is characterized by aligning station indicia across the strip with at least one of the marker indicia for indicating the location of a support station along the course.
In accordance with the method of this invention, the support stations may be provided by sponsors of the race who pay for the privilege of advertising on the wristband. The runners benefit by being able correlate their pace with the distance to various types of support stations while they are running by merely looking at their wrist.


A method and apparatus for occlusion area detection based on block difference associated with a motion vector and a predicted block difference are disclosed. For each current block of a frame, motion estimation is performed based on a temporally previous frame and a temporally subsequent frame. Based on the motion vector derived, two reference blocks of the current block are located in the temporally neighboring frames. The block difference between these two reference blocks is calculated for the current block. By comparing the block difference with a predicted block difference of the current block, the current block is determined to be an occlusion block or not accordingly. The predicted block difference is updated by averaging the block difference of neighboring blocks in a non-motion boundary area.

Occlusion areas are parts of a scene which are visible in one frame and become invisible in a neighboring frame of multiple consecutive images due to blockage by foreground object(s). Each of the consecutive images can be a picture captured by imaging system or an interpolated image based on captured pictures. For consecutive images captured by a camera, the presence of the occlusion areas is caused by the changing of relative position between the objects and the camera. When parts of the image become invisible, at least a portion of a background object is covered by a foreground object located closer to the camera due to the projection. Vice versa, the foreground object is located farther away from the camera in the scene and parts of the background become uncovered. The parts of the background object which become covered or uncovered are referred to as occlusion areas. When the areas become covered or uncovered, the uniquely matched areas in neighboring images cannot be found by motion estimation. Therefore, special care must be taken in addressing the occlusion problem, otherwise artifacts may occur in temporal interpolation.
In a conventional method, occlusion detection is based on pixel differences associated with two motion vectors between two consecutive images (U.S. Pat. No. 7,995,793). One of the two motion vectors may be zero, which corresponds to a background that is stationary relative to the camera. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of occlusion detection based on two motion vectors between two consecutive frames, Frame (t) and Frame (t+1) captured by an imaging system. Frame (t+δ) is to be temporally interpolated based on Frame (t) and Frame (t+1). Two motion vectors (i.e., MV1 and MV2) are determined to describe the motion between the two frames, where MV1=0 corresponds to zero motion for the background areas.
Frame (t+δ) is formed by projecting Frame (t) to Frame (t+1) according to one of the two motion vectors. For example, area 111 in Frame (t+δ) is formed by projecting area 101 in Frame (t) to area 121 in Frame (t+1) according to motion vector MV1 since good match between area 101 and area 121 can be found using motion vector MV1. Similarly, area 112 in Frame (t+δ) is formed by projecting area 102 in Frame (t) to area 122 in Frame (t+1) according to motion vector MV2 since good match can be found between area 102 and 122 using motion vector MV2. Nevertheless, for area 113 in Frame (t+δ), none of the motion vectors can result in good match between corresponding areas in Frame (t) and Frame (t+1). In other words, the pixel differences are large for corresponding areas in Frame (t) and Frame (t+1) associated with area 113 in Frame (t+δ) regardless which of the two motion vectors is used.
While the above method works successfully to a certain degree, it is desirable to develop an occlusion detection method to improve the accuracy of detection and/or reduce associated computational complexity.


A two dimensional collimator assembly and method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed. The collimator assembly includes a wall structure constructed to form a two dimensional array of channels to collimate x-rays. The wall structure further includes a first portion positioned proximate the object to be scanned and configured to absorb scattered x-rays and a second portion formed integrally with the first portion and extending out from the first portion away from the object to be scanned. The first portion of the wall structure has a height greater than a height of the second portion of the wall structure. The second portion of the wall structure includes a reflective material coated thereon in each of the channels forming the two dimensional array of channels.

The invention relates generally to collimators for use in diagnostic imaging and, more particularly, to a two dimensional reflector and collimator assembly and method of manufacturing thereof.
Typically, in computed tomography (CT) imaging systems, an x-ray source emits a fan-shaped beam toward a subject or object, such as a patient or a piece of luggage. Hereinafter, the terms "subject" and "object" shall include anything capable of being imaged. The beam, after being attenuated by the subject, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is typically dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the subject. Each detector element of the detector array produces a separate electrical signal indicative of the attenuated beam received by each detector element. The electrical signals are transmitted to a data processing system for analysis which ultimately produces an image.
Generally, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated about the gantry within an imaging plane and around the subject. X-ray sources typically include x-ray tubes, which emit the x-ray beam at a focal point. X-ray detectors typically include a collimator for collimating x-ray beams received at the detector, a scintillator for converting x-rays to light energy adjacent the collimator, and photodiodes for receiving the light energy from the adjacent scintillator and producing electrical signals therefrom. The outputs of the photodiodes are then transmitted to the data processing system for image reconstruction.
As stated above, typical x-ray detectors include a collimator for collimating x-ray beams such that collection of scattered x-rays is minimized. As such, the collimators operate to attenuate off-angle scattered x-rays from being detected by a scintillator cell. Reducing this scattering reduces noise in the signal and improves the final reconstructed image. Therefore, it is necessary that the scintillator array and the collimator, typically plates extending along one dimension above the scintillator array, are uniformly aligned. That is, exact mechanical alignment is required between the collimator plates and the cast reflector lines in the array of scintillators.
Known manufacturing processes attempt this exact alignment by constructing a continuous collimator that is sized to dimensionally match the width and length of the entire detector array. That is, the collimator plates are arranged or arrayed in a continuous consistent pattern or pitch that spans the entire detector length and is placed and attached to the detector rail structure. As such, individual scintillator arrays or packs must then be exactly aligned to the continuous collimator to ensure that all scintillator cells and collimator cells are aligned exactly; otherwise the collimator must be discarded or repaired, or the scintillator packs must be discarded. This process requires excessively tight tolerancing and requires great operator skill and patience to assemble. Accordingly, these known processes are susceptible to waste of parts, material, and labor.
A known CT detector 1 fabricated according to known manufacturing processes is shown in FIG. 1. The CT detector 1 includes a series of tungsten collimator plates 2 configured and position to collimate, in one dimension, x-rays projected toward scintillator cells 3 of a scintillator array 4. As shown, each of the collimator plates 2 is generally aligned with a reflector line 5 disposed between adjacent scintillators 3. The reflector lines 5 prevent light from being emitted between adjacent scintillators. The scintillator array is coupled to a photodiode array 6 that detects light emissions from the scintillator array and transmits corresponding electrical signals to a data acquisition system for signal processing. As readily shown, the collimator plates are not integrated with the individual scintillator elements 3. That is, an air gap 7 exists between the collimator plates and the scintillator cells 3. The air gap 7 typically results in a separation between the collimator plates and the scintillator array of approximately two to four thousandths of an inch. This air gap occurs as a result of the manufacturing process whereupon the collimator plates are formed as a single collimator assembly that accepts and aligns an array of scintillators. The air gap, however, makes the CT detector susceptible to x-rays received between two collimator plates impinging upon an adjacent scintillator thereby resulting in undesirable anomalies in the final reconstructed CT image. Additionally, and as shown in FIG. 1, the collimator plates 2 serve to collimate x-rays projected toward scintillator cells 3 in only one dimension, which places limitations on the effectiveness of the collimator assembly.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design a reflector and collimator assembly and method of manufacturing thereof that provides for easy alignment between the scintillator array and the collimator assembly and that effectively prevents cross-talk between adjacent scintillators. It would further be desirable to provide a reflector and collimator assembly and method of manufacturing thereof that provides for two-dimensional collimation of x-rays.

2D reflector and collimator structure and method of manufacturing thereof


A carrier for supporting a coil formed from a length of wire or hose comprising: an arcuately shaped supported member defining a top support surface and a bottom support surface; a plurality of fasteners secured to a top surface at ends of the support member for holding the coil to the bottom surface of the support member, the fastener including a flexible strap looped under the coil.

The present invention relates to a device for carrying and supporting a coil of wire or hose.
It is advantageous, that after an electrical wire or water hose has been coiled to maintain the wire or hose in its coiled configuration for storage or transport.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved portable carrier for wires and hoses.
Accordingly the invention comprises: a carrier for supporting a coil formed from a length of wire or hose, comprising: an arcuately shaped support member defining a top support surface and a bottom support surface, fastening means secured to the top surface at ends thereof for fastening the coil against the bottom surface of the support member. The fastener means includes in one embodiment a strap looped under the coil. In the preferred embodiment the top surface is flat and curved downwardly giving the support member a trough-like shape. The fastener means may comprise, in addition to the strap, chain, wire, Velcro patches, or hooks and corresponding holes formed in the strap in addition to a buckle and tongue.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.

Portable carrier for wires, hoses and the like


‘Forever Midi Red’ is a new variety of kalanchoe that exhibits rich red flowers with a long blooming period.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana known by the varietal name 'Forever Midi Red'. The new variety was discovered in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a result of cross breeding Seedling #98-231-2 (female parent) (unpatented) and Seedling #97-279-2 (male parent) (unpatented). The purpose of the breeding program was to develop a compact, long-lasting and self- branching cultivar. Comparisons between the new variety and its parents cannot be made, as the parental varieties no longer exist. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by tip cuttings in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. Characteristics that distinguish the new variety from others known to the breeder include:                • Mounded and compact growing habit;        • Exhibits rich red flowers that do not fade;        • Early to flower, 9 to 9 1/2  weeks from the start under short days;        • Able to be finished in 10 cm pots without growth regulators;        • Small leaf size allows for easier sleeving and shipping;        • Does not heat delay in night temperatures above 22° C.;        • Long blooming with indeterminant inflorescence;        • Highly self-branched without pinching; and        • Resistant to checking of the red flowers.
The new variety was grown in a 10 cm. container in Lompoc, California in a greenhouse under Dynaglass with 30% shade and 3500 to 4000 foot candles. The new variety was grown under natural, short days having temperatures of 20-22° C. and night temperatures of 16-18° C. The new variety initiates roots in 14 days at 21° C. The time to produce a rooted plant is 21 days at 21° C. Its rooting habit is dense and freely branching with fine and fibrous roots.
Further, the following Tables illustrate differences between the new variety and Kalanchoe varieties 'Aroi'(unpatented) and 'Molly'(U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP12,307), respectively:
TABLE 1Characteristics'Forever Midi Red''Aroi'Flower color45B42AStigma colorWhite with reddish tintWhiteLeaf petiole12 mm8 mmlengthFlower bud44C near tip39A near tipcolor144A near calyx end146B near calyxPetal size8 mm long by 6 mm wide6 mm long by 5 mm wide
TABLE 2Characteristics'Forever Midi Red''Molly'Flower color45BBetween 45B and 57BGrowth habitMoundedUprightStigma colorWhite with reddish tintWhitePlant height14 cm18 cmPetal size8 mm long by 6 mm wide6 mm long by 5 mm wide

Kalanchoe plant named ‘Forever Midi Red’


A non-toxic isosorbide-based degassing agent producible from biorenewable sources for addition to paints and coatings, powder coatings in particular, to prevent pinholing and minimize yellow discoloration during cure without use of potentially harmful VOCs or predominant proportions of benzoin.

Various types of degassing agents used in paints and coatings, and powder coatings in particular, are known in the art. Most degassing agents current in the art employ high concentrations of the hydroxy ketone, benzoin. Benzoin is effective in the prevention of the formation of "pinholing" from out-gassing of powder coatings during cure, but it has a tendency to yellow with heat and over time. This renders benzoin less than ideal; paints and coatings are often used to impart a desired color or characteristic to a surface, or to preserve the appearance of a surface, which yellowing taints. Thus, much effort has been employed in developing improved degassing agents for powder coatings.
Ideally, a degassing agent is readily addable to existing powder coating compositions to provide the requisite surface tension and/or other physical effects that prevent pinholing while at the same time remaining invisible without volatizing from the paint or coating. Several alternate agents, that may contain bisphenol A ("BPA") as a component, for example, or other Volatile Organic Compounds ("VOCs"), present volatility issues potentially associated with health hazards. Thus, what is needed is a stable agent readily combinable to powder coatings that does not signal a color change over time or conditions and is non-toxic and less volatile.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,475,956, to Beccaria et al. discloses powder coating compositions for low temperature curing and high flow. Beccaria et al. rely on a composition having a polyester resin, of 0.1 to 60 weight percent of mono- or poly-functional saturated or unsaturated fatty acids; 30 to 60 weight percent of an aromatic diacid or cycloalkyl diacids or anhydride; 20 to 30 weight percent of aliphatic diol; 0 to 6 weight percent of aliphatic triol; and 0 to 10 weight percent of isosorbide; along with additional isomers, with a total weight percent of the monomers equal to 100. Beccaria et al. thus reduce yellowing caused by benzoin at high concentrations but fail to address volatilization concerns by incorporating additional as well as potentially toxic aliphatic organic compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,585 to Gaglani et al. also seeks to provide a degassing composition for curable coatings that does not yellow over time nor when exposed to heat. Gaglani et al. disclose a plurality of unfused aromatic rings and at least one functional group selected from ketals, carbamates, carbonates and carboxylic acid ester, and the products of benzoin reacted with a diol, a polyol, an isocyanate, a haloformate, a dicarboxylic acid, or an acid anhydride. Gaglani et al. teach composition with various organic waxes, however, Gaglani et al. rely on compositions of organic compounds that are diverse and wide ranging, are predominantly volatile and potentially toxic, and are thus less than ideal for inclusion in paints and coatings used in households.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,825,258, to Steckel, teaches a powder coating additive composition containing a non-crosslinked product made by the reaction of an organic alcohol and a carboxylic acid, or a reactive equivalent to a carboxylic acid, the product containing at least one hydrocarbyl group of between 10 to 100 carbon atoms and a fluoropolymer. Steckel discloses isosorbide, but as a precursor to sorbitan ester variants used in combination with additional compounds, including benzoin as a deaerating agent.
Applicant's composition of matter presents useful improvements over these and other degassing agents and curatives by presenting a readily available compound derived from biorenewable starch in combination with naturally occurring castor oil.


An introducer system includes a release wire and wire receivers forming a constraining mechanism that facilitates constraining at least one segment of an implant while permitting the remainder of the implant to expand during deployment. The constrained segment includes wire receivers associated with the implant that couple to the release wire and hold the constrained segment in its constrained state until it is released to expand.

The present invention relates to an introducer for deploying an implant within a body lumen, such as a curved lumen. It also relates to a method of deploying an implant within a curved lumen.
Stent grafts are used to replace or repair vessels of the body such as the arteries. A stent graft is usually formed from a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material with one or more stents mounted into or onto the tubular body to provide support therefor. The stents may be balloon expandable stents and/or self-expanding stents.
Endovascular methods have been proposed for treatment of an aneurysm of the aorta particularly where the aneurysm is adjacent the aorta bifurcation. However, when an aneurysm occurs higher up in the aorta, in the region of the descending aorta adjacent the thoracic arch or in the ascending aorta, endovascular techniques for treating these aneurysms are somewhat more difficult because of the tight curvature of the thoracic arch, the occurrence of major arteries in the region, and the proximity to the heart. Placement of a substantially cylindrical prosthesis in such a curved region can cause problems.
Stent grafts are typically deployed using endovascular techniques from an introducer device in which the stent graft is retained in a radially contracted condition by an outer sheath. Portions of the stent graft may be retained in the contracted condition by a release arrangement. Typically, the release arrangement includes a plurality of release wires, such as three release wires extending through a cannula, that can be attached to connecting members between the stent graft and the release wires. A plurality of release wires along the circumference of introducer device takes up a certain volume and limits the minimum achievable delivery profile of the introducer device. Further, loading and/or aligning each release wire with each connecting member makes manufacturing and assembly complicated. A single connecting member receiving a single release wire provides substantial stress along the release wire, causing deformation to the wire in the form a bends. Thus, the release wire is typically sized larger than necessary to withstand such stress and deformation. Moreover, the connecting members are typically free to slide along the release wire, thereby undesirably introducing stress to the cannula surrounding the release wires. Further, sliding connecting members can induce segments of the stent graft prematurely tilt or rock in undesirable and less predictable deployment configurations, which can increase the risk of unsuccessful implantation of the stent graft along the vessel wall.
Upon withdrawal of the sheath and release of any retention arrangement where provided, for example in cases in which the stent graft has self-expanding stents, the stent graft can expand under the action of the self-expanding stents towards the vessel wall to redefine the blood flow path. The introducer device is then withdrawn after deployment.
Currently, a stent graft is deployed in a curved lumen by causing the stent graft to follow the curvature imparted to the introducer device. However, this can result in the stent graft not sitting properly in the blood vessel and in the lumen of the prosthesis being closed off or reduced in diameter. Kinks can also occur along the length of the prosthesis and these can cause problems with restriction of flow in the lumen.
Furthermore, when deploying a stent graft that is substantially cylindrical in a curved aorta, there is a danger that the proximal end of the stent graft, i.e., the end nearest the heart, will not lie flat against the walls of the aorta. For example, the proximal end of the stent graft will not be positioned perpendicularly to the wall of the vessel. As a result, blood can flow underneath the edge of the proximal end of the stent graft, particularly on the inner side of the curve of the thoracic arch, and cause the stent graft to buckle and close off thereby causing serious problems.
In general, this application relates to the placement of prostheses in the aorta in the region known as the thoracic arch where the aorta leaves the heart and curves over in approximately a semi-circle to the descending aorta and then into the abdominal aorta and then into the lower limbs via the iliac arteries. The application is, however, not so restricted and can relate to placement of prostheses within or in place of lumens in any portion of a human or animal body, though it is particularly relevant to curved lumens, particularly tightly curved lumens. It would be desirable to minimize the overall delivery profile of the introducer device, to simplify loading of the release wire through the connecting members, and to provide a more predictable stent graft configuration prior to deployment and thus increase the risk for successful implantation of the stent graft.


Disclosed is a contrast medium for ultrasonic diagnosis, which comprises an aqueous medium and gas-encapsulated particles each having a ferrite magnetic layer on the surface thereof contained in the aqueous medium.

This invention relates to a contrast medium (imaging agent) used for medical ultrasonic diagnosis.
Ultrasonic diagnosis uses acoustic physical phenomena that an ultrasonic wave having a short wavelength travels almost straight in a living body as a slender beam-like sonic wave, and while this beam-like ultrasonic wave travels in living tissues, a part thereof reflects, scatters, decays due to absorption or is influenced by the Doppler effect at the boundary surface of organs or tissues having different acoustic characteristics. Changes of acoustic characteristics are detected by an ultrasonic probe.
In ultrasonic diagnosis of a living body, an ultrasonic contrast medium is used in order to obtain information on cardiac and vascular bloodstreams and a urine stream. This contrast medium is injected parenterally into a circulatory system and moved to an organ to be contrasted, so that it is required that the contrast medium does not cause any damage to a living body, is stable and exhibits good dispersibility in a fluid to be tested.
As an ultrasonic contrast medium which satisfies such requirements, there has been disclosed a dispersion of microspheres having a diameter of 10 .mu.m or less in which fine bubbles are encapsulated in a substance having affinity for an organism obtained by insolubilizing a thermally sensitive protein such as albumin in water in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,882 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,656.
The above contrast medium comprising hollow microspheres in which gas is encapsulated has a large contrast effect, but has problems that the contrast medium cannot be introduced centrally in the vicinity of a site to be observed in a living body, so that an excessive amount of the contrast medium is required, and further, specific gravity of the medium cannot be controlled, so that it cannot be used for observation of a fluid having a slow flow rate such as urine.

Gas containing contrast agent particles having external magnetic layer


Provided are a resistive random access memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The resistive random access memory device includes a switching device and a storage node connected to the switching device, and the storage node includes a first electrode and a second electrode and a resistance change layer formed of Cu2-XO between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A resistive random access memory (RRAM) operates according to a characteristic of a resistance changing material, such as a transition between a metal and an oxide. In a resistance changing material, the resistance may change according to an applied voltage. For example, when a voltage equal to or higher than a set voltage is applied to a resistance changing material, the resistance of the material may decrease. This state of decreased resistance is referred to as an ON state. When a voltage equal to or higher than a reset voltage is applied to the resistance changing material, the resistance of the material may increases. This state of increased resistance is referred to as an OFF state.
Conventional resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices may include, for example, a nickel oxide (NiOx) layer as a resistance change layer in the storage node.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing a current-voltage characteristic of a conventional RRAM. Referring to FIG. 1, the horizontal width of area A of the conventional RRAM has a wide range of voltage in which a resistance status starts to change.
It is desirable that a resistance change layer should have the same resistance status at the same applied voltage, which is not the case for conventional RRAMs. That is, when the distribution of voltages that cause a resistance change is too broad, it may be difficult to detect a change of resistance of the resistance change layer in a limited range of voltage. Thus, the reliability of the data read from the conventional RRAM may be low.
In addition, the resistance change layers of conventional RRAMs may be formed by a reactive sputtering method in which O2 gas is often used as a reactive gas. However, such a reactive sputtering method is complicated, and the resistance change layer formed by the reactive sputtering method may have low reproducibility characteristics.

Storage node of a resistive random access memory device with a resistance change layer and method of manufacturing the same


A counter electrode and a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell having the counter electrode are provided. The counter electrode includes a conductive substrate, an adhesive layer formed on the conductive substrate, and a porous carbon material layer formed on the adhesive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a counter electrode having a porous carbon material layer for a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell and a method of preparing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a counter electrode for a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell, which has superior durability and high energy-conversion efficiency, and to a method of preparing the counter electrode.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell includes a photo-electrode, a counter electrode, and electrolyte. The photo-electrode is generally formed of a transparent conductive oxide substrate in which metal oxide nanoparticles having a wide band gap energy and photosensitive dye are absorbed. The counter electrode is formed of a transparent conductive oxide substrate coated with platinum (Pt).
When the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell is exposed to sun light, the photosensitive dye absorbing the sun rays is in an excited state and thus transmits electrons to a conduction band of the metal oxide. The conducted electrons move to the electrode and flow to an external circuit to transmit electrical energy to the external circuit. The electrons are subsequently reduced in energy while transmitting the electrical energy to the external circuit and move to the counter electrode, after which the photosensitive dye is supplied with electrons from the counter electrode through the electrolyte, thereby returning to its initial state. At this point, the electrolyte functions to receive the electrons from the counter electrode by an oxidation-reduction reaction and transfer the electrons to the photosensitive dye.
In most cases, the counter electrode is coated with platinum (Pt). Platinum has the advantage of having a high degree of electrical conductivity, and also has a catalytic property (oxidation-reduction reaction). However, platinum is expensive and limited in increasing a surface area where catalysis occurs. Therefore, limitations are encountered with respect to increasing a catalysis speed of the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell.
Furthermore, when a module of the photovoltaic cell is large in size, expensive equipment such as a large-sized sputtering facility is used to prepare the platinum counter electrode or the counter electrode is prepared through a wet coating method that uses a large amount of platinum compound. This is economically infeasible as manufacturing costs are increased.
In order to solve the above-described drawbacks, studies are being conducted for finding suitable components for the counter electrode that can substitute for platinum.
For example, it has been reported that a carbon material can provide energy-conversion efficiency that is almost identical to that of platinum (M. Gratzel et al., Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 44 (1996) pp. 99-117) (K. Imoto et al., Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 79 (2003) pp. 459-469). In addition, a photovoltaic cell having a counter electrode coated with a carbon material or formed of a mixture slurry of a carbon material and a binder has been proposed.
However, since the conventional carbon counter electrode is not durable, the performance of the cell is sharply deteriorated when it is used for long periods of time. More particularly, under a situation where the carbon counter electrode is applied with a heat cycle load, the counter electrode may be delaminated or cracked, or carbon powders may float.
In order to enhance the durability of the counter electrode, a method of preparing the counter electrode using carbon powders mixed with binders such as metal oxide particles or metal particles that can be finely dispersed has been proposed (Japanese laid-open patent No. 2005-302390).
However, at this point, there is still a need for a counter electrode that has sufficient durability that is required for use over long periods of time.

Counter electrode having carbon material layer for dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell and method of preparing the same

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the efficient generation and submission of medical eligibility and medical claim data. In a method, a modified pharmacy benefits transaction associated with a patient is received that is formatted in a first predefined format. The modified pharmacy benefits transaction is parsed to determine an indicator and data is extracted from the modified pharmacy benefits transaction based on the indicator. A database is accessed to retrieve additional data that is at least partly based on a pharmacy with which the source is associated, a potential payor of the medical transaction or a medication that is a subject of the medical transaction. A medical transaction is generated that includes the extracted data and the additional data and formatted in a second predefined format. A response to the medical transaction is then transmitted to a source for display to a user.

In the healthcare services industry, a pharmacy may assist a patient in many ways, including billing to a pharmacy benefit plan associated with the patient for a particular treatment, such as a prescription medication, immunization, or the like. However, some treatments may not be billable toward a pharmacy benefit plan and may only be billable to a medical benefit plan. Conventional pharmacy workflows lack an effective means to process and submit medical transactions, such as transactions to determine a patient's eligibility for medical benefits, a medical claim, and/or the like. For example, one barrier contributing to this deficiency is that pharmacy transactions typically utilize the National Council for Prescription Drug Program (NCPDP) communications standard, whereas medical benefit transactions may require utilization of a different standard (e.g., X12 or another format). This disconnect increases the challenges for pharmacies in relation to extending their services in an efficient manner.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for submission of medical eligibility and claim data


To provide a torque detecting device having a sufficient mechanical strength, capable of accomplishing an accurate torque measurement, having a processability excellent for mass-production, and effective to eliminate problems associated with damages which would be brought about during a heat treatment. This torque detecting device includes a target area subject to torque detection (3) provided in a surface region of a torque transmitting shaft (2) made of a steel material; a detecting coil (4) provided in a non-contact fashion in face-to-face relation to an outer periphery of the target area subject to torque detection (3); and a detection signal processing circuit (5). The target area subject to torque detection (3) is a layer of magnetostrictive material comprised of an Al diffusion layer. This diffusion layer contains Al diffused in a steel material in a concentration which gradually decreases from the surface in a direction radially inwardly of the torque transmitting shaft (2).

In a non-contact magnetostrictive torque detecting device, when a to-be-measured shaft is manufactured using steel for machine structural use, the magnetostrictive phenomenon does not occur so conspicuously that an accurate detection of the torque is difficult to achieve. Accordingly, the torque detecting device has been suggested, in which a special alloy, for example, an Fe—Al alloy is used for the to-be-measured shaft. See, for example, the Japanese Patent No. 2592491. However, since the Fe—Al alloy is hard, but fragile, the mechanical processability is reduced considerably. In a case of a to-be-measured shaft having notches, the torsional fatigue strength and the impact value are also reduced significantly. For this reason, application of this alloy as a material for a structural component has been difficult to achieve.
As an alternative measure, attempts have been made to manufacture a shaft with the use of the Fe—Al alloy only on a surface region of a to-be-detected portion of the to-be-measured shaft while steel for machinery structural use is jointed to a portion of the shaft where strength and toughness are required. In such case, the jointed portion lacks a reliability and is costly to make. For this reason, various shafts have been suggested, in which the Fe—Al alloy is welded to a necessary portion of a surface region of the to-be-measured shaft, but all of them involve the following problems.
By way of example, where a high magnetostrictive material such as an Fe—Al alloy is overlaid on a surface region of the to-be-measured shaft made of steel for machine structural use, which is a to-be-detected portion of the to-be-measured shaft, by the use of an overlay welding technique so that such to-be-detected portion can be used as a target area subject to torque detection such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2765340, a problem has been encountered with that since the Fe—Al alloy is fragile, cracking and/or exfoliation tend to occur during the overlay welding. In an attempt to eliminate such problem and particularly to avoid the cracking, it has been suggested to effect the overlay welding to form the overlaid Fe—Al alloy layer of a thickness equal to or smaller than 3 mm. However, since when the overlay welding or spray coating (such as employed in the Japanese Patent No. 2765340) is effected, pores tend to occur, which constitute a cause of premature cracking brought about by a cyclically loaded torque and also that of deviation in magnetostrictive characteristic. This deviation in magnetostrictive characteristic will in turn leads to considerable reduction in detecting accuracy.


The invention is directed to a composition for simultaneously washing and waxing an automotive exterior surface. More particularly, this invention relates to a wash and wax composition that imparts a detergent-resistant wax to the vehicle surface. The composition comprises water, nano-scale particles of a wax, a surfactant, n-octyltriethoxysilane, diethoxyoctylsilyl trimethylsilyl ester of silicic acid, and an amino-functional siloxane or tetra(trimethylsiloxy) silane, wherein the wax particles, n-octyltriethoxysilane, diethoxyoctylsilyl trimethylsilyl ester of silicic acid, and amino-functional siloxane or tetra(trimethylsiloxy) silane form an emulsion or dispersion in the water.

Products for washing and waxing vehicles are ubiquitous. Those products for washing vehicles are typically based on blends of anionic surfactants. Anionic surfactants provide excellent, stable, soft, lubricious foams. In addition, anionic surfactants provide excellent soil removal and good wetting to automotive exterior surfaces and are easily and uniformly rinsed from the surface with water. Nonionic and amphoteric surfactants may also be used in combination with the anionic surfactant to aid in solubilizing the anionic surfactant and to enhance the detergency of the formulation.
Automotive wax compositions typically comprise wax or silicone based emulsions. They impart finishes with high gloss, shine, water resistance (beading) and durability through hydrogen bonding or simple Van der Waals forces. Most car wax formulations require a two step application process. The first step is applying the wax formulation to the vehicle surface and allowing the wax to dry. The second step involves wiping away excess wax and, in many cases, vigorously buffing the vehicle surface to obtain a uniform, glossy finish.
It is also known to combine both cleaners and wax components into a single composition. Formulations include, for example, an aqueous silicone-based wax emulsion comprising an anionic surfactant, a silicone oil, an amino-functional silicone, and a wax. Such compositions can clean the vehicle exterior and impart a glossy finish in one easy step, without the need to buff. However, convenience may be at the expense of durability since the wax finish will not withstand many subsequent washes.
There is a need therefore, for an automotive wash and wax composition that combines the superior cleaning power of a car wash with the superior durability, water resistance and high gloss of a wax composition. In particular, there is a need for automotive wash and wax composition that imparts superior durability, water resistance and high gloss having improved detergent resistance.

Composition for washing and waxing a motor vehicle


A drive circuit is provided for controlling a solenoid valve having a solenoid coil. The drive circuit includes a first semiconductor device, a flyback circuit, and a processor. The first semiconductor is coupled in series with the coil and is controlled by a gate signal to energize the coil. The flyback circuit is in parallel with the coil and includes a series-coupled second semiconductor device and a diode. The second semiconductor is controlled by a flyback control signal to enable the flyback circuit when the first semiconductor is controlled by the gate signal to hold the valve open. The diode has a low forward voltage to slow decay of a current conducted through the coil. The processor generates the gate signal to control the first semiconductor and to reduce a duty cycle of the gate signal when the flyback circuit is enabled to reduce power consumption by the coil.

The present disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for dispensing fluid and, more particularly, to fluid dispensing apparatus and methods using phased valves to control the emission of fluid through fluid dispensing apparatus.
In the agricultural industry, fluid dispensing apparatus are used to dispense agrochemicals. For example, some agrochemicals such as crop protection agents and many fertilizers are applied as liquid solutions, suspensions, and emulsions that are sprayed onto the target fields. Certain agrochemicals, such as anhydrous ammonia, are dispensed into soil through dispensing tubes positioned behind knives or plows that prepare the soil for application.
Typically, the agrochemical liquid is supplied by powered pumps to nozzles and/or other dispensers connected to a distribution conduit. Pulse width modulation (PWM) of the liquid supplied to each spray nozzle is an alternative to system pressure variation for flow control and is now a mature technology adopted in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. For example, known applications for PWM flow control systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,961 (Giles et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,389 (Henderson et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,004 (Giles) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,502,665 (Giles et al.) and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006/0273189 (Grimm et al.) and 2010/0032492 (Grimm et al.), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In a PWM flow control system, the fluid flow is interrupted in a continuously cyclic timed sequence by an actuator positioned at the nozzle inlet. The fluid pressure may be essentially held constant at a desired value to achieve a desired droplet size spectrum during the pulsing flow control. Studies have shown that changes to droplet size distributions of modulated sprays are negligible and that PWM flow control methods may be used as a form of droplet size control. Because PWM flow control systems allow for flow rate changes at constant pressures, manipulation of the system pressure essentially acts as a system-wide droplet size controller.
In such systems, valves are connected along the distribution conduit and control discharge of the liquid from the distribution conduit and through the dispensers. The valves may be controlled individually or in groups and may be pulsed between different positions to control the flow rate and other flow characteristics. However, the actuation of the valves between an opened position and a closed position may cause uneven fluid flow through the distribution conduit, e.g., the liquid sloshes within the distribution conduit. In addition, opening or closing multiple valves at the same time may cause rapid pressure drops or spikes within the distribution conduit. Moreover, opening multiple valves at the same time may result in a large instantaneous power draw on the electrical system.
Typically, operation of the valves is phased. For example, sometimes, some of the valves are moved to the opened position at a first time while the remaining valves are maintained in the closed position. The remaining valves may be moved to the opened position at a second time. This phasing of the valves increases the operating efficiency of the fluid dispensing apparatus and reduces misapplication of the fluid. However, uneven fluid flow, pressure spikes, and current spikes may still occur because the valves in each phase are actuated at the same time. Accordingly, current valve phasing techniques may be less than optimal for certain applications.
Thus, a need currently exists for improved apparatus and methods for controlling agricultural dispensing systems including phased valves.

Systems and methods for controlling operation of a valve


A motor drive circuit is configured to drive a motor based on first and second position detection signals opposite in phase to each other, the signals having a frequency corresponding to a rotational speed of the motor and indicating a rotational position of the motor. The circuit includes a first level-shift circuit, a second level-shift circuit, a timing detecting circuit, and an output circuit. The first level-shift circuit is configured to shift a level of at least either one of the first and second position detection signals so that a first period, during which a first output signal corresponding to the first position detection signal is higher in level than a second output signal corresponding to the second position detection signal, becomes longer than a second period, during which the second output signal is higher in level than the first output signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor drive circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices such as a notebook personal computer employ a fan motor for cooling heat-generating components such as a processor. When driving the fan motor, a motor drive circuit configured to perform so-called soft-switching may be used which changes, in a gradual manner, a drive current of a motor coil to reduce the noise in the fan motor (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-153921).
For example, in the motor drive circuit of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-153921, a soft-switching period for changing the drive current of the motor coil in a gradual manner is constant. Therefore, for example, even when a rotational speed of the fan motor changes, the soft-switching period does not change. In such a motor drive circuit, for example, when the rotational speed of the fan motor is increased, the proportion of the soft-switching period in the period during which the fan motor is driven becomes large. Therefore, it occasionally becomes difficult to set the fan motor at a desired rotation. On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the fan motor is decreased, for example, the proportion of the soft-switching period in the period during which the fan motor is driven becomes small. Therefore, it occasionally becomes difficult to change the drive current in a gradual manner, resulting in increased noise of the fan motor.


The invention relates to a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) for allowing a user to drink from an upper rim (124, 324, 524) of a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a body (613) comprising a resiliently deformable portion (619) having a rim (621), the rim (621) located in a first plane, wherein at least the rim (621) of the resiliently deformable portion (619) is configured to deform substantially inwardly, to be located in a second plane, into a sealing position within a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601), and further wherein a portion (629) of the rim (621) is configured to lift out of the second plane upon application of a suction force to an upper surface (639) of a corresponding portion (629) of the resiliently deformable portion (619). The invention also relates to a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) according to the invention.

Cup assemblies for use by infants typically comprise a spout or nipple, and include a valve which can be opened via the application of negative pressure by suction on the spout or nipple by the infant. However, such a valve arrangement can have several disadvantages. Suction operated valves are often subject to leaks. Because the valve must be opened by the application of negative pressure by an infant, the valve must necessarily have a relatively small sealing force and can be easily inadvertently opened. For example, liquid can impact the valve member from within the cup and act to push the flexible part of the valve open, especially when the cup is vigorously shaken, inverted, or when the cup is accidentally dropped. Furthermore, the infant is restricted to drinking from the spout. This requires the infant to hold the cup in a certain orientation. The functionality offered by such a cup does not prepare the infant for using 'open ended' cups, from which the infant will be expected to drink as an adult.
It has been appreciated that a drinking cup assembly having a valve which is operated by direct contact pressure from the lips of an infant can mitigate some of the above detailed problems. This arrangement not only allows a stronger seal to be provided, but the arrangement can also be designed such that the infant can drink from any point around a rim of the cup. Known lip-openable valve assemblies tend to provide poor seals and/or can be difficult to actuate. Several known assemblies comprise numerous components, which are not easy to fit together, i.e. assemble and disassemble. Reducing the number of parts, and increasing the ease with which these parts fit together, improves the user's interactions with the valve assembly, as well as making the assembly simpler to clean.
Additional factors to consider include the ease and cost of manufacture. Known assemblies have several parts and utilise large, multi-material components. Reducing the number of components, as well as reducing the size and complexity of these components, results in a simple, lightweight and cost-effective valve assembly and/or element.
Further drinking cups are known that employ suction valves arranged around the annular lip of a drinking vessel. However, these arrangements often have to balance the ability to prevent leaks against the provision of a drinking cup that is easy to drink from. Hence, the known valves may react to low amounts of suction and be easy to drink from but may not be reliably leak-proof. Alternatively, if the vessels and valves are reliably leak-proof then they typically require significant suction to open the valve, in which case they are not easy to drink from. Some known valves, for example Berg U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,870, have attempted to address the above problem by constraining the flow of liquid from within the drinking vessel to the valve seal. However, whilst attempting to solve the above problem the drinking cup of Berg has limited or restricted the flow of liquid near the sealing surface/drinking location and thereby introduced another compromising feature.
The present invention seeks to address disadvantages encountered in the prior art by providing an improved valve assembly, and valve element, for a drinking cup.


The inventive multiple partition computer system allows the reconfiguration of the installed hardware, possibly while the various partitions continue normal operations. This aspect includes adding and removing process cell boards and I/O from partitions which may or may not continue to run. The invention also allows changes to the association between cells, I/O and partitions. The partitions may be able to stay running, or may have to be shut down from the resulting changes. In the invention, multiple copies of the OS are running independently of each other, each in a partition that has its own cell boards with processors and memory and connected I/O. This provides isolation between different applications. Consequently, a fatal error in one partition would not affect the other partitions. A network of micro-controllers connected to a service processor, via a communications link, provides the service processor with information on each of the different cells, as well as a pathway to receive requests for configuration changes, and a pathway to command changes in the different cells or I/O. The combination of the service processor and the micro-controllers support dynamic changes to the partition configuration.

This invention relates in general to multi-processor computer systems, and in specific to a service processor that supports on-line reconfiguration of the multi-processor computer.
Prior computer platforms have been symmetric multi processors (SMP) arrangements where multiple CPUs are running a single copy of the operating system (OS). The OS provides time sharing services to allow multiple applications to run. However, this arrangement permits the applications to interfere with each other. For example, if the system is running an accounting application, the accounting application can allocate all the memory in the system, as well as use all the processors that the OS can allocate. Then, when some other application needs processors or memory, for example a manufacturing application, it would not be able to allocate any memory or processors for its needs, and therefore would freeze. Thus, the manufacturing application would have been frozen or impacted by the accounting application. This arrangement also leaves the system vulnerable to failures. Any problem with one application could corrupt the resources for all applications.
A known solution to this problem is to separate the computer system into partitions or protected domains. These partitions are hardware separations that place resources into separate functional blocks. Resources in one block do not have direct access to resources in another block. This prevents one application from using the entire system resources, as well as contains faults and errors. An example of such a system is the Sun Microsystems UE10K.
This solution presents its own problem, namely reconfiguration. The partitions, once defined, are static in nature, and cannot be readily changed. Thus, typical changes such as component replacement or system upgrades cannot be easily accomplished. Moreover, resources cannot be readily moved from one partition to another to satisfy workload balancing.
These and other objects, features and technical advantages are achieved by a system and method, which satisfy two aspects of reconfiguring a multiple partition computer system:
1. Reconfiguring the installed hardware, possibly while the various partitions continue normal operations. This aspect includes adding and removing cells and I/O from partitions which may or may not continue to run.
2. Changing the association between cells, I/O and partitions. The partitions may be able to stay running, or may have to be shut down (as for example in the case where a partition has all its cells moved to a different partition).
Several terms are defined in this paragraph which are necessary to understand the concepts underlying the present invention. A complex is a grouping of one or more cabinets containing cell boards and I/O, each of which can be assigned to a partition. Partitions are groupings of cell boards, with each partition comprising at least one cell. Each partition would run its own copy of system firmware and the OS. Each cell board can comprise one or more system CPUs together with system memory. Each cell board can optionally have I/O connected to it. Each partition must have at least enough I/O attached to its cell board(s) to be able to boot the OS. I/O (Input/Output subsystem) comprises an I/O backplane into which I/O controllers (e.g. PCI cards) can be installed, and the I/O controllers themselves. Cell boards in each cabinet are plugged into a backplane which connects them to the fabric. The fabric is a set of ASICs which allow the cells in a partition to communicate with one another, potentially across cabinet boundaries.
Cell boards are connected to I/O controllers in such a way that software or firmware running on a partition can operate the I/O controllers to transfer data between system memory and external disks, networks, and other I/O devices. One particular type of I/O controller is specialxe2x80x94the Core I/O controllerxe2x80x94which provides the console interface for the partition. Every partition must have at least one Core I/O controller installed. A complex has at least one service processor.
Thus, with a multiple partition system, multiple copies of the OS are running independently of each other, each in a partition that has its own cell boards with processors and memory and connected I/O. This provides isolation between different applications. Consequently, a fatal error in one partition would not affect the other partitions. Partitioning also permits server consolidation by eliminating older servers and migrating their applications onto their own partitions.
A hierarchy of components comprising a configuration tool running under control of the OS, the OS itself, system firmware, and a service processor is used to manage the partitions. The user interacts with the configuration tool to instruct the system to reconfigure itself. The configuration tool interacts with the OS, which interacts with system firmware, which interacts with the service processor to effect the desired reconfiguration.
A network of micro-controllers connected to the service processor, via a communications link, provides the service processor with information on each of the different cells, as well as a pathway to receive requests for configuration changes, and a pathway to command changes in the different cells or I/O. The combination of the service processor and the micro-controllers support dynamic changes to the partition configuration. For example, cell boards can be removed from a partition while the partition is on-line, and additional cell boards can be added to expand the system. Also, resources can be moved between the partitions. For example, a cell board can be reassigned from one partition to another partition while the system is on-line. The service processor can control the power for the cell boards and I/O subsystems which comprise the partitions.
Another aspect of the inventive system is the complex profile. The complex profile is a data structure containing information about the system configuration, such as which cells are assigned to particular partitions. The complex profile is initially created by the service processor, is modified by the configuration tool under control of the user, and is then downloaded to the service processor. Duplicate copies of the complex profile are stored through out the system, e.g. in the different cells. Thus, if the service processor should fail, the system can still operate using the copies of the complex profile dispersed through the system.
Therefore it is a technical advantage of the present invention to allow online replacement of components, including core I/O, cell boards, I/O backplane, service processor board, and cabinets.
It is another technical advantage of the present invention to allow multiple redundant components, e.g. core I/O boards, in a partition, so that if one component fails the operating system can switch to an alternate.
It is a further technical advantage of the present invention to allow the system to power-up and boot even if the service processor is not installed or is not functional.
It is a further technical advantage of the present invention to allow partitions to power-up and boot even if all the cells in a partition are not installed or are not functional.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to allow initial creation of the partitions according to a predetermined arrangement, thereby permitting the OS to run.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to allow distribution of the partition definitions or complex profile to all cells, and ensuring that all cells have the same partition definition.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to have an interface to applications which allow the user to reconfigure the system.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to allow communication of configuration information between partitions, even though the partitions are not able to communicate directly.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to allow configuration tools to run on any one of the partitions, thereby saving the costs associated with providing a separate system to do reconfiguration.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to provide an interface between the configuration tool and the operating system, and between the operating system and system firmware, and between system firmware and the service processor, such that each of the subsystems can cooperatively participate in system reconfiguration, while remaining online and fully functional.
It is a still further technical advantage of the present invention to allow the user to update any piece of firmware in the system to bring all modules to a compatible level of firmware, thereby allowing reconfiguration operations to involve modules with incompatible firmware installed on them.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

System and method for managing a computer system having a plurality of partitions

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An approach is disclosed for providing an audio phone card. A telephone call is received for an audio service from a voice station by user. Audio content is transmitted to the user over the telephone call, wherein playback of the audio content is controlled by the user via the telephone call.

The telecommunications industry offers a wide variety of telephony services to customers via wired and wireless networks. However, with the advent of the Internet, an increasing number of individuals have been migrating from the use of traditional communications based technologies to synergistic multimedia platforms. As such traditional telecommunications service providers are being challenged to develop new services and features in order to remain competitive, as well as develop new sources of revenue. Although the telecommunications industry has embraced the convergence of voice and data services, the development of new products and services, e.g., on-demand delivery of audio content, has been skewed towards the data networking infrastructure, despite the large installed base of plain of telephone service (POTS) customers and rapidly evolving wireless telephony systems.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach that provides efficient and convenient audio content services that leverage telephony systems and services.

Method and system of providing an audio phone card


A spray nozzle for providing a high efficient atomization and a uniform fluid flow pattern, includes an internal fluid channel, sealing and a spray nozzle, on which two of spray orifices are designed close to each other. The fluid flow is guided in the internal fluid channel smoothly and separated to two fluid flows inside of spray nozzle. These two fluid flows are pressed out from the spray orifices and interfered with each other right after flow out from the spray orifices. The fluid is being atomized efficiently because the spray nozzle is designed to fully utilize both flow velocity energy and flow pressure potential energy, which is well known as “Potential Core” or “Potential Zone” and will disappear in a very short distance right after fluids flow out from the spray orifices. During the fluid flows collide with each other by using the flow velocity right after flow out from the orifices, the fluid flows explode within the potential core by using the flow pressure potential energy. And then, the fluid flow and the fluid particles are continuously atomized by using the velocity difference between the fluid flow and the air around the fluid flow to have very fine particles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a spray nozzle for high pressure, airless spraying of paint and other fluids, and more particularly, to a spray orifice design, which produces a uniform fluid flow pattern and high efficient atomization. The new spray nozzle is designed to fully utilize both flow velocity energy and flow pressure potential energy, which exists in the fluid flow near to spray orifices. It has a wide application in various industrial fields.
2. Description of the Related Art
The current airless spray nozzle requires a high fluid velocity at the nozzle outlet under a high pressure to obtain a high fluid atomization flow pattern. The spray nozzle outlet is designed to various shapes to meet the fluid flow pattern requirements as well. The fluid flow is adjusted and guided at inside of the nozzle before flowing out. Under a high pressure, the fluid is pressed out from the nozzle and atomized starting from the boundary to the center of the fluid flow during the fluid mixing with the gas/air. This procedure is known as a free flow jet. The area before mixing and atomizing with the gas/air is called a potential core with the potential core length Xp. The concept of atomization is that a big velocity difference exists between fluid flow and the gas/air, which is pushing, peeling and mixing the fluid with the gas/air from outside of the fluid flow to the center line to perform an atomization gradually. There are many spray nozzles such as the Plain Orifice Spray Nozzle, V-cutter Fan Spray Nozzle, Ring Spray Nozzle, etc which are developed by using this concept.
There is another type of spray nozzle designed with two fluid outlet holes. The fluid is pressed out with a low pressure from these holes to two streams and collides at the intersection point of the stream center lines to form fine drops and a flow pattern. Since the fluid potential pressure has been decreased to zero and the fluid velocity is relative low, there is very minor or non-atomization proceeded before fluid collision.
There is one more type of spray nozzle installed with several semi-internal atomization nozzles. The fluid is collided in these semi-internal atomization nozzles and forms fluid steams and/or fluid droplets, which flow out from each nozzle at relatively lower speed. These fluid steams and fluid droplets will collide again at a same point from each nozzle to form a uniform flow pattern.
All of these technologies are applied and used for many industry fields, such as airless, airless and air assistance spray systems, static airless spray units, vehicle and aircraft engine fuel jets, oven oil nozzles, agricultural operations, fire prevention system, etc. However, these technologies were not designed to let the fluid collide in the potential area or core. They were simply designed according to the free flow jet theory only, or the fluid flow collision theory. In other words, these technologies did not fully utilize both fluid potential energy and fluid velocity energy efficiently.
The objectives of this invention is to provide a concept and design for spray nozzles to fully utilize both flow pressure potential energy and flow velocity energy. This way, both potential energy and velocity energy are transformed from fluid flow to fluid particles directly and the fluid flow is atomized more efficiently and as a result, provides a better atomization flow pattern.


Methods and apparatus for identifying primary media content in a post-production media content presentation are disclosed. An example computer-implemented method to detect primary media content included in a secondary media content presentation disclosed herein comprises determining a first image corresponding to the secondary media content presentation, the first image comprising a plurality of image subregions, each image subregion representative of an inter-frame variation associated with a corresponding subregion of the secondary media content presentation, selecting a region of the first image comprising a plurality of connected image subregions of the first image together exhibiting a first type of inter-frame variation, and when a shape of the selected region of the first image corresponds to a predefined shape, processing a region of the first captured image corresponding to the selected region of the first synthetic image to identify the primary media content.

In many media broadcast systems, primary (e.g., original) media content undergoes post-production to create resulting secondary (e.g., post-production) media content for presentation to audience members. For example, primary media content (e.g., such as a movie, television program, commercial, etc.) may be cropped, resized and/or repositioned during post-production to allow other multimedia content (e.g., such as tickers, banners, program guides, etc.) to be presented simultaneously with the primary media content. For example, a post-production process may cause primary television program content to be shrunk and positioned in a first region encompassing an upper left portion of a video display. Then, a ticker may be included in a second region encompassing a bottom portion of the video display, with the ticker presenting information that scrolls to the left. An additional region of static, or semi-static, information may be included in a third region encompassing a right side of the video display. Many existing media content and/or commercial detection and/or identification techniques perform content monitoring by processing video images corresponding to the full video display containing the entire secondary (e.g., post-production) media content presentation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed herein are various embodiments for targeted document information extraction. An embodiment operates by receiving a document associated with a particular customer of a plurality of customers. It is determined whether to use a global processor or template processor to analyze the document based on whether one or more customer templates are associated with the particular customer. Which of the one or more templates associated with the particular customer correspond to the document is identified. The document is compared to the identified template associated with the customer. Information is extracted from the document based on the identified template and the identified plurality of variations. The extracted information for the document is output.

Optical character recognition (OCR) is a technique used to identify text or characters in an image. However, a user often wants more context about the information being conveyed beyond the simple identification of text or characters in an image. For example, knowing the letters that appear on a sales invoice may not help a sales associate who wants to know what products were ordered on a particular date. However this type of contextual analysis and information extraction is beyond the scope of an OCR system.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Targeted document information extraction