Novel compounds, called chloropolysporins B and C, and salts thereof have antibiotic properties and would appear to be members of the class of glycopeptide antibiotics containing chlorine. They may be produced by cultivating a suitable strain of microorganism of the genus Micropolyspora, especially Micropolyspora sp. SANK 60983 (FERM BP-538). They may be combined with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents for therapeutic use or incorporated into edible excipients, such as feed or water, for use as a growth-promoting agent, especially for farm animals.

The present invention relates to new antibiotics, which we have called "chloropolysporins B and C", to a process for their preparation by the cultivation of a microorganism and to their use, both therapeutic, in the treatment and prophylaxis of infections caused by bacteria, and as a growth-promoting agent for animals.
As resistance to conventional antibiotics becomes increasingly established in common strains of pathogenic bacteria, the need for a wider variety of antibiotics for use in the fight against such bacteria becomes ever more crucial. Moreover, various antibiotics, for example chloramphenicol, aureomycin, vancomycin and avoparcin, have been administered, or have been proposed for administration to poultry and other farm animals, including the ruminants and pigs, for the prophylaxis of disease or to promote growth or milk production. However, an inherent disadvantage of the use of antibiotics in this way is that there is some risk that traces of the antibiotics or of metabolic products thereof may be found in animal products intended for human consumption (such as eggs, milk or meat); the alleged dangers of such residues are increasingly criticized by some sections of the community There is, accordingly, a considerable desire amongst farmers for an antibiotic substance which will have the desired growth-promoting effect but which will leave no or no significant residues in animal products.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 627,439, filed July 3, 1984 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,933, on Dec. 10, 1985 assigned to the present assignees, there is disclosed an antibiotic, there referred to as "chloropolysporin", which was isolated from the culture medium of a microorganism identified as Micropolyspora sp. SANK 60983.
We have now discovered that the same microorganism, and hence others of the genus Micropolyspora, produces a further two new antibiotic substances that are highly effective against gram-positive bacteria and that show considerable promise for use as growth-promoting agents in animals. It is believed that these substances may have been present in the chloropolysporin of the prior Application.

Antibiotics called "chloropolysporins B and C", a process for their preparation, and their therapeutic and veterinary use


The present disclosure provides a pixel structure and a fabrication method thereof, a display substrate and a display apparatus. The pixel structure includes a plurality of first pixel portions arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and a second pixel portion that spaces the plurality of first pixel portions from each other. Each first pixel portion includes a plurality of first sub-pixels having a same color and arranged around a center of the first pixel portion. The second pixel portion includes a plurality of second sub-pixels. For four first pixel portions in two adjacent rows and two adjacent columns, each of four regions that are centrosymmetric and obtained by connecting centers of the four first pixel portions to each other corresponds to one pixel unit, and each pixel unit includes two first sub-pixels respectively in two first pixel portions and at least one second sub-pixel.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display panels have broad application prospects because of their advantages such as self-luminescence, fast response, and ease of implementing flexibility. In a full-color organic light-emitting display panel, pixel units include red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light-emitting units, and the light-emitting units are fabricated by vacuum evaporation and a solution process.

Pixel structure and fabrication method thereof, display substrate and display apparatus


Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods to derive a semantic network from a CMDB relationship graph which can then be queried in a natural way from a linguistic standpoint (i.e., using natural language queries). Because disclosed embodiments combine natural language queries with an inferencing engine the disclosed systems and methods automatically “connect the dots” between disparate pieces of information and can allow for a richer user experience. In general, CMDB graph relationships can be converted into semantic networks. Once a semantic network is created, queries can be phrased to leverage the inferential relationships between objects in the semantic network.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of Configuration Management Database (CMDB) query technology. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure refers to a method and system providing a combination of Natural Language (NL) query capability with application of inferential query techniques to access data from a CMDB.
A CMDB is a repository of information related to as many of the components of an information system as practical. Although repositories similar to CMDBs have been used by Information Technology (IT) departments for many years, the term CMDB has more recently been formalized with the Infrastructure Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). ITIL is a set of concepts and practices for managing IT services, development, and operations. ITIL gives detailed descriptions of a number of important IT practices and provides comprehensive checklists, tasks, and procedures that any IT organization can tailor to its needs. ITIL is published in a series of books, each of which covers an IT management topic. The names ITIL and IT Infrastructure Library are registered trademarks of the United Kingdom's Office of Government Commerce (OGC). Note CMDB references are used throughout this disclosure, however, the term Configuration Management System (CMS) is a term introduced in newer releases of ITIL. Accordingly, aspects of this disclosure will clearly be applicable to at least a portion of a CMS.
In the ITIL context, a CMDB represents the authorized configuration of the significant components of an IT environment. A CMDB helps an organization understand relationships between these components and track their configuration. The CMDB can be a fundamental component of the ITIL framework's Configuration Management (CM) process. CMDB implementations often involve federation (the inclusion of data into the CMDB from other sources) of multiple repositories (e.g., Asset Management databases, HR systems, Incident and Problem systems, Change Management systems, discovery tools, inventory and audit systems, etc) in such a way that the source of the data retains control of the data. Federation is usually distinguished from ETL (extract, transform, load) solutions in which data is copied into the CMDB.
The CMDB records configuration items (CI) and details about the important attributes and relationships between CIs. Configuration managers usually describe CIs using three configurable attributes: Technical, Ownership, and Relationship.
Today graph based queries to a CMDB are focused on query graphs of relationships between and among CIs. Current CMDB graph query technologies do not utilize additional data that may be derived from explicitly stored relationship data in a CMDB. To overcome these and other limitations, it is desirable to provide an enhanced query capability for use in retrieving information from a CMDB, thereby, enhancing both the input mechanism defining the query and expand upon pertinent results returned to a user or application performing the query.

Method and system to enable inferencing for natural language queries of configuration management databases


The present invention discloses a method for cell sleep/wakeup, and a method and an apparatus for controlling carrier power, wherein the method for controlling carrier power comprises: a SON judging whether a cell of a base station requires sleep and/or wakeup, wherein when the judgment result is that the cell requires sleep, the SON indicates the base station to make the cell to sleep, so that the base station reduces pilot channel power of a carrier of the cell to zero or closes the carrier to make the cell enter an energy-saving state; and when the judgment result is that the cell requires wakeup, the SON indicates the base station to wake up the cell, so that the base station recovers the pilot channel power of the carrier of the cell to an operation state value to make the cell exit the energy-saving state.

Currently, the telecommunication industry gradually enters meager profit phase. Telecommunication operators pay more attention to cost-reducing sectors such as saving energy and the like while seeking to enlarge market share and increase service type revenue. As the main energy-consuming part for the operators, the base stations are considered as the key of energy-saving. At the same time, the ordinary people also pay more attention to the problem that the base stations in operation cause electromagnetic wave radiation pollution.
Currently, the energy-saving of a base station is mainly achieved by means of using new energy-saving and environment-friendly devices and improving the heat dissipation material, which reduces the power consumption of the base station and at the same time reduces the power consumption brought by the heat dissipation. However, this technology has the following problems: increasing the manufacture costs of the base station by using such devices and at the same time a large amount of base stations which do not use such devices can not achieve the purpose of energy-saving.
The Self Organizing Network (abbreviated as SON) is a key object of the Radio Access Network (abbreviated as RAN) of the Long Term Evolution (abbreviated as LTE) system. Functions of the SON include Self Configuring function and Self Optimizing function. Hereinafter, SON represents a logic entity which achieves the functions of the SON, which can be implemented on a base station or implemented in a network management system.
Aiming at the problem that relatively high costs is caused by adding hardware devices to achieve the energy-saving of a base station in the prior art, no effective solution has been proposed so far.

Method for cell sleep/wakeup, method and apparatus for controlling carrier power


An apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charger to uniformly charge a surface of the image carrier; an exposing unit to perform write scanning on the image carrier; a developing unit that includes a developer carrier carrying a developer including a toner and that is configured to perform a visible image process on an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier; and a transferor to transfer a toner image that has been subjected to the process onto a material. If length Lg of a non-image part directly before an image part in an image carrier moving direction has the relation ofLg≧π·Ds/(Vs/Vp),where Vp and Vs are circumferential velocities of the image carrier and the developer carrier and Ds is a diameter of the developer carrier, suppression of toner attachment on the material is controlled in a predetermined length from an image front end in the direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a mechanism that resolves a density deviation in a toner image formed on a latent image carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is generally known, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, electrostatic latent images formed on photoconductors, which are latent image carriers, are converted to visible images with toners, and toner images are transferred and fixed onto recording media (hereinafter, referred to as recoding materials for convenience) such as recording paper to obtain copied outputs.
Image forming apparatuses not only include those having monochrome image forming configurations but also those having configurations for forming images of plural colors, like full color images. In such a color image forming apparatus, images of different colors formed in plural image forming units are sequentially transferred onto an intermediate transfer body such as a belt (primary transfer), and thereafter superimposed images are collectively transferred onto a recording material (secondary transfer).
For a developing device used in a visible image process, a two-component developer including a toner and magnetic particles that function as a carrier, or a single-component developer not including a carrier is used.
When the single-component developer is used, the toner is charged when the toner passes a layer thickness regulation blade. However, since it is difficult to saturate a toner attachment amount on a developing roller by one-time feeding from a feeding roller to a developing roller, a so-called development history (ghost) occurs where an image density upon continuous printing of a solid image of a large area becomes different from a density of a solid image directly after a large non-image region.
This development history (ghost) corresponds to a phenomenon in which a so-called unnecessary after-image, for example, an after-image of a character within a halftone image, that is, an image of a different density, appears. It has been disclosed that this is caused by the difference in triboelectricities (charge quantities per unit area) of toners on the developing toner, that is, the difference in triboelectricities between the toner facing an image (a developing part) and a toner facing a non-image part (a non-developing part) (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 09-106175). That is, the toner facing the non-developing part is not transferred toward an electrostatic latent image for development and thus is rubbed against the layer thickness regulation blade more frequently than the toner in the part transferred toward the electrostatic latent image. As a result, the triboelectricity of the toner in the non-developing part increases more than the toner in the developing part, leading to the density unevenness.
Thus, when the single-component developer is used, a velocity of a feeding roller may be increased in an attempt to increase a velocity of feeding the toner from the feeding roller to the developing roller, but if this is done, heat is generated in a contact portion between the developing roller and the feeding roller, and thus the toner on the regulation blade may be fixed to the developing roller, or toner deterioration may be accelerated.
Further, even if the abutting pressure between the feeding roller and the developing roller is increased in order to increase a toner feed quantity or the abutting pressure between the regulation blade and the developing roller is increased in order to obtain saturation with a low attachment amount, the fixing or toner deterioration may be similarly accelerated.
Meanwhile, increasing the number of feeding rollers in order to increase the feed quantity is disadvantageous in terms of volume (downsizing) of a developing machine. Particularly, in recent single-component developing machines, line speeds of the developing rollers have increased more and more due to a demand for higher printing speeds, and it has been difficult to saturate feeding of a toner from a feeding roller to a developing roller at once due to heat generation. Because of these problems, the single-component developing system is hardly employed in printing devices requiring high image qualities.
When the two-component developer is used, because stirring and mixing of the carrier and the toner are able to be sufficiently performed, the above problems occurring with respect to the single-component developer do not occur as much, but the above developing history problem still occurs.
Particularly, when the developing part reaches a developing position directly after the non-developing part, the density of a front end of an image part in an image transferred onto a recording material becomes high as illustrated in FIG. 22.
The inventors of the present application have studied the phenomenon of the front end of the image part directly after the non-image part becoming dense and found out that when a developing sleeve used as a developer carrier is positioned directly after the non-image part, the toner is attached to a surface thereof.
When performing reversal image forming of removing a charge on the photoconductor corresponding to the image part and attaching the toner having the same polarity as the non-image part of the photoconductor by a developing bias, as the non-image part passes the developing sleeve, the toner receives a force moving toward the developing sleeve due to an electric field formed by the charge remaining in the non-image part on the photoconductor. Accordingly, the toner attachment amount on the surface of the developing sleeve increases.
In the image part directly after the non-image part on the photoconductor passes the developing sleeve at which the toner attachment amount has increased, more toner than a toner attachment amount of a predetermined density is attached, and density abnormality at the front end of the image part directly after the non-image part occurs. More particularly, the density becomes higher than the density in the image part other than the front end of the image part.
The deviation in the density at the front end of the image part directly after the non-image part becoming abnormal, that is, the development history that becomes the so-called ghost, is considered to be caused when a development history of a previous round of the developing sleeve remains on the developing sleeve in the developing process, and a development history of the first round is generated as an after-image during development of a second round.
As a method of resolving the density deviation, a method of reducing the density deviation by providing an electrode plate facing a developer carrier and applying a vibration electric field to the electrode plate to rearrange a toner on the carrier and destroy an after-image has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 09-106175).
Further, other methods are available, including a method of regulating a particle diameter distribution and a circularity of a carrier and reducing density unevenness by using a method of carrying a developer similar to the method of carrying the two-component developer via the carrier and using a method similar to the visible image process for using the single-component developer in which the toner flies to the latent image at the portion facing the image part (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-264336), a method of removing a condition in which a development history is generated by peeling off a remaining toner from a developer carrier after development (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-86448), and a method of eliminating density deviation by adjusting a stirring time in a developing unit before development according to the number of accumulated printed sheets and eliminating a charge amount difference on a developer carrier with respect to a non-image part and an image part (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-220749).
Further, other methods have been proposed, including a method of preventing a density at a front end of an image part directly after a non-image part from increasing, a method of controlling a voltage applied to a layer thickness regulation member for a single-component developer (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-189767), and a method of setting a surface material of a developer carrier or controlling a potential in a non-image region so that a charge of a toner does not change (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-84504).
All of the methods disclosed in the above described patent documents relate to single-component developers and are not targeted on the two-component developers.
The friction charging used for the two-component developers is different from that for the single-component developers, and thus the above-described methods are not directly applicable.
Meanwhile, when the two-component developers are used, similarly to the single-component developers, the density deviation in an image occurs at the front end of the image part directly after the non-image part as described above.
Particularly, the inventors have confirmed that the density deviation occurs even if the developer is peeled off from the developer carrier by a magnetic force in using the two-component developers. Therefore, it is difficult to completely remove the development history upon use of the two-component developers even if the above-described methods are used.


A method (200) is disclosed for designing an RNP approach for an aircraft at a particular runway (90). The method includes selecting a runway (201), gathering obstacle data for the obstacle evaluation area (202), selecting a VEB method and terms (204), laying out a preliminary approach, inducing a missed approach segment (206), calculating a preliminary obstacle clearance surface (208), calculating a momentary descent segment using a physical model of the aircraft (210), adjusting the obstacle clearance surface so that no obstacles intersect the surface (212), and optionally optimizing the approach by departing from the operator's standard procedures (214). Preferably, the obstacle clearance surface is adjusted so that it just touches an obstacle, without any object intersecting the surface, thereby providing an optimal decision altitude.

In commercial aviation, the ability to accurately pinpoint an aircraft's position is important to safe and efficient air travel. Originally, pilots relied on visual cues to avoid obstacles during take-off and approach to landing. However, weather conditions often hinder the pilot's ability to see such objects. Consequently navigational procedures were developed to guide the aircraft into and out of terminal area which require only position information and not visual cues. Currently, airlines typically use ground based radio navigation systems to provide position information, particularly during poor visibility conditions. A disadvantage of ground-based radio positioning systems, however, is that such systems are not particularly accurate and provide less certainty of an aircraft's position the farther the aircraft is from the transmitter. Recognizing this limitation, regulators have established a set of criteria for building these navigational procedures called TERPS (Terminal Instrument Procedures) for designing approaches that recognize the limitations of the technology. TERPS employs trapezoidal obstacle identification surfaces that take into account inaccuracies in the aircraft's positional certainty. TERPS is formally defined in US FAA Order 8260.3B, along with associated documents in the 8260 series. The international equivalent of TERPS is called PANS-OPS, promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization ("ICAO") (document 8168); the two combined represent virtually 100% of conventional approaches in place today. Such obstacle identification surfaces generally extend from the final approach fix, a point in space from which an approach begins, to a go-around decision altitude, or missed approach point. If a prospective obstacle identification surface would intersect an obstacle, the proposed surface (and therefore the flight path) must be offset or otherwise modified, which can result in the aircraft being in an undesirable position relative to the runway.
The missed approach point or decision altitude, in general terms, is the lowest point during an approach procedure wherein the obstacle identification surface clears all obstacles. If the aircraft landing conditions do not meet the requirements for a successful landing (e.g., visual contact with the runway environment, landing clearance, etc.), then the pilot makes a go-around decision and typically at the missed approach point the aircraft transitions to a missed approach surface that is similarly designed to provide for a safe extraction for a generic aircraft. In an obstacle rich environment, however, TERPS surfaces may not provide sufficient clearance to allow guidance all the way down to a decision altitude. In these cases, a non-precision approach is used that only provides guidance down to a particular minimum descent altitude. If the landing must be aborted below the minimum descent altitude, TERPS does not provide a missed approach surface. If an instrument approach is not available, the flight crew typically executes a circling procedure, which can present undue risk to the aircraft when conducted during low visibility. It is estimated that more than half of all aviation accidents involving controlled flights into terrain occur during such non-precision approaches, and that an aircraft is five times more likely to experience an incident during a non-precision approach.
Containment volumes (the protected volume enclosed by the obstacle identification surfaces) for traditional criteria sets such as TERPS and PANS-OPS have been established essentially through empirical analysis and experience and have been deemed safe due to the large number of operations that have been accomplished safely within these volumes. Navigation systems have improved by orders of magnitude over earlier technologies and permit much tighter containments than previously available. Public design criteria sets necessarily evolve slowly and have not kept up with these new navigation capabilities.
An alternative to TERPS for designing approaches is emerging, known as performance-based navigation. Under this concept, optimal flight paths are designed based on the aircraft's capabilities and not on the characteristics of the navigational signals. This permits advanced aircraft to execute advanced procedures and confers access, safety, efficiency, and capacity benefits to well-equipped aircraft. RNAV is a type of navigation that permits operation on any desired flight path (as opposed to point to point based on navigation beacons) within the limits of the available signals. Required Navigation Performance ("RNP") is a term used to describe performance-based RNAV.
RNP is a new navigation method that requires a new means of understanding safety. In a sense, RNP inverts the safety function; instead of specifying the performance limitations of a particular navigational aid and then designing safe procedures around that, RNP procedures define the safe buffers required for an optimum procedure which in turn drives the requirements for the navigation system performance on the aircraft. In this way, procedures can be designed that are demonstrably safe, but can only be flown in aircraft that are known to possess sufficient navigation system accuracy and integrity. The essential question being answered by a conventional procedure is "what is the best way in, given the characteristics of the underlying navigational needs?", whereas the essential question for an RNP procedure is "what level of performance is required to execute the safest and most efficient path to the runway?"
RNP is a statement of the navigation performance necessary for operation within a defined airspace. RNP navigation permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path, with clearly defined path specifications using navigation aids such as the global positioning system, and/or within the limits of the self-contained capability, such as inertial navigation systems. Modern systems are allowing carriers to transition from TERPS-based approach and landing procedures to more flexible linear surfaces developed using RNP, providing carriers with precision approach capability. A critical component of RNP is the ability of the aircraft navigation system to accurately monitor its achieved navigation performance and to ensure that it complies with the accuracy required for a specific route or airspace. It is estimated that 80% of the existing airline fleet is equipped with the flight management systems, navigation systems like DME, GPS, and INS, and the altimetry that is needed to implement RNP.
RNP-based approach and departure procedures provide important safety and performance benefits including the ability to complete a safe instrument approach on any available runway during poor visibility. Safety is enhanced by providing vertical guidance all the way through the entire procedure. Shorter, more direct routes are possible that save significant time and fuel. Airspace capacity is improved by permitting reduced separation standards for well-equipped aircraft. Air traffic control benefits from safe and predictable aircraft paths in both visual and instrument flight rule conditions, and the airports and airliners no longer need to rely on ground based landing systems.
There remains a need for improved methods for determining a safe corridor for aircraft approaching a landing that provides an efficient approach without negatively impacting acceptable levels of safety.

Method for implementing required navigational performance procedures


An apparatus ideally suited for the small mailing service is disclosed. The apparatus can take pro-printed, un-addressed mail pieces of non-identical size delivered to the mailing service from different merchants and combine the mail pieces to create mailing bundles at the lowest postal rate and group the bundles to create a single mailing. In the apparatus a computer serves to take the merchant mailing lists, merge and sort the entries thereon into lowest postal rate groupings, and use this merged data base to enable a sequence controller and associated machinery to physically commingle and address the non-identical mail pieces into the single mailing bundle. Provision is also made for generating required postal service documentation and invoices from the mailing service to the merchants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mail piece handling machines. The present invention relates specifically to machines for preparing a plurality of pre-printed unaddressed, non-alike mail pieces from un-predetermined sources into grouped bundles organized in a manner to receive low postal rates, the aggregated bundles constituting a "mailing", for delivery to a post office such as the U.S. Postal Service.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large number of merchants maintain their customer data bases on computers which they use to preform several functions, one of which is to print addresses for pieces they wish to mail to selected customers.
For the most part the merchants print the addresses on lapels, apply the labels to the mail pieces, and mail them at the first class rate because postal regulations are too complicated to obtain a lower rate. Several large merchants do use the lower discount rate available because they can afford mailing services which apply the rules and regulations of the United States Postal Service to obtain the lower rate. Small volume merchants are often unable to obtain these favorable rates due to lack of knowledge or low mailing volume.
In general postal rates are dependent upon the degree of specificity of addressing and the amount of presorting which is done by the merchant or his mailing service prior to delivery of the mail to the post office.
the United States Postal Service has, and is, converting to automatic mail handling equipment in order for the Postal Service to handle large volumes of mail at a faster rate.
Due to this automation, lower postal rates are available for mail pieces which are addressed with machine readable addressing such as bar codes or the like. Further, mail pieces sorted into mailings according to the zip code first three digits, last two digits, down to zip+4 digits and the mail carrier route level, resulting in progressively lower rates. However, a minimum number of pieces must be in each grouping to qualify for the lower postal rates.
It will be readily appreciated that a small volume merchant would lack the number of pieces necessary to achieve a mailing qualifying for the low rate available to mailings sorted in bundles down to the carrier route level, even if his customers were concentrated in a single metropolitan area.
Heretofore, the known apparatuses for the automatic addressing and sorting of mail pieces into mailings have been focused on pieces of known size and thickness coming from a single source or merchant. Some known apparatuses, exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,506, have performed these functions by first addressing the mailing pieces, then tracking the pieces with optical character readers (OCR) and operating upon the pieces according to the information received by the OCR . The complexity of these OCR apparatuses makes them very expensive and, therefore, unobtainable to the small merchant or mailing service wishing to use them.
Another type of known apparatus, exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,955, creates a merged data base of merchants' customer address lists grouped by the lowest postal rate. Then using a corresponding file of information to print on each mailing piece according to the merchant's needs, the apparatus serially prints and addresses a are determined postcard-format mail piece for each addressee according to the grouped address list.
Both of the above prior art apparatuses contemplate very large mailings to be bundled in order to achieve the economies of scale necessary to economically operate such machinery. Further, each exemplary prior art apparatus "knows" what type, size and thickness, of mail piece hereinafter "piece", it is to process before sending it to the piece-handling portion of the apparatus.
The average merchant, however, is unable to achieve the economies of scale necessary to utilize the known apparatuses. The average merchant has his own unique fliers, usually single sheets of paper, printed by a printing company and wishes to address and mail these pieces at the lowest cost. A mailing service desiring to serve the average merchant must accommodate these preprinted, unaddressed, non-alike low volume mailings without prior knowledge of the type of pieces to be mailed.
A need therefore exists for an affordable apparatus which will take several merchants' address lists, sort and merge the addresses according to postal rates in order to achieve the volume of mail necessary to obtain a bundle with low postal rates, by developing the lowest rate groupings for these pieces.
The needed apparatus must then take the unaddressed pieces of whatever size and/or type the merchant has had printed, and commingle and, address them according to postal regulations, and segregate the grouped pieces into bundles to produce mailings deliverable to the post office for delivery at the lowest postal rates.

Apparatus for commingling & addressing mail pieces


Porous body data in which position information and type information are correlated is reference to take a curved surface solid including a parent virtual sphere and child virtual spheres as a virtual curved surface solid, and place multiple virtual curved surface solids so as to fill in space pixels with curved surface solid pixels occupied by virtual curved surface solids. Repeating this process, by placing multiple virtual curved surface solids within space in a porous body, the microstructure of the porous body is analyzed precisely. As for analysis, deriving of in-plane uniformity index γx, spatial uniformity index γ, pressure drop P, flow-through velocity T, and equivalent diameter d, for example, and acceptability determination based on derived values thereof, is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microstructure analysis method, a program thereof, and a microstructure analysis device.
2. Description of Related Art
As one method to analyze microstructures such as pores in porous bodies, there has been proposed a method where 3 dimensional pixel data of a porous body is obtained by performing a CT scan, and analysis is performed based on this pixel data. For example, PTL 1 describes a pore continuity analysis method in which virtual spheres of various diameters are situated so as to fill in pixels of the pixel data representing space, so as to find continuity of pores from one exposed face of a porous body to another exposed face thereof, based on information relating to the situated virtual spheres.

Microstructure analysis method, program thereof, and microstructure analysis device


A multiple layer label has a pre-curved upper label on a base label. When applied to a curved or non-planar surface, a gap between portion of the labels accommodates the wrapping of the label structure around the surface and avoids tearing, splitting, bunching and wrinkling in the respective upper and base labels. The label structure is formed by bending the labels around a forming surface, releasing one end of the upper label and repositioning it on the base label so that when removed from the bending operation and straightened out, the upper label is arched away from the base label. Apparatus and methods are disclosed.

This invention relates to labels and more particularly to multiple layer labels for application to curved or non-planar surfaces, and methods for making such labels.
The application of single layer labels to curved or non-planar surfaces is an old expedient. More recently, the use of multiple layer labels has been desired. When multiple layer labels are manufactured in-line or in cut sheet processes in generally flat format, their subsequent application to a curved or non-planar surface presents problems. When two adjacent flat labels are applied around a curved or non-planar surface, the outer layer is formed about one outer radius and the inner layer about a shorter inner radius. The differences in these radius dimensions can cause stress and other phenomena within the label structure which act to produce undesirable results in the label.
For example, the outer layer can be unduly stretched to disadvantage such as cracking, tearing, graphic malformation and the like. The inner label can be compressed or bunched, causing it to wrinkle, deform or produce otherwise undesirable aesthetic or physical configurations. Adhesion to the target can be adversely affected. Accordingly, it has been one objective of the invention to provide an improved multiple layer label for application to curved or non-planar surfaces.
Another objective of the invention has been to provide an improved multiple layer label supply with labels particularly useful for application to curved or non-planar surfaces.
Another objective of the invention has been to provide a method for the manufacture of multiple layer labels which facilitates this application to curved or non-planar surfaces.
A further objective of the invention has been to provide apparatus for making multiple layer labels configured for application to curved or non-planar surfaces.
To these ends, a multiple layer label according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a base label, an upper label and an overlaminate disposed over the upper label and holding it onto the base label wherein the overlaminate and upper label are attached at their ends to the base label, but in a central portion are arched away from or spaced outwardly from the base label. When the base label is wrapped or placed onto a curved or non-planar surface, both the base label and the upper label and overlaminate wrap around the surface with the arched portion accommodating the wrapping movement so no undue stresses are placed on the upper label and so the base label is not wrinkled. The preferred embodiment of the label structure thus includes an upper label and overlaminate which is pre-curved to facilitate application of the entire label structure to a curved or non-planar surface.
Other alternative embodiments are contemplated. For example, it may be desirable to provide an arched or pre-curved upper label, without any additional layer, such as an overlaminate, on a base label. Also, it is contemplated that the upper label may include multiple upper labels, all of which are pre-curved or arched on a base label.
Preferably, a trailing edge tab is provided on the upper label layer for release of at least one end of the upper label from the base label when in use and subsequent resealing thereon.
In preferred methods and apparatus of producing a pre-curved label structure according to the invention, an in-line press is modified to incorporate a pre-curve station. Alternately, the invention contemplates use with other forms of web presses. For example, upper labels are held on a base label layer web by an overlaminate extending beyond both leading and trailing edges of the upper label. A lift-up tab is attached to the trailing edge of the upper label layer by an intermediate portion of overlaminate, which also adheres the upper label to the base label layer.
The labels are then reversed in direction and drawn about a forming roller surface having a radius preferably about the same effective radius as the non-planar target surface. This causes the trailing edge of the upper label (overlaminate) to lift off the base label web). Other rollers with radiuses different from the target surface may be utilized to effect the invention. This wrapping around the forming roller surfaces thus breaks the adhesion of the intermediate overlaminate to a release coat area of the base label layer and it lifts and translates forwardly, the upper label and overlaminate lying outwardly of and in contact with the base label. A nip roller opposing the forming roller reattaches the detached portion base to the base label layer.
When the web direction is again reversed and the base label layer flattened out, the upper label layer and laminate curve or arch outwardly on the base label layer. Thereafter, the base labels are die cut on the base liner and the pre-curved upper labels on the base labels are stored or are applied to a curved or non-planar surface.
In this regard, the label structures of the invention, except for the pre-curve structure and method, are like those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/266,638 filed Mar. 11, 1999 entitled MULTIPLE LAYER LABELS AND METHODS and expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully and expressly set forth herein. The pre-curve station described herein is added to the apparatus of that patent in-line and at a point just prior to the die cutting of the base labels from the base label layer or web, and removal of the waste matrix.
The structure of the pre-curved label described herein is highly useful in providing an aesthetic, multiple layer label for use on curved or non-planar surfaces and without the stress, cracking, splitting or bunching of typical multiple layer labels when applied to such surfaces.
Moreover, the method and apparatus for producing such pre-curved labels is simple, inexpensive and useful in-line so that the entire label supply can be formed all in-line without intermittent operation or other stoppages. The pre-curve arch in the upper label is formed in them continuously and without treating the structures in any off-line equipment.

Multiple layer labels for application to non-planar surfaces and apparatus and methods for production


A method and apparatus for patterning a substrate are provided. A template is formed by applying a precursor material to a patterned master substrate and curing or solidifying the precursor material. The template is detached from the master substrate using a carrier having a curved surface. The template is coated with a patterning material, and is then detached from the carrier and applied to the substrate to be patterned. The template is then dissolved without affecting the patterning material, and the patterning material may thereafter be finished to develop the pattern. In an alternate embodiment, the patterning material may be applied to the substrate and then imprinted using the template.

The semiconductor processing industry relies on lithography to create patterns on substrates. As the density of features on substrates increases with the progress of Moore's Law, lithographic methods have been challenged to produce repeatable patterns with smaller features over large areas with high throughput.
Standard lithographic methods utilize a mask to cover portions of the substrate to be protected from patterning radiation. In standard photolithography, a light-sensitive photoresist is applied uniformly over the substrate and then exposed to radiation through a pattern-bearing reticle. The resolution of this process is limited by the wavelength of light used, which is typically 248 nm or 193 nm in conventional UV processes. A historical advantage of many photolithography processes was that an entire substrate could be exposed at once, improving throughput. The key disadvantage today is that current photolithography processes struggle to resolve features smaller than about 50 nm in size. For example, some current photolithography processes may create features smaller than about 50 nm in size, but only over a small field of a substrate. Finer resolution over a large field will be needed for future fabrication at dimensions smaller than 50 nm.
Electron beam, or e-beam, lithography is capable of very fine resolution. A substrate is similarly covered with an e-beam sensitive photoresist and then exposed to e-beam radiation. A disadvantage of this technique is that the exposure must be accomplished by scanning the substrate with a beam of electrons. Each spot on the substrate must be lighted with the beam. This takes time, reduces throughput considerably, and introduces problems of uniformity. Hybrid processes involving UV lithography for larger features followed by e-beam lithography for smaller features may improve the result, but such processes are prohibitively expensive, and only effective when there are significant features of larger dimension. As devices become smaller, features with dimension large enough to be resolved by UV lithography become increasingly rare.
In the manufacture of flat panel displays, for example, large substrates up to and exceeding 1220×1400 mm are currently subjected to optical lithography processes such as proximity printing, step and repeat lithography, multi-lens scanning, and mirror projection. Proximity printing, multi-lens scanning, and mirror projection typically use very large area masks comparable in size to the substrates being processed. These masks may cost up to $1 million each. Moreover, as the masks grow larger, they must be made thicker and heavier to survive handling during the process, and to minimize physical distortion of the mask. In some cases, such physical distortion can only be overcome by using complicated and expensive optics.
Pattern transfer by physical contact is a promising technique for patterning substrates, including large area substrates, at dimensions less than 50 nm and extending up through many tens of microns. A pattern is developed in a template, and then physically applied to the substrate. The template serves as a pattern transfer medium for the patterning process. Efficient, high-throughput methods are still needed, however, to fully implement physical contact lithography for mass production of next generation devices.

Large area dissolvable template lithography


The invention includes a handheld device for receiving audio input in the form of speech. The handheld device is specifically optimized for digitally recording speech input for the purpose of speech recognition. The handheld device includes an ergonomically positioned pointing device to enable dictation and navigation through a document using only one hand. The handheld device may optionally include a memory device, a fingerprint security device, and a barcode scanner.

Dictation devices have been in common use in many fields in which it is inconvenient or undesirable to make handwritten or typewritten notes. One of the fields in which dictation devices have long been prevalent is the medical profession, and particularly so among radiologists, who often dictate their findings and diagnoses while referring to a photographic print of radiological data such as X-rays. It is common in these fields for a user of a dictation device to make voice recordings and provide these recordings to transcriptionists, who transcribe the recordings in order to generate written transcripts of the recording for the dictator's review or for record keeping purposes.
More recently, dictation technology has developed significantly and includes such tools as speech recognition software to eliminate some of the need for transcriptionists to transcribe recordings. However, a recognized and pervasive problem in the art is that speech recognition requires high quality audio input. Low quality audio input decreases the effectiveness of speech recognition algorithms, and frequently prevents them from functioning at all. It is therefore desirable to provide a microphone with superior audio quality for connecting to a computer for implementing speech recognition.
In some applications of dictation devices and speech recognition tools, a dictator uses a dictation device and speech recognition to complete blank text fields in a form. For example, many medical practices have specific forms wherein there is a printed query or prompt, followed by a blank text field into which a practitioner provides the requested text information regarding a particular patient. One way in which different fields are selected and activated to receive text from a voice recognition interface is by use of a pointing device, such as a mouse. However, this manner of selecting various fields for text input is unduly awkward as typically a user would prefer to use the same hand to manipulate the microphone as the mouse. Thus, it is desirable to provide an ergonomically convenient way to navigate through forms containing fields in which text is entered through a dictation device and a speech recognition interface.
Technological advances have led to newer and faster types of interfaces between peripheral devices and computers. Dictation microphones for connecting to computers running speech recognition software have been known in the art. However, these microphones connect to computers through one or more serial ports, and often require other connections as well, including speaker in, audio in, speaker out, audio out, power, RS232, and game port connections. These multiple connections make connecting the microphone to a computer a time consuming and complex process. Furthermore, many dictation microphones require connection to a sound card, which many laptop and some desktop computers lack. Therefore, a substantial number of computers are unable to connect to these sorts of dictation microphones. However, the development of the USB and USB2 standards ("Universal Serial Bus" and "USB2" are both hereafter simply referred to as "USB") have brought significant increases in speed and aided in uniform compatibility between peripheral devices and computers. It is desirable to provide a dictation microphone that can be connected simply and easily to a computer through a USB connection, through which two way communication between the microphone and the computer is established, and from which the microphone can draw substantially all of its power requirements.
In some applications a barcode identifier is used to identify the subject about which the user of a dictation device is dictating. For example, in the field of radiology, it is common for a radiologist to use a scanner to scan a barcode on a radiograph, such as an X-ray, which identifies the patient and/or the X-ray. The radiologist then records his findings and diagnoses into the dictation device with the assurance that this recording will be associated with the correct patient and/or X-ray. It is therefore desirable to provide a dictation device that may include a barcode or other such scanning ability.
A difficulty arises, however, because scanning devices generally, and in particular laser scanning devices, generate electromagnetic fields that can interfere with microphone circuitry and degrade audio signals, thus making speech recognition of those signals less accurate or impossible. Therefore, there is a need for circuitry that can overcome the effects of interference between the scanning and microphone elements in a dictation device having a scanner. It is desirable to have an integrated scanner/dictation device that can interface with a computer through a USB connection, and which can draw all of its power requirements from the USB port. However, the USB standard limits the amount of current that can be drawn to 500 mA, which may be insufficient to drive both the scanner and the dictation device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The electrically erasable programmable memory and its manufacturing method of the present invention forms above the floating gate the polysilicon spacer regions that are extended from the central part of the source region; the insulating part between the polysilicon spacer region and the floating gate has a smaller thickness to increase the capacitance between the floating gate and the polysilicon spacer region and further increasing the voltage coupled to the floating gate. Therefore, the present invention can effectively increase the coupling capacitance at the drain terminal, and has an advantage of low cost and easy production.

Accompanied by the development of technologies and the increasing demands for data and code memory, electrically erasable programmable memory (EEPROM) is widely used due to its programmable and erasable features. As a type of flash memory, it has witnessed an increasing application in semiconductor field due to its erasing speed and high availability. Normally, a flash memory has a structure of split gate or stacked gate or the combination. Wherein, the split gate structure has more extensive application owing to such advantages as high programming efficiency and prevention of "over erasing". Self-aligned split gate flash memory is a type of split gate flash memories, which can alleviate the difficulty in photolithographic alignment and improve the integration by means of self alignment. It is known as self-aligned split gate flash memory, the structure of which is shown in FIG. 1: it has a control gate 11 and a floating gate 12, a source 13 and a drain 14, a source polysilicon region 15, and an insulation region 16. In this structure, the channel below the control gate 11 and the channel below the floating gate 12 are in series connection. F-N tunneling between the floating gate 12 and the control gate 11 is used for erasing; whereas hot carrier injection at the source terminal serves as the approach for programming. During programming, a high voltage is imposed on the source 13 to produce channeling hot carriers. The overlapped part between the source diffusion region and the floating gate 12 couples a high voltage to the floating gate 12, and thereby generating an electric field from the floating gate 12 toward the channel to attract hot carriers. Therefore, the voltage on the floating gate 12 is of vital importance to the programming efficiency.
Such manufacturing method has been confronted with obvious problems with the reduction in the minimum size. In order to manufacture more flash memory units within the same area, the minimum size for photolithography and the dimension of elements shall be further reduced with development of technologies; whereas the length of the floating gate shall be shortened accordingly. Furthermore, the size of the source diffusion region shall also be reduced to prevent the channel below the floating gate from breakdown. As a result, the voltage coupled from the source terminal to the floating gate is decreased, and the programming efficiency is reduced. Moreover, accompanied by reduced size of the source polysilicon, the resistance of the source polysilicon wire is increased, and the reading current of the memory unit is reduced.
To keep the programming efficiency, one method is to add a second control gate above the floating gate. This kind of structure as shown in FIG. 2 is called a self-aligned tri-gate split gate flash memory, which comprises a first control gate 21 and a floating gate 22, a source 23 and a drain 24, a source polysilicon region 25 and an insulation region 26; furthermore, a second control gate 27 is formed above the floating gate 22. During programming, a high voltage is imposed on the second control gate 27 to increase the voltage on the floating gate 22. However, such method may result in increased complexity in circuit design and manufacturing process, as well as increased manufacturing cost.

Electrically erasable programmable memory and its manufacturing method

Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation


Systems, methods and Computer readable media for providing or managing or using voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first data processing system, data representing an expiration time of a voicemail left for a user of the first data processing system and storing the data representing the expiration time for later use by the first data processing system. Systems, media, and other methods are also described.

Modern telephone systems, such as a land line telephone or a wireless cellular telephone, include the ability to leave a voice message for the owner or user of the telephone. Typically, a caller to the phone number of that phone will hear a voicemail greeting telling the caller to leave a message. After the greeting, the caller has the opportunity to leave a message which is recorded on a voicemail system. In certain embodiments, the voicemail is recorded locally on a storage device which is part of a telephone in the case of certain land line phones, or the voicemail may be recorded on a voicemail server maintained in the infrastructure of a public telephone carrier, such as AT&T or Verizon or Verizon Wireless.
These voicemails are recorded and maintained for later use by the owner or operator of the telephone device for which the voicemail account was established. For example, the user of the telephone device may connect to the voicemail server through a telephone call to the voicemail server to listen to one or more voicemails stored at the voicemail server. Current systems provide a very minimal user interface to the user with respect to the voicemails stored at the voicemail server. For example, on a typical wireless cellular telephone, the user is presented with a notification which indicates the number of voicemails. FIG. 1 shows an example of a display of a telephone device, such as a wireless cellular telephone. The display 10 includes an indication 11 which shows that there are two voicemails, which may be new voicemails not listened to by the user. The user must then obtain access to those voicemails by connecting to the voicemail server through a telephone call. During that phone call, the user is prompted to enter commands to cause playback of the voicemail messages. The playback sequence is constrained by the order in which the voicemails were recorded or received at the voicemail server. In other words, the user must access each voicemail one after another in a series based upon the time of receipt of the voicemail.
This user interface prevents the user from randomly picking and choosing voicemails for listening and forces the user to go through each and every voicemail to determine which voicemails are important and which are not important.


A call to a critical operating system function is stalled. The pregion and pregion type associated with the location of a call module originating the call is determined. In one embodiment, when the pregion type is either a stack or a heap pregion type, protective action is taken, such as terminating the call, otherwise the call is released. In another embodiment, when the pregion type is either a text or shared memory pregion type, the call is released, otherwise protective action is taken.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the protection of computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting attempted exploitation of a computer system by malicious code, such as by a buffer overflow.
2. Description of Related Art
Often code written by programmers does not perform proper bounds checking when reading data from a file or an external source leaving it vulnerable to buffer overflow. Due in part at least to the large number of potentially vulnerable computer systems, buffer overflow is one of the most common forms of security exploits.
Buffers are memory areas, which generally hold a predefined amount of finite data. A buffer overflow occurs when a program attempts to store data into a buffer, where the data is larger than the size of the buffer. When the data exceeds the size of the buffer, the extra data can overflow into the adjacent memory locations. In this manner, it is possible to corrupt valid data and possibly to change the execution flow and instructions in the stack.
Two buffers commonly exploited by buffer overflows are the stack and heap. A stack is a static region of memory utilized by a program to hold local variables, return addresses, and data used by the program's subroutines. A heap is a dynamically allocated region of memory for use by a program.
By exploiting a buffer overflow in these memory areas, it is possible to inject malicious code, sometimes called malicious shellcode, into the execution flow. This shellcode allows remote system level access, giving unauthorized access to not only malicious hackers, but also to replicating malicious code, e.g., computer worms.

Detecting heap and stack execution in the operating system using regions


An optical fiber detector, and a method and system for optical fiber detection are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a receptacle, to receive and position an optical fiber connector, an infra-red (“IR”) source for providing an incident IR beam onto a cross-sectional face of an optical fiber and a cross-sectional face of the optical fiber connector, and an IR detector for receiving a reflected IR beam from the face of the optical fiber and the face of the optical fiber connector and generating a detector signal representative of the intensity of the reflected IR beam, wherein the intensity of the reflected IR beam is representative of the presence and type of the optical fiber. It is contemplated that the optical fiber detector of this invention can be implemented or incorporated in any machine or system requiring connection of an optical fiber to a light source.

Typically, surgical procedures performed on a patient's eye require illuminating a portion of the eye so that a surgeon can properly observe the surgical site. Various different types of instruments are known and available for use by a surgeon to illuminate the interior of the eye. For example, a typical ophthalmic illuminator includes a handheld (probe) portion comprising a handle having a projecting tip and a length of optical fiber that enters a proximal end of the handle and passes through the handle and the tip to a distal end of the tip, from which light traveling along the optical fiber can project. The proximal end of the optical fiber can be positioned adjacent to a light source, such as in a high brightness illuminator, as known to those having skill in the art, to receive the light that is transmitted through the fiber. This type of handheld illuminator is typically used by inserting the probe tip through a small incision in the eye. In this way, light from the illumination light source is carried along the optical fiber, through the handpiece and emitted from the distal end of the probe to illuminate the surgical site for the surgeon. Ophthalmic illuminators that use a length of optical fiber to carry and direct light from a light source to a surgical site are well known in the art.
A common trait among surgical fiber-optic ophthalmic illuminators is that the handheld portion is connected to the light source by means of a fiber-optic connector, typically comprising an adaptor designed to be received in a socket operably adjacent to the light source in an enclosure housing the light source. However, connecting these prior art fiber-optic illuminators to the light source has involved some difficulties. Note that for purposes of the description contained herein, the terms "probe" and "fiber-optic illuminator" generally refer to the handheld portion of a typical ophthalmic illumination system, such a system typically comprising the handheld portion, to direct illumination from a light source housed in an enclosure, and the enclosure, which typically houses the light source and associated optics that guide light from the light source to the optical fiber of the probe, a power supply, electronics for signal processing, and associated connectors, displays and other interfaces, as known in the art.
Currently, fiber-optic illuminators and illumination sources are connected to one another via fiber-optic connectors that are typically difficult to operate, provide no indication of a proper connection between the optical fiber and the illumination source and cannot differentiate between different non-encoded optical fibers. For example, some currently existing illumination systems require an operator to manually deactivate a fiber-optic connection port when disconnecting the fiber-optic illuminator from the light source. These systems also typically do not provide a safeguard against either inadvertent operation of the light source without an illuminator connected or inadvertent disconnection of a fiber-optic illuminator from the light source when in operation. Either of these conditions can result in projecting an intense beam of light from the light source into, for example, an operating room, which can startle, distract or annoy the surgeon and staff during a surgery. Currently existing systems can thus easily cause potentially harmful disturbances during a surgical procedure.
Further, existing fiber-optic ophthalmic illuminator systems, although capable of detecting the presence of an optical fiber, cannot distinguish between different types of optical fibers unless the optical fiber connectors are specially encoded. In other words, prior art fiber-optic illuminator systems are capable of detecting the presence of a particular type of optical fiber connected to the illumination source enclosure, but they require encoding (e.g., an electrically encoded strip or a laser bar code) of the optical fiber connectors in order to do so. Other fiber-optic illumination systems can detect the presence of an optical fiber via micro switches, but provide no recognition capability.
Prior art optical illuminators are also typically connected to a light source via simple locking mechanisms, which can be unwieldy to operate and require a user to touch un-sterile parts of the ophthalmic illuminator system during a surgical procedure when doing so. For example, the Bausch & Lomb Millennium™ system comprises a swinging shutter at the fiber-optic connection port. The mechanical shutter has an axis of rotation above the connector. To connect an optical probe, the user must swing the shutter away to open the connector clearance hole and then insert the fiber connector of the fiber-optic illuminator. When the optical probe is removed, the shutter swings down by gravity and closes the connector hole. The disadvantage of such a shutter is that a user will normally need to use both hands to connect the optical probe and will touch the un-sterile swinging shutter.
Therefore, a need exists for an optical fiber detection method and system that provide for optical fiber detection, for optical fiber recognition without encoding of the fiber connector and for sterile connection of an optical illuminator to a light source.

Optical fiber detection method and system


To hinder activation caused by unplanned stimuli, a munition may include first and second discrete, separable parts. The first and second parts may include interlocking components to prevent relative axial translation of the first and second parts. The first and second parts may be torsionally biased in opposite directions. A binder with a low melting temperature may fix the first and second parts together to prevent the torsional bias from rotating the first and second parts in the opposite directions. When the binder melts, the torsional bias may cause the first part to rotate with respect to the second part. Relative rotation of the first and second parts may allow relative axial translation of the first and second parts.

The invention relates in general to munitions and in particular to methods for safeguarding munitions that may be exposed to unplanned stimuli.
United States law may require that munitions meet certain safety standards, known as insensitive munition (IM) standards, to protect against unplanned stimuli. Two tests may be used to simulate munitions exposed to a fire, a slow cook off test (SCO) and a fast cook off test (FCO). In SCO, a munition in packaged configuration may be heated at a rate of 6° F./hour until the munition reacts. In FCO, a munition may be engulfed in a flame of at least 800° C. until the munition reacts. It may be desirable for the reaction to be limited to no more than burning (Type 5 reaction). A detonation (Type 1 reaction) may not be acceptable.
Munitions may demonstrate a Type 1 reaction when exposed to either the SCO or FCO tests. It has been found that when propellant is heated, gases may be given off and, if pressure is allowed to accumulate in a cartridge, the munition may detonate. Venting the gases may delay the point in time at which the detonation occurs. If the venting of gases is adequate, the propellant may burn vigorously without detonating.
Previous attempts at venting munitions have involved melt-away round plugs or threaded plugs. Some ionomer plastic plugs may not fully melt, thereby obstructing the vent. Some eutectic metal plugs may have a low tensile and shear strength, thereby causing the plug to fail under test firing. Some cartridges, for example, 25 mm cartridges, have been most difficult to render IM compliant. The difficulty may be due to the high propellant pressure generated and/or the small cartridge diameter.
Other munitions, such as grenades, for example, also generate gases when heated. A grenade, such as the M67 grenade, may contain a primary energetic material such as Composition B. If pressure is allowed to accumulate in the grenade body, the Composition B may detonate. If venting is adequate, the Composition B may burn vigorously without detonating. Past attempts at IM compliance included removing the fuse from the grenade to create a vent, or threading the circumference of the grenade body so that the grenade may split in half when the internal pressure rises. Neither solution has proven satisfactory.
A need exists for apparatus and methods for rendering munitions compliant with IM standards.

Mechanical cartridge and grenade venting

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A ceramic consisting substantially of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 as ceramic support, ceramic cover layer and/or ceramic supporting structure for heating conductors is described, which is electrochemically stable, which, in other words, does not decompose on application of a heating voltage, even in long-term operation at temperatures above 600.degree.. Such a ceramic exhibits a very small alkali metal content, of less than 0.2% by weight Na.sub.2 O and K.sub.2 O respectively. Particularly favorable processing, in particular pressing properties are exhibited by such a ceramic if it has 2.5 to 10% by weight of barium silicate or strontium silicate fluxes, the proportions of Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O, CaO and MgO together make up less than 1% by weight, and the BaO or SrO:SiO.sub.2 molar ratio is between 2:1 and 1:12.5. Such a ceramic with a BaO:SiO.sub.2 ratio of 2.6:1 parts by weight is electrochemically stable up to approximately 1400.degree. C., and at 1300.degree. C. still exhibits a bending strength of approximately 300 N/mm.sup.2.

The invention relates to an alumina ceramic and, more particularly, to a ceramic made of alumina with a low alkali metal oxide content for heating conductors. Ceramic components with integrated heating conductors in the form of printed patterns consisting of a cermet are endangered by electrochemical decomposition of the carrier ceramic, of the ceramic cover layer and/or of the ceramic supporting structure. The electrolytic decomposition is produced by ionic conduction under the applied heating voltage, which is, for example, below 24 V direct-current voltage in the case of motor-vehicle applications, and can finally lead to the destruction of the heating conductor on account of the separation of cations with alloy formation and/or by separation of oxygen with oxide formation or by crack formation on account of the excess oxygen pressure arising below the insulating cover layer. This applies all the more the higher is the application temperature, and can become critical at temperatures as low as 600.degree. C. Such ceramic components with integrated heating conductors are used, for example, in sheathed-element glow plugs, in lambda probes or similar electrochemical sensors, in heated nozzles for various intended applications and in continuous-flow heaters for boilers or coffee machines in the form of small plate-shaped, pin-shaped or tubular heaters.
Aluminium oxide, as it is available in the trade, normally contains up to 0.5% by weight sodium oxide and/or potassium oxide. Usually, the aluminium oxide is used in this form, especially in mass-produced products, because the purer specifications of the aluminium oxide are far more expensive, as compared with those mentioned.

Stable ceramic consisting of aluminum oxide


An applicator serving as a cosmetic accessory of the type including a core rod and a sponge portion serving as brushing means at an inner end of the core rod, the sponge portion being molded integral with the core rod and the subjected to foaming, wherein the sponge portion is provided with disconnection preventive means preferably in the form of an enlarged part molded integral with the core rod and the disconnection preventive means is coated with a rubber film so that the sponge portion is firmly connected to the core rod via the rubber film. The method of producing applicators is generally practiced by way of steps of coating the disconnection preventive means with a rubber film, molding sponge portions in a plurality of molding cavities together with the core rods fitted to a cover, foaming raw material in the molding cavities at a predetermined elevated temperature and removing the cover from the molding cavities so that the core rod and the sponge portions are removed therefrom. The step of molding may be performed in a single box-shaped molding cavity. The resultant sponge block is cut to a plurality of sponge segments between adjacent core rods. The step of pouring raw material may be performed either before or after the step of closing the cover having the core rods fitted thereto.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an applicator serving as a cosmetic accessory of the type including a sponge portion serving as brushing means attached to the inner end of a core rod so as to allow a cosmetic material such as a rouge, a foundation or the like to be applied. Further, it relates to a method of producing applicators each serving as a cosmetic accessory of the foregoing type.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a hitherto known cosmetic applicator is so constructed that the fore end part of a core rod molded of synthetic resin is coated with an adhesive and then it is inserted into an area extending between a pair of sponge pieces so that it is adhered to them or a sponge block is preformed and a core rod of which fore end part is coated with an adhesive is plunged into the sponge block.
With the conventional applicator as constructed in the above-described manner, the core rod tends to be disconnected from the sponge portion due to deterioration of the adhesive after it has been used for a long time or when it is used in a violent manner.
To obviate the foregoing problem, the inventors have developed an improved applicator as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 144,602/1987, wherein the core rod is provided with a disconnection preventive portion in the form of an enlarged portion, a protrusion, a bent portion or the like at its inner end so as to prevent the sponge portion from being disconnected from the core rod.
Although the improved applicator exhibits excellent properties when it is designed in comparatively large dimensions so that the core rod is provided with a large disconnection preventive portion, it has still a drawback that the sponge portion is liable to be disconnected from the core rod due to a low magnitude of resistance between the core rod and the sponge portion when it is designed in smaller dimensions as is the case with a so-called small-sized applicator.

Cosmetic applicator and method of producing the same


A housing structure includes: a first housing having a fitting inner tubular portion that has an inner tubular end surface and a first bolt fastening portion that has a first bolt aligning surface formed at a position away from the inner tubular end surface in the radial direction, the first housing supporting a first end of an assist shaft via a first bearing; and a second housing having a fitting outer tubular portion having an outer tubular end surface and a second bolt fastening portion that has a second bolt aligning surface that mates with the first bolt aligning surface, the second housing supporting a second end of the assist shaft via a second bearing. A first gap is provided between the inner tubular end surface and an inner tubular opposite surface, and a second gap is provided between the outer tubular end surface and an outer tubular opposite surface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a housing structure and a power steering apparatus.
2. Background Art
A conventional example of a housing structure for an electric power steering apparatus is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H10-236322. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H10-236322 describes a housing divided into a gear case (first housing) that houses a worm gear structure and that bears one end of an assist shaft such that the assist shaft is rotatable and a gear box (second housing) that houses a rack shaft meshing with a pinion on the assist shaft and that bears the other end of the assist shaft such that the assist shaft is rotatable. A fitting outer tubular portion is formed on the first housing, and a fitting inner tubular portion is formed on the second housing. The first housing and the second housing are integrated together by fitting the fitting inner tubular portion inside the fitting outer tubular portion and fastening the first housing and the second housing together using bolts. An outer tubular end surface (a surface orthogonal to the axis of the assist shaft) at a tip of the fitting outer tubular portion is brought into abutting contact with an outer tubular opposite surface of the second housing formed radially outside the fitting inner tubular portion. An O ring is interposed between the fitting inner tubular portion and the fitting outer tubular portion in order to seal the inside of the housings.

Housing structure and power steering apparatus


Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment, for example equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. Some pre-determined temperature, greater than the highest normal operating temperature of the equipment, is presumed or known to be indicative of impending equipment failure if no remedial action is taken. A resettable, temperature-sensitive device, containing a shape memory alloy actuator, pre-selected to operate at the pre-determined temperature, is disclosed. The device is placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-determined temperature, the shape memory alloy actuator causes the device to display a flag or provide some other passive visual indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the actuator may trigger an electrically-powered alert including visual or audible alerts or a wireless communication.

Modern manufacturing operations and other operating devices use many types of equipment that are subjected to loads that cause heating in portions of the particular machine or unit. Sometimes the heating occurs in electrically powered equipment, such as electric motors, welding transformers, and welding guns. The heating may also occur in mechanical equipment such as gear boxes and machining equipment that experience frictional loading. Often the equipment is used in circumstances that make maximum use of its design capabilities and may result in substantial heat generation within a particular heavily loaded, manufacturing unit. Further, the equipment may be expected to operate with minimal operator attention or oversight.
It may be desired to monitor such machine temperatures and to determine if, or when, some portion of the equipment reaches a temperature that indicates that it may be overheating, a condition which is likely to be harmful to its continued operation unless some condition-ameliorating is undertaken.

Spring-bodied device for in-situ overheat alert for equipment


A programmable analog circuit includes a plurality of analog inputs, a differential analog buffer, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, and an operational amplifier having an inverting input and a non-inverting input. An analog switching network is coupled between the plurality of analog inputs, the differential analog buffer, the digital-to-analog converter, the analog-to-digital converter, and the operational amplifier and is configured to allow programmable connections from any of the plurality of analog inputs, the differential analog buffer, and the digital-to-analog converter to the inverting input and a non-inverting input; of the operational amplifier. An array of programmable logic is programmably coupled to the input to the digital-to-analog converter and the output of the analog-to-digital converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mixed-signal system-on-a-chip integrated circuit having analog signal direct interconnection through programmable logic control.
2. The Prior Art
System designers usually employ discrete devices to build closed-loop analog feedback systems including analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters (DAC). Some products have both ADC and DAC circuits disposed on one chip; however, the signal path inside the chip is analog to digital through the ADC, then digital to analog through the DAC. In between the ADC and the DAC, there is a generally a microcontroller to process digital data.

Mixed-signal system-on-a-chip analog signal direct interconnection through programmable logic control


An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least one of a contact list or a call list, a communication module configured to transmit a phone number, included in at least one of the contact list or the call list, to a server and receive company information, associated with the phone number, from the server, and a control module configured to estimate a user profile using at least one of a word included in the contact list or a word included in the company information.

A lot of social problems occur with regard to personal information protection. Crimes using illegally collected personal information such as financial fraud and the like are increasing, and thus technical and social efforts for the protection of personal information are being intensified.
In general, various service providers do business activities, such as advertisement, marketing, and the like, based on personal information. However, as the law related to personal information is intensified, it is difficult to collect desired information.
A variety of personal information of a user is stored in an electronic device. Since service providers are punished by law in the situation where personal information stored on an electronic device is made public without user consent, the service providers may have difficulty in directly collecting a variety of personal information stored on the electronic device. Therefore, there is a need for a method for estimating various user profiles using personal information legally collected.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Electronic apparatus and user profile estimating method thereof


A data packet forwarding method, a network adapter and a host device. The method is applied to a network adapter, the network adapter is connected to a host device, the host device includes a first VM, the first VM includes N vNICs, and the network adapter includes a first VF allocated to the first VM, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method includes: receiving mapping relationship information sent by the host device, where the mapping relationship information is used to indicate a mapping relationship between N queue pairs among queues configured for the first VF and the N vNICs, and each of the N queue pairs is used to forward a data packet of a vNIC corresponding to each queue pair; recording the mapping relationship information in a forwarding information table; and forwarding data packets of the N vNICs according to the mapping relationship information.

A virtualization technology can be used to simulate one or more virtual machines (VM) on a host device (the host device may also be referred to as a computer device, a physical host, or a physical computer). A VM may work like a host device. For example, a user may install an operating system and an application program on the VM. For another example, a user may access a network resource by using the VM. For a user, the VM may be considered as an application program running on the host device, but for an application program running on the VM, the VM provides an operating environment for the application program just like a real host device.
A single-root input/output virtualization (SRIOV) technology allows multiple VMs to efficiently share a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) device. The SRIOV introduces concepts of a physical function (PF) and a virtual function (VF) to support virtualization of a network adapter (or referred to as a network interface card, a physical network card, or a physical network interface card). The PF is a PCI function supported by the network adapter and may be extended as several VFs. The VF is an instance obtained by means of virtualization by an SRIOV-supported network adapter. A bandwidth resource for data transmission is configured for each VF of the network adapter. Each VF is allocated by a virtual machine monitor (VMM) to the VM running on the host device.
Inside the network adapter, a virtual switch function is provided and a bandwidth limiting function can be provided by using the PF/VF. A user (or an administrator) can allocate bandwidth to each VF by using the bandwidth limiting function. In the prior art, one VF is corresponding to one virtual network interface card (vNIC), and therefore, the bandwidth resource allocated to each VF is exclusively used by one vNIC and cannot be shared among multiple vNICs.

Data packet forwarding method, network adapter, host device, and computer system


A battery terminal having a post-engaging portion configured to receive a battery post. The post-engaging portion has an arcuate portion having a first portion, a second portion and a slot separating the first portion from the second portion. Wherein in response to the lever being moved toward a closed position, the first portion and second portion are subjected to a tensile force, causing the first portion and the second portion to elongate while not exceeding the yield strength of the first portion and the second portion generating stored energy in the first portion and the second portion. The stored energy results in a constant normal force being applied by the first portion and the second portion of to the battery post to provide and maintain a gastight electrical contact interface between the first portion and the second portion and the battery post.

Automobile engine compartments contain many components which substantially fill the compartment, making routine maintenance a challenge. One such component is the battery. Batteries typically are extremely heavy and have fixed positive and negative charged locations, often in the form of exterior extending posts for interconnection with corresponding connectors, usually referred to as battery terminals. Conventional battery terminals typically include threaded fasteners that must be actuated to draw the battery terminal into engagement with the corresponding battery post. Typically, a corresponding electrical cable is crimped onto each battery terminal representing an in-line orientation which may or may not be the most convenient orientation for engaging the battery post.
These conventional battery terminal connectors have a disadvantage in that tools must be used to effectively tighten and loosen the bolt. Assembly of the battery terminal connector is therefore time consuming and complicated, especially if the terminal and/or the battery is not conveniently located. Because the entire battery terminal connector is generally formed of a conductive material, there is a risk of accidental shock or short circuiting during the assembly and disassembly thereof. Additionally, these conventional battery terminal connectors do not provide an easy or reliable method for attachment of an electrical cable thereto.
The use of such convention battery terminal connectors is problematic in many instances, as additional labor and expense is needed to ensure proper termination. For example, when car manufacturer's export vehicles overseas, the batteries must be disconnected when the car is transported onboard the ship and reconnected when the car arrives at port. As convention battery terminal connectors require the use of tooling for disconnection and connection to the battery, significant labor and expense is required.
To address some of these concerns, battery terminals which do not require tools for assembly have been developed. An example of such a known battery terminal is disclosed by Orange in U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,925 entitled Rotatable Connector for a Battery Cable Clamp. That battery clamp is disclosed as having first and second legs extending from a post section. A connecting pin passes through apertures formed in each leg such that it is coupled to a handle on one end and an end nut on an opposite end thereof. The connecting pin also passes through a seat upon which a boss of the handle rests during rotation to facilitate a clamping action between the legs. On a rear end of the clamp, a cable joining section is provided as a threaded post which is secured to a flat plate. Although the design disclosed in this reference presents a desirable tool-less clamping operation, it has several drawbacks in that a seat is required to facilitate clamping and also presents a drawback in that the flat plate for supporting the threaded post may bend or otherwise break away from the remainder of the assembly. Additionally, the design disclosed in this reference requires many individual parts, which makes the design more costly and difficult to assemble.
Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,448 which discloses a battery terminal connector having a main body including a clamp having first and second flanges extending from ends thereof and a terminal receiving member extending from the first flange. A lever is removeably attached to the first and second flanges by a threaded shaft and a knurled nut. The lever is connected to the threaded shaft by an eyelet and is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The lever pulls the first and second flanges toward each other in the closed position. A ring terminal has a ring connected to the terminal receiving member.
In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,464 discloses a battery terminal including a base configured to selectably engage a terminal tongue. A post-engaging portion is configured to receive a battery post, one end of the post-engaging portion extending contiguously from the base. An opposite end of the post-engaging portion terminates at a nonplanar member adjacent to the base. A lever-holding portion extends from the base toward the nonplanar member. A lever is pivotably connected to the lever-holding portion about an axis, the lever having a cam-shaped portion. In response to pivotal motion of the lever toward a closed position, the cam-shaped portion is urged into contact with the nonplanar member, the nonplanar member pivoting about an end along the base to resiliently draw the post-engaging portion into a gripping arrangement for engagement with the battery post. However, such a battery terminal has a concentration of forces located in the transition area which can cause ineffective electrical contact over the life of the battery terminal.
What is needed is a battery terminal that can be easily connected and disconnected to a battery post and which provides a distribution of forces over the terminal to ensure for a gastight electrical connection between the terminal and the post over the life of terminal.


A method and system for building a trip plan from various sources is provided. The method includes receiving information detailing a planned trip from a social media website. A weighted rank is calculated for one or more stopover points associated with the planned trip. A route for the planned trip, customized for the current travelers, is created, based on the calculated weighted rank of the stopover points and on a selection from the current travelers.

The present invention relates generally to the field of social communications, and more particularly to building a trip plan based on previous trips accessed from social media.
For many travelers planning on taking a trip, it may be valuable to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others, who have taken similar trips. This may include reviews or opinions about particular landmarks and attractions, as well as recommendations for things to do and see. For example, it may be helpful to many travelers as part of the trip planning process to learn what other travelers have experienced at certain restaurants, hotels, and attractions, in the past.

Building a trip plan from various sources

International Business Machines Corporation