Durable--long lived plastic films carrying sputter-deposited metal layers such as reflective metal layers on both sides are disclosed. The slip side of the plastic film is not preglowed. The nonslip side is preglowed. This combination of glowing and not preglowing leads to the desired long life.

It is common practice to employ partially reflective--partially transmissive metal layer-bearing films in glazing structures. These films may, be applied to the surface of glass window glazing materials. They may be laminated into glazing structures. They may be suspended alone or in combination with other sheets of glazing. These products are characterized by transmitting substantial proportions, such as at least 20% to as much as 90% or more of visible light while substantially reflecting heat and near infrared wave length radiation. These products typically have a plastic film substrate which carries the reflector metal layer adherent to it.
As will be described in more detail, plastic films are often marketed with a coating, known in the art as a slip coating, on one side to facilitate handling during production and fabrication. The side of the film having the slip coating is called (not unexpectedly) the "slip" side. The other side is the "nonslip" side. Slip coatings generally work by texturing the surface of the film. Two representative approaches to this involve surface texturizing by adding small particles to the plastic film as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,870 (American Hoechst) and applying and cracking an organic coating on the film as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,506 (also American Hoechst).
These reflector products, as a general class, may be prepared by applying the reflective layer to the film with a wide range of chemical mirroring methods, vapor deposition processes and sputter deposition techniques. In sputtering, a plasma is created between two electrodes in a high vacuum chamber. This plasma causes atoms of one electrode (the target), which is either metal or a metal compound, to be dislodged and drawn toward the other electrode. The plastic film substrate is placed between the electrodes and the material dislodged from the target is deposited upon the substrate.
Sputtering processes are often accompanied by a pretreatment step called preglow. Preglow also employs a plasma that is generated under conditions such that little or no material is deposited upon the substrate. As the name implies, "preglowing" commonly takes place immediately prior to the sputtering steps which involve actual material deposition on the substrate.
One simple format for these films used heretofore involves a single partially transparent metal reflector layer adherent to one side of the plastic film. Another widely employed format has a partially transparent, partially reflective sequence of dielectric and metal layers on one side of the film. Often these layers are in a dielectric-metal-dielectric sequence. In other cases more than one metal layer can be present with the several metal layers bounded by and optionally separated by dielectric layers.
Also in the past it has been proposed to place reflective layers on both sides of a plastic film. This has not found acceptance because the products do not have UV acceptable stability. This has been a vexing problem since double-sided materials do possess certain theoretical performance advantages. The most widely used plastic substrates are polyester materials, most commonly poly(ethyleneteryshthalate) or "PET". We observed that when double-sided polyester products, that is polyester-based materials having metal-layer-containing, heat-reflective structures on both sides, were prepared using art-taught coating methods the products degraded and yellowed prematurely.


Methods and devices for sensing non-volatile storage are disclosed. Technology disclosed herein reduces the time for sensing operations of non-volatile storage such as read and program verify. In one embodiment, a kicking voltage is applied to a selected word line during a sensing operation. The kicking voltage may be applied to one end of a selected word line during a transition from a first reference voltage to a second reference voltage. The kicking voltage may help the other end of the word line reach the second reference voltage quickly. Since the bit lines can be sensed after the selected word line has reached the target reference voltage, the time delay prior to sensing of the bit lines may be reduced.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to non-volatile storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory has become increasingly popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories. With flash memory, also a type of EEPROM, the contents of the whole memory array, or of a portion of the memory, can be erased in one step, in contrast to the traditional, full-featured EEPROM.
Both traditional EEPROM and flash memory may utilize a floating gate that is positioned above and insulated from a channel region in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is positioned between the source and drain regions. A control gate is provided over and insulated from the floating gate. The threshold voltage (VTH) of the transistor thus formed is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, the minimum amount of voltage that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned on to permit conduction between its source and drain is controlled by the level of charge on the floating gate.
One possibility is to store a single bit in a each memory cell. All memory cells in a group may be erased, and then those to receive a "1" may be programmed such that the threshold voltage is above a program verify threshold voltage. The state of a memory cell can later be determined by reading the memory cell to determine whether its threshold voltage is above or below a read reference threshold voltage. The read reference threshold voltage may be somewhat less than the program verify threshold voltage to provide a margin of error. It is also possible to store multiple bits per memory cell by programming a given memory cell to one of a number of possible threshold voltage ranges. For example, if memory cells are programmed to one of four threshold voltage ranges, then each memory cell could store two bits. Eight threshold voltage ranges might be used to store three bits per memory cell, and so on.
In some architectures there are word lines and bit lines. The word lines may be used to apply a voltage to the control gates when programming and reading memory cells. For example, during a read operation, a read reference voltage may be applied to the control gates of selected memory cells, and a read pass voltage may be applied to control gates of unselected memory cells. A bit line that is associated with a given selected memory cell may be sensed to determine how the selected memory cell responds to application of the read reference voltage. In one technique, the selected memory cell will conduct a significant current if its threshold voltage is less than the read reference voltage.
In one possible approach for reading memory cells that store multiple bits, several read reference voltages of different magnitudes are applied to the selected word line. Note that there may be a delay between the time that a read reference voltage is first applied to the selected word line and the time that the bit line may be sensed. One reason for this delay is that, for an accurate reading, the voltage on the selected word line may need to stabilize before the bit lines can be sensed. That is, all portions of the selected word line should be at the read reference voltage prior to sensing the bit lines. Because there may need to be several read reference voltages of different magnitudes to complete the read operation, such delays may impact overall sensing time. For example, in one approach seven different read reference voltages are applied to determine which of eight states a memory cell is in. In one approach, 15 different read reference voltages are applied to determine which of 16 states a memory cell is in.

Word line kicking when sensing non-volatile storage


Group Virtual Private Networks (Group VPNS) are provided for different types of machines in a data processing network. Security groups are defined by a security policy for each member. Security policies and encryption keys are deployed to members of a security group using an IPSec network infrastructure with authentication via VPN mechanisms. The group VPNs provide a trusted IP network that can leverage and co-exist with security access control technologies, such as endpoint security that controls client network access or application security that controls user access to enterprise applications.

The present invention relates to how enterprise networks can create (internally or with their external service provider partners) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for different groups of clients and/or host applications, referred to herein as Group VPNs.
Enterprise networks often require different types of functional and/or organizational groups of users. Within the enterprise network, those groups have different privacy requirements for their Internet Protocol (IP) communication between their client users and/or between their client users and their host applications.
Present Network Data Protection Solutions
Most of the time, network traffic is sent "in the clear", unsecured without encryption or authentication of the sender and receiver. In order to allow private traffic to be sent in a secure manner, a number of security schemes have been proposed and are in use today. Some are application dependent, such as a specific program performing password authentication. Others, such as Security Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS), are designed to provide comprehensive security to specific classes of traffic such as Web traffic.
IPSec, as defined in RFC 2401, can work in tunnel mode by encrypting a data packet (if encryption is required since IPSec can be used for authentication only), performing a secure hash (or authentication) on the packet, then wrapping the resulting packet in a new IP packet with a new header indicating it has been secured using IPSec.
The two endpoints where data protection through encryption is enforced are called Policy Enforcement Points (PEPs).
The two PEPs must establish the IPSec security services through a Security Association (SA) and in particular, the encryption keys. This is can be accomplished using the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol, as defined in RFC 2409 (or RFC 4206 for its version 2), that negotiates keys in two phases: the first phase is used to secure a communication channel between the two PEPs; the second phase is used to create two unidirectional IPSec SAs. Traffic can now be encrypted based on the IPSec policy that defines the type of traffic to be protected between two identified IP addresses or subnets.
Limitations When Securing Networks with IPSec
While IPSec secures IP traffic at the network layer, key exchange mechanisms create a number of practical limitations when IPSec is deployed in networks.
Manual keys are not generally used because of the configuration challenges and re-key requirements to implement them in large networks. For those reasons, IKE is normally used for key exchange. However, IKE is based on a secure connection being established between two PEPs and a resulting key negotiation being completed between those two PEPs. As a result, this connection-oriented nature of IKE has a few drawbacks.
If the traffic needs to be sent and/or received through multiple paths, as would be the case in a resilient network, there is no single pair of points that can be identified to perform key negotiation and no single PEP that can be selected as the ultimate destination in the IPSec tunnel header.
Finding a Balance Between Data Protection and Access Control
In an enterprise network, data availability enables business productivity. However, the availability of enterprise data requires managing the business risks associated with that availability. Data that is secured, but not available to users is worthless. Data that is accessed by users, but is unsecured is at risk. The challenge is to find the right balance between data protection and data availability.
Generally in an enterprise, different types of data are accessed by different types of users or groups. For example, users of the same business unit or the same organizational group such as engineering or finance might need to access the same data concurrently. Different business units or different organizational groups have different security requirements. Generally, protection of data for a financial or a legal department is somewhat different than data protection for a marketing or engineering department. In addition, some group transactions such as financial transactions might be secure, while other group transactions such as administrative information might be in the clear.
Connectivity in Networks with Complex Boundaries
If organizational flow charts are usually informally or formally known within an enterprise, the various network links that establishes the data communication paths between client users and application data are generally more difficult to establish for network administrators.
Large enterprise networks have more and more complex physical and logical boundaries inside a building or across remote buildings, campuses or countries. Large enterprise networks also have complex physical and logical boundaries between internal, remote and external users of enterprise applications.
Therefore, provisioning any management functions, in particular security functions, that might affect various users of the same group is somewhat challenging. Even if it is easy to identify the members of the group, it is much more difficult to discover their physical communication paths for large scale networks.

Deploying group VPNS and security groups over an end-to-end enterprise network


A wiper device includes a pivot shaft, a pivot holder, a water receiving cap and a washer. The pivot holder includes a pivot support portion and a mounting leg. The pivot support portion pivotally supports the pivot shaft. The water receiving cap includes a boss portion and an umbrella portion. The boss portion is fitted onto the pivot support portion. The washer is fixed to a circumference of the pivot shaft at a portion projecting from a distal end of the pivot support portion. At least part of the boss portion overlaps the washer in an axial direction. The umbrella portion includes a projection that projects in the axial direction. The projection opposes the mounting leg in a circumferential direction without engaging the mounting leg in the axial direction.

A conventional wiper device that wipes a window glass of a vehicle includes a pivot shaft coupled to a wiper arm, and a pivot holder, pivotally supporting the pivot shaft. In such a wiper device, the pivot shaft is arranged in a state in which the pivot shaft is inserted through a pivot hole, which is formed in a panel body (cowl top panel) of a vehicle body.
In this case, liquid such as rain water and car wash water may enter the vehicle body through the pivot hole and collect on a motor or coupling parts of a linkage mechanism (for example, ball joint) that allows for pivoting of the pivot shaft. This may cause electric problems or eliminate grease. Accordingly, the pivot holder includes a water receiving cap that receives the liquid entering the vehicle body through the pivot hole and drains the liquid at a location separated from the motor and the coupling parts of the linkage mechanism.
For example, in the wiper device described in patent document 1, the water receiving cap, which is made of a resin, includes a tubular portion fitted onto the pivot holder from the distal side of the pivot holder. A projection projects radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion. The projection is engaged with an engagement groove arranged in the outer circumferential surface at the proximal end of the pivot holder to couple the water receiving cap to the pivot holder. The projection, which is engaged with the engagement groove, restricts movement of the water receiving cap toward the distal side of the pivot holder as well as rotation of the water receiving cap in the circumferential direction relative to the pivot holder. Further, the water receiving cap includes an umbrella portion that receives liquid such as water or the like entering the vehicle body through the pivot hole. The umbrella portion drains the liquid through a drainage pipe, which is arranged in the umbrella portion.


A steerable seismic energy source includes at least one float. The floatation device includes a device for changing buoyancy thereof. A frame is coupled to the at least one float. At least one seismic energy source is suspended from the frame. At least one steering device is coupled to the floatation device or the frame. The at least one steering device includes at least one control surface and a control surface actuator coupled to the control surface. The actuator is configured to rotate the control surface to generate hydrodynamic lift at least in a vertical direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of seismic surveying. More specifically, the invention relates to devices for navigating a marine seismic source array suspended in water from a floatation device to avoid navigation hazards.
2. Background Art
In marine seismic surveying, a seismic energy source is used to generate seismic energy in the form of acoustic pulses or waves in a body of water such a lake or the ocean. The seismic energy travels downwardly in the water, through the water bottom, and through the Earth formations underlying the water bottom. Part of the energy passing through the Earth formations underlying the water bottom is reflected upward from acoustic impedance boundaries in the Earth formations. The upwardly traveling seismic energy is detected by sensors such as hydrophones towed in one or more streamer cables disposed near the water surface, or by sensors disposed in cables along the water bottom. The sensors convert the detected energy to electrical or optical signals. The electrical or optical signals are then conditioned and interpreted to provide information both as to the composition and the structure of the various subsurface Earth formations. Such information is used particularly to determine the possibility that such Earth formations may contain mineral deposits such as hydrocarbons.
The most frequently used marine seismic energy source known in the art is an "air gun array." A typical air gun array is a plurality of individual air guns of different sizes towed behind a seismic survey vessel or a source vessel. The air guns are ultimately suspended from a buoy, float or similar flotation device. The flotation device is typically coupled to a frame or similar substantially rigid structure so as to suspend the frame in the water. Individual air guns forming the array may be suspended from the frame by cables or chains of selected length so that the individual air guns are operated at a selected depth in the water. In air gun arrays known in the art, the floatation device may be steerable in the plane of the surface of the water, but remains proximate the surface of the water by reason of the buoyancy of the flotation device.


A programmable controller includes an interface circuit for communicating with a host CPU. The interface circuit includes a FIFO memory having a plurality of locations, each location receiving address and data information. The data information can either be an operand or a command. Whether the data information is an operand or a command is determined by one of the bits of the address. If the data information is an operand, it is stored at a location determined by the address. Accordingly, in a single host CPU cycle, the host CPU can write one word to the controller which comprises either a command or data and the address where the data can be stored. Multiple cycles are not required to provide a single instruction or data to the controller. Further, because a FIFO memory is used, a plurality of instructions are loaded into the controller and the controller and the host CPU can operate asynchronously. The controller also includes an EPROM for providing instructions to an internal CPU and a sequencer for providing addresses to the EPROM. The EPROM provides an output word including a bit field containing instructions for the sequencer, a bit field containing instructions for the CPU, and a bit field including instructions which are sent directly to the peripheral device. Accordingly, the controller can perform a plurality of instructions in parallel.

This invention relates to programmable controllers and to integrated circuits for interfacing peripheral devices to computers.
There are a number of peripheral interface controller chips known in the art. Such devices typically include a data bus for receiving data or commands from a host CPU, and an address bus for receiving an address from the host CPU. The received data (or command) is placed in an appropriate register selected in response to the received address. The controller then sends appropriate commands or data to the peripheral device in response to the data or command received from the host CPU. Such controllers can control peripheral I/O devices so that the host CPU need not spend time performing peripheral device control tasks.
As peripheral devices become faster, it is necessary to provide controllers capable of great speed and efficiency. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a controller capable of performing a number of tasks in parallel to enhance controller speed and efficiency.


A point device is used with a computer device, and the point device includes a fixed base and a main body. The fixed base has a first hinge portion and a sensing displacement module, the first hinge portion locates on one end of the fixed base, and the sensing displacement module is electrically located in the fixed base to generate a displacement signal. Further, the main body includes a second hinge portion and a processing unit, and the second hinge portion locates on one end of the main body and pivoted on the first hinge portion. The main body and the fixed base are selectively rotated to a first angle or a second angle. Wherein, the processing unit is electrically located in the main body and is electrically connected to the sensing displacement module for receiving the displacement signal and transmitting the displacement signal to the computer device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pointing device, and more particularly relates to a pointing device that could depend on the different requirements of users to change to a mouse-operating mode or a holding-a-pen-operating mode.
2. Background of the Invention
A pointing device such as a mouse device is commonly used, and the pointing device is an essential input device for the computer system of nowadays. Therefore, almost all users would use the mouse device configured to input instructions and operate the computer system. In order to make the users utilize the mouse device comfortably, so that the manufacturers are improving its functions, appearance and flexibility. For example, the displacement of the cursor which displayed on the computer screen is operated by sensing module of the mouse device that has replaced the trackball of the mouse device in early periods. Furthermore, a roller wheel is disposed between the two buttons of the mouse device, so as to obtain superior convenience while the users using the mouse device.
However, the use of the mouse device at present that is the user puts its palm placing onto the surface of the mouse device and configured to be hold the whole mouse device, such the above-mentioned using manner that causes the muscles and joints of the users' hand easily tired after a long time. Moreover, the forgoing using manner that also causes the injury with the user's wrist or hand due to the user's wrist lacks the point of application during the long time.
Nevertheless, the existing mouse device has evolved with ergonomics, or the mouse device is known has evolved with the holding-pen using manner, so as to retard the tiredness of the users' hand. However, the user uses the forgoing mouse device who still maintains the same posture during operation, which causes the problem as injury with the user's wrist and hand yet.


Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program receives a log entry instance for creating a definition for a log entry type. The program further generates a markup associated with the log entry instance. The program also generates a document based on the markup associated with the log entry instance. The program further retrieves a set of reference documents. Each reference document is associated with a particular type of event. The program also generates a ranked list of types of events based on the document and the set of reference documents.

Many modern computing devices and/or software operating on such devices may be configured to generate logs that described events occurring during the operation of the computing devices and/or software. Such logs can include any number of different information in any number of different formats. For example, log entries can include a timestamp, information about the state of the computing device and/or software (e.g., the amount of resources being consumed), an error message, the source of the error, the severity of the error, etc. Logs have many uses. For instance, logs may be used to determine malfunctions and bugs in computing devices and/or software. Logs can also be analyzed to improve the operation of computing devices and/or software, provide statistics regarding the operation of computing devices, provide information about behaviors of users of computing devices and/or software, etc.


An implement for imprinting mark, which includes a stamp holder for holding a stamp, an ink holder for containing ink and being fastening in the stamp holder. An ink hole is made on the division board portion of the ink holder for passing therethrough of ink from the ink holder. A pintle nozzle is fastening in the stamp with its top end disposed in the ink hole permitting the ink to fill the stamp with ink for imprinting when the stamp is brought forcibly against something to mark.

The present invention relates to stamps and more particularly to a stamp which has a self-provided ink filling mechanism to automatically fill the stamp with ink for imprinting.
For the imprinting of a seal, chop or rubber stamp, an ink pad or the like is generally required to provide a seal, chop or rubber stamp with ink. A separate ink pad or the like is inconvenient to carry with oneself. When an ink pad gets dried, it must be filled with fresh ink again. In use with a conventional ink pad or the like, a clear and uniform imprint of a seal, chop or rubber stamp on a paper is generally difficult to achieve, and the imprint may disperse on a paper. Further, the ink on a seal, chop or rubber stamp may cause contamination if it is not immediately cleared each time after imprinting.
The present invention is to provide a device for imprinting, which has various features as outlined hereinafter.
(A): A pintle nozzle is used to induce ink from an ink holder into a stamp to immerse the inner structure of the stamp such that clear mark can be achieved during imprinting;
(B): A top hole is made on an ink holder sealed by a rubber seal and secured by a releasable cap so that stamping ink can be refilled into the ink holder when it is required;
(C): For a stamp in bigger size, two or more pintle nozzles can be used to uniformly induce ink into the inner structure of such a stamp to secure clear imprinting;
(D): No ink pad is required; and
(E): Contamination of a stamp can be efficiently eliminated.

Structure of stamp with self-provided ink filling mechanism


A multi-sectional roller mill comprises at least two mill sections (2, 2′) each including a plurality of ‘rollers (20, 20′), wherein each mill section includes a-drive shaft (16, 16′) and male and female parts of a coupling element (15) attached to respective ends of said drive shaft for rotation therewith, and wherein the said coupling element provides for rotation between said male and female parts of drive shafts of adjacent mill sections.

The present invention is concerned with a roller mill which can be used to mill material traditionally milled using ball mills. Ball mills are used widely to manufacture of powders in the cement industry and in the aluminium industry where they are used to mill bauxite, which is a particularly hard material.
Ball mills consume large amounts of energy. Typically, where a ball mill would use 80 kw/tonne to mill a material to a particular particle size, the roller mill of the present invention would use significantly less energy, perhaps as little as 4 to 5 kw/tonne.
There are certain waste materials which if milled to a sufficiently small particle size may be used in the manufacture of cementitious compositions. For example, lime stone may be incorporated in to cementitious compositions if it is reduced to a sufficiently small particle size. However, the energy consumption of a ball mill may render such reduction in particle size uneconomic. Similarly, there are products which could be used as part of a mixture to be burnt to generate power, if those products could be reduced to a sufficiently small particle size. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a mill capable of producing materials of small particle size for a modest consumption of energy.
In many instances, if these materials cannot be reduced in size economically they will be dumped in land fill sites, which incurs a cost and uses space required for materials which have no other useful purpose.
Another problem associated with ball mills particularly when miffing very hard materials, such as bauxite, is that the metal material of the balls wears leaving metal mixed with the milled product. This metal must then be extracted by passing the milled material between magnets, further increasing the cost of production.
A roller mill is known from GB 331877. In this mill grinding rolls are arranged to rotate about a vertical axis and to engage with a ring. The rollers are mounted on swinging arms, which are provided with biasing means to force the rollers against the ring before the centrifugal action of the mill comes into full effect. The product to be milled is delivered to the rollers by a feeder apparatus which rotates with the mill and is arranged to deposit product ahead of the rollers.
A multi-stage roller mill is known from Bulgarian patent no 37402 which includes three roller mills arranged in series and is provided with classifying means to remove particles of a size within a defined range between each milling stage.
A multi-stage mill is also known from Japanese Patent number 5096197. In this multi-stage roller mill a plurality of sets of rollers are mounted in a housing on a drive shaft common to each set. The roller mill described mills particles of solid substances which are entrained in a slurry. In addition to milling the solid particles the action of the roller mill ensures that solid particles are well dispersed in the slurry.
Roller mills of the prior art are not designed to mill hard substances, such as bauxite. However, in comparison to ball mills, roller mills use considerably less energy.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved roller mill.


A three stage process for producing producer gas from biomass or other carbonizable waste products using a double gasifier is described. A reactor for the three stage process comprising a primary, an intermediate and secondary gasifier is also described. The primary gasifier utilizes a vertically adjustable fill level sieve and a discharge mechanism for the combustion residues. The primary fuel and the preheated primary air are supplied to the primary gasifier via the reactor base. The secondary gasifier, a coke producer is connected to the primary gasifier downstream. The intermediate gasifier, a fluw flow gas converter, is supplied with secondary air. The low temperature carbonized gas from the primary gasifier, as well as the carbon particles leaving the primary gasifier are introduced into the secondary gasifier through a radially symmetrical ring nozzle to provide a long residence time under reducing conditions. The reactor is also optionally provided with one other gas, comprising at least in part the product, producer gas, introduced via a bypass arrangement.

This invention relates to a three stage process for producing producer gas from biomass. Producer gas is a combustible mixture of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. There are several known methods of obtaining producer gas.
The easiest way to gasify biomass is to charge fuelwood into a generator from the top and insert the air for gasification from the bottom (updraft). Air and fuel react in a countercurrent process. The thus obtained producer gas contains a lot of tar, phenols, acids, so that the purification is complicated and waste water management is very costly. To solve the waste water treatment, gasifiers were proposed where fuel and air is charged from the top (down draft gasification) and fuel and air flow in a concurrent manner. The gas is drafted from the bottom. But this type of gasifier needs dried hard wood with definite edge lengths to achieve satisfactory results. Therefore, most of the available wood wastes products cannot be gasified. Furthermore, scaling up is difficult and the purity of the gas is not ensured.
Approximately, in the last century a combination of an updraft gasifier and a second coke gasifier was proposed, in order to crack the tars, phenols, acids, and to improve the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and equalize the gas quality. But the demand for coke was rather high and the process control unsatisfactory.
In U.S. Pat. No. 927 418, B. Loomis and H. Pettibone disclose a process of manufacturing gas from wood by integrating a wood gasifier and a coke gasifier for a downdraft flow. Two gasifiers are connected at the top by a pipe in parallel. A layer of coke is placed above a grate and a layer of wood is placed over the coke. Wood is charged to the reactor on top of the coke beds and burned. Air is drawn up or down into the wood to cause its combustion. The wood ashes eventually plug the interstices in the body of coke and the coke must be cleaned by steam under pressure to keep it in good condition. Periodically the coke must be completely removed from the reactor in order to clean out the wood ashes. According to Loomis and Pettibone a good gas can be obtained but no detailed results on the tar and phenol content in the gas are disclosed. The process conditions are not stable because they change in proportion to the amount of wood being charged and the amount of air being drawn into the reactor. The temperature of the cracking or burning process cannot be controlled to the necessary temperature range and the residence time is not high enough for total gas reforming. The quality of the gas, therefore, varies and the tar and phenol content of the gas is likely to be quite high. Furthermore, the known process of manufacturing gas is a batch process have the following disadvantages: the process is unstable and unpredictable there is rapid consumption of coke, difficulty in replenishing the supply of coke to the reactor, and the requirement of cleaning the reactor.
During the past ten years biomass gasification in fluidized beds were tested but the results were not satisfying due to small fuel content in the fluidized bed and a low efficiency of gasification. The fuel must be very dry and only some kinds of biomass can be used. On the basis of today's calculation feasibility can only be expected for gasifiers with a performance higher than 10 MW.
As prior art, reference is also made to the so-called Reichelt purge gas process (German Patents 666,387, 712,290 and 744,135), as well as to the SIFIC process (German Patent 763,915). According to the two aforementioned processes, carbonization takes place in retorts, which are continuously or discontinuously charged with biomass. The extraction products of interest here are the condensable constituents of the organic vapors. The heat required for producing the carbonization gas is obtained by burning at least part of the residual gas.
Finally, reference is also made to the Kiener process, in which a coke gasifier is connected downstream of a low temperature carbonization gasifier and a particularly advantageous power utilization is achieved in that the producer gas is used for operating the gas motors, while the low temperature carbonization gasification takes place by means of the motor exhaust gases in a carbonization drum. As a result of the closed system, the process operates in a manner which is not prejudicial or harmful to the environment, because, except for the condensate water obtained, all the toxic compounds formed, such as, e.g., heavy metal compounds, are left behind in the low temperature carbonization coke. However, it is a disadvantage of this process that the carbonization drum is heated from the outside. Another disadvantage of this process is the interlinked insensitive and time-consuming dependence between the charging of the reactor on the one hand and the gas requirement on the other.
Therefore, it is on object of this invention to provide a process for producing producer gas from almost all biomasses which has stable and predictable process reaction conditions with a high efficiency resulting in a gas of good quality which is free from tars and phenols. Other objects will become clear throughout the course of the description provided below.

Three stage process for producing producer gas from combustible waste products


A modular pet house includes a housing including a peripheral wall comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge and a bottom edge. The front wall has an opening positioned therein extending upwardly from the bottom edge. A plurality of mountings is selectively mountable in the housing. A panel has an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral edge. The panel has an opening extending therethrough. The panel has the same shape and size as an interior perimeter of the housing. The panel is selectively positionable on the plurality of mountings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pet houses and more particularly pertains to a new pet house for positioning indoors for a cat.
1. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pet houses is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that is lightweight and is able to be disassembled into a generally flap structure.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a housing which may is formed of a cardboard box that is selectively collapsible.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new pet house that includes a plurality of support devices for retaining the housing in an upright position when fully assembled.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises a housing including a peripheral wall comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The peripheral wall has an upper edge and a bottom edge. The front wall has an opening positioned therein extending upwardly from the bottom edge. A plurality of mountings is selectively mountable in the housing. A panel has an upper side, a lower side and a peripheral edge. The panel has an opening extending therethrough. The panel has the same shape and size as an interior perimeter of the housing. The panel is selectively positionable on the plurality of mountings.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.


A method for manufacturing a resonator that effectively addresses variations in resistivity for each wafer. The method for manufacturing a resonator includes forming a Si oxide film on a surface of a degenerated Si wafer, where the Si oxide film has a thickness set that is based on the doping amount of impurity in the degenerated Si wafer.

Before resonators, such as piezo-resonators, are formed, ingots of Si (silicon) are manufactured that are doped with large amounts of impurities, such as n-type dopants like P (phosphorus), for example. Then, a plurality of wafers are cut out from these ingots, and resonators are formed in a plurality of zones defined on the wafers. Thereafter, the respective zones are cut along the outlines of the respective zones of the wafers to thereby form resonance devices.
The ingots of Si are manufactured substantially in cylindrical shapes by the growth of single-crystalline Si according to, for example, a manufacturing method referred to as a CZ method (Czochralski method). For example, the ingots are manufactured by melting, on heating, polycrystalline Si doped with large amounts of n-type dopant, for example, such as P, and immersing Si rods in the molten Si, and lifting the Si rods while rotating the rods.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-028536.
It has been determined that these ingots each have a higher impurity concentration at the outer peripheral side in a radial direction of the ingot than at the inner peripheral side therein. At the same time, these ingots also have a higher impurity concentration at the bottom side in a lifting direction of the ingot than the top side therein. In accordance with these distributions in impurity concentration, the ingots each have a resistivity distribution formed to decrease in resistivity from the inner peripheral side toward the outer peripheral side, and a resistivity distribution formed to decrease in resistivity from the top side toward the bottom side.
Moreover, when a plurality of wafers are cut out from the ingots that have such distributions in resistivity, the resistivity varies among the wafers, depending on the distributions in impurity concentration. When resonators are manufactured from these wafers, frequency temperature characteristics vary depending on the variation in resistivity among the wafers. However, conventionally, this variation in resistivity among wafers have not been addressed at all.


A malware analysis system for automating cause and effect analysis of malware infections is provided. The malware analysis system monitors and records computer system activities. Upon being informed of a suspected malware infection, the malware analysis system creates a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that were conducted within a time frame prior to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system may also create a time-bounded snapshot of the monitored activities that are conducted within a time frame subsequent to the notification of the suspected malware infection. The malware analysis system provides the created snapshot or snapshots for further analysis.

As dependence on computer systems and computer networks increases along with the sophistication and the frequency of attacks on computer systems and computer networks, the subject of computer security is becoming ever more prominent in the industry. Computer security techniques are presently used to protect users of the computer systems and the application programs and operating systems from malicious software ("malware")—e.g., viruses, worms, and Trojans—designed specifically damage or disrupt a computer system, and other undesirable activity.
To guard against the risk of malware, protection technologies, such as anti-malware software are often employed. For example, anti-malware software programs can scan computer systems to detect malware embedded within infected computer files. Once detected, the malware can be removed from infected files, the infected files may be quarantined, or the infected file may be deleted from the computer system.
Anti-malware software is currently designed to use known patterns, or signatures, to detect and remove malware infections, including "spyware" from computer operating systems and networks. For example, the anti-malware software can look for these patterns in an operating system's data stores, in memory, or over a variety of network protocols. After the failure or successful removal of the malware, anti-malware software typically provides the protected computer system administrator or network operator information surrounding the "cleaning event," which is typically referred to as an event or alert. For example, upon successfully or unsuccessfully cleaning malware off a computer system, the anti-malware provides a single event that declares that the machine is now "clean" and in a known good state. The information can include a friendly virus name, a list of the actions taken, and a date/time reference, amongst other information recorded at the time. A difficulty with the information provided after an infection is detected by today's anti-malware software is that system administrators are unable to determine the root cause or origin of that malicious code. Another difficulty with the information provided by the anti-malware software is that the information does not allow the system administrators to assess the scope of the damage caused subsequent to the initial infection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Malicious code infection cause-and-effect analysis


An organic transistor includes an insulating substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed over the substrate and the gate electrode, a source and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer, a nonpolar macromolecular insulating underlayer disposed on the gate insulating layer at least between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and an organic semiconductor layer disposed on the source electrode and the drain electrode and on the insulating underlayer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an organic transistor manufactured using a liquid semiconductor material and a method for manufacturing the organic transistor.
2. Related Art
Organic semiconductors have lower intermolecular binding energies than inorganic semiconductors, and accordingly can form films in low-energy processes. In particular, a solution of an organic semiconductor material in a solvent can be used for forming a semiconductor element by a known printing technique, such as an ink jet method, and the process using such an organic semiconductor material solution has received attention as a new low-energy, low-cost, high-throughput semiconductor process. For example, JP-A-2009-72654 discloses that a film pattern of a semiconductor device is formed by an ink jet method. JP-A-2005-217359 discloses another semiconductor process using a liquid material. In this process, an insulating film is partially dissolved by being coated with a liquid material containing a solvent, and the solute in the liquid material forms another electroconductive film.
While the substrates of transistors and ICs are typically made of silicon or glass, processes for forming a transistor using a flexible plastic substrate (made of, for example, polyimide, polyethylene naphthalate or polyethylene terephthalate), an organic semiconductor material, a conductive macromolecular material or an insulating macromolecular material has been studied to achieve a flexible semiconductor device.
Some of the plastics and macromolecular materials contain polar functional groups. If a material having a polar functional group is present in the vicinity of the transistor channel, the characteristics of the transistor may be affected by the polar group. Particularly when the gate insulating layer or the substrate adjacent to the channel of the transistor contains a material (polar material) having a polar functional group, the characteristics (threshold voltage, off current, etc.) are liable to be affected by the polar group. Even if the gate insulating layer is made of a non-macromolecular material, such as silicon oxide, the gate insulating layer contains polar molecules having a polar group, such as hydroxy group —OH, which has penetrated from the atmosphere used in the process. The characteristics of the transistor are affected by polar molecules or a polar substance present in the vicinity of the channel.

Organic transistor and method for manufacturing the same


According to the invention, a database combining module, such as a software on a server, is used together with a resource manager software of a disk storage system in which a database is stored. A resource allocation for the disk storage system is determined to satisfy specifications requested by a user provided to a database combining module. Host paths and volumes are allocated and snapshots are controlled based on the processing of these software modules.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Reference No. P00-115782, filed Apr. 11, 2000.
The present invention relates to a computer system with databases. More specifically, the present invention relates to the replication of databases in a computer system in which different types of database management systems (DBMS) are present.
In the past, corporate information systems comprised mainly of on-line transaction processing systems (OLTP systems) that primarily used mainframes. These are known as enterprise systems or management systems. However, in recent years OLTP systems by themselves could not provide efficient support for strategic decision making, and this has led to the introduction of data warehousing. In data warehousing, history information is extracted and accumulated over time from OLTP systems to allow efficient analysis of client trends and market trends. This type of system is also referred to as an integrated information system.
While conventional OLTP systems have been built primarily around mainframes, data warehouses and data marts are often built with open systems. Thus, platforms and performance requirements may vary, and the DBMS used in the OLTP system is often different from the DBMSs used in the data warehouses and data marts. Thus, in today""s corporate information systems, different DBMSs are used together, and data must be extracted and updated between these databases.
However, analyzing client trends and markets brings the need for the most recent data that will allow the most appropriate services and products to be provided and will allow the most effective investment decisions. Furthermore, a composite analysis of different types of information is likely to allow more effective analysis. However, there is generally a trade-off between the amount of data to be extracted and the frequency at which data is to be extracted, and there is a limit to how much both can be increased. Without appropriate control over performance, optimal analysis cannot be provided.
What is really needed are techniques for combining databases, especially databases having heterogeneous formats, in a disk storage system.
According to the invention, techniques for combining databases, especially databases having heterogeneous formats, by creating an intermediate copy of data in a disk storage system are provided. Such techniques can be embodied in methods, computer software and the like, that can be disposed on a server, for example, within a computer system. The present invention can provide embodiments that perform data replication by creating an intermediate file in a disk storage system. Embodiments according to the present invention can allow resources of the disk storage system to be managed in a way that meets the requested specifications of the user, and can allow replication to be implemented in a manner that satisfies user specifications such as requested refresh rates.
In a representative embodiment, a refresh manager manages refresh of data to a database, and can receive a requested refresh rate from a user. Further, a performance manager can control information transfer capacity of the disk storage system based on the provided replication information volume and the requested refresh rate. Furthermore, the disk storage system includes a plurality of host interfaces, a plurality of volumes, and modules for allocating volumes that can be accessed from the host interfaces. The disk storage system also includes a module that controls the sharing of volumes among heterogeneous interfaces and controls transfer capacity based on instructions from a module for combining databases, e.g., allocation of volumes and allocation of host paths.
In another representative embodiment according to the present invention, a method for replicating a database is provided. The method is operable in a computer system comprising a disk subsystem, having a plurality of storage volumes, in which the disk subsystem is connected to a plurality of computers by one or more information channels including a network. The method can comprises a variety of steps, such as receiving at a first computer one or more requested specifications relating to replication. A step of determining a data transfer capacity according to the specifications can also be part of the method. The method can also include determining one or more data transfer capacity settings according to the data transfer capacity and notifying the disk subsystem of the data transfer capacity settings. Further, the method can include allocating resources in the disk subsystem for data transfer based on the data transfer capacity settings; and then copying content from a first database to a second database using the resources in the disk subsystem. The copying is performed using the resources in the disk subsystem substantially independently of sending the content over the network.
In a further representative embodiment according to the present invention, in a computer system including a first server and a second server, interconnected by a network to a disk storage subsystem, a method for replicating content of a first database associated with the first server to a second database associated with the second server is provided. The first database and the second database can be disposed in the disk storage subsystem, for example. The method comprises a plurality of steps, including allocating resources to perform a copy within the disk storage subsystem. A step of replicating content from the first database to the second database is also included in the method. The replicating is performed using the resources in the disk subsystem substantially independently of sending the content over the network.
In a specific embodiment, the computer system can also comprise a third server. The method can further include steps such as a step of receiving at the third server one or more requested specifications relating to replication. The method can also include determining a data transfer capacity according to the specifications and determining one or more data transfer capacity settings according to the data transfer capacity. The disk subsystem can be notified of the data transfer capacity settings, and resources can be allocated in the disk subsystem for data transfer based on the data transfer capacity settings.
In a yet further embodiment according to the present invention, a disk storage subsystem is provided. The disk storage subsystem is operable in a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, which can be interconnected to the disk storage subsystem by one or more of information channels, including a network, for example. The disk storage subsystem can copy content from a first database to a second database using resources in the disk subsystem substantially independently of sending the content over the network. The copy is performed by the disk storage subsystem in accordance with a resource allocation received from one of the plurality of computers. The resource allocation based upon one or more of data transfer capacity settings determined by the one of the plurality of computers in accordance with a data transfer capacity and one or more of received specifications.
In a still further embodiment, a computer program product for replicating a database is provided. The computer program product is operable in a computer system comprising a disk subsystem, having a plurality of storage volumes, the disk subsystem connected to a plurality of computers by one or more of information channels, including a network, for example. The computer program product comprises a computer readable storage medium containing a variety of code. For example, the computer program product includes code for receiving at a first computer one or more requested specifications relating to replication. Further, the computer program product can include code for determining a data transfer capacity according to the specifications and code for determining one or more of data transfer capacity settings according to the data transfer capacity. Code for notifying the disk subsystem of the data transfer capacity settings can also be included in the computer program product. The disk subsystem allocates resources for data transfer based on the data transfer capacity settings provided by said code for notifying. Further, the disk subsystem, responsive to the code for notifying, will perform a copy of content from a first database to a second database using the resources in the disk subsystem. This copy is performed using the resources in the disk subsystem substantially independently of sending the content over the network.
Numerous benefits are achieved by way of the present invention over conventional techniques. In a system performing replication by creating an intermediate file in a disk storage system, the present invention allows resources of the disk storage system to be managed in a way that meets the requested specifications of the user, and allows replication to be implemented in a manner that satisfies user specifications such as requested refresh rates. These and other benefits are described throughout the present specification. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings.

Computer system with a plurality of database management systems


A light emitting device is provided with a semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength conversion portion. The wavelength conversion portion includes an outer peripheral portion between an input surface and an output surface. The outer peripheral portion includes a first inclined part at a side of the input surface and a second inclined part at a side of the output surface. The first inclined part and the second inclined part define a projecting portion that is projected on the outer peripheral portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting device.
2. Related Art
As a light source of a general lighting equipment or a vehicle headlight, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, or a discharge lamp has been widely used. Recently, from a viewpoint of global warming prevention and long-term lifespan, a semiconductor light emitting element, such as a LED (Light Emitting Diode) and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), has been used (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2010-123605
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2009-206294
Since the semiconductor light emitting element has a low light emitting efficiency, it is necessary to mount a plurality of light emitting chips, in order to utilize the semiconductor light emitting element, for example, as the light source of the vehicle headlight. As a result, there was a disadvantage that a manufacturing cost is increased.
Accordingly, in the light emitting device using the semiconductor light emitting element, particularly, in the light emitting device that is used for the vehicle headlight, it is important to improve a light emitting efficiency and a light density (luminance) in order to properly control a light distribution, in addition to an increase of an entire light quantity of the light emitting device.
As the light emitting device using the semiconductor light emitting element, a light emitting device that emits white light is widely used. In the light emitting device that emits white light, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element that emits blue light (that is, a blue light emitting diode) and a wavelength conversion layer (e.g. a yellow phosphor layer) that is excited by the light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element are provided. In the light emitting device, yellow light is excited as a result that a part of the blue light is absorbed in the phosphor, and the blue light that has passed through the wavelength conversion layer and the excited yellow light are mixed to emit pseudo white light to outside.
Accordingly, in the light emitting device using the semiconductor light emitting element and the wavelength conversion layer, it is important to emit light without color non-uniformity to outside as an illumination light by properly mixing the light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element and the excited light.
In the light emitting devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a semiconductor light emitting element is arranged in a concave portion. Light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element and directs sideward is reflected on an inner peripheral surface (reflection surface) of the concave portion, and the light is guided to an open surface side of the concave portion to emit the light to the outside.
If the reflection surface is perpendicular to the emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting element, repeated reflection of the light would occur and a loss of light through heat would occur. Accordingly, in the light emitting devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the reflection surface is inclined outwardly as it goes in an emitting direction so as to approximate a reflection direction to the emitting direction and to improve the light emitting efficiency.
However, in the light emitting devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the reflection surface is inclined to be displaced to the outside as it goes in the emitting direction, the open surface of the concave portion that is an exit surface of the light has a large area, and thus the density (luminance) of the emitted light becomes lowered.
Further, since the concave portion is formed to be expanded as it approximates the exit surface, the quantity of the blue light emitted from the emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting element and reaches the outer peripheral side of the concave portion is decreased, and an amount of the blue light with respect to the yellow light is decreased. As a result, a proper mixing of the lights is not performed, and this may cause the color non-uniformity to occur.

Light emitting device that includes wavelength conversion layer having outer peripheral portion having convex projecting part with light reflection layer formed thereon


Provided is an electric power steering control device capable of performing damping control without current detection to perform stable damping control even when a target current and an actual current value differ from each other. The electric power steering control device includes steering torque detection means for detecting a steering torque, a torque controller for computing an assist torque current, a motor for generating a torque for assisting the steering torque, rotation speed estimation means for estimating a rotation speed of the motor, and a damping controller for computing a damping current by using an estimated value of the rotation speed of the motor. The rotation speed estimating means includes steering component removing means for steering torque, for removing a component due to steering from an output of the steering torque detection means, rotation angle corresponding value computing means for multiplying an output of the steering component removing means for steering torque by an inverse number of a rigidity of a torsion bar and −1 to compute a value corresponding to a rotation angle, and a rotation angle differentiator for differentiating an output of the rotation angle corresponding value computing means to compute a value corresponding to a rotation angular velocity.

A conventional electric power steering control device includes steering torque detection means for detecting a steering torque applied by a driver, a torque controller for computing an assist torque current for assisting the steering torque based on the detected steering torque signal, a motor for generating a torque for assisting the steering torque, rotation speed estimating means for estimating a rotation speed of the motor, a damping controller for computing a damping current to be added to the assist torque current by using an estimated value of the estimated motor rotation speed, motor rotation angle detection means, and motor current detection means. The rotation speed estimating means includes steering component removing means for removing a component due to steering from the detected value of the motor rotation angle and the motor current detection means, and a rotation speed observer configured for a vibration equation having an inertia moment of the motor as an inertia term and a rigidity of a torque sensor as a spring term, the rotation speed observer being for computing the estimated value of the motor rotation speed based on the motor rotation angle and the motor current which are output from the steering component removing means (for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: JP 2000-168600 A (Page 10, FIG. 12)

Motor-driven power steering control device


A heat dissipation device assembly structure includes a heat dissipation unit and at least one fastening member. The heat dissipation unit has a bottom face and a locating section. The locating section is formed with at least one channel in communication with the bottom face. The fastening member is assembled on the bottom face. The fastening member has at least one latch section correspondingly inserted in the locating section. The fastening member further has at least one locking section on one side of the fastening member, which side is distal from the bottom face. The fastening member can be quickly assembled with the heat dissipation unit by means of inserting the latch section into the locating section of the heat dissipation unit. The heat dissipation device assembly structure has higher heat dissipation efficiency and is free from welding process so that the welding cost is saved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a heat dissipation device assembly structure, and more particularly to a heat dissipation device assembly structure, which can be quickly assembled and permits airflow to more easily flow to the surrounding of the electronic component so as to increase the heat dissipation efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following the development of electronic industries and techniques, the density of transistors of various chips (such as central processor) has been more and more increased. This enables the central processor to process data at higher and higher speed. However, the power consumption and heat generated by the central processor have also become higher and higher. In order to keep the central processor stably operating, a heat dissipation unit or a cooling fan is generally applied to the central processor for dissipating the heat. In addition, the heat dissipation unit is usually provided with a heat pipe to more quickly dissipate the heat.
The conventional heat dissipation unit with a heat pipe must be further provided with a fastening means for affixing and attaching the heat dissipation unit to the central processor. The fastening means can be connected with the heat dissipation unit in several manners. In general, the fastening means is connected with the heat dissipation unit by means of welding or riveting. With respect to welding, it is necessary to heat and fuse the work pieces. With respect to riveting, it is necessary to apply a pressure to the work pieces with an external mechanical device. Therefore, either connection measure leads to waste of energy and increase of cost. Moreover, the main body of the fastening means is required to have sufficient strength. In the case that the fastening means is too thin, the fastening means is subject to deformation. Therefore, the main body of the fastening means must have a considerable thickness and volume. This incurs a new problem. That is, the fastening means with an enlarged volume is likely to interrupt the airflow around the central processor. This makes the heat uneasy to dissipate. As a result, the temperature of the electronic components around the central processor will be too high and thus the lifetime of the electronic components will be shortened.
In addition, the conventional heat dissipation unit further has a base seat. In general, the heat pipe passes through the heat dissipation unit and partially connects with the base seat by means of welding. The additional welding cost leads to increase of the manufacturing cost.
According to the above, the conventional technique has the following shortcomings:
1. The heat dissipation efficiency is poorer.
2. The cost is increased.
3. The lifetime of the electronic components is shortened.

Heat dissipation device assembly structure


A gateway for location at a user premises is provided. Bother users and user devices are registered with the gateway which is provided by a service provider. Users access services, such as video streaming, on their user devices via the gateway. The gateway allows users to share content. The gateway collects information about the user's patterns of behaviour for the system provider, and can be used to directly obtain feedback from the users.

The growth in data transmitted over wireless and cable networks has been driving consolidation of broadband operators, and creating a highly competitive global broadband service provision market. "Operator" refers to an operator of a high-speed network that offers data transfer services over one or more types of networks (e.g.: mobile networks and other wireless networks, wired networks, including telephone, cable satellite, and mobile networks, or a combination of these). "Broadband service" includes content delivered over a network; the network may be wired, wireless, cable, DSL, or other digital communication systems, or any combination thereof.
Operators are evolving and becoming broadband service providers (referred to herein as "service providers"). Triple or quad operators means operators that provide three or four services, such as residential Internet service, residential phone service, residential television, and mobile data services, which may in turn, include voice, Internet, and television. Data usage over both wireless, DSL and cable networks around the world is growing. Service providers may grow revenue by offering users a variety of services, and by reducing the cost of the network operation centers ("NOCs") and the cost of data links. Today, service providers are offering more services and applications, requiring larger NOCs, which in turn translates to higher operating costs for the service providers and therefore lower average revenue per user ("ARPU"). Service providers are looking for solutions that allow them to run smaller NOCs, offer services suited to users' profiles and the type of device that the user is using at the time (e.g.: television ("TV"), laptop computer, desktop computer, pads, eReaders, or smartphone).
Today, service providers can often identify where users are located, but it is difficult to know what type of content users want based on their context. "Context" includes information about the nature of the user and content, including: information that refers to the user's location; the type of device the user is using to access the network; the level of connectivity access the user has; the user state, which includes information such as whether the user is connected to the network using a mobile or wired connection; whether the user is accessing the network from home or while traveling (e.g.: on vacation or on a business trip); to which networks the user is connected; and the user's interests and history.
User demand for accessing media-rich content in real time is growing; concurrently, the types of devices that are used to view such media-rich content are also growing. Broadband networks resulted from the migration of multiple networks, each having different characteristics and operating as silo networks wherein devices, applications, and networks are tightly coupled. Typical broadband networks are designed based on the assumption that user devices used to access content are dumb terminals with little ability to run rich multimedia applications. Typical broadband networks were also designed under the assumption that traffic growth will remain linear, which has been an underestimate.
Conventional solutions to satisfying user demands for delivery of rich multimedia content in real-time has centered on a "core-centric" approach in which a centralized server resides within a NOC for each different type of network; an exemplary "core-centric" network 100 is depicted in FIG. 1. This means that if a service provider is operating broadband networks to deliver TV content, residential Internet content and cellular phone content to specific user devices, then such service providers would use three different NOCs, TV NOC 250, Internet NOC 350 and cellular NOC 450, respectively. Each is directed to a particular type of user device, which usually do not share networks or content, for example, the user's laptop computer cannot use the cellular phone's cellular network to access content. Likewise the cellular phone cannot access the cable network.
In such a model, a service provider uses software and servers that offer functionality such as determining the automatic bit rate ("ABR"), providing content inspections, and providing personalization engines that are installed within each NOC. Challenges arise when employing these approaches and serving large numbers, e.g. millions, of users; shortcomings associated with these approaches include scalability issues, accuracy issues, and synchronization of collected information. As depicted in FIG. 1 a triple and quad player operator is managing multiple NOCs 250, 350 and 450, and within each NOC is run the same set of services including video transcoding and transrating engines, content reformatting, caching and proxy services.
Three changes are simultaneously occurring with respect to broadband networks. The first relates to digital content. The amount of content available on the Internet is overwhelming for end users, even very technically savvy users, and the amount of content is still growing exponentially. This includes on-demand digital video streaming, television services such as video on demand ("VoD"), subscription video on demand ("SVoD") and pay-per-view ("PPV"). Also included in this market is on-line video advertising, Internet protocol television ("IPTV") and mobile TV, as well as television provided through cable, digital cable set top boxes, and satellite. References to "television" or "TV" herein shall refer to any of the above listed streaming video services.
The second relates to the effect of a new generation of users and their needs. These new users (often referred to as "MillenniaIs"), represent the most populous generation that has ever lived on this planet. They tend to be technology-centric, and both dependent on and aware of technology. On average, each spends over $100 per week on technology-oriented products and services and directly influences over 80% of the spending in the home. This is the generation that wants the right information suited to their needs and context, delivered in the least amount of time. This group of users are socially connected through their mobile phone, laptop and desktop computers, and are the driving force behind enabling connectivity through TV. This generation wants to have personalized content; namely, content that is available on their own terms rather than on the terms of service providers and operators. This is the generation that does not want to be bound to a particular location or device to access specific content. They like to be able to watch TV content on any device and location within and outside of the home and not just on a TV display. They also want to be able to access Internet content and/or social networking services such as Twitter on their TV display while watching TV. They are not only content consumers but also content generators and distributors.
The third relates to advancements in technology, and particularly advancements in customer premises equipment ("CPE"). A household often no longer just has a single TV display and a PC but may have multiple laptops and PCs, along with TV displays and mobile devices, such as smart phones, cellular phones, video game devices, net books, electronic reading tools ("eReaders"), pads, and portable music and video players, that are used in or outside of their homes (collectively, referred to herein as "user devices"). Additionally, users often have access to other user devices such as home residential gateways, set-top-boxes, routers, Wi-Fi access points and other networking equipment, and the use and availability of such equipment is growing rapidly. These changes mean that content is no longer created, controlled and distributed by a specific organization, such as service providers, but instead content can be produced by anyone within a network and either pushed to, or requested by, anyone within the network. Such content includes place shifted video content, multimedia streams, and personal digital content. Therefore, a centralized approach wherein content is always produced by a selected entity and then distributed to subscribers will no longer be effective due to variation between user interests, and because many users wish to play a more active role in generating content. Additionally, to centralize all content being created for distribution also will not be effective due to the heavy network traffic that would result from distributing such content.
Shortcomings associated with the prior art include:
1. Pre-Formatted Content Storage any Types of Device
Users' content preferences are very different, when, for example, they are outside of home, than when they are in front of their big TV screen. Deciding on storing the type of content for possible access from outside of home is therefore difficult. Also keeping multiple formats suitable for all potential user devices that may be used to experience the content is not efficient. Typical user devices renew and update data displays very quickly and therefore repeatedly mining data and archiving different formats for possible access by different user devices is cumbersome, costly and inefficient.
2. Content Inspection
The data traffic path for the user is not always the same. The purpose of content inspection is to identify the user's interests. However, the user's interest is best determined based on user habits over a period of time and not solely based on a snapshot of the user's current content usage. Distributing content inspection over multiple network nodes provides a snapshot of the user's current usage based only on the current traffic flow. Storing all traffic flows, determining the user identity, synchronizing the information for a post content inspection process in order to inspect usage over a longer period of time requires large amounts of storage, and extensive processing time. This is highly costly and inefficient. Conventional means allow the type of content the user is looking at any given moment in time to be determined, rather than a long term view. Consequently, the real preferences of the user under different conditions cannot be predicted accurately.
In the prior art, a CPE only facilitates providing CPE specific and vertical functions, e.g. a CPE that only provides Set-Top-Box functionality or a CPE that provides Internet connectivity functionality. Furthermore, in conventional methods the CPE has no role in content distribution functionality among subscribers while they are at home or outside using different methods of connectivity and in delivering content concurrently to different devices and/or users in parallel.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and system that improves on the deficiencies of the prior art.

System and method for managing streaming services


Nitrogen is economically recovered from the flue gas evolved in a hydrocarbon steam reforming furnace by hydrogenation of free oxygen therein and removal of carbon dioxide and other minor impurities from the flue gas by pressure swing adsorption with recovery of high purity nitrogen as unsorbed effluent. The process is utilized to highest advantage in the production of ammonia syngas wherein natural gas or other hydrocarbon feed is subjected to steam reforming in a fuel-fired furnace. The nitrogen obtained by purification of the flue gas is combined with the purified hydrogen separated from the reformate providing the syngas for conversion to ammonia. In a preferred embodiment, the steam reforming is carried out in two stages, the first stage being performed in a conventional fuel-fired steam reforming furnace to which a major portion of the fresh hydrocarbon feed is charged. The hot effluent from this first reforming stage is employed as the heating medium to support reforming of the remaining minor portion of the fresh feed by heat exchange therewith.

Nitrogen is most commonly prepared by the fractional distillation of liquid air or by pressure swing adsorption (PSA) from atmospheric air. Although nitrogen is widely available for use as an inerting gas and as a component in various syntheses reactions among other widely diversified uses, it is still relatively expensive, and cheaper nitrogen sources would be highly beneficial for use in ammonia synthesis and other industrial applications.
In the recovery of nitrogen from atmospheric air by selective adsorption in a pressure swing system, the feed air needs to be compressed and/or a vacuum pump employed for reduction of bed pressure. Nitrogen recovery by PSA is rather low (.about.40-50%) and the mechanical power required constitutes a substantial part of the nitrogen production cost. In the cryogenic air fractionation process, likewise, the feed air needs to be compressed (to about 100 psi) and cooled prior to distillation.
In the synthesis of ammonia by the combination of nitrogen and hydrogen over a catalyst, the hydrogen is commonly produced by steam reforming of methane (SMR), natural gas or other low molecular weight hydrocarbons. The nitrogen can be supplied from a cryogenic air separation plant. However, it is now more common to employ in combination with the primary steam reforming furnace a secondary reformer in which air is injected in an amount to provide the proper H.sub.2 /N.sub.2 ratio.

Adsorptive process for recovering nitrogen from flue gas


A building panel mounting system comprising a rail attachment strap, a rail, a rail attachment profile and a building panel. The rail attachment strap is connectable to a support structure, extends along a longitudinal axis and includes one or more rail support brackets. The rail is connected to the rail support bracket and extends in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The rail attachment profile has an engagement formation removably connected to the rail. The building panel is connected to the rail attachment profile.

With the ever increasing global demand for housing, there is increasing interest in prefabricated dwellings that can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment, and quickly assembled or installed on site as required. However, consumers typically have high expectations of dwelling quality, especially in developed countries, where prefabricated dwellings must compete with traditional construction methods. A disadvantage of many existing prefabricated construction techniques is that the finished product reflects an overall level of quality which is perceived by end consumers to be inferior to conventional construction methods. In addition prefabrication techniques do not typically lend themselves to design variations to cater for the stylistic preferences of the consumer.
Shipping containers have been converted into dwellings in the past. Containers are an ideal building block for prefabricated dwelling construction, given that the containers are readily transportable, and internationally available in large quantities. However, a disadvantage with using shipping containers to manufacture dwellings is that the walls of the containers are typically not constructed to particularly fine tolerances and over time the alignment of the walls are affected by continual knocks and bangs. This makes the accurate mounting of cladding onto the container difficult and time consuming. To date most shipping container dwelling conversions have shown a very low quality of overall appearance and finishes.
The application of cladding to a structure is typically a permanent addition. Accordingly, it is generally not possible to readily remove or replace the cladding without incurring considerable expenses on account of labour and the materials required.

Building panel mounting system and method


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for tracking an object of interest in a video processing system, using clustering techniques. An area is partitioned into approximate regions, referred to as clusters, each associated with an object of interest. Each cluster has associated average pan, tilt and zoom values. Audio or video information, or both, are used to identify the cluster associated with a speaker (or another object of interest). Once the cluster of interest is identified, the camera is focused on the cluster, using the recorded pan, tilt and zoom values, if available. An event accumulator initially accumulates audio (and optionally video) events for a specified time, to allow several speakers to speak. The accumulated audio events are then used by a cluster generator to generate clusters associated with the various objects of interest. After initialization of the clusters, the illustrative event accumulator gathers events at periodic intervals. The mean of the pan and tilt values (and zoom value, if available) occurring in each time interval are then used to compute the distance between the various clusters in the database by a similarity estimator, based on an empirically-set threshold. If the distance is greater than the established threshold, then a new cluster is formed, corresponding to a new speaker, and indexed into the database. Fuzzy clustering techniques allow the camera to be focused on more than one cluster at a given time, when the object of interest may be located in one or more clusters.

The present invention relates generally to the field of video signal processing, and more particularly to techniques for identifying the location of persons or other objects of interest using a video camera such that a desired video output can be achieved.
The tracking of a person or another object of interest in an image is an important aspect of video-camera-based systems such as video conferencing systems and video surveillance systems. For example, in a video conferencing system, it is often desirable to frame the head and shoulders of a particular conference participant in the resultant output video signal.
Video conferencing systems often utilize a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera to track an object of interest. The PTZ camera allows the system to position and optically zoom the camera to perform the tracking task. A problem with this approach is that, in some cases, the tracking mechanism is not sufficiently robust to adapt to sudden changes in the position of the object of interest. This may be due to the fact that the camera is often being zoomed-in too far to react to the sudden changes. For example, it is not uncommon in a video conferencing system for participants to move within their seats, for example, to lean forward or backward, or to one side or the other. If a PTZ camera is zoomed-in too far on a particular participant, a relatively small movement of the participant may cause the PTZ camera to lose track of that participant, necessitating zoom-out and re-track operations that will be distracting to a viewer of the resultant output video signal.
Initially, control systems for PTZ cameras in a video conferencing system required an operator to make manual adjustments to the camera to maintain the focus on the current speaker. Increasingly, however, users of video conferencing systems demand hands-free operation, where the control of the PTZ camera must be fully automatic. A number of techniques have been proposed or suggested for automatically detecting a person based on audio and video information. An audio locator processes audio information obtained from an array of microphones and determines the position of a speaker. Specifically, when the relative microphone positions are known, the position of the sound source can be determined from the estimated propagation time differences of sound waves from a single source using well-known triangulation techniques.
Similarly, a video locator locates one or more objects of interest in a video image. In the context of a video conferencing system, the objects of interest are the head and shoulders of the speakers. The video locator frames the head and shoulders of the speaker using information about the head size and location of the speaker in the image. A number of well-known techniques are available for detecting the location of a person in an image, including skin tone detection, face detection and background subtraction. For a more detailed discussion of these techniques for detecting the location of a person in an image, see, for example, xe2x80x9cFace Recognition: From Theory to Applicationsxe2x80x9d (NATO ASI Series, Springer Verlag, New York, H. Wechsler et al., editors, 1998), incorporated by reference herein.
A need therefore exists for an improved technique that can detect persons in image processing systems, such as video conferencing systems. A further need exists for methods and apparatus for detecting persons in such image processing systems with a reduced computational load.
Generally, methods and apparatus are disclosed for tracking an object of interest in a video processing system, using clustering techniques. Specifically, the present invention partitions an area into an approximate region, referred to as a cluster, that are each associated with an object of interest. Each cluster has associated with it average pan, tilt and zoom values. In an illustrative video conference implementation, audio or video information, or both, are used to identify the cluster associated with a speaker. Once the cluster of the speaker is identified, the camera is focused on the cluster, using the recorded pan, tilt and zoom values, if available.
In one implementation, an event accumulator initially accumulates audio (and optionally video) events for a specified time, such as approximately 3 to 5 seconds, to allow several speakers to speak. The accumulated audio events are then used by a cluster generator to generate clusters associated with the various objects of interest. The illustrative cluster generator utilizes two stages, namely, an unsupervised clustering stage, such as a subtractive clustering technique, and a supervised clustering stage, such as an iterative optimization-based clustering technique (i.e., K-means clustering). Once the initial clusters are formed, they are then indexed into a position history database with the pan and tilt values for each cluster, as well as the zoom factor, if available, equal to the corresponding cluster mean pan, tilt and zoom values.
After initialization of the clusters, the illustrative event accumulator gathers events at periodic intervals, such as every 2 seconds. The mean of the pan and tilt values (and zoom value, if available) occurring in each time interval are then used to compute the distance (e.g., Euclidean distance) between the various clusters in the database by a similarity estimator, based on an empirically-set threshold. If the distance is greater than the established threshold, then a new cluster is formed, corresponding to a new speaker, and indexed into the database. Otherwise, the camera is focused on the identified cluster.
In a further variation, fuzzy clustering techniques are employed to focus the camera on more than one cluster at a given time, when the object of interest may be located in one or more clusters. Generally, a membership value is assigned to each cluster that indicates the likelihood that a given data point belongs to the cluster. If the membership value does not clearly suggest a particular cluster, then the camera may be simultaneously focused on the plurality of clusters with the highest membership values.

Method and apparatus for adaptive position determination video conferencing and other applications