Method, apparatus and computer-readable code are provided for detecting a location of an incipient ground fault in an electrical propulsion system. The apparatus may include a sensor configured to sense a respective ground leakage signal associated with a ground of the propulsion system. The apparatus may further include a second sensor configured to sense a voltage difference across a positive rail and a negative rail of the direct current bus. A correlator is coupled to the first sensor to receive the ground leakage signal, and further coupled to receive at least one signal indicative of a respective energization state of a respective electrical phase for each respective one of the plurality of electrical devices. The correlator is configured to individually correlate the ground leakage signal with each received phase energization state signal, and supply an individual correlation signal between the received ground leakage signal and each received phase energization state signal. A processor is coupled to the correlator for processing each of the individual correlation signals supplied by the correlator and extracting a correlation value from the supplied correlation signals. The correlation value, when outside a threshold range, is indicative of an incipient ground fault in a respective phase of one of the plurality of electrical devices. A module is provided for dynamically adjusting the threshold range for detecting an incipient ground fault. The adjusting may be based on a magnitude and/or a rate of change of the magnitude of the sensed voltage difference across the positive and negative rails of the direct current bus.

Locomotives and transit vehicles, as well as other large traction vehicles used for heavy haul applications (off-highway trucks), commonly use an electrical propulsion system that includes various high power electrical components, such as generators, rectifiers, converters, traction motors, dynamic braking grids, cooling blowers, and the like. These components may fail over time due to various reasons, one of them being electrical grounds that may be caused by insulation degradation. For example, locomotives may operate in environments subject to varying conditions, such as causative of freezing and thawing, which can degrade an electrical insulation exposed to such varying conditions by causing cracks.
The propulsion system of a locomotive has many insulated windings, and excessive leakage current could develop over time due to various factors, such as aging, moisture, abrasions, dirt built-up and the like. This is especially true for the traction motors since moisture often gets into these components because of their location and exposure to relatively harsh environmental conditions. Failures due to excessive electrical leakage currents in an electrical system of locomotives are a leading cause of system shutdowns and locomotive mission failures.
Leakage current detectors have been used on many kinds of electrical equipment to protect the equipment from damage that could arise in the presence of a large electrical current and/or to protect personnel from injury, and there may be substantial industrial background on leakage current monitoring by techniques used in electrical utility or industrial applications. Ground faults may occur as a result of a fault in any of a number of different system components. In the context of a locomotive, such components by way of example can include the propulsion drive system, batteries, and auxiliary equipment. Within the propulsion drive system, ground faults can occur in one or several components, which include generator, rectifier, cabling, traction motor, dynamic brake resistor, and blower motor.
A known difficulty in dealing with ground conditions in a locomotive is that many of such conditions may be transitory in nature. Often when a ground fault condition occurs, the affected portion of the electrical system is deactivated, and the locomotive is scheduled for repairs. However, once the locomotive is shopped for repairs, the system may no longer exhibit abnormal grounds and the maintenance personnel cannot identify the source of the fault. This is often because the excessive leakage current is caused by moisture in the electrical components. By the time the locomotive is shopped, the moisture has dried out, thus eliminating the high leakage currents. The amount of moisture that is able to penetrate the insulation system and result in high leakage currents often depends in part on the condition of the insulation system. A healthy system experiences relatively small change in leakage current as a result of changing moisture conditions, whereas a system with degraded insulation may experience large changes in leakage current that is moisture dependent.
In view of the foregoing considerations, it is desirable to have early warning of leakage current development, (i.e., an incipient ground fault) in the electrical propulsion of the locomotive so that action may be taken before there is a locomotive disabling failure. More particularly, it would be desirable that such an action enables continued operation of the locomotive propulsion system so that the locomotive can fulfill a mission and be able to return on its own power to a locomotive service shop for a thorough check and repair.
It would be further desirable to have the ability to determine in real time the specific equipment that causes the incipient ground fault, as that condition occurs, so that service personnel can retrieve at a later time that information and be able to focus on that specific equipment once the locomotive eventually arrives to the locomotive service shop, without trying to mimic the environmental conditions that may have contributed to the occurrence of the incipient ground fault or without having to spend valuable resources and time on troubleshooting fault-free equipment.

Method, apparatus and computer-readable code for detecting an incipient ground fault in an electrical propulsion system


To an organic EL element of a pixel circuit provided in association with an intersection of a scanning line and a data line, a driving current in accordance with digital data or an analog data current is supplied via the data line. When halftones are controlled by digital gray scale in order to reduce power consumption, digital data having a value corresponding to either a first level or a second level is supplied to the pixel circuit. When halftones are controlled by analog gray scale in order to improve display quality, an analog data current is supplied to the pixel circuit.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to electronic circuits, electro-optical devices, methods of driving electro-optical devices, and electronic apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, interest has arisen in electro-optical devices including organic EL elements. In an electro-optical device of this type, analog gray scale is used as driving method to control halftones of organic EL elements (See e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-147659.). In a method of analog gray scale, a voltage between the source and gate of a driving transistor to supply a current of a current level in accordance with a multi-value data current to an organic EL element is used as a threshold voltage of the driving transistor. According to the method, a current supplied from a DA converter circuit in accordance with a luminance level (data current) is accumulated in a hold capacitor of a pixel circuit. A charge voltage corresponding to the amount of charge accumulated in the hold capacitor is applied to the gate of the driving transistor implemented by a thin-film transistor (TFT). The driving transistor supplies a driving current in accordance with the charge voltage corresponding to the data current to the organic EL element.
In the DA converter circuit that is used in the related art programming method or the like, implementation by thin-film transistors (TFTs) as adopted for the pixel circuit has been difficult due to a problem of precision, so that it has been common to use an external IC driver.
However, a DA converter circuit that is implemented by an external IC driver has had a problem that power consumption is larger compared with a TFT driver circuit that is formed on a display panel.
The present invention has been made in order to address the problem described above and provides an electronic circuit, an electro-optical device, a method of driving an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus that allows low power consumption and adequate display quality to be achieved simultaneously.

Electronic circuit, electro-optical device, method of driving electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus


The invention relates to an optical receiver for receiving visible light, wherein the visible light comprises an intensity modulated signal. The optical receiver comprises an optical intensity modulation filter configured for filtering the intensity modulated signal from the visible light and a photo detector configured for detecting said filtered modulated signal. The invention also relates to an—illumination system comprising such a optical receiver. The optical filter preferably comprises a fluorescent layer.

In recent years, highly advanced illumination systems are being developed in order to enable consumers to obtain a desired ambiance for a particular room or space.
An example of such an illumination system is an arrangement of several light sources in a structure, such as a room, a lobby or a vehicle. The light sources, which may comprise light emitting diodes, emit visible light that carries codes identifying a light source or group of light sources. The light source codes are transmitted by modulating the visible light emitted from the light source. In such an illumination system, an optical receiver for receiving the codes is e.g. implemented in a remote control device or embedded in another device such as a switch or a sensor device. Arranging a camera in a camera position of the structure and registering images of spots of the light allows through the identification of the individual codes which light source contributes to an illumination pattern. The spots can e.g. be illuminated areas on a floor, a wall, or a ceiling. Besides deriving the individual codes from the registered images, a signal processing apparatus may also determine one or more properties of the associated light source, such as the light source position, the light intensity, a color point etc.).
US 2007/0008258 discloses a communication system comprising lighting equipment that has a transmitter comprising multiple light-emitting elements that each emit light of different wavelengths and terminal equipment that has a light receiver comprising multiple light-receiving elements that receive optical signals for each of the different wavelengths. The communication system has a lighting function and is capable of high speed signal transmission. The terminal equipment contains wavelength filters capable of transmitting different wavelengths, such the each light receiving element receives light of a different wavelength.
The communication system of US 2007/0008258 requires the optical receiver to comprise wavelength filters for the light receiving elements in order to detect the light of different wavelengths from the light emitting elements.
There is a need in the art for an optical receiver and an illumination system of reduced complexity.

Optical receiver for an illumination system


A system for removing objects from flowing liquid includes a screen for removing the objects from the liquid. The screen includes a movable component and a driving mechanism for moving the component through a closed path so as to move the objects upwardly. The system further includes a shield for pressing the objects against the screen. The shield is parallel to the screen. The system further includes supporting means for supporting the shield and for permitting the shield to be pushed away from the screen by the objects while maintaining the angular orientation of the shield with respect to the screen. The supporting means includes a linkage system which is connected to an upper portion of the shield.

It may occur that waste water contains rather big objects, e.g. plastic sacks containing night-soil, which with conventional, self-hoisting rinsing screens are difficult or impossible to handle. Another problem is that the screenings becomes tangled into balls, which may be so big that they can not be conveyed by the self-hoisting rinsing screens. The only possibility of solving these problems hitherto has been by manual operations, i.e it has been necessary to remove the objects by hand. As different types of rinsing screens, e.g. chain screens, step screens and the like operate fully automatically for long times such bigger objects may cause clogging and other types of breakdowns.
Another problem at self-hoisting rinsing screens of the type consisting of fixed and movable rods, having step-shaped edges facing the flow direction of the water, whereby the movable rods are interconnected to at least one pack, is that the movable rods are raised to a level above the lowermost step, which means that the lower part of the screen during this upward movement has a double slot width between the rods resulting in an inferior separation efficiency.


A rotary cutter (74) is rotated by a motor (76) through a drive and a belt (326) inside of a combination guard and belt tensioner assembly (260). The rotary cutter (74) includes a cutter head (82) having integral blade holders (92) which slideably receive knives (90) in a channel (230) each having a detent (236) which is received in an aperture (91) in the knife (90) so that no fasteners or moveable parts are provided for holding the knives (90) and adjustment of the knives (90) is not needed or allowed. Guard quarters (266, 314) and a guard half (268) are held in a closed position by a single latch (325). The guard half (268) includes an idler (300) which tensions the belt (326) in the closed position. The second guard quarter (314) mounted upon a pivotable cover (306) together with the mount (262) for the motor (76) defines an enclosure for the rotary cutter (74) and abuts with the guard half (268) in their closed positions.

The present invention generally relates to assemblies useable in the field of rotary cutting, particularly to easily removable guards performing multiple functions and to rotary cutters, which are believed to produce synergistic results when utilized together.
The production of many food products involves the extrusion of cooked food material under pressure through a die port as an extrudate and then to cut that extrudate into lengths as it exits the die ports in the die. A common technique for cutting the extrudate is the use of a rotary cutter which rotates multiple blades past die ports located in a circular pattern in the die. It can be appreciated that the blades are subject to wear and need replacement. In this regard, rotary cutters are often serviced or at least inspected whenever it is necessary to service the die.
It can be appreciated that safety guards are needed to enclose the rotary cutter and drive therefor to prevent engagement by personnel or clothing as well as to retain the cut food products in an uncontaminated environment and to prevent engagement of the cut food products with the drive. However, it should be appreciated that such guards must allow access when it is desired to service the rotary cutter and/or die. Prior to the present invention, such guards often required removal of several fasteners and often components themselves. Also, components for such prior guards accomplished only single functions, adding complexity to the assembly.
Servicing the rotary cutter itself also created problems. Particularly, blades of the rotary cutter were held on the blade holders by a clamp plate typically with two or more fasteners. Additionally, the blades and/or blade holders were adjustable so that the cutting angle relative to the die face could be adjusted for optimum operation. However, removing or loosening fasteners was time consuming and added to the overall complexity of the rotary cutter itself. Furthermore, adjusting the blades is a time consuming process even for a skilled operator. Additionally, if not adjusted properly, the blades can cut poorly resulting in defective food products and/or can result in increased wear, breakage, or other damage to the face of the die and/or to the blades themselves. As an example, an incorrect angle of the blade could be compensated by increasing the engagement pressure of the blade with the die, with frictional forces and wear being directly dependent upon the engagement pressure. In addition to increased operating costs as the result of shortened operating life of the components themselves, concerns arise of metal filings and/or pieces being introduced with the food product.
Thus, a need exists for improved rotary cutters which overcome the deficiencies of prior rotary cutters including but not limited to the need for adjustment and fasteners. Additionally, a need exists for improved assemblies which overcome the deficiencies of prior guards including but not limited to complexity, lack of easy access and single function components.
The present invention solves these needs and other problems in the field of assemblies useable in the field of rotary cutting by providing, in the preferred form, a rotary cutter having a knife support surface of a blade holder integrally formed with the cutter head such that the angle of the knife support surface and the knife removably attached thereto in a single, nonvariable and nonadjustable potential position can not be varied relative to the rotation axis of the cutter head.
In further aspects of the present invention, the knife which is restrained to slide along a single slide direction on and parallel to a knife support surface is prevented from sliding in the single slide direction by a detent received in an aperture included in the knife most preferably spaced from the edges of the knife.
In still other aspects of the present invention, first and second guard quarters and a guard half are provided with the second guard quarter being moveable between a guard position and an access position and with the guard half being moveable between a closed position and an open position. The second guard quarter is prevented from moving from the guard position when the second guard half is in the closed position. Access is prevented to drive elements such as for a motor and a rotary cutter in the guard and closed positions.
In other aspects of the present invention, a guard receiving the rotatably interconnecting assemblage of a drive prevents a cover from pivoting from an enclosure position while in a guard position and is pivotable to an open position allowing the cover to pivot from the enclosure position to an access position. In the enclosure position, an enclosure is defined for a second element rotatable about an axis. In the access position, access is allowed to the second element.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel rotary cutter where the blades are held in correct positions and which remove the ability to manually adjust the blades.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a novel rotary cutter where the blades can be easily and quickly replaced by relatively unskilled personnel.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel rotary cutter where the blades are held without the use of fasteners, clamp plates or similar moveable and/or removable components.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel rotary cutter of a simple construction reducing fabrication and assembly costs.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel assembly for enclosing a drive.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel drive enclosing assembly including components performing multiple functions.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel drive enclosing assembly which can be easily and quickly opened to provide access when desired.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel drive enclosing assembly having interlocking components requiring moving of components before other components can be moved.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.


The present disclosure is directed toward method for enabling use of PDL metadata to drive printing outcomes. The method includes receiving a selection for a file in a first format. The method further includes parsing the file for metadata and displaying attributes included in the metadata. The method next assigns each attribute to a print-rendering condition. The method then provides the file in a second format.

The present disclosure relates to a JDF job ticket for a PDF/VT file and, more particularly, to the creation of the JDF job ticket that includes instructions for print conditions corresponding to variable data.
Portable Document Format ("PDF") is a commonly used standard for representing finished documents after formatting. Generally, a PDF describes the text and graphics of a page at a high level in terms that a raster image processor ("RIP") can interpret. The RIP reads the information and accesses the necessary files for converting the PDF to a raster image for outputting the image electronically on a display or as a printout by an image rendering device. A relatively newer standard is a PDF/VT file, which is a type of PDF file for exchange of variable data and transactional (VT) printing. Generally, the fixed content portions of the PDF function as a template, which is adapted for use in multiple renderings. Each rendering undergoes a merge with variable data for providing printout or display output with variable content. The PDF/VT file can include production information in a Job Definition Format ("JDF"), known as an electronic job ticket, that is provided for rendering the finished document.
A print job ticket is generally created with a PDF document for setting forth particular instructions for processing a print order of that document. A print manager relies on the job ticket to ensure that the desired processing is undergone for producing, for example, a final output provided by selected printing actions, such as, for example, finishing operations. A JDF is an XML-based file format for an electronic job ticket. A JDF file contains job information sent with the print job for ensuring that proper handling takes place. JDF information is embedded in a file and can include, for example, a document creator, text and graphics information, and RIP settings, etc.
Currently, a JDF for a PDF file includes processing instructions that do not vary between print jobs. The print job undergoes the same rendering processes for each instance that the PDF file is used to produce a printout. Similarly, the JDF for the PDF/VT file includes a set of instructions that are used from one print job to the next despite any changes in the variable content.
With the increased use of variable data and transactional printing, different operations become desirable for producing multiple printouts that each can include different variable content. For example, it may be desired that a first PDF/VT document, which includes first variable content, be printed on a first type paper stock, but a second PDF/VT document that includes second variable content be printed on a second type paper stock.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and a method that does not require a new job ticket be created or modified for each instance a PDF/VT file is used create a document and render the document as a printout. There is a need for a system that creates a JDF job ticket for describing printing operations that each includes different variable contents.

System to enable use of PDL metadata to drive printing outcomes


A tandem heat sink operable to provide heat dissipation to one or more electronic components. The tandem heat sink apparatus creates air turbulence within the air stream across the one or more components through the use of pins oriented at more than one angle with respect to the base of the tandem heat sink. An airflow across one or more electronic components is disrupted by the geometry of the different pin angles of the tandem heat sink, thereby creating turbulence which increases the efficiency of the heat sink and prevents thermal shading from occurring. When the heat sink is placed on a single component, the heat sink may be situated without any overhang relative to the component due to the turbulence induced by the different pin angles and the resulting increase in heat dissipation efficiency.

This invention relates generally to the field of electronic devices and systems, and more specifically to heat dissipation in electronic devices.
The ability of an electronic device to stay within a specified temperature region is directly related to the reliability and performance of the electronic device. Many electronic devices have strict temperature requirements for correct operation, and performance and lifetime are very sensitive to operation outside these temperature requirements. When an electronic component within a system overheats, often the entire electronic system is affected. There are many techniques available to help dissipate heat around an electronic component. Heat sinks are commonly employed in electronic systems where space is limited. Referring to FIG. 1, a simplified side view of a heat sink 100 is shown according to the prior art. Heat sink 100 is coupled to an electronic component 140 through the use of a heat sink/component interface 130. The interface 130 allows for a tight coupling between the heat sink 100 and the electronic component 140. The interface 130 is also coupled to a heat sink base 120. The heat sink base 120 acts as the primary conduction path for heat generated by electronic component 140. Heat sink base is coupled to a plethora of heat sink pins 110. The heat sink pins 110 provide several functions, including dissipation of heat generated by electronic component 140 and the creation of turbulence in the air flowing over the heat sink pins 110.
Pinned heat sinks are useful when applied in a staggered fashion where each device or component is in a different part of the airflow stream. However, when several heat sinks are placed in a line, forming a trough-shaped array, the airflow over the heat sinks tends to be uniform and the heat sinks ability to create turbulence is reduced. The propensity of the heat sinks to create thermal turbulence is critical, because turbulent airflow increases the efficiency of the heat sinks and effectively increases the heat dissipated around an electronic component. However, staggering of the heat sinks is not always a possibility due to electrical wiring lengths that have to be consistent. Moreover, orienting a heat sink in a staggered fashion may require that the heat sink hang over the edge of the component. This may not always be possible due to the geometry of the region surrounding the component.
The present invention discloses a structure for the dissipation of heat in the area around one or more electronic devices or components. Heat dissipation is achieved by the use of one or more heat sinks coupled to the one or more electronic components. The heat sinks contain a plurality of pins, where the pins associated with a particular heat sink may not be vertical, but instead are at an elevation angle relative to the base of the heat sink. The bases of the heat sinks may be rotated with respect to one another, where the rotation takes place in the plane containing the base of a particular heat sink. The net effect of the rotation of the bases of the heat sink and the elevation angle of the pins causes the flow of air across the surface of the pins to be disrupted. The increase in turbulent air flow over the heat sinks increases the efficiency of the heat sinks, providing a greater heat dissipation capability.

Heatsink with improved heat dissipation capability


A passively vented rejected article chute (40) includes at least two vents (44, 45) extending downwardly into the chute to vent air in directions (50) safely away from sorting and conveying functions, thereby improving sorting effectiveness. Rejected articles (14) that include defects (24) are deflected by an air ejector module (30) into the vented chute and are directed downwardly past the vents to preventing the vents from being blocked. The vents, formed by panels (46, 48), are flared open at their outer ends (54, 56) to decrease the velocity of exhaust air as it passes upwardly through them. Reducing the exhaust air velocity allows small and/or light weight articles entrained in the exhaust air to fall back into the reject chute, thereby preventing spillage of the entrained articles.

Pneumatic sorting systems are employed in a variety of applications, including automated optical inspection and sorting equipments. Such pneumatic sorting systems for automated optical inspection and sorting equipment are described in U.S. application No. 07/890,967 of Datari for a "Hole Sorting System and Method" that is assigned to the assignee of this application.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art automatic inspection and sorting system 10 that is capable of inspecting and sorting, for example, raw or processed fruits or vegetables, wood chips, recycled plastics, and other similar articles.
In operation, a conveyor belt 12 carries articles 14 in a direction 16 through an inspection area 18 of a video camera 20. Video camera 20 delivers to a video signal processor 22 a video signal representing the optical characteristics of articles 14. Video signal processor 22 is programmed to identify particular characteristics of articles 14 such as, for example, color, shape, size, or the presence of defects. Articles 14 that include a defect 24 can thereby be separated from articles 14 that do not include a defect.
After articles 14 pass through inspection area 18, they are propelled along a trajectory 26 toward an acceptance conveyor belt 28 that carries acceptable articles to subsequent processing stations (not shown). Whenever video signal processor 22 determines from the video signal that an article 14 includes a defect 24, an ejection activation signal is delivered to a suitable one of multiple air ejection modules 30. In response to the ejection activation signal, the suitable ejection module 30 generates a blast of air 32 that deflects defective article 24 from trajectory 26 toward a reject chute 34. Typically, articles 24 are deflected into reject chute 34 where they are funneled toward a reject conveyor belt 36 for removal. Reject chute 34 is intended to reduce spillage of defective articles. However, a problem with prior art system 10 is that rapid sorting of large quantities of articles 24 typically requires frequent air blasts 32 that result in large quantities of compressed air flowing into the article sorting area. The resulting air flow is turbulent and can cause disruption of article flow along trajectory 26 and spillage of rejected articles that would otherwise be directed toward reject chute 34.
The problem is especially significant when sorting small, lightweight articles 24 such as plastic flakes, potato chips, or the like. The air turbulence tends to lift and carry such articles 24 out of defect chute 34 before they can fall onto reject conveyor belt 36.
Prior attempts at solving these problems include providing vents or exhausts by forming in reject chute 34 perforated metal screens or small punched louvers. The problem with such vents or exhausts is that small articles 24 tend to leak through the perforations or louvers, whereas larger articles 24 tend to block the perforations or louvers. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,161 issued Jul. 9, 1963 for CAPSULE INSPECTION AND SEPARATION, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,189 issued Apr. 4, 1978 for APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING FOOD ARTICLES FROM FIELD DEBRIS, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,294 issued Mar. 4, 1980 for an EMPTY CAPSULE EJECTOR all describe pneumatic sorting systems in which air is vented through screens, grids, or other similar structures.
Some prior pneumatic sorting systems employ active exhausts vented through generally open ducts. Such actively vented systems tend to draw defective articles away from the reject conveyor belt and into the exhaust system. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,744 issued Jul. 16, 1963 for a QUALITATIVE PHOTOMETRIC MATERIALS SORTER, U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,247 issued Apr. 20, 1965 for a RANDOM STREAM MATERIALS SORTER, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,486 issued May 26, 1992 for an APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING RECYCLABLE WASTE all describe pneumatic sorting systems in which excess air is vented through a generally open duct.
Other prior active venting devices of types not used in sorting systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,820 issued Oct. 15, 1968 for DUST PROOF HOPPER and U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,720 issued Sep. 30, 1975 for CONTROL OF DUST DURING DISCHARGE OF MATERIALS INTO HOPPERS. These patents describe hoppers with associated chambers through which dust is actively exhausted from materials discharged into the hoppers. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,820 shows in FIG. 4 a duct between an outer shell 2 and an inner shell 3 having an inner-facing lower lip (unnumbered), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,908,720 shows in FIG. 2 how dust is exhausted through apertures 6 and 7 into an inclined chamber 5.
A prior passive venting device of a type not used in a sorting system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,494 issued Nov. 30, 1990 for a FILTERING DEVICE and shows a generally conical structure for removing dust from air or other gas. As shown in FIG. 1, the device includes successive inclined conical chambers through which the gas passes while allowing the dust or other particulates to fall away. The gas flows in a serpentine manner through each of the chambers along both sides of the defining baffle and is eventually vented through a screen 13.
What is needed, therefore, is a pneumatic sorting system that passively removes air from the sorting area in such a manner that small, lightweight articles can be properly sorted without disrupting the sorting trajectory or causing article spillage.

Method and apparatus for using passive exhaust for pneumatic sorting system


A silicon carbide substrate having a surface is prepared. An impurity region is formed by implanting ions from the surface into the silicon carbide substrate. Annealing for activating the impurity region is performed. The annealing includes the step of applying first laser light having a first wavelength to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate, and the step of applying second laser light having a second wavelength to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate. The silicon carbide substrate has first and second extinction coefficients at the first and second wavelengths, respectively. A ratio of the first extinction coefficient to the first wavelength is higher than 5×105/m. A ratio of the second extinction coefficient to the second wavelength is lower than 5×105/m. Consequently, damage to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate during laser annealing can be reduced.

A silicon carbide substrate has recently begun to be used for manufacturing a semiconductor device. Silicon carbide has a wider band gap than silicon, which is a more common material. Thus, a semiconductor device including a silicon carbide substrate has advantages such as high breakdown voltage, low on-resistance, and small performance reduction under a high temperature environment.
As in a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a silicon substrate, an annealing step for activating an impurity region is required in a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a silicon carbide substrate. Different materials for a substrate require different optimal annealing steps, however. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-289550 (Patent Literature 1) discloses an annealing step of irradiating a wide band gap semiconductor such as silicon carbide with laser light having energy equal to or larger than the band gap.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


An object of the invention is to provide a fuel-aspect sensor having higher detection accuracy. A first electrode is inserted into a hole formed in a first housing member. A cylindrical second electrode is inserted into and firmly fixed to the first electrode by a cylindrical insulating member. A first elastic member, for example, made of rubber, is arranged between the first electrode and a second housing member. The first electrode has a large-diameter portion, which is biased by the first elastic member toward a sealing surface formed on an inner wall of the hole, so as to fluid-tightly seal a space between the first electrode and the second housing member.

In a conventional vehicle using ethanol-mixed gasoline, ethanol density contained in fuel is detected so as to adjust fuel injection amount as well as fuel injection timing in accordance with detected ethanol density, so that deterioration of exhaust gas is suppressed and adverse affect to vehicle drivability is decreased.
According to a prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,030,629, electrostatic capacity between a first electrode forming a fluid passageway and a second electrode supported within the fluid passageway is detected, and ethanol density contained in fuel is detected based on detected value for the electrostatic capacity, wherein the detected value for the electrostatic capacity is corrected by fuel temperature detected by a temperature sensor.
According to such a fluid quality sensor, however, heat generated at an electric circuit for detecting the ethanol density as well as heat from ambient atmosphere may be transmitted to the temperature sensor through an inside of a sensor housing. Therefore, there is a concern that such heat transfer may adversely affect detection value of the temperature sensor. In the case that an error may occur in the detection value, detection accuracy for the ethanol density may be decreased.
In addition, there may be another concern that a glass seal for insulating between the first and second electrodes may be broken or a crack may be generated in the glass seal, for example, due to mechanical shock during product transportation or a product assembling process. When the glass seal was broken, there would be a possibility that fuel may leak from the fuel passageway.
Furthermore, there is a concern that electric conductive members, which connect the first and second electrodes and the electric circuit with each other, may be disconnected due to different coefficients of thermal expansion between the housing for the electric circuit and the first and second electrodes. In such a case (disconnection of electric conductive members), it becomes impossible to detect the electrostatic capacity.


A hybrid management cable includes a cable connector having a first cable sub-connector and a second cable sub-connector, The cable connector connects to a hybrid management switch connector on a hybrid management switch and, in response, engages the first cable sub-connector with a first hybrid management switch sub-connector on the hybrid management switch connector, and engages the second cable sub-connector with a second hybrid management switch sub-connector on the hybrid management switch connector. A cable conduit extends from the cable connector. A first management data transmission medium is connected to the first cable sub-connector, located in the cable conduit, and extends along the length of the cable conduit. A second management data transmission medium is connected to the second cable sub-connector, located in the cable conduit and isolated from the first management data transmission medium, and extends along the length of the cable conduit.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a hybrid management switch device and hybrid management cabling for information handling systems.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, server devices, storage devices, networking devices, and/or other computing devices known in the art, are often positioned in a rack and cabled together in order to allow those computing devices to communicate with each other and over a network. For example, conventional datacenters often provide racks that may each include one or more server devices and one or more "data network" switch devices that are each coupled to both a Top Of Rack (TOR) Ethernet management switch device that provides Ethernet management connectivity, as well as a TOR console management switch device that provides serial/console management connectivity, and with both the TOR Ethernet management switch device and the TOR console management switch device providing respective out-of-band management connections for the server device(s) and "data network" switch devices that allow for the separation of "management network" data traffic from "data network" data traffic handled by the "data network" switch devices.
As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art in possession of the present disclosure, TOR Ethernet management switch devices provide many more options for managing server devices and "data network" switch devices (e.g., using any protocol available via the operating system) than TOR console management switch devices, but are unavailable during time periods between which those server devices and "data network" switch devices are restarted and their operating system becomes available. Furthermore, while TOR console management switch devices are much more limited in their management options compared to TOR Ethernet management switch devices, they are available as long as the server devices and "data network" switch devices are powered, which allows for management (e.g., troubleshooting) of those server devices and "data network" switch devices during time periods between which those server devices and "data network" switch devices are restarted and their operating system becomes available (i.e., when TOR Ethernet management switch devices are unavailable). As such, each of the server device(s) and "data network" switch device(s) in a rack are provided with separate cabling to each of the TOR Ethernet management switch device and the TOR console management switch device in that rack, which can raise some issues.
For example, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the separate cabling provided for each server device and "data network" switch device in a rack to both the TOR Ethernet management switch device and the TOR console management switch device in that rack increases the amount of cabling provided in the rack, which increase cabling costs, complicates cable routing, uses up cable routing space in the rack, presents difficulties when determining how devices are cabled together in the rack, reduces the ability to cool devices in the rack (i.e., due to the cabling blocking airflow paths), obstructs access to devices and other components (e.g., status lights, ports, etc.) in the rack, and presents a variety of other issues known in the art. Furthermore, the use of multiple management switch devices in a rack requires the utilization of multiple device slots in the rack that could otherwise be utilized for additional server devices and/or "data network" switch devices.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a management switch/cabling system that addresses the issues discussed above.


A data storage device providing secure data storage for a software application executed by an operating system in a computer system including a file system operation interceptor that detects requests for file system operations in respect of data for the application; a file system operation analyzer that is responsive to the interceptor and that analyses an intercepted file system operation request to identify attributes associated with the file system operation; a comparator that compares the attributes with a predefined security policy definition; a cryptographic unit that encrypts and/or decrypts data using one or more cryptographic functions; wherein the cryptographic unit is operable in response to the comparator to perform an encryption or decryption operation on the data and effect the performance of the requested file system operation by the operating system.

Data encryption is employed to secure data against unauthorized access. For example, a data file stored in a file system of a computer system can be encrypted such that unauthorized users accessing the file are unable to decrypt the file without one or more requisite cryptographic keys.
Additionally, software applications themselves can be encrypted. For example, a sensitive software application such as an application generating, accessing or storing sensitive information or an application employing sensitive algorithms or techniques can be encrypted when stored in a file system. Encryption protects such applications from unauthorized access, execution and misuse. For example, a user possessing one or more requisite cryptographic keys may be able to access and/or execute an encrypted application to the exclusion of others.
Access control is provided on a user-basis such that a user having associated one or more cryptographic keys and, in some cases, being associated with a security policy such as an access control policy, list or the like, is able to access encrypted files and/or applications such as by read operations, write operations and/or execute operations. For example, MICROSOFT WINDOWS Encrypting File System (EFS) described in detail at www.technet.microsoft.com ("How EFS Works", Microsoft TechNet Library, accessed 27 Jan. 2016) provides for the encryption of data stored to a file system (MICROSOFT and WINDOWS are registered trademark of MICROSOFT CORPORATION). Using EFS encryption and decryption are performed by an EFS driver operating in a kernel mode of an operating system in conjunction with a kernel file system runtime library (FSRTL). The encryption in EFS employs a combination of symmetric and asymmetric keys where the asymmetric keys are associated with a particular user. Thus, using EFS, data stored to a file system are encrypted on a user basis such that any file access policies are user specific.
Thus access control for data stored securely using EFS must be administered on a per-user basis. Similarly, access control for applications stored in encrypted form must be administered on a per-user basis. Where all data for an application used by potentially multiple users is to be stored securely, such data will only be secured for each user individually. Thus there is a need to address the considerable disadvantages of the known techniques to provide for the secure storage of data in a computer system.

British Telecommunications Public Limited Company


A method of reducing the level of malodorous amines emitted by paper when exposed to an alkaline environment is provided, which comprises making the paper so that it does not contain ammonium groups that are bonded to any polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond. Laminates which emit reduced levels of amines and which are comprised of this paper are also provided. In a preferred embodiment, the paper is sized with a sizing emulsion comprised of alkenyl succinic anhydride and a cationic water-soluble polymer having ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by at least two chemical bonds.

This invention relates to improvements in the making of cellulose-based products e.g. paper. More particularly, it relates to a way of reducing the level of malodorous amines emitted by paper. This is accomplished by making the paper so that it does not contain ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance nor that are bonded to any polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond. Consequently, improved laminates comprised of this paper, optionally an adhesive, and a third material e.g. metal, wood or plastic, are also provided which emit reduced levels of amines. In a preferred embodiment, the paper is sized with a sizing emulsion comprised of a hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent e.g. alkenyl succinic anhydride and a cationic water-soluble polymer having ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by at least two chemical bonds.
Paper is typically made with a wide range of additives, including starches, surfactants, synthetic polymers, pigments, fillers, and sizing agents. Many of these additives contain cationic groups, which are believed to render the additive substantive to anionic cellulosic fibers. Frequently these cationic groups are ammonium groups, i.e. quaternary or acid salts of amines. For instance, cationic polymeric emulsifying agents e.g. cationic starches, cationic synthetic polymers, etc. are widely used to help form and stabilize sizing emulsions, see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,658,378; 4,657,946; and 4,606,773; which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. These sizing emulsions are widely used in papermaking to introduce sizing agents to the surface and interior of paper. These sizing emulsions typically contain a water-insoluble hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent such as alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) or alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) that is dispersed or emulsified in aqueous solution. For example, ASA is a well-known sizing agent that has achieved considerable commercial acceptance in recent years. Since ASA is water-insoluble, it is frequently emulsified in water with a cationic polymeric emulsifying agent to form an ASA sizing emulsion which is then added to the paper stock or applied to the paper web during the papermaking process. Other potential sources of ammonium groups in papermaking are emulsifying agents such as those described in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,249 and cationic agents such as those described in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,064.
However, there is an odor problem with many paper and paper products made therefrom that contain ammonium groups. For example, when an ammonium group-containing ASA sizing emulsion is used to size paper and a liquid adhesive having an alkaline pH is subsequently used to bond the sized paper to aluminum foil to form a laminate, the laminate may emit an unpleasant amine-type odor. This odor may present an environmental problem for the maker of the laminate. Although in many cases the amine odor dissipates when the laminate is exposed to air, in some cases dissipation of the odor is difficult because all or part of the laminate is not stored in a ventilated condition. For instance, if the sized paper is laminated with aluminum foil and the resultant laminate is subsequently enclosed in packaging which is poorly ventilated e.g., food packaging (e.g., gum wrapper, liner for sticks of butter or margarine), as a liner for cigarette package, urn bag, fast food wrapper, etc, the user may perceive an odor when the package is opened. From a consumer packaging point of view, this is extremely undesirable.
Since an amine-type odor emanating from the paper was a problem and since ammonium groups are often the only source of the cationicity in many of the additives used in papermaking, it has been theorized that these ammonium groups were the source of the amine odor. As a result, some papermakers have been reluctant to use certain ammonium group-containing cationic additives in papermaking, particularly where the paper was being made for consumer packaging or other unventilated applications. In some cases, this reluctance has been to the detriment of the papermaker, especially where the cationic additive would provide a benefit if it were not for the odor problem. For instance, some papermakers do not use ASA sizing emulsions, in spite of their numerous and well-known advantages over other sizing agents, to make paper destined for laminates in consumer packaging applications because these sizing emulsions typically contain cationic polymeric emulsifying agents e.g. starch or synthetic polymers. Methods for reducing odor in paper have been disclosed which involve heating the surface of the paper web, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,195, but these methods may be energy intensive and inconvenient for the papermaker. Replacement of the ammonium groups with other cationic groups e.g. sulfonium or phosponium groups tends to increase the expense of the additive and may present toxicity and/or environmental concerns. Therefore, there remains a problem in that many papermakers would prefer to use ammonium group-containing additives such as these typical ASA sizing emulsions, but have avoided doing so because of the belief that the ammonium groups would lead to amine odors that are unacceptable to the customer.
We have now discovered that the source of the odor problem is the presence in the paper of a particular type of ammonium group, not all ammonium groups as had been previously thought. In particular, we have discovered that the source of the problem is ammonium groups in which the nitrogen atoms are bonded to a non-polymeric substance or to polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond. The instant inventors have discovered that when the ammonium groups are bonded to a polymer contained in the paper by two or more chemical bonds, the odor problem is greatly reduced or eliminated.
The instant invention provides a solution to the amine odor problem discussed above by providing a method for reducing the level of alkyl amines emitted by paper, comprising (a) providing paper that contains ammonium groups and that is substantially free of (i) ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in said paper by only one chemical bond, and (ii) ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, and (b) exposing said paper to a liquid having a pH of at least about 8. The emission of malodorous amine substances from the paper is greatly reduced or eliminated by the practice of the instant invention. The instant invention thus constitutes an effective and efficient solution to the odor problem.
In a preferred embodiment, the instant invention provides a solution to the amine odor problem discussed above by providing a method for sizing paper, comprising intermixing a sizing emulsion comprised of (i) alkenyl succinic anhydride, alkyl ketene dimer, or mixtures thereof, and (ii) a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by at least two chemical bonds, with a paper stock, or applying said sizing emulsion to a paper web, and forming paper from said paper web or said paper stock, wherein said sizing emulsion is used in an amount effective to size said paper, and wherein said paper, when contacted with a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater, emits a lower level of alkyl amines than when said sizing emulsion is comprised of, instead of said (ii), the same amount of a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by only one chemical bond.
In another preferred embodiment, the instant invention provides a solution to the amine odor problem discussed above which allows the papermaker to use preferred sizing agents such as ASA, AKD, and mixtures thereof. Thus, the instant invention provides a laminate that does not emit alkyl amines, comprised of (i) paper, (ii) alkenyl succinic anhydride, alkyl ketene dimer, or mixtures thereof, and (iii) a film comprised of metal or plastic.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cpaperxe2x80x9d is a general term that includes sheet-like masses and molded products made from fibrous cellulosic materials which may be derived from both natural and synthetic sources. The paper that is the subject of this invention generally contains ammonium groups. These ammonium groups may be introduced to the paper during the papermaking process or may be the result of a process that occurs after the paper is made. For instance, it is known in the art that paper may be sized through the use of a sizing emulsion comprised of (i) alkenyl succinic anhydride, alkyl ketene dimer, or mixtures thereof, and (ii) a cationic polymeric emulsifying agent e.g. cationic starch, cationic synthetic polymer, etc., in which ammonium groups are the source of the cationicity. The sizing emulsion may be added to the paper stock during the papermaking process, or applied to the formed paper.
An ammonium group, for the purposes of the instant invention, is a nitrogen atom that is chemically bonded to four other atoms, or to three other atoms if one of the chemical bonds is a double bond. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cchemical bondxe2x80x9d refers to a covalent bond between atoms, and not to bonds that are generally recognized as ionic. Ammonium groups may be depicted as follows, where R1, R2 and R3 are other atoms that are covalently bonded to nitrogen and X is a counterion that is ionically bonded to nitrogen:
There are a variety of techniques known to those skilled in the art for determining whether paper contains ammonium groups. A preferred technique is Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF SIMS). This technique is generally well-known to those skilled in the art, see e.g. Russell J. Kulick and Jacob S. Brinen, xe2x80x9cProbing Paper Surfaces with ToF SIMS: A New Problem Solving Tool,xe2x80x9d TAPPI Journal, Vol. 81: No.2, February 1998, pp. 152-156. The ammonium groups present in the paper of the instant invention are generally the result of deliberate addition of additives to the papermaking process, and generally not the accidental or unintended consequence of any nitrogen-containing species originating in the wood from which the paper was made. Preferably, the ammonium groups in the paper are the result of ammonium group-containing cationic additives added during the papermaking process.
There are a broad variety of industrial and commercial processes and treatments in which paper may be exposed to a liquid. For instance, laminates may be formed by bonding sheets of paper to one another or to other materials e.g. plastic, wood, metal, etc., and a liquid is often used to provide an adequate bond between the materials. When bonding two sheets of paper together to form a laminate, it may be sufficient to simply wet one or both sheets with water, then to press them together and allow the resulting laminate to dry. However, in cases where a stronger bond is desired or dissimilar materials are being laminated, a liquid adhesive may be applied to one or both of the materials before bonding. In this context, xe2x80x9cliquidxe2x80x9d is a broad term that includes resins, aqueous solutions, pastes, emulsions, and any other flowable material capable of wetting the surface of the paper. The liquid may soak into the paper or other material, or may form one of the layers of the resulting laminate. The liquid may also dry, cure, or otherwise solidify to form a layer or coating on the paper. Paper may also be exposed to a liquid in other situations e.g. exposure to a liquid dye or ink, water, grease or oil, food residue, etc. In the instant invention, a preferred liquid is an adhesive, and a preferred adhesive is sodium silicate solution. The liquid is alkaline and typically has a pH of about 8 or greater, preferably about 9 or greater, even more preferably about 10 or greater.
The exposure of paper to alkaline liquids has presented a problem in that paper containing ammonium groups often emits alkyl amines as a result of the exposure. For the purposes of the instant invention, xe2x80x9calkyl aminesxe2x80x9d is a broad term which includes monoalkyl amines, dialkyl amines, and trialkyl amines, where the alkyl groups may be linear or branched and may have from one to about five carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl amines include methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, methylethylamine, dimethylethanolamine, triethylamine, dibutylmethylamine, etc. The emission of these alkyl amines from paper generally presents an odor problem, even at very low concentrations in air, because the human olfactory sense is extremely sensitive to their presence (typical detection threshold of about one part per billion in air).
As discussed above, papermakers have been reluctant to use any ammonium group-containing additives in paper that is likely to be exposed to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater, particularly when the paper is to be exposed to the liquid and then stored in an unventilated condition. The reluctance of the papermakers may be traced to the belief that all ammonium groups represented a potential source of alkyl amines. However, the instant inventors have now discovered that the source of the problem is not all ammonium groups as had been previously thought. Instead, the instant inventors have discovered that the emission of alkyl amines from paper may be greatly reduced or eliminated, and hence the odor problem reduced or eliminated, by producing paper that contains ammonium groups, but is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and that is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. Thus, any polymer contained in the paper preferably contains an ammonium group that is attached to the polymer by two, three or four chemical bonds. In a preferred embodiment, paper is sized with a sizing emulsion comprised of (i) ASA, AKD, or mixtures thereof and (ii) a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by at least two chemical bonds.
Preferred polymers useful in the instant invention may contain the ammonium group in the backbone of the polymer or in a side chain which is itself attached to the same or a different polymer chain, as depicted in the representative formulas below:
In these representative formulas, R1 and R2 may each individually be alkyl groups, preferably each individually may be methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, and X is a counterion, preferably chloride, bromide, iodide, methylsulfate, or ethylsulfate. The polymer may be added during processing, or may be present on the cellulosic fibers from which the paper is formed. Preferred cationic polymers include polyethylenimine and polyamine. Polyamines are a well-known class of polymers formed from amines e.g. formed from the reaction of ethylenediamine and/or diethylenetriamine with epichlorohydrin. A more preferred polymer contains recurring units of diallyldialkylammonium halide i.e. is prepared by polymerizing monomers such as diallyldimethylammonium chloride, diallyldiethylammonium chloride, etc., or by copolymerizing these monomers with nonionic comonomers such as (meth)acrylamide. A particularly preferred copolymer contains recurring units of diallyidimethylammonium chloride and acrylamide and is prepared in a manner known to those skilled in the art by copolymerizing the corresponding monomers. Preferably, copolymers contain about 50% or less of recurring diallyldialkylammonium halide units, preferably 25% or less, most preferably 10% or less, by mole based on total moles of recurring units. Most preferably, copolymers of diallyldialkylammonium halide and (meth)acrylamide are glyoxalated as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,932, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. For the purposes of the instant invention, recurring units in a polymer or copolymer may be referred to by the names of the respective monomers from which those recurring units are formed.
Polymers and copolymers of diallyldialkylammonium halide are substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer or copolymer by only one chemical bond. This is because both of the polymerizable allyl groups in the diallyldialkylammonium halide monomer generally become incorporated into the polymer backbone during polymerization. Although there may be very infrequent occurrences in which only one of the allyl groups of a particular diallyldialkylammonium halide monomer becomes incorporated in the polymer backbone, the resulting polymers are still xe2x80x9csubstantiallyxe2x80x9d free of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer or copolymer by only one chemical bond because this happens so infrequently that it can be safely ignored for the purposes of the instant invention. This is because a polymer or copolymer having only a tiny amount of recurring units which contain ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer or copolymer by only one chemical bond, e.g. less than about 0.1 mole %, based on total moles of recurring units, does not generally present an odor problem when contained in paper.
The molecular weights of the polymers used in the instant invention are not critical and generally depend on the particular application. Molecular weights are weight average and may be measured by light scattering techniques known to those skilled in the art or by an appropriate technique such as High Pressure Size Exclusion Chromatography that has been calibrated with standards of known molecular weight. Generally, the polymers have a molecular weight of about 1,000 or greater, preferably about 10,000 or greater, more preferably about 100,000 or greater, even more preferably about 500,000 or greater, most preferably about 1,000,000 or greater.
The paper of the instant invention is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. In this context, xe2x80x9cnon-polymeric substancexe2x80x9d means a material having a molecular weight of less than about 1,000, preferably less than about 500. Thus, the instant paper is preferably substantially free of such non-polymeric compounds as trialkyl amines having the general formula R1R2R3N and ammonium salts having the general formula R1R2R3R4N+Xxe2x88x92, where R1, R2 R3, and R4 are each individually covalently bonded to the nitrogen atom and where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each individually alkyl groups, aromatic groups or benzyl groups having from one to about 10 carbons, with the above-mentioned proviso that the total molecular weight be less than about 1,000, and X is a counterion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, etc. that is ionically bonded to the nitrogen atom. More preferably, the instant paper is substantially free of ammonium salts such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,249, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Most preferably, the instant paper is substantially free of cationic organic salts e.g. cationic surfactants such as benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, benzyltriethylammonium chloride, lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, soya trimethylammonium chloride, etc.
The paper of the instant invention generally contains ammonium groups, but is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. As discussed above, the presence of ammonium groups in the paper may be established by knowledge of the ingredients used to make the paper or by known analytical techniques such as by TOF SIMS. To determine whether the paper is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and whether the paper is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, and to determine the level of alkyl amines emitted by paper, an analytical method comprised of a combination of chemical treatment and chromatography may be used. In general terms, the analytical method involves treating the paper with a strongly alkaline solution which has the effect of liberating alkyl amines from the paper, extracting the alkyl amines into the solution, and then identifying the alkyl amines in the solution by an appropriate technique. Preferably, the paper is treated with a strongly alkaline aqueous solution, in amounts that are effective to dissolve both the base used to make the alkaline solution and the alkyl amine that is extracted into the solution. A portion of the solution may then subjected to an appropriate analytical technique e.g. liquid chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, capillary gas chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy, etc. that is capable of detecting and identifying the liberated alkyl amine(s). Preferably, the solution is placed into a closed container for a period of time, and the gas above the solution is sampled for the presence of alkyl amine. Chromatographic techniques per se are well-known to those skilled in the art, see e.g. M. A. Kaiser and C. Dybowski, xe2x80x9cChromatography,xe2x80x9d in Encyclopedia of Separation Technology, Vol. 1, Ed. D. M. Ruthven, John Wiley and Sons, New York 1997 pp. 299-320. Chromatographic techniques for separating, detecting and identifying alkyl amines have been known for many years, see e.g. S. D. Nogare and R. S. Juvet, Gas-Liquid Chromatograph, Interscience, New York, 1962, pp. 48-51.
The capabilities e.g. sensitivity, accuracy, precision, etc. of any particular method may be calibrated by preparing a series of paper samples which contain known amounts of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and/or ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, then subjecting these paper samples to the selected method. Preferably, the paper samples used for calibration contain known amounts of triethylamine. The method may be quantified by developing a correlation between the observed response level of the method and the known level of incorporation in the paper. When done in such a properly calibrated and quantitative fashion, the method may be used to determine whether one particular piece of paper or paper laminate will emit a lower level of alkyl amines when exposed to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater than another particular piece of paper or paper laminate. This is because the level of alkyl amines detected by the method generally correlates with the level of amines emitted by a paper or paper laminate when exposed to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater.
For instance, the following general method may be preferably applied to determine whether paper is substantially free of (i) ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and (ii) ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance: A sample of the paper is stirred in a strongly alkaline solution having a pH of about 12 or greater, such as a solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, for several hours at a moderately elevated temperature to form a mixture of wet paper and aqueous base. The gas above the mixture is then sampled and analyzed using a commercially available gas chromatography instrument equipped with an appropriate detector, typically calibrated using standard samples of known alkyl amines. The strongly alkaline solution is preferably aqueous sodium hydroxide, the gas chromatography instrument is preferably a capillary gas chromatography instrument, and the gas chromatography instrument is preferably equipped with a nitrogen/phosphorous detector or is coupled to a mass spectrometer. If this method, properly calibrated, fails to detect the presence of alkyl amines, then the paper is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and the paper is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to non-polymeric substances. Consequently, the paper will not emit alkyl amines when exposed to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater. If this method, properly calibrated, detects alkyl amines, this generally means that the paper contains ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance and/or contains ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond.
In a preferred embodiment, the instant invention provides a method for sizing paper. This method comprises intermixing a sizing emulsion comprised of (i) a hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent, preferably ASA, AKD, or mixtures thereof, and (ii) a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by at least two chemical bonds, with a paper stock, or applying said sizing emulsion to a paper web, and forming paper from said paper web or said paper stock, wherein said sizing emulsion is used in an amount effective to size said paper, and wherein said paper, when contacted with a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater, emits a lower level of alkyl amines than when said sizing emulsion is comprised of, instead of said (ii), a comparable water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by only one chemical bond. Sizing emulsions useful in this method are generally prepared by intermixing the hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent with the water-soluble polymer in water, preferably with a suitable high-speed mixing device such as a blender. The method of making sizing emulsions per se is generally well-known in the art, see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,946 and 4,606,773, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Suitable water-soluble polymers include all of those mentioned above and thus may be any cationic polymer which contains an ammonium group that is attached to the polymer by two, three or four chemical bonds. Preferred water-soluble polymers are also the same as stated above. Preferably, the water-soluble polymer is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by only one chemical bond. Preferably, the sizing emulsions are substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. The ratio of hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent to water-soluble polymer is generally in the range of about 1:20 to about 4:1, preferably about 1:10 to about 1:1, by weight based on total weight.
The sizing emulsions of the instant invention are generally used in an amount effective to size the paper, preferably at a dosage of about 0.1 to about 10 pounds of hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent per dry ton of paper, more preferably about 1 to about 5, most preferably about 1.5 to about 2.5, same basis. The sizing emulsion may be intermixed with the paper stock during papermaking, or applied to the paper web or formed sheet. Other conventional papermaking additives e.g. pigments, fillers, sodium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, etc. may also be added to the paper stock or applied to the paper web. Preferably, alum (aluminum sulfate) is also added to the paper stock or applied to the paper web, most preferably added at substantially the same time as the sizing emulsion.
When contacted with a liquid as described above having a pH of about 8 or greater, the paper of the instant invention, including that formed using the instant sizing emulsions, generally emits a lower level of alkyl amines than when the paper contains a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by only one chemical bond. Thus, when the paper is made using a sizing emulsion as described above, i.e. a sizing emulsion comprised of a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by at least two chemical bonds, it generally emits a lower level of alkyl amines than when the sizing emulsion is comprised of, instead of that polymer, the same amount of a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to the polymer by only one chemical bond.
In another preferred embodiment of the instant invention, laminates are formed from the paper described herein. As used herein, xe2x80x9claminatexe2x80x9d is a general term which includes materials having more than one layer, where one or more of the layers is comprised of paper. Generally, laminates are formed by bonding together similar or dissimilar materials. For instance, layers of paper may be bonded together by wetting or exposing one or more of the layers with a liquid as described above, preferably an adhesive, optionally applying pressure, then allowing the liquid to dry or otherwise cure to form a bond between the layers. The paper and the liquid may be bonded to a third material, preferably plastic, wood or metal, most preferably plastic or metal. The metal or plastic is most preferably in the form of a foil or film having a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter, preferably less than about 0.5 millimeter, most preferably less than about 0.2 millimeter. The presence of the liquid in the final laminate is optional, as the liquid may completely evaporate, resulting in a laminate which does not contain the liquid. Preferably, the liquid remains in a cured, dried, or otherwise solidified form, either at the interface or absorbed into one or more of the layers of the laminate. The laminate may be comprised of multiple layers comprised of paper, various liquids (including dried and/or cured liquids) and various third materials, and the multiple layers may be bonded together in a single step or in multiple steps. The dried or cured liquid itself may be one of the layers of the laminate. When the dried or cured liquid is on the surface of the resulting laminate, the laminating process may be akin to a coating process and the dried or cured liquid may be considered a coating. Ways of making laminates are well-known to those skilled in the art, see e.g. James P. Casey, Pulp and Paper, 2nd Edition, Volume III, Interscience Publishers Inc., New York, 1961, pp. 1860-1870.
Preferably, the instant laminates are formed from the paper of the instant invention and a dissimilar material, more preferably the paper and metal, most preferably the paper, a liquid (preferably in a dried or cured form), and a metal that comprises aluminum. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the paper is exposed to an adhesive having a pH of about 8 or greater, preferably sodium silicate solution, and the exposed paper is bonded to aluminum, preferably aluminum having a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter, even more preferably less than about 0.5 millimeter, most preferably less than about 0.2 millimeter, to form a paper/aluminum laminate. The resulting paper/aluminum laminate is particularly suitable for unventilated consumer packaging applications because the paper, by virtue of being substantially free of (i) ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and (ii) ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, emits lower levels of odor e.g. alkyl amines than when the paper does contain ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained In the paper by only one chemical bond and/or ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. In an even more particularly preferred embodiment, the paper in the resulting paper/aluminum laminate was sized using a sizing emulsion comprised of (i) alkenyl succinic anhydride, alkyl ketene dimer, or mixtures thereof, and (ii) a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by at least two chemical bonds. In this case, the paper (and therefore the resulting laminate) emits a lower level of alkyl amines, preferably no alkyl amines, than when the sizing emulsion is comprised of, instead of said (ii), the same amount of a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by only one chemical bond.
Preferred laminates emit a reduced level of amines or, more preferably, do not emit alkyl amines, as determined by the analytical method described above. They are thus comprised of (i) paper, preferably paper that has been sized with a sizing emulsion which comprises a water-soluble polymer comprised of ammonium groups that are attached to said polymer by at least two chemical bonds, (ii) a hydrophobic cellulose-sizing agent, preferably ASA, AKD or mixtures thereof, and (iii) a third material, preferably a plastic or metal, more preferably a metal comprised of aluminum. Most preferably, these laminates also contain sodium silicate, generally as a result of using an aqueous solution of sodium silicate, having a pH of about 8 or greater, to bond the third material to the paper. The use of sodium silicate as an adhesive is well-known in the art, see e.g. James P. Casey, Pulp and Paper, 2nd Edition, Volume III, Interscience Publishers Inc., New York, 1961, pp. 1897-1899. Heretofore, laminates comprised of sizing agents such as ASA, AKD or mixtures thereof were not favored because of the belief that the cationic polymeric emulsifying agents used to emulsify these sizing agents would cause the resulting laminate to emit an amine odor e.g. alkyl amine. However, now that the instant inventors have discovered that the amine odor does not result from the presence of all ammonium groups but only those which are bonded to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond or those that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, laminates which do not emit malodorous alkyl amines are provided by the practice of the instant invention.
A qualitative technique for determining whether a paper or a laminate emits a reduced level of alkyl amines, and hence whether the paper or laminate is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in said paper by only one chemical bond or ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance, is by way of an odor test. This is because the human olfactory sense is very sensitive to alkyl amines. Thus, a paper may be exposed to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater, then placed into an unventilated enclosure such as a sealed glass vial or plastic bag for a period of time, e.g. several days. A human or group of humans having unimpaired olfactory abilities may then open the enclosure and conduct a xe2x80x9csniffxe2x80x9d test to determine whether the paper emits an alkyl amine odor. A laminate may be tested in a similar manner, except that it may not be necessary to expose the laminate to a liquid having a pH of about 8 or greater where the laminate has been made by exposing the paper to an adhesive having a pH of about 8 or greater. If the human or group of humans having unimpaired olfactory abilities is unable to smell an alkyl amine odor, then the paper or laminate is substantially free of alkyl amine odor and the paper or laminate is substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in said paper by only one chemical bond and substantially free of ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. Since it is important that the paper or laminate emit a reduced level of alkyl amine odor or no odor at all, the analytical method discussed above is preferably at least as sensitive as this odor test to the presence of ammonium groups that are attached to a polymer contained in the paper by only one chemical bond and/or ammonium groups that are attached to a non-polymeric substance. Thus, by the practice of the instant invention, a preferred method of reducing the level of alkyl amines emitted by paper or a laminate results in a paper or laminate that is substantially free of alkyl amine odor.
The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Methods for reducing amine odor in paper


In general, the present invention provides a tailpiece for a musical instrument. Among other things, the tailpiece includes a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of strings and a detachable tuner positioned within one or more of the plurality of openings. Among other features, the tailpiece includes a set of detachable keyhole inserts positioned within one or more of the openings of the tailpiece unoccupied by a detachable tuner. Each detachable tuner is interchangeable with one of the detachable keyhole string inserts, thus allowing players to use tuners with any string desired for complete customization based on each player's preference.

Stringed instruments are well known throughout the musical world. As is generally know, a stringed instrument will typically include, among other parts, a body, neck, bridge, and a set of strings. In instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, etc., a tailpiece can also be included. The tailpiece is attached to the body and receives the strings, thus, holding the strings in a linear and tightened position. The traditional mechanism available to a player for adjusting the pitch of the strings involves turning the pegs of the instrument. Typically, a first end of each of four strings of the instrument is attached to (i.e., wound around) one of the four pegs in a pegbox. Each of the second ends of the four strings is inserted through and retained in a corresponding opening in the tailpiece. The pitch of a string, which is determined primarily by its tension and length, can be changed by turning the peg to which it is attached.
Players can also adjust the pitch of a string using a fine tuner attached to the second end of the string at its corresponding hole in the tailpiece. Typically, the end of the string to be fine-tuned is looped around a hook on the fine tuner, such that the turn of a thumbscrew on the fine tuner changes the length of the string and, therefore, its pitch. Most modern players use fine tuners because it makes tuning their instruments much easier and requires less time. Some players like them only on the higher pitch strings because those strings tend to go out of tune more often. However, current approaches fail to provide easy interchangeability/customization desired by many players.

Interchangeable tuners for a tailpiece of a musical instrument


A self-locking nut having an enlarged head and an elongated shank portion insertable into a hole in a panel. The nut has an integral skirt portion adjacent the underside of the head having a predetermined skirt length, which skirt is then deformed against the underside of the panel to hold the nut in firm position with respect to the panel. The nut may be provided with an irregularly shaped head conforming to a like configured countersunk in the panel leading into the hole to prevent rotation of the nut about its longitudinal axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to nuts; and, particularly, to nuts useful in aircraft panels that are self-locking to the panel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of nuts and bolts are used in the aircraft industry. Certain nuts or bolts have an enlarged flush head which head is disposed in a countersunk opening in an aircraft panel, the nut or bolt having a shank portion extending through the opening to the other side of the panel. It is desirable to secure such nuts or bolts to the panel prior to securing the nut or bolt to a fastener, such as a threaded member mating with a threaded portion of the nut or bolt.
However, certain panels, such as panels of composite material, vary in thickness, e.g., from 0.110" to 0.140" thick for a given panel thickness of 0.125", and it is difficult to provide a standardized nut or bolt that can be easily locked to the panel. Further, certain fasteners, such as nuts that are installed by means of expansion or collapsing, are not suitable for use in composite panels as the installation operation can cause cracking or fissures in the panel.
There is thus a need for a nut having self-locking means for locking the same to panels of varying thickness, without damaging the panel.


An apparatus for assisting driving of a vehicle includes a camera mounted to the vehicle for viewing an area in front of the vehicle, a radar sensor mounted to the vehicle to sense around the vehicle, and a controller connected to the camera and/or the radar sensor to detect obstacles and perform collision avoidance control. The controller is further configured to recognize a first obstacle approaching in a lateral direction from an outside of a driving lane of the vehicle, generate and store a collision avoidance path for avoiding collision with the first obstacle, recognize a third obstacle passing behind a second obstacle in the lateral direction after the recognition of the first obstacle is interrupted by the second obstacle, and perform collision avoidance control of the vehicle based on a similarity between the first obstacle and the third obstacle and based on the stored collision avoidance path.

A vehicle is a common machine having wheels and that travels on roads for the purpose of transporting people or cargo. Such a vehicle may cause an accident due to its own failure, or an accident may occur due to a driver's carelessness or an error of another vehicle or road condition.
Recently, various driver assistance systems (ADAS) have been developed to transmit driving information of a vehicle and other alerts and information to a driver to prevent accidents caused by a driver's carelessness. The ADAS systems can also support autonomous driving for the convenience of the driver.
Examples of advanced driver assistance systems mounted on a vehicle include an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system. Such a system determines a collision risk with an opposing vehicle, a crossing vehicle, or a pedestrian based on data obtained from a camera or a radar sensor provided in the vehicle, and assists in avoiding a collision through emergency braking and/or steering control.
However, since the AEB system determines a collision risk and performs emergency braking and steering control based on data obtained from a camera or radar sensor provided in a vehicle, the system may be unable to avoid a collision when a pedestrian is in a blind spot obstructed by obstacles or suddenly comes out of the blind spot and appears in front of a vehicle. For example, in such a situation, it is difficult to avoid the collision because a braking or steering time for collision avoidance is delayed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus for assisting driving of a vehicle and method thereof


Converter group comprising at least two pressure converters adapted to be mounted in a row axially above the drill bit at the lower end of a drill pipe for deep drilling, in particular for oil and gas, and for generating an increased fluid pressure utilizing energy in a drilling fluid flow down through the drill pipe, so as to obtain an enhanced drilling effect, preferably by means of one or more high pressure jets adapted to have a cutting action in a surrounding rock formation. Pressure converters (20A, 20B) have axially abutting end faces (22A, 22B) of spherical shape. Attachment means for axial interconnection of the pressure converters are resilient or flexible so as to make possible a certain, small freedom of angular movement between the axes of the pressure converters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved design of a pressure converter for mounting above the drill bit at the lower end of a drill pipe for deep drilling, in particular for oil and gas, for the purpose of generating an increased fluid pressure by utilizing energy in a drilling fluid flow downwards through the drill pipe.
The object of the invention is to provide improvements in a pressure converter of the kind being subject to the applicants international patent application PCT/NO90/00164, whereby it has been found possible to obtain more advantageous solutions in certain important parts of the design.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various proposals are previously known for such utilization of the drilling fluid flow, in particular in order to obtain an enhanced or more efficient drill operation. An example of such known techniques is to be found in the international patent application, PCT/EP82/00147. This example relates to the employment of an impact effect brought about with the drilling fluid flow as a source of energy, so as to enhance the drilling action.
Of particular interest to the present invention is the employment of one or more high pressure jets adapted to make the drilling more effective by providing a cutting action in a surrounding rock formation. This is also previously known per se, inter alia from U.S. Pat. No. 3,112.800, which describes a method including the use of a pressure converter apparatus for generating the required high pressure. The invention, however, is directed to a novel design of a pressure converter for generating the required high fluid pressure.
International patent application PCT/NO90/00164 relates to a pressure converter comprising drive means adapted to be driven by the drilling fluid flow and to move valve means controlling piston means for reciprocating movement with a pressure stroke and a return stroke, said piston means having at one side a relatively large piston area adapted to be subjected to the drilling fluid pressure in the drill pipe during the pressure stroke, and having at the other side a first, opposite piston area which both during the pressure stroke and the return stroke is subjected to the return pressure in the drilling fluid flow upwards outside the drill pipe, and a second, opposite and relatively small piston area which during the pressure stroke is adapted to generate an increased pressure in a smaller portion of the drilling fluid flow, whereby a check valve provides for discharge of this smaller portion of the flow to a header channel which leads forward to the drill bit, whereas the large piston area during the return stroke is adapted to be subjected to the return pressure outside the drill pipe and the small piston area to the pressure in the drill pipe.
Moreover, in the application mentioned above, there is described an arrangement of several pressure converter units being interconnected end to end in their longitudinal direction, in order to obtain a combined, increased capacity. Such a converter group composed by modules are of very great interest in practice.

Converter group and pressure converter for use therein


A system for conditioning a flow of inlet fluid such as air by modifying its temperature and by removing particulate matter and carbon monoxide. The system includes Peltier effect thermal electric coolers sandwiched to form air passages to both cool air for use in a space and to expel waste heat. The system includes catalytic alumina pellets impregnated with heavy metals that will remove harmful carbon monoxide from the flow of conditioned air at ambient temperatures.

In the racing industry safety has become an increasingly important issue. Most drivers now wear helmets and flame proof suits and it is desirable to condition the air drivers breathe. NASCAR™ has identified carbon monoxide, produced by race cars as a significant health risk to its drivers. It is common place in racing for the driver to wear a helmet, and most modern helmets have an air inlet that allows conditioned air to enter the helmet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,935 discloses a personal cooling air filtering device applicable to racing. This device uses machinable carbon foam to create a heat exchanger for a thermal electric cooler. The patent discloses the possible use of a CO filter to remove CO gas but does not give any details on how to achieve a result. The carbon foam heat exchanger appears to be an expensive, bulky and unnecessary approach.

Thermal electric with a carbon monoxide filter