This invention discloses a storage visualization subsystem and system with host-side redundancy via SAS connectivity. The I/O interconnect interface between the storage visualization controller and the host is a serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface. At least one SAS expander is inserted on the I/O interconnect path of the host side to provide the function of device expansion. Or, a built-in virtual SAS expander is disposed inside the storage virtualization controller to provide multiple virtual IDs for each SAS port. When one controller in the storage virtualization controller pair malfunctions or fails, the invention provides solutions in accord with different embodiments so that the surviving controller can inherit the ID of the failed one. Thus, the host can keep functioning normally as it is not aware of any change in the device status.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a redundant storage virtualization subsystem and system and, in particular, to a redundant storage virtualization subsystem and system with host-side SAS connectivity.
2. Related Art
Storage virtualization is a technology that virtualizes different sections of physical storage devices (PSDs) to be logical storage entities provided for a host system to access. The logical storage entities are referred to as the logical media units (LMUs) hereinafter. This technology is primarily used in the storage virtualization of a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). Using this RAID technology, smaller PSDs can be combined to form a LMU with a larger capacity, fault tolerance ability, and better efficiency.
The primary purpose of the storage virtualization controller (SVC) is to achieve the above-mentioned functions. The SVC maps combinations of sections of the PSDs to the LMUs visible to the host system. When an I/O request is received by the SVC from the host system, it is first parsed and interpreted, and then the associated operations and data are translated into the PSD I/O requests. This process may be indirect with operations cached, delayed (e.g. write-back), anticipated (read-ahead), grouped, etc., to improve the efficiency and other operational characteristics. Therefore, a host I/O request may not necessarily have directly one-to-one correspondence with a PSD I/O request.
An external (or stand-alone) SVC is a SVC that connects to the host system via an I/O interface. It is also capable of being connected to an external device resided out of the host system. Generally speaking, the external SVC operates independent of the host system.
An external (or stand-alone) direct-access RAID controller is one example of the external SVC. The RAID controller combines sections of one or more PSDs into LMUs. Their constitution is determined by the nature of a particular RAID level. The LMUs thus formed are contiguously addressable by the host system so that each LMU can be utilized. Typically, a single RAID controller can support many RAID levels. Therefore, different LMUs may consist of sections of PSDs combined in different fashions by virtue of different RAID levels. The different LMUs combined in different fashions have different characteristics of the RAID levels, respectively.
Another example of the external SVC is a JBOD emulation controller. A JBOD, short for "Just a Bunch of Drives", is a set of physical direct access storage devices that are directly connected to a host system via one or more multiple-device I/O device interconnect channels. An intelligent JBOD emulation device is used to emulate multiple multiple-device I/O device interconnects to directly access storage devices by mapping I/O requests to the physical direct access storage devices, which are connected to the JBOD emulation device individually via I/O device interconnect channels.
The RAID system often uses the concept of redundancy to ensure the security and availability of data. On the drive side, user data fault tolerance ability is achieved by storing one or more sets of redundant data. On the host side, a pair of SVCs is configured as a redundant pair, called the SVC pair, thereby solving the problem when a single SVC malfunctions or fails. The design of the SVC pair is to ensure the continuous data access for the host when only one SVC malfunctions or fails. This can be implemented by adding one function to the SVC pair to allow the surviving SVC to take over the other one's jobs when one of the SVC pair malfunctions or fails.
On the drive side of the RAID system, each of the two SVCs in the SVC pair has to be able to access all the PSDs, whether the PSD is originally assigned to be managed by it. On the host side, each SVC in the SVC pair must have the ability to present all accessible resources to the host for its use when its mate SVC is originally offline or first online then offline (because of being malfunctioned, failed, or maintained, etc). These accessible resources include those originally assigned to be managed by the mate SVC.
One representative implementation on the above-mentioned drive side is to use a multiple-initiator multiple-device type of drive-side I/O device interconnects, such as the optical fibre or the parallel small computer system interface (parallel SCSI). All of the drive-side I/O device interconnects are connected to the two SVCs. Therefore, any one of the two SVCs can access any PSDs connected to the drive-side I/O device interconnects. When the two SVCs are operating on line, each of the PSDs is managed by one of the SVC pair. As to which one of the SVC pair manages the PSD is determined by user's settings or the system configuration. For example, for a LMU composed of PSDs, all of the PSDs in the LMU are managed by the SVC specified by the LMU.
Another basic ingredient of the redundant storage virtualization system is that each of the SVC pair has to be able to monitor the status of the other one. This can be implemented using an inter-controller communications channel (ICC) disposed between the two SVCs and used to exchange the operating statuses of the two SVCs. This communications channel may be a dedicated one, whose sole purpose is to exchange the parameters and data related to the operations of the redundant storage virtualization subsystem. Alternatively, this communications channel is a single or multiple host-side or drive-side I/O device interconnects. Through this kind of interconnects, these parameters or data exchange in operations can be multitasking-transmitted along with data related to the host-SVC or drive-SVC I/O requests on these interconnects.
The commonly seen standards of the I/O interface between the SVC pair and the host are the fibre channel (FC) and the parallel SCSI. Both the FC and the parallel SCSI are multiple-device I/O device interconnects. The bandwidth of the multiple-device I/O device interconnect is shared by all the hosts and devices connected to it. The FC has good communication quality, fast speed, and high expansibility. However, its cost is very high. Although the parallel SCSI is a good choice under the consideration of cost/performance, its parallel transmission structure and shared bus characteristic largely limits its speed upgrade and extension potential in the future. Aside form the usual serial ATA (SATA) interface, the FC and the parallel SCSI interfaces are also the major drive-side I/O device interconnects for connecting the controller redundant pair to the PSDs.
To break through the bottleneck in the enhancement of speed performance for modem and future higher-speed transmissions, the serial-attached SCSI (SAS) interface is thereby come with the tide of fashion. The SAS adopts the verified advantages of the parallel SCSI (reliable, rich and mature command sets) as well as a new serial structure to achieve amazing transmission rate (3.0 Gbits/sec, or 6.0 Gbits/sec, or above) and considerable expansibility (up to connecting 16384 devices using expanders). The SAS technique has been implemented on the drive side on the market and is a mature product of the connection interface between the SVC(s) and the PSDs.
On the other hand, due to the peer-to-peer connection characteristic of the SAS, it cannot provide multiple device IDs to the host to identify as in the case of the FC or the parallel SCSI. Therefore, when it is used on the host side as the connection interface between the SVC(s) and the host, how to inherit the identity of the failed controller is a problem to overcome. At any rate, it is foreseeable that the advantages of high performance and expansibility of the SAS will enable it to be used on the host side in the near future.
The concept of redundancy is also implemented on an "initiator." The so-called "initiator" refers to the end that sends out commands. The SVC (or RAID system) that receives and executes the commands is considered as the "target." In practice, the initiator can be a host computer, such as a server system, workstation, personal computer (PC) or any other related computers, or even another SVC. The concept of redundancy on the initiator is practically achieved by using the multi-path I/O technology. It can provide multi-path connections from the initiator(s) to the target(s), achieving virtues including fault tolerance, high availability, better performance, etc.

Storage virtualization subsystem and system with host-side redundancy via SAS connectivity


A wheeled skate that includes a skate frame and a plurality of wheels disposed along that frame. A turnable wheel assembly is provided that includes two paired wheels, each supported by a movable axle. The turnable wheel assembly is preferably configured such that the paired wheels maintain a parallel relationship and a fixed distance from one another as the skate moves between varying degrees of turning. This configuration permits the paired wheels to be positioned close together. The axles may be supported by movable support members that move in parallel planes. Various embodiments are disclosed including the incorporation of two turnable paired-wheel assemblies in one skate.

The prior art is replete with wheeled devices that couple to a user's feet. These include conventional roller skates, in-line skates, and wheeled devices for cross-country ski training, among others. Exemplary prior art devices include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,425,586; 5,997,015; 5,401,040; 4,659,095; 4,138,127; and 3,442,523; among others.
Most of the devices disclosed in these patents utilize a fixed position wheel arrangement that provides either no or very limited turnability. To execute a turn, a user typically lifts one skate over the other and places the raised skate down at an angle to the first. The position of the raised skate when once again placed on the ground constitutes the new line of direction. To execute a sharper turn, a user may lift his or her skate several times making small incremental turns each time.
One attempt to increase the turnability of a wheeled skate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,523. The '523 patent discloses a conventional roller skate having two pairs of wheels. Each pair of wheels has a wheel mount assembly including an angled shaft and an axle that is common to the paired wheels. Leaning the skate from side causes the skate "shoe" portion to rotate about the wheel assembly shafts which in turn causes each common axle and the paired wheels attached thereto to rotate substantially in the horizontal plane, thereby causing the skate to experience enhanced turning.
Among other disadvantageous aspects of this arrangement, the wheel spacing is rather wide apart and there is little clearance between the skate base or frame and the top of the wheels. If a user tries to more aggressively turn the skate, the skate base comes in contact with the wheels, impeding wheel rotation, slowing or even stopping the skate, and potentially causing a damaging fall. Thus, the device of the '523 patent is both limited in turnability and potentially dangerous.
Other turnable prior art wheeled skate devices are known. Many of these, however, are disadvantageously long having wheels or a frame structure that extends beyond the shoe region, and some are disadvantageously unstable, due to a single wheel design or other limitations.
A need thus exists for a wheeled skate device that provides enhanced turnability. Needs also exist for such a wheeled skate device that is relatively compact, lightweight and/or has good stability.


Techniques are presented for dealing with errors that arise from cluster fails, where a number of memory cells in the same area fail. An ECC code word can tolerate a given total amount of error while still being able to still be decoded, so that if error due to clusters can be identified and removed or lessened, it may be possible to still decode the word not otherwise decodable. After identifying possible error bit cluster locations, one or more bits in the cluster locations are flipped to see if the data content of the code word can be extracted. For embodiments using LDPC ECC code, uncertainty can be added for the bits of a suspected cluster location. To reduce the effects of cluster failures, code words can be interleaved within a page and the difference code words can have differing levels of ECC capability.

Solid-state memory capable of nonvolatile storage of charge, particularly in the form of EEPROM and flash EEPROM packaged as a small form factor card, has recently become the storage of choice in a variety of mobile and handheld devices, notably information appliances and consumer electronics products. Unlike RAM (random access memory) that is also solid-state memory, flash memory is non-volatile, and retaining its stored data even after power is turned off. Also, unlike ROM (read only memory), flash memory is rewritable similar to a disk storage device. In spite of the higher cost, flash memory is increasingly being used in mass storage applications. Conventional mass storage, based on rotating magnetic medium such as hard drives and floppy disks, is unsuitable for the mobile and handheld environment. This is because disk drives tend to be bulky, are prone to mechanical failure and have high latency and high power requirements. These undesirable attributes make disk-based storage impractical in most mobile and portable applications. On the other hand, flash memory, both embedded and in the form of a removable card are ideally suited in the mobile and handheld environment because of its small size, low power consumption, high speed and high reliability features.
Flash EEPROM is similar to EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory) in that it is a non-volatile memory that can be erased and have new data written or "programmed" into their memory cells. Both utilize a floating (unconnected) conductive gate, in a field effect transistor structure, positioned over a channel region in a semiconductor substrate, between source and drain regions. A control gate is then provided over the floating gate. The threshold voltage characteristic of the transistor is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, for a given level of charge on the floating gate, there is a corresponding voltage (threshold) that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned "on" to permit conduction between its source and drain regions. In particular, flash memory such as Flash EEPROM allows entire blocks of memory cells to be erased at the same time.
The floating gate can hold a range of charges and therefore can be programmed to any threshold voltage level within a threshold voltage window. The size of the threshold voltage window is delimited by the minimum and maximum threshold levels of the device, which in turn correspond to the range of the charges that can be programmed onto the floating gate. The threshold window generally depends on the memory device's characteristics, operating conditions and history. Each distinct, resolvable threshold voltage level range within the window may, in principle, be used to designate a definite memory state of the cell.
It is common in current commercial products for each storage element of a flash EEPROM array to store a single bit of data by operating in a binary mode, where two ranges of threshold levels of the storage element transistors are defined as storage levels. The threshold levels of transistors correspond to ranges of charge levels stored on their storage elements. In addition to shrinking the size of the memory arrays, the trend is to further increase the density of data storage of such memory arrays by storing more than one bit of data in each storage element transistor. This is accomplished by defining more than two threshold levels as storage states for each storage element transistor, four such states (2 bits of data per storage element) now being included in commercial products. More storage states, such as 16 states per storage element, are also being implemented. Each storage element memory transistor has a certain total range (window) of threshold voltages in which it may practically be operated, and that range is divided into the number of states defined for it plus margins between the states to allow for them to be clearly differentiated from one another. Obviously, the more bits a memory cell is configured to store, the smaller is the margin of error it has to operate in.
The transistor serving as a memory cell is typically programmed to a "programmed" state by one of two mechanisms. In "hot electron injection," a high voltage applied to the drain accelerates electrons across the substrate channel region. At the same time a high voltage applied to the control gate pulls the hot electrons through a thin gate dielectric onto the floating gate. In "tunneling injection," a high voltage is applied to the control gate relative to the substrate. In this way, electrons are pulled from the substrate to the intervening floating gate. While the term "program" has been used historically to describe writing to a memory by injecting electrons to an initially erased charge storage unit of the memory cell so as to alter the memory state, it has now been used interchangeable with more common terms such as "write" or "record."
The memory device may be erased by a number of mechanisms. For EEPROM, a memory cell is electrically erasable, by applying a high voltage to the substrate relative to the control gate so as to induce electrons in the floating gate to tunnel through a thin oxide to the substrate channel region (i.e., Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.) Typically, the EEPROM is erasable byte by byte. For flash EEPROM, the memory is electrically erasable either all at once or one or more minimum erasable blocks at a time, where a minimum erasable block may consist of one or more sectors and each sector may store 512 bytes or more of data.
The memory device typically comprises one or more memory chips that may be mounted on a card. Each memory chip comprises an array of memory cells supported by peripheral circuits such as decoders and erase, write and read circuits. The more sophisticated memory devices also come with a controller that performs intelligent and higher level memory operations and interfacing.
There are many commercially successful non-volatile solid-state memory devices being used today. These memory devices may be flash EEPROM or may employ other types of nonvolatile memory cells. Examples of flash memory and systems and methods of manufacturing them are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,070,032, 5,095,344, 5,315,541, 5,343,063, and 5,661,053, 5,313,421 and 6,222,762. In particular, flash memory devices with NAND string structures are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,570,315, 5,903,495, 6,046,935. Also nonvolatile memory devices are also manufactured from memory cells with a dielectric layer for storing charge. Instead of the conductive floating gate elements described earlier, a dielectric layer is used. Such memory devices utilizing dielectric storage element have been described by Eitan et al., "NROM: A Novel Localized Trapping, 2-Bit Nonvolatile Memory Cell," IEEE Electron Device Letters, vol. 21, no. 11, November 2000, pp. 543-545. An ONO dielectric layer extends across the channel between source and drain diffusions. The charge for one data bit is localized in the dielectric layer adjacent to the drain, and the charge for the other data bit is localized in the dielectric layer adjacent to the source. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,768,192 and 6,011,725 disclose a nonvolatile memory cell having a trapping dielectric sandwiched between two silicon dioxide layers. Multi-state data storage is implemented by separately reading the binary states of the spatially separated charge storage regions within the dielectric.
Errors in Written Data
In the types of memory systems described herein, as well as in others, including magnetic disc storage systems, the integrity of the data being stored is maintained by use of an error correction technique. Most commonly, an error correction code (ECC) is calculated for each sector or other unit of data that is being stored at one time, and that ECC is stored along with the data. The ECC is most commonly stored together with a unit group of user data from which the ECC has been calculated. The unit group of user data may be a sector or a multi-sector page. When this data is read from the memory, the ECC is used to determine the integrity of the user data being read. Erroneous bits of data within the unit group of data can often be corrected by use of the ECC.
The trend is to reduce the size of the memory systems in order to be able to put more memory cells in the system and to make the system as small as possible to fit in smaller host devices. Memory capacity is increased by a combination of higher integration of circuits and configuring each memory cell to store more bits of data. Both techniques require the memory to operate with increasing tighter margin of error. This in turn places more demand on the ECC to correct errors. The ECC can be designed to correct a predetermined number of error bits. The more bits it has to correct, the more complex and computationally intensive will the ECC be.
A memory device typically includes one or more memory chips in cooperation with a memory controller chip. Each memory chip has an array of memory cells and peripheral circuits and a basic on-chip control circuit driven by a state machine to control low-level memory operations such as read, write and erase operations. The memory controller chip typically has a microprocessor and RAM to handle more complex operations and data processing. Since ECC is computationally intensive, it is usually handled by the memory controller. Owing to the ECC operations being located on an external memory controller, data read from the memory chip must be toggled out to the memory controller in order to perform ECC operations. A non-volatile memory typically operates with a host to store and retrieve data. In a normal host read, the read data has to be toggled out anyway, so on its way to the host via the controller, it can have the controller perform ECC operations.
When ECC is used to correct error bits in NAND flash and other memory types, data on pages are divided into code words, which are the units for error corrections. Within a code word, total number of correctable error bits is limited by the ECC capability of the code word. In situations where error bits are clustered together, the clustered error bits add to the total amount of error of the code word and reduce number of random error bits in the code word that are correctable. As the result, code words with clustered error bits often cannot be corrected with ECC and result in uncorrectable error data.
Thus, there is a need to address the problem of correcting cluster error bit errors and allow more random failure bits, effectively allowing the memory system to correct more error bits within the device's ECC capability.

Data recovery on cluster failures and ECC enhancements with code word interleaving


A funnel for use in juice making processes and related method of using the funnel are disclosed.

Juice extraction systems used to make juice from food products such as fruits and vegetables are designed with feeders or chutes to feed the food products through the juicers. However, such systems do not accommodate for loading large portions of food products into chutes, and hence are characterized by slow processing speeds or throughputs. In addition, such systems do not provide for re juicing droppings or exhaust from the juicer. Similarly, prior art funnels are designed to be used with liquid substances, prone to clogging and cannot be efficiently and effectively used with juicers or blenders for processing solid food products such as fruits and vegetables.

Funnel for food processing and related method


In a valve control unit for a ram jet propulsion system having a power unit space a valve for controlling a fuel quantity required to the propulsion system, and a valve adjusting unit which is constructed to be operable by means of an electronic control unit, the valve is combined with its valve adjusting unit and its electronic control unit to form a thermally insulated valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured for the arrangement in the power unit space.

This application claims the priority of German patent document DE 10 2007 010 349.4, filed Mar. 3, 2007, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a valve control unit for a ram jet propulsion system, and to a guided missile having such a valve control unit.
Valve control units of the generic type are used for guided missiles. As a function of signals obtained from sensors, such as position and speed sensors, they control a fuel flow rate for propelling the guided missile.
The very high temperatures that can occur in the interior of the guided missile as a result of a power unit burn, can cause thermal problems in the electronic control system of the guided missile. In addition, the electric connection from the valve control unit to the electronic system requires considerable cable lengths, which may result in electromagnetic compatibility problems. Under certain circumstances, both of these problems may impair reliable operation of the guided missile.
One object of the present invention to provide an improved valve control unit which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the valve control unit according to the invention, in which virtually all functions are centralized in a simple manner (specifically, without any high-expenditure constructional change of a guided missile), because an intermediate structure of the power unit is present anyway. In addition, it becomes possible to clearly reduce the contact surfaces of the mechanical interfaces, so that the unit according to the invention is housed in a thermally insulated manner, particularly by air gap insulation, which is particularly suitable for thermal insulation and also saves material. The electronic system is arranged inside the intermediate structure of the power unit, together with the mechanical valve assembly.
Another advantage of the invention is that it minimizes external functions, which in turn permits a reduction of data transmission systems.
In addition, the valve control unit according to the invention is very robust and mounting-friendly, since a very compact unit is mounted in the guided missile. The latter can also easily be tested as a result of the invention.
In an advantageous embodiment of the valve control unit according to the invention, the valve assembly is embedded in a constructional body, which reliably protects the mechanical, electrical and electromechanical components of the valve control unit, which can easily be preassembled. The constructional body with its components can be accommodated in the guided missile in a few mounting steps.
It is particularly advantageous for the valve assembly to be embedded in one or more recesses of the constructional body, with the constructional body being designed as a molded body. As a result, the components can be fixed easily and reliably; and, on the other hand, the recesses form air chambers which promote a thermal insulation because they are not in a direct contact with thermally heated parts of the missile. In particular, a very good thermal protection is obtained when the constructional body is equipped with a housing unit having a housing cover forming an air insulation gap. The housing cover prevents direct heating of the components, and allows the components to be accessible when the housing cover is removed.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve control unit comprises an electromotive drive, particularly having a servomotor which is connected with a threaded spindle. A spindle gearing part provided on the threaded spindle can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the threaded spindle and is connected by means of a lever element with a valve shaft. The latter defining a 90° angle with respect to the axis of the spindle drive. The threaded spindle—servo motor solution having the lever arm permits a very precise apportioning of the fuel quantity. Very rapid changes of the fuel quantity controlled by the valve can also be implemented. Furthermore, this construction provides a very space-saving arrangement, so that it can also be used if the diameter of the guided missile is relatively small.
The flying precision of the guided missile can be improved by providing an electronic control unit that comprises a controlling part having a desired phase value unit, a correction controller and an error detection unit for polar values. In this case, the desired phase value unit is fed at its input, on the one hand, with polar current and/or voltage commands and, on the other hand, with a correction signal of the correction controller. The correction controller is connected with the error detection unit, and the error detection unit is supplied with desired and actual values. Corrected desired phase values can be fed to a phase current controller, which considerably improves the controlling characteristics of the controlling function of the valve control unit.
It is also advantageous that the electronic control unit is equipped with a sensor interface with a signal processing unit that includes a semiconductor bridge circuit for controlling a driving motor, and for controlling fuel quantity required for the propulsion, in turn, the semiconductor bridge circuit is also housed in the compact control unit, so that only external sensors have to be connected at the sensor interface in order to measure, for example, a pressure in a combustion chamber.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Valve control unit for ramjet propulsion system as well as guided missile having such a valve control unit


A directional horn may include at least one group of a plurality of speakers or audio emitters. The audio emitters may each emit and audio signal at a same frequency. A processor may control a relative phase difference and relative gain difference between each audio signal, based on a determined direction. The directional horn may be positioned on a vehicle. The determined direction may be based on a direction indicated by a driver controlling the vehicle, external environmental factors, vehicle dynamics, or other factors.

During operation of a vehicle, horns installed on the vehicle may be used by drivers to alert people and animals of the vehicle's presence and movement. Many vehicle horns may include a flat diaphragm structure that vibrates at predetermined frequency. The vibration may be controlled by an electromagnetic motor or solid state driver circuit. Other horns may be produced by digital audio signals transmitted by a speaker. In a vehicle horn system, multiple horns or audio emitters may be arranged to produce a chord of more than one frequency. A multiple frequency chord may be more perceptible in an environment with high ambient noise.
In many areas, such as highways and urban environments, heavy car usage may result in a high level of ambient noise or noise pollution from an increased amount of honking horns. Noise pollution may negatively affect the health of individuals living near noisy and high-traffic areas. A constant backdrop of noise may elevate stress, causing an increase in blood pressure or a change in heart rhythm, and may increase the pace of hearing loss. Further, pedestrians and other road user may be less alert to horns directed at them. Noise pollution may also negatively impact nearby wildlife.


Glue slime activator compositions, kits comprising glue slime activator compositions and a glue or adhesive of appropriate functionality for crosslinking, and methods of making glue slime activator compositions are provided herein.

Novelty "slime" (e.g., a gelatinous, viscous, mucous like fluid or semi-solid substance) compositions can be produced by combining a poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) based glue with borax. However, borax, in its powder form, is not an approved product for use by children and carries several health and safety warnings, particularly in its concentrated form. An alternative to powdered borax is contact lens solution mixed with baking soda; however, this alternative is costly, requires multiple ingredients in addition to the glue to produce a slime, and is also not approved for use by children.
Thus, there is a need for a further alternative, safer option for making slime from glue.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Glue slime activator and associated methods and kits


A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal is used to control a foreign matter detector (FMD) during the insertion of unique prizes that would ordinarily trigger the FMD. After detecting the unique prize, the controller for the insertion device shuts down the FMD for a predetermined period of time to allow the unique prize to pass through without triggering the FMD. The controller may also increase a counter each time one of the unique prizes is detected to keep track of the number of unique prizes inserted. Once the unique prize passes through, the FMD is turned back on so that foreign objects may again be detected. The amount of time that the FMD is turned off is minimized.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to inserting articles such as coupons and prizes into product packages, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for sensing unique items to be inserted into product packages.
2. Description of Related Art
Manufacturers of various snacks, candies, cereals, and other products often desire to place a prize or other object into the container during the packaging process. The terms xe2x80x9cprizexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ccouponxe2x80x9d as used herein include any type of insert, coupon, card, sheet, receipt, warranty, premium, cash, or other three dimensional novelty items that can be handled in accordance with the invention described herein. Similarly, the terms xe2x80x9ccontainerxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cpackagexe2x80x9d are used in the broadest possible context to include containers such as boxes, tubs, cans, bags, and vessels of all kinds as well as other prize or coupon receiving means that can be used with the invention described herein. In the prior art, the prizes are typically formed in a bandolier and inserted into the packaging system using an insertion device. For example, the prizes may be formed as a continuous fold of coupons. The continuous fold contains a plurality of pouches that contain coupons and are perforated on each side to allow easy separation. A pair of breaking rollers are adapted to separate adjacent coupons. After the coupons are separated, the individual coupon is directed into the package prior to or during the package filling and sealing process. These coupons are most commonly used with food packages, but the present invention is not limited to food applications.
In one prior art system, the insertion device is placed just upstream of a foreign matter detector before the product is packaged. Product manufacturers often desire to run promotional campaigns in which various unique prizes are randomly placed into the product packages. One particular campaign that has been implemented is that of randomly inserting cash into the packages. In this campaign, a coupon is inserted into each bag with a coupon being randomly replaced with a note, such as a one dollar bill. Because cash has conductive properties it is a prize that is unique as compared to the coupons. A problem has arisen in that the foreign matter detector is activated every time cash passes through the foreign matter detector (FMD). Whenever the FMD is triggered, the system is typically shut down and the operator must determine the cause of the shut down. This substantially reduces the throughput of the system. Not only is the line shut down, but the employees that are operating the product line are aware of the package that contains the cash and may be tempted to remove the cash. One solution to this problem is to shut off the FMD so that it is not used whenever such a promotional campaign is in progress. However, the obvious problem with this solution is that it is not desirable to shut down the FMD because foreign matter may escape undetected until it reaches the final consumer of the product.
Another problem with the prior art systems is that there is no way to monitor the number of unique prizes that have been inserted. Thus, the batch of packages may be shipped to consumers with more or less than the desired amount of unique prizes inserted. For example, problems have arisen in a promotional campaign in which free cars were given away. Instead of inserting 50 unique coupons containing the free car prize, 500 unique coupons were inserted and it was not until consumers started claiming their free cars that the problem was recognized.
Although most systems sense the insertion of every prize or coupon by the insertion device simply to verify that the coupon or prize was inserted, there are no systems in the prior art that allow for distinguishing between the standard coupon or prize and a unique coupon or prize as they are being inserted by the insertion device. Therefore, there is a need for a system that allows cash or other unique prizes to be detected so that an appropriate action may be taken. For example, in promotional campaigns where unique prizes that normally trigger the FMD are randomly inserted into the packages, the system should allow detection of the unique prizes to allow an appropriate signal to be sent to the FMD rather than deactivating the FMD during the entire promotional campaign. The system should allow cash or other unique prizes to be inserted without triggering the FMD and causing the product line to be shut down. The system should provide assurance that foreign matter does not escape undetected. Also, the system should provide a means for detecting and counting the number of unique prizes inserted during a promotional campaign. Furthermore, the system should be easily adaptable to existing insertion devices in current product packaging systems.
The present invention provides for a novel insertion device that is able to detect unique prizes as they are inserted and is easily adaptable to current systems. A number of sensors may be used in conjunction with the inserter to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, an inductive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique prize that is easily distinguishable from other prizes or coupons being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a number of useful functions. In one embodiment of the invention, unique prizes that would ordinarily trigger the FMD are randomly inserted during a promotional campaign. The signal generated by the sensor is used to de-activate the FMD while the unique prizes pass through the FMD, thus allowing the FMD on the product line to remain in operation during the promotional campaign. Upon detecting a unique prize, a signal is sent to the controller for the insertion device to shut down the FMD for a pre-determined period of time to allow the prize to pass through without triggering the FMD. The controller may also increase a counter by one each time one of the unique prizes is detected to keep track of the number of unique prizes inserted. Once the unique prize passes through, the FMD is turned back on so that foreign objects may again be detected. The present invention minimizes the amount of time that the FMD is turned off.

Method and apparatus for detecting unique items during insertion into a product packaging system


An indicator for a dispenser is disclosed. The indicator includes at least one display layer having at least one display surface surrounded by at least one edge surface, the at least one display layer being transparent in a direction of the at least one edge surface; at least one light source configured to transmit light through the at least one display layer in the direction of the at least one edge surface; and at least one pattern portion disposed in the at least one display surface such that light from the at least one light source is redirected through the at least one pattern portion.

The present disclosure generally relates to an edge-lit indicator for an appliance dispenser and more particularly to an ice and water dispenser for a refrigerator.
Many refrigerators have built in dispensers for ice and/or water. Often located in a refrigerator or freezer door, a dispenser is typically configured to dispense crushed or cubed ice directly from a built in ice maker, and to dispense water from a connection to a water line that feeds the water dispenser and ice maker. Typically, a receptacle such as a glass is pressed against a built in paddle beneath the dispenser, dropping ice and/or water into the receptacle. The paddle may be lit, e.g., via LED, for easy location by the user in low-light situations. Dispensers may have more than one paddle to facilitate dispensing different items. For example, a dispenser may have three paddles side by side configured to dispense water, crushed ice and ice cubes, respectively.
Other dispensers may have one paddle that may be configured to dispense a number of different items in different modes depending on a user input such as a button or switch. Typically, the dispenser has a display that may indicate the current mode prior to dispensing the respective item, for example, by displaying the mode, e.g., via an LED, when the display is touched. This configuration has the disadvantage of requiring a user to perform an additional physical step before verifying the mode. These displays may also require at least one LED for each mode, and each indicator for each respective mode is in a different location of the display. In addition, the display may have other, unrelated LEDs that make it more difficult for a user to quickly locate information about the current dispenser mode. LED backlit displays may also exhibit uneven light distribution within an indicator, or else require multiple LEDs for each indicator. Other displays have indicators that are always on so as not to require input from the user prior to displaying the mode, but still have all the other drawbacks listed above.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system that addresses at least some of the problems identified above.

Edge-lit indicator for an appliance dispenser


An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive thin film piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave resonator that allows fine-tuning of a resonant frequency. Another object is to provide an inexpensive filter with dramatically improved frequency characteristics, using thin film piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave resonators that can be formed on one substrate. A thin film piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave resonator of the present invention has a laminated structure including a piezoelectric thin film, and a first metal electrode film and a second metal electrode film between which part of the piezoelectric thin film is sandwiched; the first metal electrode film has a plurality of holes formed on an electrode plane opposite to the second metal electrode film and having a depth equivalent to at least the thickness of the first metal electrode film; and if a combined thickness of top and bottom electrode layers and the piezoelectric thin film is ht, the covering ratio σ of the electrode plane of the first metal electrode film satisfies a condition 0<σ<1 for every 1.28 ht pitch.

An FBAR (Film Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator) and an SMR (Solidly Mounted Resonator) are well known as thin film piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave resonators suitable for a radio frequency filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,249B2 discloses an FBAR-type thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator that allows resonators with different resonant frequencies to be fabricated on the same substrate by forming a surface loading layer, which covers a surface electrode layer and is patterned thereon, on the surface electrode layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,601 discloses a piezoelectric resonator composed of a laminate that is formed by a plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers between which a substrate is interposed that has a plurality of electrodes with different areas.
"Aigner et al., Bulk-Acoustic Wave Filters: Performance Optimization and Volume Manufacturing, 2003 IEEE MTT-S Digest, pp. 2001-2004" describes an SMR-type thin film bulk acoustic filter that shifts resonant frequency by adding an auxiliary metal layer on top of a surface electrode layer, in order to fabricate a resonator with a different frequency.
"Wang et al., Method of Fabricating Multiple-frequency Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBARs) in a Single Chip, 2006, IEEE Frequency Control Symposium Digest, p. 179" describes a method of enabling the adjustment of resonant frequency by providing an additional adjusting layer on top of a surface electrode layer and thereby controlling the width of the adjusting layer or pitch adjusting pattern.

Thin film piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave resonator and radio frequency filter using the same


Techniques for determining data requirements for cellular phone use within one or more cells of a cellular network. A central processing repository receives user information identifying a cellular phone user within a cell of the network. In response, the central processing repository accesses usage profile information. The usage profile information specifies historical data usage in the cell for a given location and time. The central processing repository determines, based on the usage profile information, a current mode of operation and a probability that the current mode of operation will change. The central processing repository provides the current mode of operation and probability of mode change to a cell tower of the cell.

The mobile, or cellular, communication system is in the process of replacing many traditional industries and communication systems. This is a result of the technological advances in computational miniaturization that have led to handheld cellular devices that far exceed the capabilities of the personal computer of a few years ago. As handheld cellular devices replace the personal computer, the wired telephone, the digital assistant, and an a host of other existing consumer electronic devices, the data demands on existing and future cellular networks will be extensive. This has resulted in deficiencies in current systems for managing the limited bandwidth resources of cellular networks.

Prediction of mobile bandwidth and usage requirements


A scanning apparatus for use in a laser beam printer or the like comprising a control means for varying the spacing between adjoining scanning beams of a plurality of laser beams, which further comprises a plurality of light sources, a means for changing intensity, including on/off states, of the beam from the light sources, and a rotating polygonal mirror for allowing the beams to scan the scanned plane in parallel, and is adapted, in accordance with the value of the pixel density of information to be recorded, such that, in the beam scanning direction, the area exposed to the beam is changed by changing the width of a beam intensity modulating pulse, and in the direction perpendicular to the beam scanning, the number of revolutions of the rotating polygonal mirror is changed.

The present invention relates to a light beam scanning apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus using a plurality of light sources for scanning a plurality of light beams in parallel.
In a conventional light beam scanning apparatus such as a laser beam printer, light beam scanning is effected by moving a rotating polygonal mirror or a vibrating mirror at a high speed. With such arrangement, to attain higher speed operation and improved resolution, it becomes necessary to increase the operating speed of the rotating polygonal mirror or the vibrating mirror a great deal. However, there is a limit in its attainable speed. To cope with such a situation, a light beam scanning apparatus using a plurality of light sources so that a plurality of light beams are scanned in parallel on a scanned plane, while the beam spacing is kept constant, is proposed in Japanese Laid-open Pat. No. 60-166916, for example.
Such a hitherto proposed apparatus, however, has been designed to keep the spacing between the scanning beams at a predetermined constant value at all times, and there has not been given any consideration to have the beam spacing suitably changed so that its recording (pixel) density may be changed. Therefore, it has been difficult to change the recording density of the printer to a desired value.

Light beam scanning apparatus with controller for varying spacing between a plurality of scanning beams


A method for use in an interactive data processing system which includes a processor for controlling data entered into said system from an input device, and a display device which functions to display a spreadsheet shell that is defined by an application program. Data is entered into said system interactively by an operator through an input device, such as a keyboard. The operator selects a cell of the spreadsheet in accordance with the type of cursor positioning mechanism provided in the system. Once a cell is selected, an editing cursor is displayed in the cell at a predetermined first entry position. As each character of data is entered, it is displayed in the cell, just as it was entered. The data is neither formatted nor calculated if it was a formula. The operator indicates to the system when data entry is complete, by pressing an "Accept" key which may be a dedicated key, preprogrammed key, or one of the function keys on the keyboard. Various conventional editing actions of the data in the cell are provided, such as deleting characters and scrolling at the edge of the cell.

The term "interactive data processing system" generally describes a data processing system comprising a central processing unit which functions to store and process data, a display screen on which information from the system is displayed to the operator, and a keyboard which is used by the operator for entering information into the system. Such systems may also include a printer for producing hard copy output of selected information and one or more disk storage devices which function to transfer operating system programs, application programs, and user data between the system and the diskettes which provide off-line storage of such information.
The system is interactive in the sense of the interaction that occurs between the operator and the display screen which is determined primarily by the programs being executed by the central processing unit which, in turn, are selected by the operator. The significance to the system of keystroke data selected by the operator is dependent upon the particular state of the program being executed which is generally manifested to the operator by the information displayed to the operator. In other words, the same sequence of keystrokes can cause the system to react differently, depending on the state of the program being executed when that sequence is entered. In a similar fashion, the type and amount of information that is displayed to the operator affects, to a large degree, the amount of control the operator has over how a particular processing task is performed which, in turn, reflects on the overall performance of the system. The operator interface to the system is an important aspect of the overall system.
Personal computers currently being marked are prime examples of interactive data processing systems in which the operator interface is extremely important. An application program from a functional standpoint, may be excellent, but if the procedures required of the operator to interact with the application program are not "user friendly," the application program generally will not meet with wide acceptance in the market place. It is therefore important from both a performance and marketing standpoint that this interface be as friendly, logical, and natural as possible. These requirements reflect the fact that most operators of interactive personal computer systems have had a rather limited exposure to the technical details of the system hardware and the software. In addition, while the operator may be expected to be knowledgeable on several separate types of applications such as word processing, data base, spreadsheets, and graphics, the average operator generally is not involved in running all applications every day.
Most often, one or two applications need only be run on a periodic basis so that the operator is continually faced with a recall problem of what sequence of keystrokes are required to perform a given task in this particular application. The more natural the sequence is, the easier it is for the operator not to hesitate or make an erroneous entry in performing the task. Programs that are designed with these types of considerations for the operator, provoke less operator frustration and are generally considered "user friendly."
Certain applications, by the nature of their subject matter, are more complex than others. Most operators can relate easily to text processing type programs since they have been exposed to most of the subject matter and functions involved in these types of application programs. On the other hand, the subject matter of a spreadsheet type of program is generally less familiar to the average operator so that in addition to learning the steps involved in the user interface, there is an added element of learning various aspects of the subject matter itself. It is therefore even more important in spreadsheet type of programs that detailed aspects of the user interface be addressed from the standpoint of ease of learning and use.
A number of spreadsheet type programs are currently available for use with various personal computing systems. These programs generally display a so-called "spreadsheet," consisting of a number of columns and a number of rows, the columns being labeled alphabetically, from left to right and the rows being labeled numerically, from top to bottom. The width of the columns is expressed in terms of characters and in some spreadsheet programs, the width of each column can be set individually by the operator. The spreadsheet therefore comprises a number of "cells," the location of which is defined by the column and row, e.g., A17, E9, etc.
A cell is selected by the operator through the cursor positioning keys on the keyboard or in some programs, may be selected by keying in the cell location, preceded by an appropriate command from the operator, such as, "go to CxRx." In either case, the selected cell is highlighted and the system is in a state to perform some type of editing action specified by the operator on the selected cell. At this point in the program, the default function is one of data entry and the system is displaying a spreadsheet which is 80 characters wide and approximately 20 rows long (assuming a conventional 80 column, 24 line display). A line of information is also displayed at the top of the screen, setting forth the particular spreadsheet details, such as its name. Between the title line and the first row in the spreadsheet, there is generally also a data entry or prompt line that identifies the selected cell and provides an area where each character of data that is entered by the operator is immediately displayed. The data that is entered does not appear in the selected cell until the operator actuates the ENTER key.
This method of entering data in a selected cell is found to be frustrating to operators in some situations where the environment of the selected cell may influence how and where the data is entered in the cell.
In other cases, it has been found that because the operator's attention must be divided between two distinct areas of the screen, there is a tendency to create more errors, especially for operators who are not proficient touch typists. The present invention avoids the above-described problem.

Method for assisting the operator of an interactive data processing system to enter data directly into a selected cell of a spreadsheet

International Business Machines Corporation


A manufacturing method of a color filter is capable of achieving improvement in efficiency of use of materials and simplification in process, and forming highly accurate colored patterns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a color filer for use in, e.g., color liquid crystal displays, organic EL (electro luminescence) display units, or FED (filed emission displays).
2. Description of the Related Art
A color filter of, for example, color liquid crystal displays has been conventionally manufactured by such methods as staining in which a staining base material having photosensitivity is applied onto a transparent substrate, the staining base material is exposed to light through a photo-mask to develop, and the staining base material having been formed in a predetermined pattern is stained to be a colored layer; pigment dispersion in which a photosensitive resist in which coloring pigments have preliminarily been dispersed is applied onto a transparent substrate, and the photosensitive resist is exposed to light through a photo-mask and developed to form a predetermined pattern of colored layer; or printing in which using the printing technique, printing inks are directly applied onto a transparent substrate in a predetermined pattern by, e.g., ink-jet printing to obtain a colored layer as disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 235901/1988.

Abstract: The manufacturing method includes the steps of: continuously discharging a coloring matter from a nozzle to apply the coloring mater to between the banks 12 on the glass substrate while, with a nozzle being scanned with respect to a glass substrate 10 on which surface a predetermined pattern of light-blocking bank 12 is formed, intermittently feeding the glass substrate at a predetermined pitch in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction; aligning and superimposing on the backside of the glass substrate a mask plate in which a light transmission part corresponding to an active region of a color filter is formed, and exposing the glass substrate to light from backside through the mask plate to cause a coloring matter having been applied at a part corresponding to an active region of the color filter to be cured; and developing the surface side of the glass substrate to dissolve and remove the uncured coloring matter having been applied at a part corresponding to the non-active region of a color filter.


A rolling-sliding member that is high in hardness and continues to have a passivation film reliably even after being subjected to a process that does not require any processing for removal of scale etc., as well as a rolling bearing using the same and a method for manufacturing the rolling-sliding member.

Rolling bearings are used broadly in various fields. For example, in vehicle slide doors, rolling bearings (roller bearings) are used so that a slide door can be opened and closed smoothly along a slide rail that is provided on each side of a vehicle body. Rolling bearings are also used in slide doors of industrial machines, warehouses, etc. Rolling bearings for a slide door need to be high in strength so as to be able to support the weight of the slide door and not to be damaged or deformed by, for example, an impact load occurring when the door is opened or closed. Conventionally, rolling bearings of this type employ SUS440C which is of a martensite type and belongs to a class that is highest in hardness among stainless steels.
Incidentally, slide rails of a slide door may be installed in such a state as to be exposed directly to an external environment (ambient atmosphere). In this case, rolling bearings are also required to be high in corrosion resistance because they are put in such an exposed-to-water environment as to be easily exposed to a cleaning liquid for vehicle washing, an aqueous solution of calcium chloride of an anti-freezing agent, etc. Although SUS440C is high in hardness, it is at a low level in corrosion resistance among stainless steels. As a result, use of rolling bearings made of SUS440C in an exposed-to-water environment is associated with a problem that they are prone to rust.
Patent document 1 discloses a martensite-type stainless steel that is high in hardness and corrosion resistance and hence can be used suitably to form a bearing. In Patent document 1, the hardness is increased by setting the content of N higher than in conventional martensite-type stainless steels and optimizing the total content of C and N and the content ratio C/N. On the other hand, the corrosion resistance is increased by adding a corrosion resistance increasing element such as Mo and adding a proper amount of N in the matrix in the form of a solid solution.

Rolling slide member, rolling bearing using same, and method for manufacturing rolling slide member


Improved polypropylene resin foamed beads that without detriment to the excellence in properties, such as compression properties and heat resistance, characterizing the polypropylene resin foamed beads, can provide a polypropylene resin foamed bead molded article with equal properties by an molding conducted at low heating temperature. There are disclosed polypropylene resin foamed beads composed of a polypropylene resin of 115 to 135° C. melting point and 500 MPa or higher Olsen flexural modulus. The amount of ash at the surface of the foamed beads is 3000 wt. ppm or less (including 0). With respect to the foamed beads, in the first DSC curve obtained by heating 1 to 3 mg of polypropylene resin foamed beads from room temperature to 200° C. at a temperature elevation rate of 10° C./min by the use of a differential scanning calorimeter, there appear not only one or more endothermic peak (Pa) having the peak temperature within a temperature zone not higher than the melting point of the resin but also one or more endothermic peak (Pb) having the peak temperature within a temperature zone exceeding the melting point of the resin and not lower than 130° C. The total calorific value of the endothermic peak (Pb) is in the range of 2 to 12 J/g. Further, there is disclosed a foamed bead molded article obtained by molding the above foamed beads.

From movement toward plastic material integration in various industries in recent years, particularly a polypropylene resin is expanding industrial fields because of its excellence in the balance among mechanical strength, heat resistance, processability and price and because of its excellent properties in easy combustibility and easy recyclability. Similarly, polypropylene resin foamed bead molded articles obtained by molding of polypropylene resin foamed beads can be endowed with characteristics such as lightweight properties, shock-absorbing characteristics and thermal insulating properties without losing excellent properties of the polypropylene resin and are thus widely used as packaging materials, building materials, insulator materials, automotive materials etc.
A polypropylene resin foamed bead molded article obtained by molding polypropylene resin foamed beads is superior to a polystyrene resin foamed bead molded article in heat resistance, chemical resistance, rigidity, and compression strain recovery. On the other hand, when polypropylene resin foamed beads are secondarily foamed and simultaneously fused in molding, high-temperature heating as compared with molding of polystyrene resin foamed beads, that is, heating by steam at high saturation vapor pressure, is necessary. Accordingly, a mold with high pressure-proof specifications and a dedicated molding machine for high press pressure are necessary, and energy costs used therefor is also high.
To solve this problem, a method of coating the surfaces of polypropylene resin foamed beads with low-melting different resins is also carried out (for example, Patent Document 1), but the apparatus used in this coating is complicated and the production process thereof is also complicated, and the mutual fusion of the resin particles in molding is improved, but because the secondary foaming of the foamed beads is not sufficient, there remains room for improvement in the external appearance of the molded article, and for the purpose of improving the secondary foaming property of foamed beads for solving this problem, there is necessity for a step of giving internal pressure for significantly increasing the internal pressure of foamed beads, for molding by in-mold filling at high compression ratio, or for increase of steam pressure during a molding opposite to desired objects.
There is also a method of using a relatively low-melting polypropylene resin as a base resin, and polypropylene resin foamed beads using, as a base resin, a polypropylene resin polymerized by using a metallocene polymerization catalyst are known (for example, Patent Document 2). The polypropylene resin polymerized using the metallocene polymerization catalyst gives a low-melting resin more easily than with a polypropylene resin polymerized with the conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst, but there is still room for improvement in the effect of reducing the saturation vapor pressure of steam necessary as a heating medium during a molding, or for maintaining excellent properties such as mechanical strength and heat resistance inherent in the polypropylene resin.
Non-crosslinked foamed beads using a modified polypropylene resin as a base resin having [content of a polypropylene resin]/[content of a polymer composed of a vinyl monomer] at a ratio of 97 to 65% by weight/3 to 35% by weight, obtained by graft-polymerizing a polypropylene resin impregnated with a vinyl monomer are known (for example, Patent Document 3). The heat resistance performance of foamed beads using the modified polypropylene resin particles as the base resin tends to depend on state transition unique to the high-molecular polymer such as melting point or glass transition temperature, and by selecting a polypropylene resin having a low melting point, the saturation vapor pressure of steam during a molding can be reduced, but there remains a problem in maintenance of heat resistance.    Patent Document 1: JP-A 2000-894    Patent Document 2: JP-A 6-240041    Patent Document 3: JP-A 10-292064

Polypropylene resin foamed bead and molded article therefrom


There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program with which highly accurate depth information can be acquired. The information processing apparatus includes an interpolation image generation unit, a difference image generation unit, and a depth calculation unit. The interpolation image generation unit generates an interpolation image on the basis of a first normal image and a second normal image among the first normal image, a pattern image irradiated with infrared pattern light, and the second normal image, the interpolation image corresponding to a time at which the pattern image is captured. The difference image generation unit generates a difference image between the interpolation image and the pattern image. The depth calculation unit calculates depth information by using the difference image.

Patent Literature 1 discloses that a target object is irradiated with infrared rays to acquire depth information of the target object, and a three-dimensional image of the target object is generated. Specifically, the surface of the target object is irradiated with a pattern of infrared rays by utilizing a feature of the infrared rays that are invisible to human eyes, an image of the target object is captured by an infrared camera, and the shape of the object is acquired on the basis of the captured image.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program


This invention relates to a method for hydrogenation of poly(alkenyl aromatic) polymers or poly(alkenyl aromatic)/polydiene block copolymers that provides hydrogenated polymers with 99.5% or greater unsaturation and an MWD of less than about 3. Hydrogenated polymers and adhesives comprising the hydrogenated polymers and tackifier are also provided.

Block copolymers are generally thought to be polymeric chains containing alternating segments or "blocks" of homopolymers or copolymers where each block differs materially from the adjacent block. Block copolymers may be di-block copolymers such that blocks of (A) alternate with blocks of (B) along the polymer chain or they may be multiblock copolymers wherein blocks of two different polymers are present in the polymer chain in alternate or an ABA configuration. An ABA tri-block unit is one where the first polymer A is present on either side of second polymer B creating a repeating three block sequence.
Some of the more versatile block copolymers known in the art are styrene-isoprene-styrene, (SIS) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) triblock copolymers. In general, block copolymers have either elastomeric or thermoplastic elastomeric qualities and are used in a wide variety of applications. Block copolymers may be subject to various modification or functionalization reactions to improve or alter their properties. One of the reactions which may be performed on some of these block copolymers is a hydrogenation reaction wherein the unsaturations within the blocks are removed. For example, in a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer a homogeneous catalyst may be utilized to selectively hydrogenate the unsaturations in the isoprene to produce what is essentially an ethylene propylene block while leaving the styrene blocks saturated. This particular configuration has found many uses and is known commercially as KRATON G..TM.
Hydrogenation of the isoprene and the polystyrene blocks in a multiblock copolymer has also been reported in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,024 to Haefele discloses that a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer having a combined styrene content of 22% by weight can be hydrogenated by suspending the block copolymer in cyclohexanes and contacting it with a catalyst of nickel on kieselguhr at a pressure of 500 psig and at a temperature of 145.degree.-55.degree. C. for thirteen hours. The resulting hydrogenated block copolymer had 98% hydrogenation of the polystyrene blocks. The block copolymers were reported to have improved tensile properties over the unhydrogenated block copolymers, However, in Chapter 14 of Thermoplastic Elastomers, a comprehensive review, Ed. N. R. Legge, et al., Hanser Publishers, New York, 1987, this class of hydrogenated block copolymers was described as being generally poor. These hydrogenated materials are generally described as having an interaction parameter so severely reduced that at only slightly elevated temperatures the polymer loses all strength and appears to be homogeneous mixture. Thus, the good tensile strength of U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,024 appears to be limited to a low temperature end use range.
The hydrogenation of polymers is a known technique. There are two typical techniques, homogeneous and heterogeneous that have been shown effective for obtaining saturated polymers. Homogeneous hydrogenation yields high conversions, however, this method sometimes causes chain scission and often leads to metal contamination due to a catalyst extraction difficulties. Heterogeneous hydrogenation yields high conversions and in certain cases is more tractable than homogeneous hydrogenation due to minimal chain scission and no metal contamination and the ease of catalyst extraction. Furthermore, supported heterogenous transition metal catalysts are recyclable with no byproducts unlike homogeneous extraction products which generate large amounts of waste product. Heterogeneous hydrogenation has been used to saturate many types of polydienes including 1,4 and 3,4-poly(isoprene) and 1,2 and 1,4-polybutadiene. (Zhongde, X; et al., Macromolecules, 1983, 16, 925.)
Thus, hydrogenated block copolymers having good end-use properties such as high order/disorder transition temperatures, (T.sub.ODT) or high glass transition temperatures (Tg's) and methods to make them are desirable.

Method for hydrogenating polymers and products therefrom


To hold loudspeakers of different sizes in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, a holding plate with a cutout for inserting a first variant of a circular loudspeaker is arranged in the wall part of a defroster duct, and the holding plate can, by means of predetermined breaking points arranged at the edge in the direction of the wall part, be detached in order to obtain a further, larger cutout for inserting a second variant of a rectangular loudspeaker.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a holding device for loudspeakers in a wall part of a defroster duct of a motor vehicle, with loudspeakers being held fastened in a cutout of the holding device.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE 3 521 088 A1 discloses a device for mounting a vehicle loudspeaker at a predetermined location in the vehicle. The loudspeaker is arranged in a holding opening of a plate and has integrally formed mounting plates on a frame. The mounting plates have perforations and can be removed or detached to obtain an adaptation to the holding opening.
It is an object of the invention to provide a holding device for loudspeakers in a wall of a vehicle that enables different variants of loudspeakers to be inserted easily into the wall.

Holding device for loudspeakers in a motor vehicle

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


An implantable system for delivering fluids, such as drugs, to one or more anatomical structures in a patient's (i.e., human or animal) body. A number of medical conditions require continual and/or periodic administration of fluids (e.g., drugs) to target regions (e.g., anatomic organs) of the body. Accessibility to those target regions might be limited technically for ex. and not limited to: frequent endoscopic, radiologically guided or surgical approaches. The system delivers the fluid needed in a continual or intermittent fashion to the target region. It controls the amount of fluid delivered to the target region and measures the intended physiologic effect of the fluid delivered.

A number of medical conditions require continual and/or periodic administration of fluids (e.g., drugs) to target regions (e.g., anatomical structures) of the body. A variety of implantable fluid delivery devices/systems are known and generally include a port having a reservoir with a catheter attached thereto. Fluid in the reservoir of the implanted port is pumped by one or more pumps through the catheter and to the target region(s) of the body. The port is implanted beneath the skin of the patient and may include a septum that is penetrable by a hypodermic needle. Thus, conventional injections of a medication into a patient having an implanted port are made by inserting a needle through the patient's skin and through the septum in the port. Fluid is injected through the needle and into the reservoir of the port where it passes into the catheter and eventually out to the target region(s).


A flight control system for a flight control surface includes a first actuator control electronics (ACE), a second ACE, a third ACE, a first remote electronics unit (REU), and a second REU. The first ACE is configured to generate a first control signal for the flight control surface. The second ACE is configured to generate a second control signal for the flight control surface. The third ACE is configured to generate a third control signal for the flight control surface. The first REU is coupled to the first ACE and the second ACE, and configured to operate, based on the first control signal and the second control signal, an actuator coupled to the flight control surface. The second REU is coupled to the second ACE and the third ACE, and configured to operate, based on the second control signal and the third control signal, the actuator.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to flight control systems and, more specifically, to a flight control system for controlling a horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft.
At least some known flight control systems include actuator control electronics (ACE) that collect sensor input and data from various other avionics to determine how to command a given flight control surface. The ACE generally includes a processing device that responds directly to pilot input, to sensor input, or to data received from another flight control computer to generate a control signal to control the flight control surface. The control signal generally commands a direction and rate of rotation or actuation, and is received by a remote electronics unit (REU) that actually controls an actuator, e.g., a hydraulic actuator or an electric actuator. The REU carries out the commanded rotation or actuation for a period of time or until a new command is received. In alternative embodiments, the control signal commands a position and the REU maintains the flight control surface in that position using a closed-loop position control system.
Some known flight control systems utilize redundant ACE to independently determine and agree on how to command a particular flight control surface. For example, a horizontal stabilizer, which provides pitch control of the aircraft, has a high level of authority over the aircraft and, therefore, commands for control of the horizontal stabilizer are often subject to redundancy requirements to ensure proper control of the flight control surface during normal operation as well as in failure conditions. Failure conditions include, for example, a failure of an ACE or REU. During such a failure, the flight control system must maintain control of the flight control surface, e.g., the horizontal stabilizer. Accordingly, many known flight control systems include redundant flight control paths that can maintain control through failure of an ACE, an REU, a stabilizer control module (STCM), or any other component of the flight control system. Such flight control systems typically include redundant ACE, REU, and STCM.
In contrast, for example, at least some aircraft include multiple elevators, i.e., a left elevator and a right elevator. One elevator might have multiple actuators, each actuator having an ACE and an REU. Given that the authority of the elevators is divided among numerous flight control surfaces and potentially multiple actuators, the REU is generally not required to rely on multiple ACE for command.


An area array connector (10) employs a flexible interconnect member (30) having electrical circuitry including contact pads (32) which are forced into electrical contact with conductive pads (42) and (52) on a pair of stacked substrates (40) and (50) by means of a canted coil spring (24) that is held in a force application plate (20).

Electrical connectors of the so-called stacking type are employed in the art to interconnect a pair of substrates having exposed circuit pads. Common among several prior art stacking connectors is the use of coil springs in a force application plate to urge circuit pads into electrical contact, either by direct contact or through intermediary members. For example, Kotaka disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,884 the use of an insulating block having coil springs embedded therein so as to extend outwardly from opposed surfaces of the block to engage conductors on parallel printed circuit boards. Later, Balsells in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,462 taught the use of a coil spring wherein each coil is canted at an acute angle with the centerline of the spring so as to exert a constant force in a loading direction normal to the centerline over a substantial range of deflection.


A well monitor plug device for sealing a subwell casing. The plug device has an adjustable and tamper resistant sealing structure which includes a turning member and a cooperating locking member which permits access to a sampling aperture.

The invention relates generally to a mechanical plug device and, particularly, to a well monitor plug device for sealing the exposed top of a subwell casing.
Environmental concerns relating to the integrity of underground storage tanks for containing various chemical products, such as petroleum products and the like, have resulted in federal and state laws which require the continuous monitoring of storage systems. For example, one monitoring system involves the placement of a non-permeable liner below and around an underground storage tank to contain possible leakage. A number of perforated subwell casings are placed within the confines of the lined area and by monitoring these casings the storage tank can periodically be sampled for leakage to, thereby, check its integrity.
Although various plug and sealing devices have been proposed and utilized for sealing the subwell casings of these monitoring systems, problems remain with providing an effective plug device which will ensure tamper resistance of the casing during periods of non-use and which will provide quick and efficient access to the casing for testing purposes. For example, existing plug devices used in the construction and plumbing industries have been used for sealing these subwell casings. However, these devices typically do not offer tamper resistance, nor do they provide an easy and efficient means to monitor the well without the removal of the entire plug device. The shortcomings and problems of these prior art devices have caused plug device parts to fall into the subwell casings and have caused these casings to be mistaken for tank fill pipes. It is an object of this invention to provide an effective well monitor plug device for sealing subwell casings.
The well monitor plug device of the present invention has structure which provides a unitary plug which provides for the tamper resistant sealing of subwell casings. The plug device of the invention permits the effective sealing of the subwell casing and provides means to effectively lock the device during periods of non-use and efficient means to permit the periodic sampling of the subwell.


Techniques to select transmission channels for use for data transmission and to process and transmit data over the selected transmission channels. Transmission channels available for use are segregated into one or more groups, with each group including any number of channels. With selective channel transmission, only xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d channels in each group are selected (e.g., based on the channels"" received SNRs and an SNR threshold), xe2x80x9cbadxe2x80x9d channels are not used, and the total available transmit power for the group is (e.g., uniformly) distributed across only the good channels. Each group may also be associated with a respective coding and modulation scheme, and data for each group may be coded and modulated based on the scheme selected for the group. Improved performance is achieved by using only good channels in each group and matching the data processing for the selected channels to the capacity achievable by the channels.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to data communication, and more specifically to techniques for processing data for transmission in a wireless communication system using selective channel transmission and defined (e.g., uniform) transmit power allocation.
2. Background
A multi-channel communication system is often deployed to provide increased transmission capacity for various types of communication such as voice, data, and so on. Such a multi-channel system may be a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system, an orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) system, a MIMO system that utilizes OFDM, or some other type of system. A MIMO system employs multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas to exploit spatial diversity to support a number of spatial subchannels, each of which may be used to transmit data. An OFDM system effectively partitions the operating frequency band into a number of frequency subchannels (or frequency bins), each of which is associated with a respective subcarrier on which data may be modulated. A multi-channel communication system thus supports a number of xe2x80x9ctransmissionxe2x80x9d channels, each of which may correspond to a spatial subchannel in a MIMO system, a frequency subchannel in an OFDM system, or a spatial subchannel of a frequency subchannel in a MIMO system that utilizes OFDM.
The transmission channels of a multi-channel communication system typically experience different link conditions (e.g., due to different fading and multipath effects) and may achieve different signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratios (SNRs). Consequently, the transmission capacities (i.e., the information bit rates) that may be supported by the transmission channels for a particular level of performance may be different from channel to channel. Moreover, the link conditions typically vary over time. As a result, the bit rates supported by the transmission channels also vary with time.
The different transmission capacities of the transmission channels plus the time-variant nature of these capacities make it challenging to provide an effective coding and modulation scheme capable of processing data prior to transmission on the channels. Moreover, for practical considerations, the coding and modulation scheme should be simple to implement and utilize at both the transmitter and receiver systems.
There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to effectively and efficiently process data for transmission on multiple transmission channels with different capacities to improve performance and reduce complexity.
Aspects of the invention provide techniques to select transmission channels for use for data transmission and to process and transmit data over the selected transmission channels. In certain embodiments, the transmission channels available for use may be segregated into one or more groups, with each group including any number of transmission channels. For a MIMO system that utilizes OFDM, the available transmission channels correspond to the spatial subchannels and frequency subchannels, each group may correspond to, for example, a respective transmit antenna, and the transmission channels in each group may be the frequency subchannels for the corresponding transmit antenna.
In an aspect, which is referred to as selective channel transmission (SCT), only xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d transmission channels in each group are selected for use for data transmission, and xe2x80x9cbadxe2x80x9d transmission channels are not used. The good transmission channels may be defined as those having SNRs or power gains at or above a particular SNR or power gain threshold. The total available transmit power for each group is then distributed amongst the good transmission channels in accordance with a defined allocation scheme. In an embodiment, the defined allocation scheme uniformly distributes the total available transmit power amongst the good transmission channels. Other allocation schemes may also be used.
In another aspect, the selective channel transmission may be used in conjunction with common coding and modulation, which would then simplify the coding/modulation at a transmitter system and the complementary demodulation/decoding at a receiver system. Each group of transmission channels may be associated with a respective coding and modulation scheme, and data for each group may be coded and modulated based on the scheme selected for the group. Each group may thus be associated with (1) a respective (e.g., SNR or power gain) threshold used to select transmission channels for use for data transmission and (2) a respective coding and modulation scheme used to process data for the group.
The selective channel transmission may provide improved performance due to the combined benefits of (1) using only the best transmission channels in each group, which are selected from among all available transmission channels in the group, (2) allocating the total available transmit power amongst only the selected transmission channels, and (3) matching the data processing for the selected transmission channels to the capacity achievable for these channels.
The invention further provides methods, systems, and apparatus that implement various aspects, embodiments, and features of the invention, as described in further detail below.

Method and apparatus for processing data for transmission in a multi-channel communication system using selective channel transmission