Embodiments of a non-contiguous spectral-band modulator and method for non-contiguous spectral-band modulation are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an input symbol tuple may be mapped to a sequence of phase values. Each value of the sequence of phase values may represent an instantaneous frequency of a waveform for a signal with a power spectral density that is substantially constrained to the two or more subbands of a non-contiguous spectrum. The values of the sequence of phase values may be accumulated and a phase-sample sequence representing phase samples of a transmit waveform may be generated. An exponentiation may be performed on the phase-sample sequence to generate a constant modulus signal sequence. An output signal sequence is generated that is constrained to a region in the complex plane, such as an annulus, when the signal is in a subband. The output signal sequence may be shaped to constrain spectral energy during transitions between subbands.

It may be desirable to transmit information using more than one frequency band for increased data rate and/or improved quality and reliability. Due to spectrum availability, such frequency bands may be non-contiguous. One issue with the transmission of information over more than one non-contiguous frequency band is spectral growth. Spectral growth may result from non-linearities in the power amplifier used to amplify the signals for transmission and may result in increased signal content outside the desired frequency bands.
Thus, what is needed is a non-contiguous spectral-band modulator and method for non-contiguous spectral-band modulation that reduces and/or eliminates spectral growth. What is also needed is a non-contiguous spectral-band modulator and method for non-contiguous spectral-band modulation that allows the power amplifier to operate in a more linear range. Also needed is a wireless communication device for transmitting information within a non-contiguous spectrum and providing an increased data rate and/or improved quality and reliability.

Non-contiguous spectral-band modulator and method for non-contiguous spectral-band modulation


Disclosed are a light scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the light scanning unit. The light scanning unit may include a light source emitting a light beam, a beam deflector that deflects and scans the light beam emitted from the light source in a main scanning direction, a scanning optical system forming an image of a first portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector on a scanning surface and a beam detection sensor receiving a second portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector for generating a synchronization signal. The beam detection sensor may include a light receiving surface for receiving the second portion of the light beam, and at least two output terminals that are arranged outside an area of the light receiving surface within which the incident second portion of the light beam is confined.

A light scanning unit scans light emitted from a light source over an area, and is in wide usage, for example, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses and in scan display devices.
In an image forming apparatus, the scanned light is utilized in the image formation, and thus determining the starting and ending positions of the light scanning is important for the proper formation of the image. A light scanning unit thus generally includes a synchronization signal detection unit for adjusting the horizontal synchronization of the image.
For example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the light scanning unit scans a light beam onto select portions of a uniformly charged surface of a photosensitive drum to thereby form an electrostatic latent image as the resulting potential difference, which is later developed using a developing agent such as, for example, toner, into a visible image. So developed visible image is then transferred onto a printing medium. If the scanning position of the light beam between scanning lines on the photosensitive drum of the above described image forming apparatus were to shift or vary, corresponding shifting in the image lines results; and, particularly when forming a color image, misalignments between the overlapping of the individual color images may occur, in turn resulting in blurred color image that may appear out of focus. The synchronization signal detection unit of the light scanning unit detects a portion of the scanned light beam in order to determine the proper scanning position of the scanned light beam. It is thus desirable to reduce the noise in the synchronization signal detection unit, particularly when forming a high resolution image.

Light scanning unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same


A piston is formed with a cooling channel in its crown by dissolving a fusible core cast into the crown. The fusible core is supported prior to casting by a strut which is itself supported on a plurality of cores which help to find the piston cavity. The plurality of cores are configured so as to be removable from the strut, after casting, in a downward direction. The fusible core is dissolved by introducing a dissolving liquid to the fusible core via inlet or outlet passages cut between the cavity and the fusible core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piston and more particularly to a piston assembly for an internal combustion engine having a fusible core to form a cooling channel and a method for the manufacture thereof.
2. Background of the Related Art
A conventional method for manufacturing a piston is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 51(1976)-99719, and is shown in FIG. 5. First, a piston 70 is formed by casting (e.g., by gravity die casting or squeeze casting, etc.). The piston 70 is a unitary casting defining a piston crown portion 71, combustion chamber portion 72, a piston skirt portion 73 surrounding a cavity 74, and a pair of bosses 75. Grooves 76 are then cut in a peripheral surface of the piston crown portion 71 and a pair of holes 77 are formed in the bosses 75.
Next, a ring shaped groove 78 is cut in the piston crown portion 71. An inlet 79 and an outlet 80 are cut in the piston for connecting between the cavity 74 and the ring shaped groove 78. A ring member 81 is put into an upper portion of the ring shaped groove 78, and the ring member 81 is welded to the piston 70 by friction welding.
Therefore, the piston 70 has a cooling channel system 84. When the piston 70 is driven in an engine (not shown), oil pumped out from a pump 83 through a nozzle 82 enters the ring shaped groove 78 through the inlet 79. The oil in the ring shaped groove 78 cools the piston crown portion 71 and is discharged back to the cavity 74 through the outlet 80. Consequently, the piston 70 is cooled so that its life is long.
In the above-described method for manufacturing the piston, the cooling chanel system 84 is formed in the piston by use of welding processes and cutting processes, which are time consuming.

Piston assembly having a fusible core to form a cooling channel and a method for the manufacture thereof


It is directed to providing a developing roller capable of forming a high-quality electrophotographic image. The developing roller includes a substrate, an electro-conductive elastic layer on the substrate, and a plurality of electrical insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer. The developing roller has a length L of 200 mm or more in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction thereof. The surface of the developing roller includes the surfaces of the domains and an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer, the exposed portion being uncovered with the domains. The developing roller has protrusions on the surface thereof, the protrusion being formed by the domains. The electro-conductive elastic layer has a plurality of protrusions at the exposed portion. The developing roller has an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a developing roller, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a developing apparatus usually includes members for electrography such as the following (1) to (3):
(1) a developer feed roller which resides in a developer container and feeds toner to a developing roller;
(2) a developer amount regulating member which forms a toner layer on the developing roller and keeps a fixed amount of toner on the developing roller; and
(3) the developing roller which covers the opening of the developer container that accommodates toner, while exposing a portion of the developing roller to the outside of the container, in which the exposed portion is disposed to face a photosensitive member to develop the toner on the photosensitive member.
In order to improve the toner conveying ability of a developing member, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-286497 discloses a developing roller in which the surface of an electro-conductive portion is provided with a dielectric portion having a high electric resistance value, and toner can be electrically adsorbed onto the charged dielectric portion to convey the toner.

Developing roller, with conductive elastic layer having exposed protrusions, cartridge and apparatus


A phase change memory includes a volume of phase change material disposed between, and coupled to, two electrodes, with the composition of a region of at least one of the two electrodes or phase change material having been compositionally altered to reduce the programmed volume of the phase change material.

Phase-change electronic devices include memory devices, referred to herein as Ovonic Universal Memory (OUM). OUM cells utilize a class of materials that are reversibly switchable from one material phase to another with measurable distinct electrical properties associated with each phase. For example, these materials may change between an amorphous disordered phase and a crystalline, or polycrystalline, ordered phase, with a significant corresponding change in the thermal and electrical conductivity of the material. Such materials may also exhibit many substrates, each with associated discernible differences in their electrical properties.
Chalcogenide materials are typically employed as the phase change material used in OUM cells. A wide range of chalcogenide compositions has been investigated in an effort to optimize the performance characteristics of chalcogenic devices. Chalcogenide materials generally include a chalcogen element and one or more chemical or structural modifying elements. The chalcogen element (e.g. Te, Se, S) is selected from column VI of the periodic table and the modifying elements may be selected, for example, from column III (e.g. Ga, Al, In), column IV (e.g. Si, Ge, Sn), or column V (e.g. P, As, Sb) of the periodic table. The role of modifying elements includes providing points of branching or cross-linking between chains comprising the chalcogen element. Column IV modifiers can function as tetracoordinate modifiers that include two coordinate positions within a chalcogenide chain and two coordinate positions that permit branching or crosslinking away from the chalcogenide chain. Column III and V modifiers can function as tricoordinate modifiers that include two coordinate positions within a chalcogenide chain and one coordinate position that permits branching or crosslinking away from the chalcogenide chain. Embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present invention may include binary, ternary, quaternary, and higher order chalcogenide alloys. Examples of chalcogenide materials are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,166,758, 5,296,716, 5,414,271, 5,359,205, 5,341,328, 5,536,947, 5,534,712, 5,687,112, and 5,825,046 the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference herein. Chalcogenide materials may also be the resultant of a reactive sputtering process: a chalcogenide nitride, or oxide, for example and chalcogenide may be modified by an ion implantation or other process.
Early work in chalcogenide devices demonstrated electrical switching behavior in which switching from a resistive state to a conductive state was induced upon application of a voltage at or above the threshold voltage of the active chalcogenide material. This effect is the basis of the Ovonic Threshold Switch (OTS) and remains an important practical feature of chalcogenide materials. The OTS provides highly reproducible switching at ultrafast switching speeds for over 1013 cycles. Basic principles and operational features of the OTS are presented, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,591; 5,543,737; 5,694,146; and 5,757,446; the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, as well as in several journal articles including "Reversible Electrical Switching Phenomena in Disordered Structures," Physical Review Letters, vol. 21, p. 1450-1453 (1969) by S. R. Ovshinsky; "Amorphous Semiconductors for Switching, Memory, and Imaging Applications," IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, vol. ED-20, p. 91-105 (1973) by S. R. Ovshinsky and H. Fritzsche; the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Another important application of chalcogenide materials is in electrical and optical memory devices. One type of chalcogenide memory device utilizes the wide range of resistance values available for the material as the basis of memory operation. Each resistance value corresponds to a distinct structural state of the chalcogenide material and one or more of the states can be selected and used to define operation memory states. Chalcogenide materials exhibit a crystalline state, or phase, as well as an amorphous state, or phase. Different structural states of a chalcogenide material differ with respect to the relative proportions of crystalline and amorphous phase in a given volume or region of chalcogenide material. The range of resistance values is generally bounded by a set state and a reset state of the chalcogenide material. By convention, the set state is a low resistance structural state whose electrical properties are primarily controlled by the crystalline portion of the chalcogenide material and the reset state is a high resistance structural state whose electrical properties are primarily controlled by the amorphous portion of the chalcogenide material.
Intermediate sub-states corresponding to various degrees of amorphization (or crystallization), with corresponding discernible differences in electrical properties such as resistivity, may be used to increase the information density of each OUM cell. Each memory state of a chalcogenide memory material corresponds to a distinct resistance value and each memory resistance value signifies unique informational content. Operationally, the chalcogenide material can be programmed into a particular memory state by providing an electric current pulse of an appropriate amplitude and duration to transform the chalcogenide material into the structural state having the desired resistance. By controlling the amount of energy provided to the chalcogenide material, it is possible to control the relative proportions of crystalline and amorphous phase regions within a volume of the material and to thereby control the structural (and corresponding memory) state of the chalcogenide material to store information.
Each memory state can be programmed by providing the current pulse characteristics of the state and each state can be identified, or "read", in a non-destructive fashion by measuring the resistance. Programming among the different states is fully reversible and the memory devices can be written and read over a virtually unlimited number of cycles to provide robust and reliable operation. The variable resistance memory functionality of chalcogenide materials is currently being exploited in the OUM (Ovonic Universal (or Unified) Memory) devices that are beginning to appear on the market. Basic principles and operation of OUM type devices are presented, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,859,390; 6,774,387; 6,687,153; and 6,314,014; the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, as well as in several journal articles including, "Low Field Amorphous State Resistance and Threshold Voltage Drift in Chalcogenide Materials," published in EE transactions on Electron Devices, vol. 51, p. 714-719 (2004) by Pirovana et al.; and "Morphing Memory," published in Science News, vol. 167, p. 363-364 (2005) by Weiss.
The behavior (including switching, memory, and accumulation) and chemical compositions of chalcogenide materials have been described, for example, in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,671,710; 6,714,954; 6,087,674; 5,166,758; 5,296,716; 5,536,947; 5,596,522; 5,825,046; 5,687,112; 5,912,839; and 3,530,441, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These references present proposed mechanisms that govern the behavior of chalcogenide materials. The references also describe the structural transformations from the crystalline state to the amorphous state (and vice versa) via a series of partially crystalline states in which the relative proportions of crystalline and amorphous regions vary during the operation of electrical and optical chalcogenide materials.
The possibility of changing the phase of chalcogenic material from the amorphous to the crystalline state using electrical pulses is indeed not immediately apparent. In the amorphous state, the material resistivity is very high and the current flowing through the chalcogenic material would not allow a sufficient dissipation and thus a sufficiently high temperature. However, chalcogenic materials change their transport characteristics as a function of the applied electric field. Above a threshold voltage Vth, the structure begins to conduct, not because of a phase change, but because of a change in the electronic conduction mechanism. This behavior is called "electronic switching"; accordingly, biasing the chalcogenic structure to a voltage higher than the threshold voltage, it is possible to considerably increase the current flow. By directing this current through a suitable neighboring series resistor, which operates as a heater, it is thus possible to obtain, by Joule effect, a sufficient heating of the chalcogenic material for crystallization or amorphization.
For practical application, it is highly desirable that OUM cells be compatible with existing integrated circuit technologies, such as CMOS technology. In particular it would be highly advantageous for OUM cells to operate with the relatively limited current and withstand voltage values available from CMOS technology. For example, a CMOS technology that features a gate length of 130 nm and a gate oxide withstanding a power supply of 3 V, limit the maximum current that might be employed to switch an OUM cell to 100-200 μA. In order to achieve the necessary heating with such a limited current, the area in contact between the chalcogenic region and resistive electrode must be restricted to an area smaller than may be produced using conventional lithographic techniques. Several attempts have been made to achieve such reduction of chalcogenide regions.
The sectional views of FIGS. 1A through 1C will be used to discuss broad conceptual aspects of a phase-change electronics device in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. 1B depicts a conventional volume of phase change material of length L, depth D, and height H. Typically, whether employed as an element within an OUM or OTS, the volume of phase change material (e.g. L×D×H) used in electronics devices has been produced in a manner that yields uniform electrical characteristics throughout the volume. Such uniformity is generally considered essential to proper and consistent operation of the millions of devices that may be co-located on a single chip, or wafer of electronics devices, that incorporate phase change volumes such as that of FIG. 1B.
One of the characteristics of the phase change that is typically uniform throughout the volume is its propensity for switching. By propensity for switching, or relative "activeness," we mean, in the case of chalcogenide material used in an OUM, for example, the relative ease with which, when exposed to a voltage pulse, the chalcogenide material will be placed in the crystalline or amorphous state (or intermediate state), depending upon the magnitude and duration of the pulse. Without such uniformity; one device within an array might switch states at a much different level than another within an array; one array within an integrated circuit might switch at a much different level than other arrays within the integrated circuit; one integrated circuit might switch at a much different level than other integrated circuits within a wafer. Uniform switching of the devices and uniform switching characteristics of the materials are highly desirable characteristics. In the conventional phase change block of FIG. 1B, the composition of the phase change material and propensity for switching are substantially uniform throughout the volume L×H×D.
In order to reduce the current required to operate such a volume, a great deal of effort has been expended in reducing the volume of phase change material used in electronic devices: reduce the phase change material, reduce the amount of phase change material that must be heated. In FIG. 1A the dimensions L and D are reduced to the minimum feature size afforded by the device's associated manufacturing process, also referred to as the lithographic limit (e.g. LLith in FIG. 1A). Once minimum feature size limitations are encountered, other techniques that reduce the phase change material volume to less than that achievable by lithographic techniques may be employed. One example of such sublithographic approaches is the introduction of sidewall spacers within a phase change material pore, illustrated in FIG. 1C. With sidewalls 102 of a pore 100 formed at the lithographic limit, Llith, the volume of phase change material 106 within the pore would simply be the volume of the cylinder of height H and diameter LLith. Introduction of the sidewall spacers 104, which typically are composed of an insulating material, reduces the volume of phase change material within the pore by an amount equal to the volume of the sidewall spacers.
Another approach to reducing the current required to effect a phase change in the phase change material of a phase change electronics device, an approach that goes beyond volume reduction barriers imposed by lithographic limits, is to reduce the volume of phase change material that actually undergoes a phase change. That is, although a phase change device cell may include a volume L×H×D of phase change material, the volume of phase change material that actually undergoes a phase change may be only a fraction of that volume. By reducing this portion of the phase change material, referred to herein as the programmed volume, further reductions of operating current, may be achieved. To that end, resistive heaters 200 such as that shown in FIG. 2 have been employed to heat a localized area of phase change material 202 to reduce the programmed volume 204 of phase change material and thereby further reduce the current required for operation of a phase change device 206.
The introduction of a breakdown layer is meant to achieve a similar reduction in programmed volume by localizing current flow. Such approaches may involve the introduction of one or more additional layers to a phase change electronics device, with associated escalation in expense and, as with many increases in complexity, the potential for reduced reliability. For example, in order to form a current filament and thereby reduce the volume of phase change material that must undergo a phase change, some designs (including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,992,369; 7,029,978; and 7,105,408, hereby incorporated by reference) introduce a "breakdown layer" between an electrode and the chalcogenide material and at least one (U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,978) requires supplemental processing in addition to that normally associated with the addition of a layer of material. In order to accommodate the limitations of existing integrated circuit technology, the ability to produce smaller operational features in phase change materials, as well as associated devices, such as Joule heating devices, would therefore be highly desirable.

Method and apparatus for reducing programmed volume of phase change memory


A web width adjusting device comprises a pressure force applying unit for applying pressure force to one side surface of a paper web which is successively traveled through two or more printing sections. Further the web width adjusting device may also include a counter pressure applying unit to apply counter pressure to the other side surface of the paper web. The pressure applying unit (and the counter pressure applying unit) deformes the paper web in a wavy surface which causes the width of the paper web to be shortened. The adjusting factors for the web width are controlled by automatic control system which detects traveling condition of the paper web, the generation of shears in printing, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a width adjusting device for a paper web, which adjusts the width of the paper web for a printing system prior to a printing section. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rotary lithographic press which is equipped with at least one of the width adjusting device and a plurality of printing sections through which the paper web is successively travelled to be printed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical conventional rotary lithographic press adapted for a multi-color printing system is, for example shown in FIG. 22 which is a schematically elevational view. This conventional lithographic printing system comprises a plurality of printing sections P, each of which includes two pairs of a combination of a plate cylinder PC and a blanket cylinder BC. The blanket cylinders BC of each printing section P are vertically arranged to be in contact with each other. In this conventional printing system, four sets of the printing sections P are horizontally arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 22. A paper web W is also horizontally travelled through the printing sections in which the paper web W is successively passed between the pairs of blanket cylinders BC, BC to print both sides of the paper web W.
Another conventional rotary lithographic press or a multi-color printing system is shown in FIG. 23. In this drawing, four printing sets, each composed of a plate cylinder PC and a blanket cylinder BC are radially arranged about an impression cylinder IC as a common center cylinder. The blanket cylinders BC are respectively in contact with the impression cylinder IC to form printing sections P. A paper web W is travelled along the circumference of the impression cylinder IC so that the paper web W is successively passed through the four printing sections P defined between the blanket cylinders BC and the impression cylinder IC to print one side of the paper web W.
In recent years, many newspaper publishers have progressed to bring newspaper in multi-color ink and thus demand the capability of color printing on many pages at a high speed in a limited printing space.
In order to satisfy such demands, another conventional rotary lithographic press for a color printing system has been proposed as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25. In this printing system, each printing section P includes two sets of a blanket cylinder BC and a plate cylinder PC which are symmetrically arranged so as to bring the blanket cylinders BC into contact with each other. A paper web W is vertically travelled through the four printing sections P to print both sides of the paper web W in the same manner as the above described systems. This type of printing system is, for example, shown in "IFRA Newspaper Techniques English Edition", pp.64 to pp.73; April, 1988 published by INCA-FIEJ Research Association.
Paper webs used in various printing systems are generally produced in such a manner that pulp fibers are mechanically cut and broken into fine particles, dispersed in water, dehydrated and dried, and finally adhered by hydrogen-bond to form paper in a web or sheet figure. Under moist conditions, each pulp fiber tends to extend a little less than 1 percent in length and 20 to 30 percent in width. Thus the size of the paper web is increased, both longitudinally and laterally by a dampening and/or watering process. Most pulp fibers of general mechanically produced paper webs are orientated in the longitudinal direction of the paper web, so that paper webs are remarkably extended in their width.
In a specific lithographic printing system which employs a dampening or watering operation in printing, a paper web is swelled by the water supplied during the dampening operation. Therefore the image and lines printed on the paper web are also deformed in response to the swell of the paper web. In printing systems that include at least two lithographic printing sections each associated with dampening means to successively print color images on the same paper web, the printed images or lines formed by the first printing section are not correctly accorded with the images or lines formed by the second and later printing sections. Accordingly, this will produce printed materials of poor quality.

Width adjusting device and method for a paper web, and rotary lithographic press having same


Techniques are described herein for providing cellular access of a user-defined network. In one example, a user plane function of a cellular network obtains, from a control plane function of the cellular network, an indication that a first user equipment is attempting to connect to a user-defined network via the cellular network. The user plane function joins a multicast group configured to include a second user equipment connected to the user-defined network via a wireless local area network. The user plane function obtains a multicast packet that is transmitted between the first user equipment and the second user equipment and that is addressed to the multicast group, and converts the multicast packet to a unicast packet.

A User-Defined Network (UDN) may segment one or more user devices within a network. Each user may be provided with a private UDN in which only devices registered by the user are allowed to communicate with each other. Users may create and register devices to a UDN through a UDN mobile application.

Cellular access of user-defined networks


A data processor which has instructions of operation and comparison when including the signed binary number represented by complement on 2 as the object and has a flag correctly representing the result of the operation as positive or negative regardless of whether or not overflow occurs so as to correlate the arithmetic operation close with a status flag change, thereby facilitating mathematical interpretation of the result of the operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data processor and more particularly, to a data processor which designs an address value.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Considering the relation between an arithmetic operation and the flags affected by performing the operation in a conventional data processor, the conventional processor executes a single instruction that operates on both signed and unsigned binary numbers. There is a first relationship between the flag and single instruction when the operand is deemed to be a signed number and a separate relationship when the operand is deemed to be an unsigned number. The conventional processor reflects in the flags the results of an operation both when the operand is deemed to be a signed number and an unsigned number where the flags have independent meaning depending on whether the operands are deemed to be signed or unsigned numbers.
In the conventional data processor a small number of flags have independent meanings and in some cases the status of an operation result cannot be determined unless two or more flags are simultaneously visible. For example, when overflow occurs when a signed addition instruction is executed, there is no flag which correctly represents whether the result is positive or negative. Also, if overflow occurs in an unsigned subtraction instruction, there is no flag which correctly represents whether the result is positive or negative.
Next, the change in status flags in a conventional processor when a destination location has a small number of bits is considered. When the size of the destination is smaller than the result of a bit string operation or of the size of a source operand, the bit not stored is neglected. In the conventional processor, the bit not stored when the size of the destination operand is smaller than the result of a floating-point operation or of the size of a source operand is rounded off by a predetermined rule. When the conventional processor is operating on integers, surplus operations are required to check whether the integer value remains correct even when stored in a smaller destination. When performing bit sequence operations the stored or not stored bit may be outside the byte boundary, therefore further complicating the check.


A thermally conductive medium includes a body with a first melting point and phase-changing material encapsulating a portion of the body, with the phase-changing material having a second melting point. The first melting point is greater than the second melting point, and the phase-changing material is configured to be in a liquid phase at temperatures above the second melting point and a solid phase at temperatures below the same. In the liquid phase, an adhesive force is present between the body and the phase-changing material due to capillary attraction, and the phase-changing material may be wettable to one of the two surfaces.

The present invention relates to thermal interfaces. Specifically, the present invention is directed to thermally conductive media ideally suited for systems which cycle over a range of temperatures.
Conventional thermal interface media reduce the temperature gradient between two different surfaces in close proximity with one another. The surfaces are typically mating surfaces. Conventional interface media are positioned in the gaps or voids between the two surfaces so that the thermal resistance is lowered, thereby allowing the heat to flow away from the hotter surface. The efficient flow of heat may be impeded if any gaps or voids remain at the interface surfaces. Therefore, not only must the interface medium be thermally conductive, but it must also compensate for certain manufacturing tolerances inherent in the interface.
Thermal paste is a common interface medium that provides heat transfer as well as conformal properties. A typical thermal paste may contain a mixture of zinc oxide in mineral oil. Thermal conductivity is achieved by peculating oxide particles in a low conductivity oil matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,189 to Booth et al. discloses, in pertinent part, a liquid metal matrix thermal paste in which non-reacting thermally conductive particles are dispersed in a metal matrix having a low melting temperature. The particles are silicon, molybdenum, tungsten or other materials which do not react with gallium at temperatures below approximately 100.degree. C. The preferred liquid metals are described as gallium and indium eutectic, gallium and tin eutectic, and gallium, indium and tin ternary eutectic. The liquid metal matrix thermal paste is described as being used for cooling high power dissipation components in conjunction with a conventional fluid cooling system. The paste may be cleaned from surfaces by using metal wool containing tin or copper filaments.
The use of thermally conductive pastes, however, is problematic. The paste must be applied with precision. If applied in incorrect quantities, e.g., if too thick, the heat transfer performance degrades. In addition, unwanted material, such as machining chips, tends to collect in the paste so that even larger gaps are produced, which can also reduce heat transfer performance. This problem is exacerbated by the difficulty of removing the paste without leaving a residue.
Thermally conductive gaskets overcome the problem associated with removing the paste from the interface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,602 to Paul E. Gallo discloses a conventional thermally conductive gasket that includes a metallic core with an upper and lower face. The core is fabricated from tin plated stainless or low carbon steel. A thermally conductive expandable graphite material contacts with the upper face. A pair of compressible non-asbestos facing layers are disposed on opposing sides of the core and comprise of clay, rubber, and aramid fibers. Tangs are formed in the core to clinch together all the layers in the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,283 to Giarusso et al. discloses, in pertinent part, a thermally conductive gasket formed by encapsulating a thermally conductive low melting temperature material in a plastic skin. The low melting temperature material conforms to the shape of the interface so as to completely fill the voids once heated above the aforementioned melting temperature. This provides a gasket which is easily applied and removed from the interface, thereby affording a re-usable gasket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,352 to Layton et al. discloses, in pertinent part, a liquid metal aluminum/copper thermal conductor to provide a path for conducting heat from a chip to a fluid medium. In one embodiment, the thermal conductor is described as being formed from a fibrous metal body coated with a liquid metal alloy. The liquid metal alloy may include gallium, indium, selenium, zinc, or mercury. However, conventional thermal gaskets have limited compressibility necessitating increased thickness to fill voids which reduces the heat transfer qualities of the same.
What is needed, therefore, is a highly conformal thermally conductive medium that is reusable.


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing a client with disconnected data access to a non-relational database. A command module requests non-relational XML data from a non-relational database using an XML mapping in response to a non-relational data request. A fill module receives the non-relational XML data from the non-relational database and populates one or more data access sets with the non-relational XML data. A communications module transmits the one or more data access sets to an integration broker in communication with the integration adapter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to disconnected database access and more particularly relates to XML based disconnected database access to multivalued/hierarchical databases.
2. Description of the Related Art
As network use and network sizes increase, disconnected database access is becoming increasingly important. When using disconnected access, a disconnected client remains disconnected from a data source except during data retrieval from the data source and data writes to the data source. Between data retrieval and data writes, the disconnected client may access, edit, manipulate, and update data from the data source in a local cache. Disconnected data access offers scalability and performance benefits over connected access by allowing a higher number of users access to database data simultaneously, while decreasing the load on the network and on the database system. Current methods for providing disconnected data access to databases are based on Structured Query Language (SQL) commands.
These SQL based methods are well suited for common relational databases, but are often forced upon less common non-relational databases. Non-relational databases, such as multivalued/hierarchical databases, often implement SQL or some subset of SQL for compatibility purposes, but have other native interfaces or command languages. In order to process an SQL command, non-relational databases often require normalization or flattening. Databases like multivalued/hierarchical databases often violate the first law of normalization by allowing by an element of a database table to contain multiple separate values. Normalization or flattening of a database to satisfy the laws of normalization is inefficient and resource intensive, especially if it must occur often. Other non-relational databases may not support SQL, or even a subset of SQL.
SQL based disconnected access also uses a separate SQL command for each change that a disconnected user makes to the database. Executing a series of SQL commands in a direct sequence is also resource intensive, especially for non-relational database systems. Because of the limitations of using SQL based disconnected access with non-relational databases, disconnected access to non-relational databases is inefficient, and does not currently have the same benefits of disconnected access to relational databases.

Apparatus, system, and method for XML based disconnected data access for multivalued/hierarchical databases


In a time measuring circuit, a pulse delay circuit is provided with a plurality of delay units. The pulse delay circuit is configured to transfer a pulse signal through the plurality of delay units while the pulse signal is delayed by the plurality of delay units. A delay time of each of the plurality of delay units depends on a level of a first drive voltage being input to each of the plurality of delay units. A generating circuit is configured to obtain a number of the delay units through which the pulse signal has passed within a predetermined period to generate, as time measurement data, digital data based on the obtained number. A first setting unit is configured to variably set the level of the first drive voltage being input to each of the plurality of delay units.

time measuring circuits for measuring a phase difference between input pulses as a time have been developed, which are for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,071 corresponding to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H03-220814.
The time measuring circuits of the U.S. patent publication are each composed of a plurality of digital circuits each configured to perform a particular logical function based on at least two discrete voltage levels.
Specifically, one typical example of the time measuring circuits includes a pulse delay circuit composed of a plurality of delay units that corresponds to a plurality of stages of delay. The delay units are connected to one another in series or in a ring-like structure.
In the time measuring circuit, when a starting pulse is input to one of the delay units corresponding to the first stage of delay, the starting pulse is sequentially transferred by the delay units while being delayed thereby in the order from the first stage of delay units toward the last stage thereof.
The time measuring circuit is designed to:
count a number of stages (pulse delay units) through which a pulse signal has passed since the input of the starting pulse up to an input of a measuring pulse to the time measuring circuit; and
output digital data based on the counted number of stages (pulse delay units) as a phase difference (time difference) between the starting pulse and the measuring pulse.
Such a time measuring circuit requires no analog circuits and consists entirely of a plurality of digital circuits, which makes it possible to easily design time measuring circuits as ICs (Integral Circuits).
In measurement of a time, there are requirements to measure a micro time length with a high resolution, such as a requirement for laser radars to measure a period of time elapsing between transmission of a laser beam and receipt of a reflected beam from the target. In contrast, there are requirements to measure a comparatively long time length with a comparatively low resolution, such as a requirement for ultrasonic sonars to measure a period of time elapsing between transmission of an ultrasonic wave and receipt of a reflected wave from the target.
A resolution required to measure a micro time length and that required to measure a comparatively long time length may differ from each other by ten orders of magnitude.
To meet the micro time-length measurement requirements with high resolution, in a conventional time measuring circuit, shortage of a delay time of each delay unit (each stage in delay) constituting the pulse delay circuit is needed. The shorter the delay time of each delay unit is, in other words, the higher the resolution of a conventional time measuring circuit, the more the number of stages through which a starting pulse signal has passed in the pulse delay circuit during even a predetermined same period. This may cause, in order to meet the long time-length measurement requirements with low resolution, a structure of a conventional time measuring circuit required to count the number of stages to increase in size, which may increase the conventional time measuring circuit in size.
As a different approach, to meet both the micro time-length measurement requirements with high resolution and the long time-length measurement requirements with low resolution, a conventional time measuring circuit can be provided with at least a pair of first and second time measuring modules. The first time measuring module is designed to implement micro time-length measurement with high resolution. In addition, the second time measuring module is designed to implement long time-length measurement with low resolution.
Specifically, the conventional time measuring circuit of another approach is configured to select any one of the first time measuring module and the second time measuring module depending on the intended use.
The different approach however may also cause a conventional time measuring circuit to increase in size.

Time measuring circuit with pulse delay circuit


An All-Terrain Vehicle with a frame, shocks, and A-Arms. The A-Arms have an arcuate shape to accommodate a shock attached below a centerline connecting front wheel(s). The A-Arms on one end arc around the shock and attach to a spindle and on a second end attach to the frame. The arcuate shape provides additional clearance, beyond a non arcuate shaped A-Arm, when a wheel is turned.

All-terrain vehicles (hereinafter "ATV") typically have a shorter wheelbase which gives the ATV increased maneuverability over longer wheelbased ATVs such as sandrails, desert trucks, and dune buggies. The shorter wheelbase however can have shortcomings compared to a longer wheelbase, for example, a shorter wheel base can have a rougher ride due in at least part to having shocks with less travel. It remains desirable to have an ATV with increased maneuverability along with more travel.


A word processing tool for idea generation represents text-identified ideas of a database in either the form of a text outline or in the form of a tree structure of nodes. Ideas of a given level can have priorities to change the ordering of the depiction of ideas in those levels. The priorities may be adjusted in a priority window allowing drag and drop reordering of idea and numeric weighting of ideas using a slider control. Loose dependence between ordering and weighting insures consistency of the two in the priority window.

The present invention relates to text processing programs for electronic computers, and in particular, to a text processing program that provides symmetric, outlining and tree-diagram text organization modes.
Text documents are a convenient way to share ideas. Text is easily generated and edited using a word processor or the like, and easily communicated or stored in either electronic or paper form.
Unfortunately, the relationship between ideas, as expressed in text alone, is not always clear. To remedy this problem, it is common to impose an outline structure on text documents in which xe2x80x9csubservientxe2x80x9d ideas are placed in paragraphs indented and underneath paragraphs representing xe2x80x9cdominantxe2x80x9d ideas. Each paragraph may be numbered in a way that further illustrates this relationship. By using multiple levels of indenting, outlining allows an arbitrarily complex set of dominant and subservient text elements to be represented. The outlining process is supported by many word processors which allow the user to switch between an outline mode and a standard text mode and which automate the process of numbering outlined paragraphs.
Outlining is nevertheless limited in its ability to convey complex relationships between ideas. When many ideas are presented, related dominant ideas are often separated by many subservient ideas with the result that the relationship between the dominant ideas is obscured. Further, the indentation of paragraphs (or numbering) provides little additional information about the relationship between ideas beyond the relatively general relationships of dominance and subservience. Finally, the outlining process in itself provides little guidance to the user in organizing text or in generating ideas.
What is needed is a text-processing tool that provides a more flexible method of organizing ideas and revealing the relationship between ideas and which promotes good organizational structure.
The present invention provides a computer tool to assist a user in developing and organizing ideas. Operating in either a text outline mode or a tree mode, the tool allows numeric priorities to be attached to ideas of a common level in either the outline or tree and redraws the outline or tree to comport with those priorities. A convenient user interface is provided to allow these priorities to be easily established. The invention further provides templates to prompt the users in exploring their ideas. The user creates levels of xe2x80x9cissuesxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cpositionsxe2x80x9d, and argumentsxe2x80x9d. Open-ended challenges are provided at the issue and position levels to help the user explore positions in response to issues, and arguments in response to positions. Such templates may be developed by experts to guide the user in particular fields of inquiry.
Specifically, the present invention provides a program for the organization of ideas using an electronic computer, the electronic computer having a user input device and a graphics display. The program comprising instructions is executed on the electronic computer to accept text identified ideas from the user via the user input device and to accept (at least one) idea hierarchy instructions from the user via the user input device, the hierarchy instructions relating the accepted ideas in dependencies. The program then displays representations of the ideas on the graphic display as organized into levels defined by common dependency. Numeric priorities for the ideas of at least one level may be accepted from the user causing the ideas of the at least one level on the graphic display (for example in a text outline) to be arranged according to the priorities when it is redisplayed.
Thus it is one object of the invention to improve the representation of dependent ideas through the introduction of level priorities such as promote more important ideas to positions of visual dominance.
The displayed representation of the ideas may be as text displayed in a text outline according to the dependencies of ideas associated with the text, the text outline including paragraphs arranged beneath other paragraphs on which they depend; and the paragraphs of a level may be ordered according to the priorities of the ideas to which they are related.
Conversely, the displayed representations of the ideas are node symbols arranged in a tree according to their dependencies, the tree structure including branches visually connecting node symbols to other node symbols on which they depend; and the nodes of a level may be ordered according to the priorities of the ideas to which they are related.
Thus it is one object of the invention to provide a tool that allows either a tree or text outline representation of data and thus which allows the user to partake of the strength of each form.
The user may be provided with a list of representations of identified ideas of a level and wherein priorities are assigned by the user by changing the order of the representations of identified ideas within the list. The user may be allowed to change the order of representations of identified ideas (and thus their priority) by selection of a given representation of an identified idea as displayed on the graphics display using the user input device and moving the representations of the identified idea within the list as displayed on the graphic display device using the user input device. Alternatively or in addition a slide control for each identified idea in the list may be displayed that may be manipulated by the user-input device to enter a number priority value.
Thus it is yet another object of the present invention to provide an intuitive and easy to use graphical interface for assigning priorities to objects.
When the representation of an identified idea is moved within the list, the priority of at least one idea identifier may be changed so that the priorities of all identified ideas in the list remain monotonically decreasing. Priorities may be similarly adjusted when the sliders are moved to preserve monotonicity of priorities.
Thus it is another object of the invention to allow free adjustment of priorities of one element in the list while maintaining consistency with the priorities of other elements within the list.
The invention may display representations of the ideas on the graphic display as organized into levels defined by common dependency and after acceptance of a given text identified idea from the user in at least one predefined level; prompt the user as to possible additional text identified ideas for inclusion in a next level having ideas dependent on the idea of the given text identified idea. The predefined categories may be are ISSUE, POSITION and ARGUMENT and the user is prompted with possible ARGUMENTS when the given text identified idea is a POSITION and the user may be prompted with possible POSITIONS when the given text identified idea is an ISSUE. The user may be prompted with a set of open-ended questions that may be augmented by text from the identified ideas of the given position.
Thus it is another object of the invention to provide a tool not only for organizing ideas but one that assist the user in exploring the boundaries of the ideas.
Further, the user may select from a set of predefined generic identified ideas and hierarchies and to provide an editor for editing the predefined generic identified ideas and hierarchies.
Thus it is another object of the invention to communicate to the user the experience of experts in the field that may be applied to the problems being analyzed by the user. This expertise may be conveyed in xe2x80x9cskeletalxe2x80x9d ideas and hierarchies or in the prompts described above.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In this description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment and its particular objects and advantages do not define the scope of the invention, however, and reference must be made therefore to the claims for interpreting the scope of the invention.


A method to dynamically adjust priority may include providing a boost, by a processing device, to an element relative to at least one other element in response to a boost feature associated with the element being activated. Providing the boost to the element may include providing a predetermined longer duration of use of a shared use resource to the element relative to the at least one other element based on a boost setting associated with the element. The boost results in adjusting a priority of the element by allowing the element to complete a task in a shorter time period.

Aspects of the present invention relate to providing communications priority, operating priority or other priority for more efficient operation of computer applications and more particularly to a method, system and computer program product for dynamically adjusting priority for communications or other purposes.
When an operator's or user's machine or communications device is constrained for network resources or other resources, the operator may need timely access to particular content. For example, the operator's customer or manager may ask a question and need an immediate response. The operator may need to pull a stock quote, or pull up an email on a mail server. Presently, when the operator's machine is constrained for network resources, the new task the operator needs to perform immediately is handled by the operating system in a time slice fashion just like all the other applications currently running on the operator's machine. For example, the operator needs to pull a stock quote, clicks a browser link directly to the stock page, waits, the page partially loads, waits some more, then times out before it provides the needed information due to too much competition for network resources on the operator's machine.

Dynamically adjusting priority by providing a longer duration of use of a shared resource

International Business Machines Corporation


An organic light emitting diode display is disclosed. The display includes: a substrate; a first electrode positioned on the substrate; an organic emission layer positioned on the first electrode; a second electrode positioned on the organic emission layer; and a semi-transmissive layer positioned between the substrate and the first electrode and having a plurality of refractive layers having different refractive indices.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to an organic light emitting diode display. More particularly, the described technology relates to an organic light emitting diode display that makes use of a refractive index.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Organic light emitting diode displays have self-emissive characteristics, and have a relatively small thickness and weight due to not requiring a separate light source. Organic light emitting diode displays generally exhibit high-quality characteristics such as low power consumption, high luminance, high response speed, etc.
Conventional organic light emitting diode displays generally include a first substrate having an organic light emitting diode and a second substrate facing the first substrate and protecting the organic light emitting diode of the first substrate. The organic light emitting diode includes an organic emission layer for emitting light, and a first electrode and a second electrode, which face each other, with the organic emission layer interposed therebetween.
Conventional organic light emitting diode displays are classified into (1) a top emission type, in which light emitted from the organic light emitting diode is irradiated in the direction of the second substrate, (2) a bottom emission type, in which light emitted from the organic light emitting diode is irradiated in the direction of the first substrate, and (3) a double-side emission type, in which light emitted from the organic light emitting diode is irradiated in the directions of both the first and second substrates.
In a top emission type of display, the organic light emitting diode generally has a structure in which the first electrode is light reflective and the second electrode is semi-transmissive. Such a top emission type organic light emitting diode display has a microcavity structure.
When an organic light emitting diode display becomes larger in size, it is generally difficult to realize a large-sized organic light emitting diode display of a top emission type. The difficulty is related to the fact that the second electrode is generally made of a thin film in order to make it semi-transmissive, and the it usually needs to be formed as one layer over the entire organic light emitting diode display. In large organic light emitting diodes, sheet resistance of the second electrode increases, making the flow of current through the second electrode less smooth.
Due to the difficulty above, larger size organic light emitting diode displays are generally of a bottom-emission type, which can make the thickness of the second electrode sufficiently large.
Bottom emission type organic light emitting diode displays generally have lower luminous efficiency and color reproduction when compared to top emission type organic light emitting diode displays.
In recent years, a bottom emission type organic light emitting diode display with different thicknesses for each organic emission layer, according to the wavelength of light (red, green, or blue light) emitted from each organic emission layer has been developed. In such displays, a deposition process using an additional mask is generally used in order to vary the thickness of each organic emission layer, thereby increasing the overall manufacturing time and complexity.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


An aqueous composition useful for the surface treatment of materials, which includes: (a) an inorganic silicate or colloidal silica present in an amount from 2 to 95% by weight based on the weight of dry product; and (b) a fluoroelastomer based on vinylidene fluoride (VDF) present in an amount from 5 to 98% by weight based on the weight of dry product.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the surface treatment of materials, in particular of stony materials, marble, sandstone, bricks, concretes and the like, and of metals, and to aqueous compositions employed therein.
1. Description of the Related Art
As is known, stony materials, marble, sandstone, bricks and concretes, usually employed in building industry, and also metals, suffer from a progressive decay owing to the atmospheric agents and pollutants. Such decay is determined by a series of phenomena both of physical and chemical nature which mainly occur in the presence of water. In order to eliminate or at least meaningfully reduce, such phenomena, it is known to apply on the surface of such materials protective substances of various kinds (see "Stone Decay and Conservation", of Amoroso e Fassina, Elsewier Ed., Amsterdam, 1983).
If these decay phenomena have induced the formation of a surface layer having poor cohesion, it is essential that the applied substances, besides acting as protective agents, also exert a surface aggregating action.
Briefly, a good aggregating/protective agent, to perform the desired action and not to contemporanteously induce side decay phenomena or other undesired secondary effects, must show the following characteristics:
1. to markedly reduce the inlet and the penetration rate of water inside the material to be protected and consolidated; PA0 2. to re-establish the cohesion between the particles of the surface layer of the decayed material, as well as the adhesion between the surface layer and the integral underlying part; PA0 3. to impart an oil-repellence effect so as to reduce the penetration of oils and hydrocarbons, commonly present as atmospheric pollutants, or at least to make their removal from the material easier; PA0 4. to show suitable chemical stability with respect to the action of the atmospheric agents, of light and of heat; PA0 5. to maintain elasticity properties in order to avoid the formation of a stiff surface layer with mechanical properties different with respect to the subtratum; PA0 6. to show chemical inertia towards the material to be treated; PA0 7. not to alter, where required, the chromaticity of the material to be treated; PA0 8. to maintain over time its own characteristics of solubility to assure the treatment reversibility; PA0 9. to maintain a sufficient permeability to air and to steam, in order to avoid, because of the condensate, alteration phenomena under the protected surface layer.
In the class of fluorinated polymers, the use of perfluoropolyoxyalkylenes as protective agents for stony and cement manufactured articles, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,146 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,009, is known. Such products, even though they solve the problem of the protection, cannot however exert an effective consolidating action because of their nature of fluids.
A substantial improvement has been obtained by using elastomeric polymers based on vinylidene fluoride (VDF), which effectively exert both a protective and aggregating function (see for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,431). A further improvement has been obtained by using as aggregating/protective agents, mixtures consisting of a fluoroelastomer based on VDF and of a VDF non elastomeric homopolymer or copolymer, as described in EP patent EP-A-479,240.
The use of silica and inorganic silicates as reinforcing agents for both non fluorinated and fluorinated resins is also known. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,331 aqueous compositions are described, consisting of a fluorinated resin, in particular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a silicone emulsion, a flocky inorganic material and a non ionic surfactant, optionally in admixture with an anionic surfactant. Among the inorganic flocky materials SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and others are indicated. Such compositions are employed for the coating of glass or metal. To obtain a stable coating, the fluorinated resin must be submitted after the application to a sintering process at a temperature higher than the melting point of the resin itself, (for example higher than 320.degree. C. in case of PTFE. The use of so high temperatures is a true drawback, both as it makes the process applicable only on manufactured thermally resistant articles of small sizes, and because of unavoidable decay phenomena of the silicone material.
The Applicant has now surprisingly found that the application of an aqueous composition, as defined hereinunder, comprising both a fluoreoelastomer and an inorganic compound of the silicon, allows one to obtain a remarkable improvement in surface protection and consolidation compared to the individual components when used separately. The synergistic effect of the combination of an inorganic compound of silicon and a fluoroelastomer is particularly surprising since, on the basis of experiments carried out by the Applicant, the application of an inorganic compound of silicon, for example sodium silicate, on a stony material while exerting a discrete consolidating action, does not produce any protective effect, since the silicate does not possess water-repellent properties.


An electrical overhead transmission conductor cable having a steel reinforcing core which exhibits improved characteristics and unexpected conductivity above about 64% IACS is manufactured of a steel core covered by at least one stranding layer which is formed of round or trapezoidal shaped wire strands subjected to annealing before heat treatment and drawn and stress-relieved/annealed after stranding is completed, to provide a finished cable which includes an aluminum conductive portion which is dead soft, or "O" temper. The steel core of the cable carries substantially the entire tension load of both the core and conductors when suspended between vertical towers. The overhead transmission cable may be formed of trapezoidal cross section conductors wires for improved vibration performance characteristics.

Steel reinforced aluminum cable (ACSR) for use as an overhead transmission conductor usually comprises a plurality of aluminum wires helically wound around a steel core, which is also typically formed of a plurality of usually round steel wires stranded together. A plurality of layers of aluminum strands are often used. The electrical strands are of electrical grade ("EC") aluminum, one or more aluminum alloys, or a combination of these, tempered to provide sufficient tensile strength to carry a portion of the suspended cable load.
High-voltage transmission companies face numerous problems in reducing costs and ensuring reliable power transmission to their customers. Among these are enormous losses of power due to electrical line losses, extremely expensive maintenance and replacement costs due to broken wires damaged by vibration and oscillation, and the ability to subject the transmission cables to increased loads beyond those for which the cable system may have been designed, if only temporarily, as occurs during peak load conditions or when used to carry the load of a companion circuit that has been temporarily removed from service for maintenance, etc. The known cable standards and constructions represent a compromise among many competing service requirements, thus selection of cable presents an engineering problem of both considerable difficulty and long-term economic importance. The present invention reduces the complexity of the problem by providing in a single overhead transmission conductor a cable with superior conductivity, lower power losses, and greater ampacity for a given cable cross section, and very desirable service characteristics.
Standard ACSR overhead transmission conductor cable utilizes round electrically conductive wire strands. A portion of the tension resulting from the suspended weight of the cable is normally borne by the conventional ACSR aluminum electrical conductors under normal conditions. Under high temperature or high current-carrying operating conditions which soften aluminum wires, however, the steel strand may carry the entire mechanical tension load; the cable thus stretches and sags. ACSR cable is available in the conventional configuration with round conductor strands, and in reduced diameter to meet a "compact" specification. "Compact ACSR" is commonly found in one of two forms.
In one form, at least one layer of the electrical conductor is die-compacted following the stranding operation to reduce the cable cross-sectional area. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,943,087 and 3,760,093 teach such processes. In another form, the individual strands used for at least one layer of aluminum conductors are shaped into a more compactly fitting cross section, a plurality of which are then fitted together to form the conductor layer or layers. The preferred cross-sectional shape for one embodiment of the invention is called trapezoidal wire. It is shaped before stranding to form the cable. Each compact cable construction relies on different manufacturing steps, and results in differing finished cable characteristics.
Die-compacted ACSR undergoes shaping forces during the compacting process which result in sharp corners or edges. These are susceptible to arcing or corona formation at higher voltage levels, and thus limit use of the configuration to lower voltage levels.
Trapezoidal wire ACSR is formed by "building up" pre-shaped conductors, resulting in a very dense structure without the mechanical rigidity of die-compacted ACSR. This cable construction can improve the resistance of the wire to aeolian oscillation and galloping, to which such conductors are subjected. Aeolian oscillation is a low amplitude, high frequency vibration that normally occurs due to relatively low wind velocities under 25 kilometers per hour. Galloping, conversely, is a low frequency, large amplitude phenomena. Both galloping and aeolian oscillation can contribute to fatigue and early failure of the conductors in conventional ACSR cable.
As noted, a portion of the tension force is normally carried by the aluminum conductor in ordinary ACSR. However, a condition knownas "tension creep" elongation is known to occur, in which the aluminum conductor portion of the overhead cable stretches over time and permits a degree of conductor sag which may be undesirable. This can increase the load on the steel strand core since the tension force carried by the aluminum conductor is reduced without a reduction in the weight of the aluminum conductor.
Electrically conductive metals used for conductor cables are subjected to complex mechanical and heat treatments in order to arrive at desirable mechanical and electrical characteristics. As is well known, the interaction of the mechanical and heat treatments and the electrical characteristics is extremely complex; this complexity is vastly increased when the metal strands are subjected to the manufacturing process conditions necessary to produce a finished cable, installed for use. Tensioning, bending, and frictional heating of the aluminum conductor strands alter the electrical conductivity and temper thereof, often contrary to the finished effect desired.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,813,481 and 3,813,772 ("'481" and "'772") disclose known overhead transmission conductor cable designs in which the aluminum wires are at nearly dead soft temper and the stranded steel core carries substantially all of the tension load. This cable is denominated steel supported aluminum conductor, or SSAC. The '481 patent is believed to represent more recent improvements in overhead transmission conductor cable designs. In the design illustrated in that patent, the aluminum conductor wires are annealed to soft condition such that the stranded steel core carries the tensile load.
The manufacturing process for the SSAC product 100 disclosed in the '481 patent is illustrated in FIG. 4. Conventional 61% IACS aluminum rod 102 is drawn conventionally to wire form in a drawing step 104, then the drawn wire 106 is fully annealed in step 108. This drawn, fully annealed wire 110 is soft and easily subject to damage and must be handled carefully. This careful processing requirement extends to the special stranding step 112, where the conductor wires 110 are overlaid around the steel strand core 114.
Strain and work hardening as ordinarily and inherently occur in the stranding process must be minimized to avoid increasing the temper of the wires unnecessarily, as the finished overhead transmission conductor cable wires are specified as having less than 8500 pounds per square inch (psi) yield strength for 1 percent elongation and must provide at least 61% IACS conductivity in the final product. Therefore, the stranding step 112 described in the '481 patent includes numerous special processing condition requirements which necessitate extraordinary adjustments to the stranding apparatus and significantly slower processing speeds.
These special stranding step 112 requirements include, but are not limited to: applying a lubricant to the surface of the fully annealed aluminum wires, reducing the back-tension on the aluminum wires through the stranding machine, reducing the operating speed of the stranding machine, modifying the wire guides to minimize scuffing (which can cause scratches), enlarging the closure dies which press the annealed stranded wires against the steel core, and reducing the pressure of the closing dies. Even with these special stranding precautions, a degree of hardness is imparted to the aluminum conductor wires which requires careful attention, as the upper limits of the yield strength are prescribed at 8500 psi.
In addition to these uneconomical and difficult requirements and adjustments, extreme care must be exercised to protect the fully annealed wire 106 during the stranding step 108. That is, since the wire is dead soft, the surface is easily scratched or damaged; such scratches are an important cause of arcing and corona in the finished overhead transmission conductor cable. Special care and selection is required for overhead transmission cable intended for higher voltage service.
Of particular interest among the teachings of the '481 patent is that the product is to be subjected to only a single annealing step throughout the cable manufacturing process disclosed. The full anneal is to take place within the time frame illustrated at T11 of FIG. 4; i.e., after the drawing step 104 and before string-up 116 of the finished product is completed by placing it in regular service. Due to the deleterious effects of the high temperatures of the annealing process on the steel strand, the '481 patent teaches that the annealing step 108 is preferably performed within the time frame illustrated at T12 of FIG. 4, that is, after the drawing step 104 and before the special stranding step 112. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a normal anneal occurring after stranding will negatively affect the performance characteristics of the steel strand.
These special manufacturing requirements add significantly to the cost of manufacturing this SSAC cable. No improvements in conductivity of the completed product are disclosed.


An aspect includes a computer-implemented method for detecting one or more multi-column composite key column sets. The method includes accessing a plurality of first columns, each first column representing a parameter, each first column including a set of distinct parameter values of its respective parameter, each distinct parameter value being stored in association with one or more object identifiers. Two or more of the first columns are selected for use as a current candidate column set, the current candidate column set including at least a first and a second candidate column, the current candidate column set being of a current cardinality. The method also includes determining, by comparing object-identifiers, whether for the current candidate column set at least one tuple of parameter values exists with parameter values respectively stored in association with two or more shared ones of the object identifiers to identify a multi-column composite key column set.

In the field of data modeling and data analysis, a common problem is the determination of combinations of parameters whose combination of respective parameter values is unique for each individual data record in a database. The determination of such unique parameter combinations allows specifying index structures being derived from parameter values of the unique parameter combination. The index structures and/or knowledge of the unique combination of parameters allows to improve the performance of query optimizes in databases and thus to increase the speed of data retrieval and data analysis. As one of the most common database types for storing large amounts of data for production or analysis purposes is a relational database management system, where "parameters" or "attributes" of data objects are represented by columns, the problem of identifying unique combinations of parameters is also known as the problem to identify multi-column unique key sets in a database.
Current data profiling approaches for identifying multi-column unique key sets are too slow to be practically applicable on larger databases. Gunopulos (Gunopulos D., et al: "Discovering all most specific sentences". In: Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), Volume 28 Issue 2, 2003) showed that the detection of multi-column composite unique keys is very time consuming especially for larger databases as the number of possible keys increases exponentially with the number of parameters/columns.
Identifying multi-column composite key sets manually by a data domain expert is also not an option, especially for larger databases. Multi-column composite key sets are a characteristic inherent to the data. The characteristic is not always known by the application developer or database administrator. Therefore multi-column unique key sets cannot be foreseen without an in depth data analysis. A manual data evaluation for identifying multi-column composite key sets would take too much time to be a practical option.
A further approach is to enforce multi-column unique key sets by creating a corresponding constraint, e.g., in a relational database. This approach has the disadvantage that not all existing multi-column unique key sets are detected. In addition, such a manually imposed constraint may result in errors in case a further data record comprising an already existing combination of property values is inserted into the database.

Detecting multi-column composite key column sets


An inkjet ink capable of undergoing polymerization (curing) after exposure to microwave radiation, and method for printing and fixation the above ink on various substrates by ink jet printer and microwave source is disclosed.

Industrial ink jet printing is a fast growing market. Particularly fast growing is on-demand printing of large size images on rigid and flexible substrates and especially on glass and marble. These on-demand images are printed within a very short time and immediately with printing completion should be ready for use. It is clear that the inks used for such printing should be instantly dried or preferably dried concurrently with the printing process. Conventional ink jet inks are composed of a liquid vehicle, and a colorant. The liquid vehicle contains mainly solvents, in which resins and additives such as wetting agents, dispersants, defoamers and other ink components required for proper ink operation are dissolved or dispersed.
The solvents are either organic solvents ("solvent based inks"), or water ("water based inks") together with water-soluble organic solvents. Typically, inks contain colorant at low concentration; generally below 10% of weight. Therefore, obtaining the final, dry print, should involve processes in which the liquid vehicle (solvents or water) is completely removed. Typically heat evaporates the solvent or water. Obviously, such processes require a significant amount of energy. Special drying ovens provide this energy. The ovens are large in size, consume significant amounts of energy, and complicate the printing equipment.
High-energy consumption is not the one and only problem associated with the inkjet inks drying process. If the drying process is applied to solvent-based inks the solvents removed to the atmosphere may cause health and environmental problems.
In order to dry fast the printed image the solvent removal rate should be fast. Increase in the solvent removal rate by increasing oven temperature is limited, due to the possible damage to the substrate onto which the ink is printed. Such heat sensitive substrate may be paper, polymeric substrate, foamed materials and other heat sensitive items.
Recently radiation curing ink methods, and in particular, UV curing methods have become popular. U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,406 to Caiger discloses a new class of ink jet inks, in which the vehicle is composed of monomers and oligomers capable of undergoing curing reactions or polymerization under the influence of for example UV light.
"Curing" in the context of the present disclosure means a process of converting a liquid and in particular ink into a solid, by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, which may be UV radiation. Use of the curing process is rapidly becoming an alternative to the established conventional heat drying process. Curing requires inks of different than drying ink compositions.
The ink composition worked out under this approach is often termed "100% solids ink". It overcomes several problems associated with regular solvent or water based inks that need to be dried: there is no need to remove solvents or water, the fixation of ink droplets is very fast, and the damage to the substrate is reduced. However, there are still severe drawbacks related to the use of UV curable ink jet inks.
The printing machine and especially the printheads and ink conducting tubing should be protected from stray light. Stray light may initiate uncontrolled and undesired ink curing within the machine even before printing takes place.
UV curable inks contain photo initiators at relatively high concentrations. These photo initiators are usually very expensive compared to the price of the rest of the components of the ink. UV curable inks cost typically two to three times more than regular solvent based inks.
The ink curing process requires radiation such as UV light. UV light is generated by expensive lamps, which consume large amount of energy a large part of which is typically converted into heat and heats the substrate. The lamps deteriorate with the time, and therefore should be replaced often.
Reflective surfaces reflect UV radiation. This complicates printing on reflecting surfaces such as glass, marbles and some plastic substrates where the reflected portion of the UV radiation causes undesired ink on the print head nozzle plate curing. This causes frequent print head changes and increases maintenance costs.
In order to obtain good curing of the ink by UV radiation, a sufficient UV radiation dose should be applied. Otherwise, uneven ink curing takes place, for example if the radiation will not penetrate through the whole ink layer, (especially in thick ink layers), the bottom layer of the ink will not be cured, leaving reactive monomers in the printed area, and interfering with the adhesion of the ink to the substrate. The final optical density of the ink is somehow limited, since too high colorant concentration would absorb a large fraction of the UV light. Absorption of UV light by the colorant competes with the absorption by the photo initiators, and may result in poor curing. Further to this the exposure to UV light may cause fading of the colorant, especially for organic dyes and some types of pigments.
Therefore there is a need in the industry for curable inkjet ink that is free of the above-mentioned drawback. Ink that uses lower cost ingredients and can be cured by easy producible curing radiation sources. Inks curing of which does not affect the substrate. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide inkjet ink capable of undergoing rapid polymerization (curing) after exposure to curing radiation. Such radiation may be for example microwave radiation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of ink-jet printing with the above ink on various substrates and especially heat sensitive substrates and quick subsequent curing and fixation of the ink on substrate by microwave radiation without affecting the heat sensitive substrate.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method of ink-jet printing with the above ink on various substrates and especially on substrates reflecting optical curing radiation such as UV or IR radiation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for quick curing of inks in which the ink vehicle is composed of molecules having appropriate dielectric properties, and more specifically, to water based inkjet inks.
These and other objectives of the present invention may be achieved by providing a microwave radiation curable ink composition for piezo-electric drop-on-demand inkjet printing, comprising molecules of material capable of undergoing a polymerization reaction under the influence of the microwave radiation generated heat, microwave radiation absorber, thermal initiator, colorant and different additives.
A microwave radiation curable ink for piezo electric drop-on-demand ink-jet printing that contains molecules of material capable of undergoing a polymerization reaction under the influence of the microwave radiation generated heat are any one or a combination of acrylic monomers and oligomers containing acrylate groups.
The microwave radiation absorber is enhancing absorption of microwave radiation and conversion of microwave radiation energy into heat. The microwave radiation absorber for piezo electric drop-on-demand inkjet printing is at least one of carbon black, minerals, polar molecules such as alcohols, amines, ammonium salts, conductive polymers etc.
Microwave radiation curable ink for piezo electric drop-on-demand ink-jet printing where the heat generated by microwave radiation activates the thermal initiator. The thermal initiator is at least one of lauroyl peroxide, cumenn peroxide dicumyl peroxide, tert-amyl peroxy-benzoate, dentanedione-peroxide, 1,1′-azobis-cyclohexane carbonitryle.
Colorant provides the color properties of the ink and different additives affect such ink properties as wetting, foaming, adhesion and other as may be required by a particular application.
Microwave radiation curable ink for piezo electric drop-on-demand ink-jet printing where said additives are any one or a combination of wetting agents, dispersants, rheology modifiers, solvents, and defoamers.
The present invention provides also a method for recording and microwave curing of images printed by the ink of the present invention by a piezo drop-on-demand inkjet printer. The method comprising steps of providing ink having a microwave absorber and a thermal initiator. The absorber contained in the ink enhances absorption of microwave radiation. Printing with the ink having a microwave absorber and a thermal initiator an image bearing pattern on a substrate and irradiating by microwave curing radiation the printed image-bearing pattern. Microwave curing radiation cures the image-bearing pattern by heat. The heat is generated by conversion of microwave curing radiation energy into heat within the ink layer only and does not affect the substrate.
The method also enables printing on UV and IR radiation reflecting surfaces such as glass, marble and some plastic substrates. There is no reflected microwave radiation that can cause undesired ink on the print head nozzle plate curing. Print head maintenance costs are reduced.
According to one exemplary embodiment the curing can be performed immediately after the droplets are placed onto the substrate, yielding fast and reliable ink curing and image fixation.
According to another exemplary embodiment the curing can be performed after the image bearing ink pattern was deposited on the substrate. Curing after the image bearing ink pattern was deposited on the substrate also yields fast and reliable ink curing and image on substrate fixation.
The invention has particular importance in industrial printers, in which large substrates are printed within a short time interval. The ink composition is beneficial as compared with solvent and water based inks. The benefits of the ink disclosed by the particular invention are:
The microwave radiation is very simple to generate. The cost of a microwave curing radiation source is substantially lower than the cost of a similar UV curing system.
Microwave radiation penetrates into the whole ink layer, and polymerization occurs rapidly and has an even pattern at the interface between the ink and the substrate, ensuring good adhesion. Layers of ink substantially thicker than layers cured by the UV lamp may be cured by microwave radiation.
The radiation absorption is not limited by the colorant concentration or colorant-absorbing wavelength. In contrary, some colorants such as carbon black and inorganic pigments even contribute to the radiation absorbance.
The thermal initiators used in some of the ink compositions are much cheaper then the photoinitiators used for sensitization of the UV curable inks. This allows production of inks less expensive than UV curable inks.
The environmental and especially storage conditions for microwave curable ink are substantially more forging that the storage conditions for the UV curable ink.
Not like thermal or UV radiation the microwave radiation can be instantaneously turned ON and OFF, thus simplifying the operation of the printing machine and further reducing its cost and reliability since no complicate mechanical shutters arrangements, cutting-off the UV radiation at the stand-by and idle times are required.
The microwave radiation does not affect the substrate, and therefore it is suitable for ink curing on a wide range of heat sensitive substrates.
The absorption of radiation is localized only to the ink located in the image bearing areas, hence the efficiency of the microwave radiation curing process is higher than the UV curing process.
The microwave radiation sources are more efficient then conventional IR and UV radiation sources, thus minimizing the required energy for the process.

Microwave curable inks for inkjet printing

Abstract: Ink compositions suitable for microwave curing are provided. These inks overcome the problems associated with drying of solvent and water based inks, and curing of UV inks.

Abstract: The present invention provides also a method for quick fixation of inks in which the ink vehicle is composed of molecules having appropriate dielectric properties.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A metal laminate gasket of the invention is used for an internal combustion engine. The gasket is basically formed of first and second metal plates piled together, and includes a cylindrical portion integrally formed on the first metal plate with a first hole, and a second hole formed in the second plate. The cylindrical portion extends substantially perpendicularly to the first plate, and has an axial length along the inner periphery at least equal to the thickness of the gasket. The second hole has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion. When the gasket is assembled, after the cylindrical portion is inserted into the second hole, the cylindrical portion is enlarged to press fit against the inner periphery of the second hole. Thus, the first and second metal plates are firmly connected together without portions extending outwardly from outer surfaces of the gasket.

The present invention relates to a metal laminate gasket with a plate connecting device, which connects metal plates for constituting the metal laminate gasket.
A metal laminate gasket is formed of a plurality metal plates laminated together. Thus, after the metal plates are laminated, the laminated plates are connected to prevent disassembly of the gasket.
In case a gasket includes a grommet or a turned portion, the gasket may be connected together by the grommet or the turned portion without using a connecting device. However, if the gasket does not have the grommet or the turned portion, the metal plates are connected together by the connecting device.
In one connecting device, a lower plate may be provided with flaps, which are turned over an upper plate to connect the upper and lower plates together. In this case, at least four flaps are required to properly connect the plates together. Also, if one or more middle plates are installed between the upper and lower plates, the middle plate may not be securely retained between the upper and lower plates.
In order to solve the above problems, the plates may be connected together by spot welding. Alternatively, laminated plates may be integrally dented, wherein the bottom portions of the dent are enlarged to firmly connect the plates together [Japanese Utility Model Publication (KOKAI) 4-28272].
However, in case an outer plate is covered with a coating, or a gasket includes metal plates which are not suitable for pressing or welding, forming of dents or welding is not appropriate for connecting the plates together.
Further, in case the welding or dents are used for connecting the plates, it is required to establish portions for the welding or dents in the gasket so that the sealing ability of the gasket is not affected by the welding or dents. In this case, also, some restrictions may be imposed in forming the holes for the cylinder bores, water, oil and so on. As a result, assembly or processing cost of the gasket may rise.
The present invention has been made to obviate the above problems in the conventional techniques.
One object of the invention is to provide a metal laminate gasket, wherein metal plates can be easily and securely connected together without using specific spaces for connecting the plates.
Another object of the invention is to provide a metal laminate gasket as stated above, which can provide surface pressure around a connecting portion.
A further object of the invention is to provide a metal laminate gasket as stated above, wherein the plates are securely connected together even if the gasket includes a coating or a plate unsuitable for pressing.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a metal laminate gasket as stated above, which can be easily and economically manufactured.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Metal laminate gasket with a plate connecting device