The present disclosure provides a method, device, and system for processing a request in a multi-core system. The method comprises steps of: receiving a request for data by a filter from a requesting unit; comparing an indicator indicative of a logical partition in the request with an indicator indicative of the logical partition in a record of the filter; searching in a unit where the filter is located based on the request and returning a search result to the requesting unit if a comparison result matches; and returning a NONE response to the requesting unit from the filter if the comparison result does not match.

With multi-core system (also called chip-multi-processor (CMP)) having gradually become a main trend for current computer system and with the constant development of virtualization, the design of L2 cache develops accordingly. The typical structure of a multi-core system is shown in FIG. 1. In the multi-core system, each core on a processor has a private L1 cache (not shown in FIG. 1) for holding some data. Besides, multiple cores may share one L2 cache, and then a plurality of L2 caches 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D may form a cache coherence system. In other words, the current computer system has a cache coherence mechanism. Under the control of a manager 140, the cache coherence mechanism is essentially used to help the system to maintain data coherence, which means if more than one backup of a data block is located in more than one L1 and L2 caches at the same time, the coherence mechanism may guarantee that the values of all backups at each time are completely identical.
The process of the cache coherence mechanism may be described as follows:
Firstly, for example, a core 1 on the L2 cache 130B intends to load a data block and searches the data block in its private L1 cache A (not shown). Then, if backup of the data block is found in the private L1 or L2 cache 130B, then the data loading process ends, and the coherence process will not be called. However, if backup of the data block is not found in the private L1 or L2 cache 130B, then the coherence process will be called. The request for the data block will be transmitted by the L2 cache 130B to all other L2 caches 130A, 130C, and 130D. Next, the L2 caches 130A, 130C, and 130D will search the requested data block in their own arrays. If one of the caches finds a backup, then the cache which finds the backup will issue a confirmation message to the L2 cache 130B. Meanwhile, the cache which finds the backup will remove its own data backup so as to guarantee that the values of the data block in all caches are identical. However, if none of other L2 caches 130A, 130C, and 130D finds the backup of the data block, then a memory will issue the data to the L2 cache 130B. All in all, the cache coherence mechanism aims to enabling data backups among all L2 caches to be completely identical, thereby achieving coherency of data.
Thus, in a current multi-core system having a cache coherence mechanism, upon occurrence of a request for data, it is required to access all L2 caches, which results in consuming considerable power. In fact, in most situations, a request for data cannot be found in other L2 caches than the L2 cache which issues out the data request, thus in the current system, the process of searching said data in all other L2 caches based on the request is totally unnecessary. Such searching process will waste about 30% to 40% of the power of L2 caches.
There are already some solutions to alleviate the above problems in the prior art. One solution thereof is based on a hash table. This solution uses a hash table to encode and record logical partition IDs (LPID) of all logical partitions running on L2 caches. When a data request is received, the LPID attached to the data request is extracted through a hash function and mapped to a value. The value then is compared with all entries recorded in the hash table. However, due to inherent substantive defects of the hash table, such filtration cannot realize an accurate mapping and has high false positives, thereby reducing power efficiency. Another solution is based on historical records of data access. This solution uses a historical record table for maintaining records of data access. However, the filtration ratio obtained through this solution depends on the size of the historical record table too much extent. The more the requests for filtration are, the larger should be the size of the table. Thus, it is easily seen that a large-sized historical record table per se will cost hardware module size and power consumption. Thus, in order to reduce power consumption, it is desirable to provide a system and method for reducing and even eliminating the above-mentioned unnecessary and vain process of searching L2 caches.

Data processing, method, device, and system for processing requests in a multi-core system

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A radio frequency power amplifier, having a first amplifying transistor 103-1 and a second amplifying transistor 103-2, comprises a detection circuit 101 that detects an output power and outputs a voltage according to the output power, and a protection transistor 102, controlled by an output of the detection circuit 101, for shunting a current flowing into the base terminal of the first amplifying transistor 103-1. The influence of a circuit for protecting against output load abnormalities on RF characteristics is suppressed.

A wireless communication device such as a mobile phone terminal comprises a radio frequency power amplifier for amplifying a modulated signal in its transmission circuit. When the output load of the radio frequency power amplifier fluctuates for some reason and deviates from 50 ohms, its output power increases. In other words, as is well known, the load power is at its maximum when the output impedance of the signal source and the input impedance of the load are matched at 50 ohms. When the input impedance of the load deviates from 50 ohms, the load power decreases and the power consumed by the signal source increases. The increase in output power due to the fluctuation of the output load causes an increase in the collector current and voltage of an amplifying transistor in the output stage of the radio frequency power amplifier, and may result in the destruction of the amplifying transistor in the output stage. As an example of a radio frequency power amplifier having the function of protecting the amplifying transistor from overcurrent and overvoltage in such cases, a structure shown in FIG. 5 is known (refer to FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).
In FIG. 5, reference symbol 4 indicates the structure of a semiconductor device (IC chip) as a radio frequency power amplifier transistor chip. This IC chip 4 comprises a radio frequency power amplifier transistor 3 (also known as "amplifying transistor") and a protection circuit, and the protection circuit is composed of a voltage detection circuit 1 and a shunt circuit 2. A radio frequency matching circuit 7 for matching input impedance and a radio frequency matching circuit 8 for matching output impedance are provided at an input side terminal 5 and an output side terminal 6 of the IC chip 4, respectively. These are disposed on the same substrate and constitute a radio frequency power amplifier module 9. The emitter of the amplifying transistor 3 is connected to a ground terminal 11 of the module 9 via a ground terminal 10 of the IC chip 4. The voltage detection circuit 1 is constituted by a plurality of vertically (in-series) connected diodes 12 composed of NPN transistors whose bases and collectors are short-circuited, the collector of the uppermost diode 12 is connected to a collector voltage terminal 13 of the amplifying transistor 3, the emitter side of the lowermost diode 12 is grounded via the ground terminal 10 of the IC chip 4, and the short-circuited base and collector of the lowermost diode 12 form an output terminal of the voltage detection circuit 1. The shunt circuit 2 is composed of an NPN transistor (switching transistor) 14 whose collector is connected to a base voltage terminal 15 of the amplifying transistor 3, whose base is connected to the output terminal of the voltage detection circuit 1, and whose emitter is grounded via the ground terminal 10. A base bias terminal 16 and a collector voltage terminal 17 of the radio frequency power amplifier module 9 are connected to the base voltage terminal 15 of the transistor 3 and the collector voltage terminal 13 of the transistor 3, respectively. An input terminal 18 connected to the radio frequency matching circuit 7 for matching input impedance of the radio frequency power amplifier module 9 is provided on the input side, and an output terminal 19 connected to the radio frequency matching circuit 8 for matching output impedance is provided on the output side. An external load 20 of 50 ohms is connected to the output terminal 19.
FIG. 6 shows the voltage-current characteristics (characteristics when the base current is varied in step) of the amplifying transistor 3 in FIG. 5 (refer to FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1). The abscissa indicates the collector voltage (the collector-emitter voltage) of the amplifying transistor 3 and the ordinate indicates the collector current. In FIG. 6, the area of safe operation (ASO) of the transistor is indicated by a bold line; the collector voltage and collector current should not exceed the area indicated by the bold line. It is desired that a protection function is provided so as to decrease the collector current for protecting the transistor when an overvoltage causing destruction is applied to the collector of the transistor.
In the conventional radio frequency power amplifier shown in FIG. 5, the in-series-connected diodes 12 turn on when an overvoltage is applied to the collector voltage terminal 13 of the amplifying transistor 3, and the NPN transistor 14 turns on. Then the current flowing through the base of the amplifying transistor 3 is shunted to the GND side and the base current of the amplifying transistor 3 decreases, reducing the collector current and protecting the amplifying transistor 3 from being destructed.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-347857A
The entire disclosure of the foregoing patent document is incorporated herein by reference thereto.


A portable desk which enables a person to stand while writing. The desk is particularly useful for people who have back problems. The writing surface of the desk is inclined at an acute angle of about 40.degree. to 50.degree. which minimizes the stress or tension of the muscles of the person's back, shoulders and arms.

This invention is directed at a portable stand-up desk.
People who have back ailments or back injuries generally find it ore comfortable to stand when writing or drawing. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable desk at which a person having a poor back can stand while writing. An additional object is to provide a portable desk for use by a person while standing which is sturdy and lightweight.


A system may include a router that may receive a plurality of data packets from one or more devices that communicatively couples to the router. The system may also include at least one processor that identifies an identity of a device based on a data packet received by the router from the device, generate an insurance policy that includes the device in response to identifying the identity of the device, and sends a notification indicative of the insurance policy to a computing device in response to generating the insurance policy.

The present disclosure relates generally to detecting various items that may be stored inside or outside a property. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to using a variety of sensors to determine types of items that may be stored at a property.
Collecting information regarding items that are present at a property may be cumbersome. That is, identifying the various different items that may be stored or present at a property may prove to be a time-intensive undertaking. In addition, identifying each item at a property may be difficult, as certain items may be positioned in a manner that may not be clearly visible to someone. As such, improved systems and methods for detecting items at a property are desired.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Systems and methods for detecting items at a property

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


A removable elastic piece is placed in the waistband of a garment to allow the garment to be worn throughout pregnancy. An elastic band covers the expanding belly of the wearer and holds the garment up. The elastic band can be removed from the garment in early pregnancy or postpartum when it is not needed.

Pregnancy is an exciting time. For a working mother however, it can be costly and uncomfortable. In order for a career woman who becomes pregnant to stay looking professional it may be necessary for her to buy several suits in several sizes to get her through the pregnancy. The changing shape of a pregnant woman's body however cannot always be addressed with just buying a larger size leaving the pregnant mom-to-be looking sloppy and unprofessional. Few maternity suits are available, and those suits do not necessarily address all the issues of a pregnant woman's body during and soon after pregnancy.
Many maternity garments are not suitable for business situations. They contain permanent maternity panels that can be bulky and cumbersome during early pregnancy (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,280,229; 4,506,390; 7,814,575 B2; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0010571 A1; and European Patent Application No. 1 629 737 A2). A pregnancy band is available but can slip because it is not attached to the article of clothing (U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,775 B2). Allowing a belly band to be detached from a garment would make the garment truly versatile during all stages of pregnancy. Trousers with a zipper detachable waistband is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,320 ('320). In the '320 patent, the waistband of the trousers carrying the gun belt is detachable from the uniform trouser of a police officer.
A need remains for maternity wear that is adaptable to a woman's body during all stages of pregnancy including postpartum. Suit components should adjust to the changing shape of the wearer yet convey a professional, fitted look.
All patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications and publications referred to or cited herein, are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the teachings of the specification.

Removable elastic piece for a maternity garment


A method for stabilizing a video sequence comprises: obtaining an indication of camera movement from acquisition of a previous camera frame to acquisition of a current camera frame; determining an orientation for the camera at a time of acquiring the current camera frame; and determining a candidate orientation for a crop frame for the current camera frame by adjusting an orientation of a crop frame associated with the previous camera frame according to the determined orientation. A boundary of one of the camera frame or crop frame is traversed to determine if a specific point on the boundary of the crop frame exceeds a boundary of the camera frame. If so, a rotation of the specific point location which would bring the specific point location onto the boundary of the crop frame is determined and the candidate crop frame orientation updated accordingly before the crop frame is displayed.

Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is a family of image enhancement techniques that utilize electronic processing to minimize image blurring and dampen the effects of camera shake. With advancements in camera imaging technology and the recent rise in popularity of action cameras for recording live sporting events, video blogging, and various on-the-fly events, there is a demand for high quality stabilized video from such cameras.
Popular methods to stabilize video require the use of additional hardware, such as a gyro-gimbal stabilizer or movable lens elements as used in optical image stabilization (OIS).
WO2017/140438 (Ref: FN-495-PCT) discloses stabilizing a sequence of images captured by an image capture device. The method comprises, using lens based sensors indicating image capture device movement during image acquisition to perform OIS during acquisition of each image of the sequence of images to provide a sequence of OIS corrected images. Movement of the device for each frame during which each OIS corrected image is captured is determined using inertial measurement sensors. At least an estimate of OIS control performed during acquisition of an image is obtained. The estimate is removed from the intra-frame movement determined for the frame during which the OIS corrected image was captured to provide a residual measurement of movement for the frame. EIS of each OIS corrected image based on the residual measurement is performed to provide a stabilized sequence of images.
Alternatively, post-processing techniques can stabilize video by feature matching between frames to track camera motion, smooth it, and then produce stabilized video. For the casual videographer, these additional hardware requirements and/or post-processing steps can be both time consuming and expensive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide stabilization in real-time of a video feed acquired with a camera susceptible to shake.

Method for stabilizing a camera frame of a video sequence


A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet fed in a sheet feeding direction includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member; and a backup member. The nip member made of a metal plate includes: a base portion; a connecting portion; and a flange portion. The base portion is plate-shaped. A nip region for nipping the tubular member between the backup member and the nip member is defined exclusively by the base portion and the backup member. The connecting portion extends from the base portion in a direction away from the backup member. The flange portion extends from the connecting portion in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction. The connecting portion and the flange portion define a retaining portion at a position confronting an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member for retaining a lubricant agent therein.

A conventional fixing device employed for an electrophotographic type image forming device includes a circularly movable tubular fusing belt having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space, a halogen lamp disposed within the internal space, a pressing pad with which the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact, and a pressure roller for nipping the fusing belt in cooperation with the pressing pad.
In one such fixing device, the pressing pad is formed with depressed portions at positions contacting the inner peripheral surface of the fusing belt. The depressed portions retain a lubricant agent therein. The lubricant agent reduces friction between the pressing pad and the fusing belt, thereby enabling the fusing belt to circularly move smoothly.

Fixing device provided with lubricant agent retaining portion


A rack cabling system including a rack having mounted thereon a first hardware component and a patch panel housing mounted on the rack adjacent the first hardware component. The patch panel housing populates no more than a three rack unit (RU space), the patch panel housing including a front end having cable pathway openings and a rear end having connector coupler plates mounted therein. The patch panel may have a first cable pathway opening located adjacent the first side of the housing and defining a primary position and a first connector coupler plate mounted on the rear adjacent on the first side and the first connector plate having a first position corresponding to the primary position of the first cable pathway opening. Cable harnesses are routed with less than three bends of the cables between the first hardware component and the patch panel housing, so that the first cable harness is terminated at the first coupler plate in the first position.

Data centers have become very densely populated spaces where multiple components such as switches, routers, directors or servers are interconnected by a multitude of cables. These hardware components are typically mounted on racks so that multiple components may be interconnected using short lengths of cables. Such cables may be fiber optic cables including cable harnesses. Longer jumper cables or trunk cables (multiple fibers enclosed under one jacket) are used for interconnecting equipment within a data center room or to other equipment in a local area network (LAN).
A rack may be used to mount a hardware component described as a blade; due to the small size (thin profile) and high density of the component. For example, a Brocade DCX Fiber Channel Switch, or CISCO 9513 Fiber Channel Switch or like backbone component provides, a 8 Gbps network switching platform for a data center storage area network (SAN) or telecommunications system; including as many as 512 fiber channel ports by combining up to 11 "blades," containing 16-, 32-, 48-, or 64-port fiber channel blades in a single rack chassis.
Such hardware blade components are interconnected by fiber optic cables including terminations at the ends of the cables with fiber optic connectors. For example, individually channeled fiber connectors may be LC type connectors, such as LC Pro-Slide or mSFP-LC-Pro-Slide connectors as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,373. A typical fiber-optic cable harness has multiple individually channeled fiber connectors furcated at a first end and a single cable at a second end terminated by a multi-fiber connector, such as an MTP® connector.
A typical means for handling cables on a rack 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. Fiber-optic cables 15 are routed to or from a distribution shelf 30 from the components below. Since the cables are generally the same length, there is slack in the cables which require that the cables are hanging loosely and may have sharp bends 25 in the cable; which may cause damage to the cables. Although, a sleeve 30 may be used to attempt to contain the cables 15, this organizing means is usually unsuccessful and the cables may fall out of the sleeve 30. Bends 25 in the cables may damage or break the fiber inside the cables and affect the transmission character and the efficiency of the cables. Without a specific cable management system, installation and servicing of such cables is difficult and extremely time consuming.
Other approaches for managing cables include modules or cassettes that may be installed or removed from the front or rear of a patch panel housing. However, the use of such modules requires extra space in the rack. Thus, a cost effective system for managing slack and organization of fiber optic cables within a rack for hardware components is desired to overcome the above problems with previously known systems.


An optical illuminator assembly such as an integrated module can provide an illumination source for use in applications such as optical detection. A peak output power of the module can be enhanced as compared to other approaches, such as by one or more of controlling parasitic effects along an electrical pathway used to drive an optical emitter circuit included as a portion of the module, or by providing thermal management including establishing thermal conduction pathways through opposite surfaces of an optical emitter circuit such as an integrated circuit die comprising a solid-state optical emitter. Control schemes can be used that power various cells or functional blocks of the optical emitter independently. Thermal regulation can be provided by an active heat transfer element such as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). An optical illuminator assembly can be optically coupled to a beam-steering device or other elements, such as using a self-aligning mechanical configuration.

An optical detection system, such as a system for providing light detection and ranging (LIDAR), generally includes a light source (e.g., an illuminator) and an optical receiver. Various schemes can be used to provide illumination of a field-of-regard, such as a flash technique in which a large portion or an entirety of the of the field-of-regard is illuminated contemporaneously. In another approach, scanning can be used to selectively illuminate portions of the field-of-regard. Such scanning can include use of one or more mechanical actuators such as rotating or oscillating mirrors or prism structures to orient a beam of light toward specified portions of the field-of-regard. In yet another approach, a non-mechanical beam-steering technique can be used, either alone or in combination with a mechanically-scanned technique. Optical detection systems such as LIDAR can be applied in vehicular applications, such as to facilitate operation of autonomous vehicles. Other applications can include beam guidance to facilitate communication or tracking of an object, for example.

Optical illuminator module and related techniques


Useful as a catalyst component for polymerizing olefin is the transition metal compound of the present invention represented by Formula (I):

The present invention relates to a transition metal compound, a catalyst for polymerizing olefin, an olefin base polymer using the above catalyst and a production process for the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transition metal compound which is useful as a catalyst component for polymerizing olefin and which is easily synthesized, a highly active catalyst for polymerizing olefin which comprises the above transition metal compound and which efficiently provides olefin base homopolymers and copolymers, an olefin base polymer obtained by using this catalyst and a process for efficiently producing the same.
As a catalyst for producing soluble polyolefin, a catalyst called a metallocene catalyst comprising a compound having a cyclopentadienyl ring as a ligand containing the fourth periodic table group transition metal have so far been known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 19309/1983, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 217209/1985, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 167307/1990 and the like). These metallocene catalysts are characterized in that they provide polymers having a narrow molecular weight distribution and are excellent in a copolymerizing property, but they have the defect that complicated operation is necessary in synthesizing a metallocene compound and that the production cost inevitably comes higher.
On the other hand, as a novel catalyst which is different from them, the fourth periodic table group transition metal complexes of a non-metallocene base (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 315109/1999) and catalyst systems comprising various non-metallocene base transition metal complexes (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 227608/1992, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 203106/1986, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 115311/1991, International Patent Publication No. 99-12981 and International Patent Publication No. 98-27124) are developed in recent years. It is known that the non-metallocene base transition metal complexes described above are easily synthesized and provide catalysts for polymerizing olefins having a high activity.
However, catalysts systems comprising these non-metallocene base transition metal complexes are highly active to ethylene but have a very low activity in producing homopolymers and copolymers of xcex1-olefins having 3 or more carbon atoms such as propylene, and they are not satisfactory from an industrial point of view.
Under such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel transition metal compound which is useful as a catalyst component for polymerizing propylene and other xcex1-olefins as well as ethylene and which is easily synthesized, a highly active catalyst for polymerizing olefins which comprises the above transition metal compound and which efficiently provides various olefin base homopolymers and copolymers, an olefin base polymer and copolymer obtained by using the above catalyst for polymerization. A further object of the present invention is to provide a production process for the same transition metal compound, catalyst, etc.
Intensive researches repeated by the present inventors in order to achieve the object of the present invention have resulted in finding that a transition metal compound having a specific structure is easily synthesized and useful as a catalyst component for polymerizing not only ethylene but also propylene and other xcex1-olefins and that a catalyst for polymerization comprising the above transition metal compound and an activation cocatalyst has a high activity and efficiently provides ethylene (co)polymers, propylene (co)polymers and other olefin base (co)polymers. The present invention has been completed based on such knowledges.
That is, the present invention provides:
(1) a transition metal compound represented by Formula (I):
wherein M represents a transition metal element of the fourth group in the periodic table; X represents a "sgr" bonding ligand which is bonded to M, and when plural X""s are present, plural X""s may be the same as or different from each other; Y represents a Lewis base, and when plural Y""s are present, plural Y""s may be the same as or different from each other; T represents a group containing a "sgr" bonding atom which is bonded to M; E is a group containing an atom which can coordinate with M via a lone pair, and E represents xe2x80x94OR5, xe2x80x94SR5, xe2x80x94SeR5, xe2x80x94NR52, xe2x80x94PR52 or xe2x80x94P (O)R52; q is 1 or 2 and represents [(valency of M)xe2x88x922]; r represents an integer of 0 to 3; R1 to R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon-containing group or a hetero atom-containing group; R1 to R4 may be the same as or different from each other and may form a ring together with an adjacent group; and when plural R5""s are present, plural R5""s may be the same as or different from each other,
(2) a catalyst for polymerizing olefin, characterized by comprising the transition metal compound represented by Formula (I) and an activation-aid catalyst as principal components,
(3) an olefin base polymer obtained by using the catalyst for polymerizing olefin described above, and
(4) a production process for an olefin base polymer, characterized by homopolymerizing olefins or copolymerizing olefins with other olefins and/or other monomers in the presence of the catalyst for polymerizing olefin described above.
The transition metal compound of the present invention is a novel compound represented by Formula (I):
In Formula (I), M represents a transition metal element of the fourth group in the periodic table, and the specific examples thereof include titanium, zirconium and hafnium. Further in Formula (I), X represents a "sgr" bonding ligand which is bonded to M, and when plural X""s are present, plural X""s may be the same as or different from each other. Said X includes a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an amide group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon-containing group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a phosphide group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a sulfide group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and an acyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The halogen atom includes a chlorine atom, a fluorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom. The hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms includes, to be specific, alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl and octyl and alkenyl groups such as vinyl, propenyl and cyclohexenyl; arylalkyl groups such as benzyl, phenylethyl and phenylpropyl; and aryl groups such as phenyl tolyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, methylnaphthyl, anthracenyl and phenanthryl. The alkoxyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms includes alkoxyl groups such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and butoxy, phenylmethoxy and phenylethoxy. The aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms includes phenoxy, methylphenoxy and dimethylphenoxy. The amide group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms includes alkylamide groups such as dimethylamide, diethylamide, dipropylamide, dibutylamide, dicyclohexylamide and methylethylamide; alkenylamide groups such as divinylamide, dipropenylamide and dicyclohexenylamide; arylalkylamide groups such as dibenzylamide, phenylethylamide and phenylpropylamide; and arylamide groups such diphenylamide and dinaphthylamide. The silicon-containing group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms includes monohydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as methylsilyl and phenylsilyl; dihydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as dimethylsilyl and diphenylsilyl; trihydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, tripropylsilyl, dimethyl (t-butyl) silyl, tricyclohexylsilyl, triphenylsilyl, dimethylphenylsilyl, methyldiphenylsilyl, tritolylsilyl and trinaphthylsilyl; hydrocarbon-substituted silyl ether groups such as trimethylsilyl ether; silicon-substituted alkyl groups such as trimethylsilylmethyl and phenyldimethylsilylethyl; silicon-substituted aryl groups such as trimethylsilylphenyl, and dimethylhydrosilyl and methyldihydrosilyl. The sulfide group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms includes alkylsulfide groups such as methylsulfide, ethylsulfide, propylsulfide, butylsulfide, hexylsulfide, cyclohexylsulfide and octylsulfide; alkenylsulfide groups such as vinylsulfide, propenylsulfide and cyclohexenylsulfide; arylalkylsulfide groups such as benzylsulfide, phenylethylsulfide and phenylpropylsulfide; and arylsulfide groups such as phenylsulfide, tolylsulfide, dimethylphenylsulfide, trimethylphenylsulfide, ethylphenylsulfide, propylphenylsulfide, biphenylsulfide, naphthylsulfide, methylnaphthylsulfide, anthracenylsulfide and phenanthrylsulfide.
The acyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms includes alkylacyl groups such as formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butylyl, valeryl, palmitoyl, stearoyl and oleoyl; arylacyl groups such as benzoyl, toluoyl, salyciloyl, cynnamoyl, naphthoyl and phthaloyl; and oxalyl, malonyl and succinyl which are derived from dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid and succinic acid.
Further in Formula (I), Y represents a Lewis base, and when plural Y""s are present, they may be the same or different. Said Y includes amines, ethers, phosphines, thioethers, esters and nitriles. As the specific examples of Y, amines such as ammonia, methylamine, aniline, dimethylamine, diethylamine, N-methylaniline, diphenylamine, N, N-dimethylaniline, trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-butylamine, methyldiphenylamine, pyridine and p-bromo-N, N-dimethylaniline, phosphines such as triethylphosphine, triphenylphosphine and diphenylphosphine, thioethers such as tetrahydrothiophene, esters such as ethyl benzoate and nitrites such as acetonitrile and benzonitrile can be described.
Furthermore in Formula (I), T represents a group containing a "sgr" bonding atom which is bonded to M and includes, to be specific, R62C less than , R62Si less than , R62Ge less than , R62Sn less than , R6B less than , R6Al less than , R6P less than , R6N less than , oxygen (xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94), sulfur (xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94) and selenium (xe2x80x94Sexe2x80x94) (provided that R6 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon-containing group or a hetero atom-containing group, and when plural R6""s are present, plural R6""s may be the same as or different from each other). Among them, oxygen (xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94), sulfur (xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94) or selenium (xe2x80x94Sexe2x80x94), particularly oxygen is preferred in terms of easiness in synthesis and a yield.
Furthermore in Formula (I), E is a group containing an atom which can coordinate with M via a lone pair and represents xe2x80x94OR5, xe2x80x94SR5, xe2x80x94SeR5, xe2x80x94NR52, xe2x80x94PR52 or xe2x80x94P (O)R52 (provided that R5 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon-containing group or a hetero atom-containing group, and when plural R5""s are present, plural R5""s may be the same as or different from each other). Among them, xe2x80x94NR52 or xe2x80x94P (O)R52, particularly xe2x80x94PR52 is preferred in terms of easiness in synthesis and a polymer yield.
Similarly in Formula (I), q is 1 or 2 and represents [(valency of M)xe2x88x922], and r represents an integer of 0 to 3.
Moreover in Formula (I), R1 to R4 each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a halogen-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a silicon-containing group or a hetero atom-containing group. These R1 to R4 may be the same as or different from each other and may form a ring together with an adjacent group.
In these R1 to R4 and R5 and R6 described above, the examples of the hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl and octyl; alkenyl groups such as vinyl, propenyl and cyclohexenyl; arylalkyl groups such as benzyl, phenylethyl and phenylpropyl; and aryl groups such as phenyl tolyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, ethylphenyl, propylphenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, methylnaphthyl, anthracenyl and phenanthryl.
The examples of the halogen-containing hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms include p-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl and fluorobutyl. A silicon-containing group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms is preferred as the silicon-containing group and includes, to be specific, monohydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as methylsilyl and phenylsilyl; dihydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as dimethylsilyl and diphenylsilyl; trihydrocarbon-substituted silyl groups such as trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, tripropylsilyl, dimethyl (t-butyl) silyl, tricyclohexylsilyl, triphenylsilyl, dimethylphenylsilyl, methyldiphenylsilyl, tritolylsilyl and trinaphthylsilyl; hydrocarbon-substituted silyl ether groups such as trimethylsilyl ether; and silicon-substituted alkyl groups such as trimethylsilylmethyl and bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl.
Further, the examples of the hetero atom-containing group include methoxyethyl, diisopropylaminoethyl, furyl, methylfuryl, benzofuryl, methylthioethyl and thienyl.
Typical examples of the transition metal compound represented by Formula (I) described above are bis (2-diphenylphosphinophenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-dimethylphosphinophenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-diphenylphosphino-6-methylphenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-diphenylphosphino-6-isopropylphenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-diphenylphosphino-4-isopropylphenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-diphenylphosphino-6-tert-butylphenoxy) zirconium dichloride, bis (2-diphenylphosphino-4-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4,6-diisopropylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4-tert-butyl-6-methylphenoxy)-zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylaminophenoxy)-zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-6-methylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-6-isopropylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4-isopropylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-6-tert-butylphenoxy)-zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4,6-diisopropylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4-tert-butyl-6-methylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-methoxyphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-6-trimethylsilylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphinothiophenoxy)-zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-6-methylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-6-iso-propylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-6-tert-butylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-4,6-di-iso-propylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylaminothiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-6-iso-propylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-6-tert-butylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4,6-di-tert-butylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-dimethylamino-4-methyl-6-tert-butylthiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-methoxythiophenoxy)zirconium dichloride, bis(2-diphenylphosphino-6-trimethylsilylthiophenoxy)-zirconium dichloride and compounds obtained by substituting zirconium contained in these compounds with titanium or hafnium. It is a matter of course that the examples shall not be restricted to these compounds.
The catalyst for polymerizing olefin according to the present invention comprises (A) the transition metal compound represented by Formula (I) described above and an activation cocatalyst as principal components. As the above activation cocatalyst, (B) a compound which can be reacted with the transition metal compound of the component (A) or a derivative thereof to form an ionic complex, or clay, clay mineral or an ion-exchangeable compound and (C) an organic aluminum compound used if necessary can be nominated.
Regarding the compound that can be reacted with the transition metal compound of the component (A) or the derivative thereof to form an ionic complex out of the components (B), (B-1) an ionic compound which is reacted with the transition metal compound of the component (A) to form an ionic complex, (B-2) aluminoxane, or (B-3) a Lewis acid can preferably be given from the viewpoint that the polymerization activity is high and the catalyst cost can be reduced.
Any compounds can be used as the (B-1) component as long as they are ionic compounds which are reacted with the transition metal compound of the component (A) to form ionic complexes, but particularly compounds represented by the following Formulas (II) and (III) are preferred from the viewpoint that polymerization active sites can efficiently be formed:
([L1xe2x88x92R7]h+)a([Z]xe2x88x92)bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
([L2]h+)a([Z]xe2x88x92)6xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III)
(Provided that L2 is M1, R8R9M2, R103C or R11M2).
In Formulas (II) and (III), L1 represents a Lewis base, and [Z]xe2x88x92 represents a non-coordinative anion [Z1]xe2x88x92 or [Z2]xe2x88x92, in which [Z1]xe2x88x92 is an anion obtained by combining plural groups with an element, that is, [M3G1G2 . . . Gf] (in which M3 represents an element of the 5th to 15th group in the periodic table, preferably an element of the 13th to 15th group in the periodic table. In the above-description, G1 to Gf each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a dialkylamino group having 2 to 40 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group having 7 to 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group having 7 to 40 carbon atoms, a halogen-substituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an acyloxyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an organic metalloid group or a hetero atom-containing hydrocarbon group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Among G1 to Gf, two or more groups may be combined to form a ring. Further in above description, f represents an integer of [(valency of the central metal M3)+1]), [Z2]xe2x88x92 represents a Brxc3x6ensted acid alone in which a logarithm of an inverse number of an acid dissociation constant (pKa) is xe2x88x9210 or less or a conjugate base obtained by combining a Brxc3x6nsted acid with a Lewis base or a conjugate base which is usually defined as a superacid, and it may be coordinated with a Lewis acid. Furthermore in the above description, R7 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group or an arylalkyl group; R8 and R9 each represent a cyclopentadienyl group, a substituted cyclopentadienyl group, a substituted indenyl group, a fluorenyl group or a substituted fluorenyl group; R10 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an alkylaryl group or an arylalkyl group; R11 represents a macrocyclic ligand such as tetraphenylporphyrin and phthalocyanine. Moreover in the above-description, h is an ionic valency of [L1xe2x80x94R7] and [L2] and represents an integer of 1 to 3; a is an integer of 1 or more; b is (hxc3x97a); M1 represents an element of the 1st to 3rd, 11th to 13th or 17th group in the periodic table; and M2 represents an element of the 7th to 12th group in the periodic table.
In this respect, typical examples of L1 are amines such as ammonia, methylamine, aniline, dimethylamine, diethylamine, N-methylaniline, diphenylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-butylamine, methyldiphenylamine, pyridine, p-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline and p-nitro-N,N-dimethylaniline, phosphines such as triethylphosphine, triphenylphosphine and diphenylphosphine, thioethers such as tetrahydrothiophene, esters such as ethyl benzoate and nitriles such as acetonitrile and benzonitrile.
Hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, benzyl and triethyl can be given as the specific examples of R7, and cyclopentadienyl, methylcyclopentadieny, ethylcyclopentadienyl and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl can be given as the specific examples of R8 and R9. Phenyl, p-tolyl and p-methoxyphenyl can be given as the specific examples of R10. Tetraphenylporphyrin, phthalocyanine and methallyl can be given as the specific examples of R11. Also, Li, Na, K, Ag, Cu, Br and I can be given as the specific examples of M1, and Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn can be given as the specific examples of M2.
Further, in [Z1]xe2x88x92, that is, [M3G1G2 . . . Gf], B, Al, Si, P, As and Sb are preferred as the specific examples of M3, and B or Al is preferred. The specific examples of G1, G2 to Gf include the dialkylamino group such as dimethylamino and diethylamino; the alkoxyl group or aryloxy group such as methoxy, ethoxy, n-butoxy and phenoxy; the hydrocarbon group such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-octyl, n-eicosyl, phenyl, p-tolyl, benzyl, 4-t-butylphenyl and 3,5-dimethylphenyl; the halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine; the hetero atom-containing hydrocarbon group such as p-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, pentachlorophenyl, 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl and bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl; and the organic metaloid group such as pentamethylantimony, trimethylsilyl, trimethylgermyl, diphenylarsine, dicyclohexyantimony and diphenylboron.
Typical examples of the non-coordinative anion, that is, the Brxc3x6nsted acid alone in which pKa is xe2x88x9210 or less or the conjugate base [Z2]xe2x88x92 obtained by combining a Brxc3x6nsted acid with a Lewis acid are trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anion (CF3SO3)xe2x88x92, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) methyl anion, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) benzyl anion, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide, perchlorate anion (ClO4)xe2x88x92, trifluoroacetic acid anion (CF3CO2)xe2x88x92, hexafluoroantimony anion (SbF6)xe2x88x92, fluorosulfonic acid anion (FSO3)xe2x88x92, chlorosulfonic acid anion (ClSO3)xe2x88x92, fluorosulfonic acid anion/antimony pentafluoride (FSO3/SbF5)xe2x88x92, fluorosulfonic acid anion/arsenic pentafluoride (FSO3/AsF5) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anion/antimony pentafluoride (CF3SO3/SbF5)xe2x88x92.
Typical examples of the ionic compound which is reacted with the transition metal compound of the component (A) described above to form the ionic complex, that is, the (B-1) component compound are triethylammonium tetraphenylborate, tri-n-butylammonium tetraphenyl-borate, trimethylammonium tetraphenylborate, tetraethylammonium tetraphenylborate, methyl (tri-n-butyl) ammonium tetraphenylborate, benzyl (tri-n-butyl) ammonium tetraphenylborate, dimethyldiphenyl-ammonium tetraphenylborate, triphenyl(methyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate, trimethylanilinium tetraphenyl-borate, methylpyridinium tetraphenylborate, benzylpyridinium tetraphenylborate, methyl(2-cyanopyridinium) tetraphenylborate, triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri-n-butylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tetra-n-butylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-borate, tetraethylammonium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, benzyl(tri-n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, methyldiphenylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-borate, triphenyl(methyl)ammonium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, methylanilinium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, trimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, methylpyridinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, benzylpyridinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, methyl(2-cyanopyridinium) tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, benzyl(2-cyanopyridinium) tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, methyl(4-cyanopyridinium) tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-borate, dimethylanilinium tetrakis[3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, ferrocenium tetraphenylborate, silver tetraphenylborate, trityl tetraphenylborate, tetraphenylporphyrinmanganese tetraphenylborate, ferrocenium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, (1,1xe2x80x2-dimethylferrocenium) tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, decamethyl-ferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, silver tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, trityl tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, sodium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tetraphenylporphyrin-manganese tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, silver tetrafluoroborate, silver hexafluorophosphate, silver hexafluoroarsenate, silver perchlorate, silver trifluoroacetate and silver trifluoromethanesulfonate.
The ionic compound reacted with the transition metal compound of said component (A) to form the ionic complex, which is the (B-1) component, may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
On the other hand, chain aluminoxane represented by the following Formula (IV) and cyclic aluminoxane represented by the following Formula (V) can be given as the aluminoxane of the (B-2) component:
wherein R12""s each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and they may be the same or different; w is an integer of 2xe2x89xa6wxe2x89xa640, and s is an integer of 1 less than sxe2x89xa650.
To be specific, it includes aluminoxanes such as methylaluminoxane, ethylaluminoxane and isobutylaluminoxane.
A production process for the aluminoxane described above includes a process in which aluminum is brought into contact with a condensing agent such as water. However, the means therefor shall not specifically be restricted, and the reaction may be carried out according to a publicly known process. It includes, for example, a process in which an organic aluminum compound is dissolved in an organic solvent and in which this solution is brought into contact with water, a process in which an organic aluminum compound is added at first in polymerization and then water is added thereto, a process in which crystal water contained in a metal salt or water adsorbed on an inorganic matter and an organic matter is reacted with an organic aluminum compound and a process in which tetraalkyldialuminoxane is reacted with trialkylaluminum and further reacted with water. Aluminoxane that is insoluble in toluene may be used. The aluminoxane may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
The Lewis acid of the (B-3) component shall not specifically be restricted and may be either an organic compound or a solid inorganic compound. From the viewpoint that the active sites can efficiently be formed, boron compounds and aluminum compounds are preferably used as the organic compound, and magnesium compounds and aluminum compounds are preferably used as the inorganic compound. The above aluminum compounds include, for example, methyl bis (2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenoxy) aluminum and methyl (1,1-bi-naphthoxy) aluminum; the magnesium compounds include, for example, magnesium chloride and diethoxymagnesium; the aluminum compounds include, for example, aluminum oxide and aluminum chloride; the boron compounds include, for example, triphenyl-boron, tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, tris[3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]boron, tris[(4-fluoromethyl)phenyl]boron, trimethylboron, triethylboron, tri-n-butylboron, tris(fluoromethyl)-boron, tris(pentafluoroethyl)boron, tris(nanofluorobutyl)boron, tris(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)boron, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)boron, tris[3,5-bis(trifluorophenyl)]boron, bis(pentafluorophenyl)fluoroboron, diphenylfluoro-boron, bis(pentafluorophenyl)chloroboron, dimethylfluoroboron, diethylfluoroboron, di-n-butylfluoroboron, pentafluorophenyldifluoroboron, phenyldifluoroboron, pentafluorophenyldichloroboron, methyldifluoroboron, ethyldifluoroboron and n-butyldifluoroboron.
These Lewis acids may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
On the other hand, in (B-4) the clay, clay mineral or ion-exchangeable compound out of the (B) components, clay is an aggregate of fine silicate hydrate minerals and is a substance which exhibits plasticity by mixing with a suitable amount of water and kneading and shows rigidity by drying and which is sintered by baking at a high temperature. The clay mineral is silicate hydrate that constitutes a principal component of clay. Either of the clay and the clay mineral may be used for the preparation of the olefin polymerization catalyst component described above, and they may be either natural substances or artificially synthesized substances.
An ion-exchangeable stratified compound is a compound having a crystalline structure in which planes constituted by ionic bond are parallel superposed on each other by a weak bonding power and in which ions contained therein are exchangeable. An ion-exchangeable stratified compound is included in the clay mineral.
To show the specific examples of these (B-4) components, for example, phyllosilicic acids can be given as the clay mineral. The phyllosilicic acids include phyllosilicic acid and phyllosilicate. As the phyllosilicate, natural compounds such as montmorillonite, saponite and hectolite which belong to a smectite group, illite and sericite which belong to a mica group and mixed layer minerals of a smectite group and a mica group or a mica group and a vermiculite group can be nominated. Further, tetrasilicon fluoride mica, laponite and smectone can be given as the synthetic compound. In addition to them, ionic crystalline compounds having a stratified crystalline structure which are not clay minerals, such as xcex1-Zr(HPO4)2, xcex3-Zr(HPO4)2, xcex1-Ti(HPO4)2 and xcex3-Ti(HPO4)2 can be employed.
Clays and clay minerals which do not belong to an ion-exchangeable stratified compound include clay which is called bentonite because of a low montmorillonite content, Kibushi clay in which a lot of other components are contained in montmorillonite, gairome clay, sepiolite showing a fibrous form, parigolskite, and amorphous or low crystalline allophane and imogolite.
Further, a particle having a volume average particle diameter of 10 xcexcm or less is preferred as the (B-4) component, and a particle having a volume average particle diameter of 3 xcexcm or less is more preferred. In general, particles have a particle diameter distribution, and the (B-4) content has preferably a particle diameter distribution in which a volume average particle diameter is 10 xcexcm or less and the particles having a volume average particle diameter of 3.0 xcexcm or less are contained in a proportion of 10% by weight or more, more preferably a particle diameter distribution in which a volume average particle diameter is 10 xcexcm or less and the particles having a volume average particle diameter of 1.5 xcexcm or less are contained in a proportion of 10% by weight or more. A method for measuring the volume average particle diameter and the contained proportion includes, for example, a measuring method using an equipment (CIS-1 manufactured by Galai Production Ltd.) for measuring a particle diameter by a light transmittance of a laser beam. Further, the (B-4) component may be subjected to acid treatment, alkali treatment, salts treatment or organic substance treatment. Particularly, the component that is pre-treated with an organic silicon compound and an organic aluminum compound is preferred since the polymerization activity is elevated.
Among these (B-4) components, the components having a high capability to adsorb quaternary ammonium salts or to react with clay to form an intercalation product (called intercalation) are preferable. The components shall not specifically be restricted and include quaternary alkyl ammonium salts, quaternary aryl ammonium salts, quaternary arylalkyl ammonium salts, quaternary benzyl ammonium salts, heteroaromatic ammonium salts and the like. For example, clay or clay mineral is preferred and, to be specific, philo-silicate is preferred. Further, smectite is preferred, and montmorillonite is particularly preferred. Tetrasilicon fluoride mica is preferred as a synthetic product.
A use proportion of the catalyst component (A) to the catalyst component (B) in the polymerizing catalyst of the present invention falls in a range of preferably 10:1 to 1:100, more preferably 2:1 to 1:10 in terms of a mole ratio when the (B-1) compound is used as the catalyst component (B). If it deviates from the range described above, the catalyst cost per a polymer unit weight grows high, and therefore it is not practical. Also, it falls in a range of preferably 1:1 to 1:1,000,000, more preferably 1:10 to 1:10,000 in terms of a mole ratio when the (B-2) compound is used. If it deviates from this range, the catalyst cost per a polymer unit weight grows high, and therefore it is not practical. A use proportion of the catalyst component (A) to the catalyst component (B-3) described above falls in a range of preferably 10:1 to 1:2,000, more preferably 5:1 to 1:1,000 and further preferably 2:1 to 1:500 in terms of a mole ratio. If it deviates from this range, the catalyst cost per a polymer unit weight goes up, and therefore it is not practical. In respect to a use proportion of the catalyst component (A) to the catalyst component (B-4), the transition metal complex of the component (A) falls in a range of 0.1 to 1,000 micromole, preferably 1 to 100 micromole per a unit weight [g] of clay of the component (B-4).
(B-1), (B-2), (B-3) and (B-4) can be used as the catalyst component (B-4) alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
The polymerizing catalyst of the present invention may comprise the catalyst component (A) and the catalyst component (B) described above as principal components or may comprise the catalyst component (A), the catalyst component (B) and the organic aluminum compound (C) as principal components.
In this respect, used as the organic aluminum compound of the component (C) described above is a compound represented by Formula (VI):
R13vAlQ3-vxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VI)
wherein R13 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Q represents a hydrogen atom, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and v represents a real number of 1 to 3.
The specific examples of the compound represented by Formula (VI) include trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, methylaluminum dichloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, dimethylaluminum fluoride, diisobutylaluminum hydride, diethylaluminum hydride and ethylaluminum sesquichloride. The trialkylaluminum compounds are preferred as this organic aluminum compound, and among them, trimethylaluminum and triisopropylaluminum are suited.
These organic aluminum compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof.
A use proportion of the catalyst component (A) to the catalyst component (C) described above falls in a range of preferably 1:1 to 1:10,000, more preferably 1:5 to 1:2,000 and further preferably 1:10 to 1:1,000 in terms of a mole ratio. Use of the above catalyst component (C) makes it possible to elevate the polymerization activity per the transition metal, but if it is too much, particularly if it deviates from the range described above, the organic aluminum compound comes to nothing and remains in the polymer in a large amount. On the other hand, if it is small, the satisfactory catalyst activity is not obtained, and it is not preferred in a certain case.
In the present invention, among or after bringing the respective components into contact, the polymer such as polyethylene and polypropylene and the inorganic oxide such as silica and alumina may be allowed to coexist or brought into contact. In carrying them on a carrier, they are preferably carried on a polymer, and such carrier polymer has a particle diameter of usually 1 to 300 xcexcm, preferably 10 to 200 xcexcm and more preferably 20 to 100 xcexcm. If this particle diameter is smaller than 1 xcexcm, fine powders contained in the polymer are increased, and if it exceeds 300 xcexcm, coarse particles contained in the polymer are increased and causes a reduction in the bulk density and clogging of a hopper in a manufacturing process. In this case, the carrier has a specific surface area of 1 to 1,000 m2/g, preferably 50 to 500 m2/g and a pore capacity of 0.1 to 5 m3/g, preferably 0.3 to 3 m3/g.
The contact may be carried out in hydrocarbon such as pentane, hexane, heptane, toluene and xylene in inert gas such as nitrogen. The addition or contact of the respective components not only can be carried out at a polymerizing temperature but also is preferably carried out at xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to a boiling point of each solvent, particularly a room temperature to a boiling point of the solvent.
Such catalyst for polymerizing olefin according to the present invention makes it possible to homopolymerize or copolymerize not only ethylene but also propylene and other xcex1-olefins at a high activity. Further, the transition metal compound that is the catalyst component (A) is easily synthesized, and the production cost of the catalyst is low.
The olefin base polymer of the present invention is obtained by using the catalyst for polymerizing olefin described above and can be produced by homopolymerizing olefins or copolymerizing olefins with other olefins and/or other monomers in the presence of the above catalyst for polymerizing olefin.
In the production process for the olefin polymer of the present invention, the organic aluminum compound (C) may be used by bringing in advance into contact with the component (A) and/or the component (B) or may be used by adding the component (C) to a reactor and then bringing into contact with the component (A) and the component (B). A use amount of the component (C) is the same as that of the catalyst for polymerizing olefin described above. According to the production process for the olefin polymer of the present invention, the homopolymerization of olefins or the copolymerization of olefins with other olefins and/or other monomers (that is, copolymerization of different kinds of olefins themselves, copolymerization of olefins with other monomers or copolymerization of different kinds of olefins with other monomers) in the presence of the polymerizing catalyst described above are suitably carried out.
The above olefins shall not specifically be restricted, and ethylene or xcex1-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms is preferred. This xcex1-olefin includes, for example, xcex1-olefins such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, 4-phenyl-1-butene, 6-phenyl-1-hexene, 3-meyhyl-1-butene, 4-meyhyl-1-butene, 3-meyhyl-1-pentene, 4-meyhyl-1-hexene, 5-meyhyl-1-hexene, 3,3-dimeyhyl-1-pentene, 3,4-dimeyhyl-1-pentene, 4,4-dimeyhyl-1-pentene and vinylcyclohexane; halogen-substituted xcex1-olefins such as hexafluoropropene, tetrafluoroethylene, 2-fluoropropene, fluoroethylene, 1,1-difluoroethylene, 3-fluoropropene, trifluoroethylene and 3,4-dichloroethylene; cyclic olefins such as cyclopentene, cyclohexene, norbornene, 5-methylnorbornene, 5-ethylnorbornene, 5-propylnorbornene, 5,6-dimethylnorbornene and 5-benzylnorbornene; styrenes including styrene and alkylstyrenes such as p-methylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, p-propylstyrene, p-isopropylstyrene, p-butylstyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-phenylstyrene, o-methylstyrene, o-ethylstyrene, o-propylstyrene, o-isopropylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, m-ethylstyrene, m-isopropylstyrene, m-butylstyrene, mesitylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, 2,5-dimethylstyrene and 3,5-dimethylstyrene; alkoxystyrenes such as p-methoxystyrene, o-methoxystyrene and m-methoxystyrene; halogenated styrenes such as p-chlorostyrene, m-chlorostyrene, o-chlorostyrene, p-bromostyrene, m-bromostyrene, o-bromostyrene, p-fluorostyrene, m-fluorostyrene, o-fluorostyrene and o-methyl-p-fluorostyrene; trimethylsilylstyrene, vinyl benzoate and divinylbenzene. Those suitably selected from the olefins described above may be used for the other olefins.
In the present invention, the olefins described above may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof. In copolymerizing two or more kinds of olefins, the olefins described above can suitably be combined.
Further, in the present invention, the olefins described above may be copolymerized with other monomers, and capable of being given as the other monomers used in this case are, for example, chain diolefins such as butadiene, isoprene, 1,4-pentadiene and 1,5-hexadiene, polycyclic olefins such as norbornene, 1,4,5,8-dimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene and 2-norbornene, cyclic diolefins such as norbornadiene, 5-ethylidenenorbornene, 5-vinylnorbornene and dicyclopentadiene, and unsaturated esters such as ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate.
In the present invention, propylene is particularly suited as the olefins.
In the present invention, a process for polymerizing olefins shall not specifically be restricted, and capable of being employed are optional polymerizing methods such as a slurry polymerizing method, a solution polymerizing method, a gas phase polymerizing method, a bulk polymerizing method and a suspension polymerizing method.
When using a polymerization solvent, the solvent includes hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene, n-hexane, n-heptane, cyclohexane, methylene chloride, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane and chlorobenzene. They may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds thereof. Further, the monomers used for the polymerization can be used as well as the solvent depending on the kind thereof.
It is advantageous in terms of a polymerization activity and a reactor efficiency to select a use amount of the catalyst in the polymerization reaction so that that of the component (A) falls in a range of usually 0.5 to 100 micromole, preferably 2 to 25 micromole per liter of the solvent.
In respect to the polymerization condition, the pressure is selected in a range of usually an atmospheric pressure to 200 MPaxc2x7G. The polymerization temperature falls in a range of usually xe2x88x9250 to 250xc2x0 C. A method for controlling a molecular weight of the polymer includes the kind and a use amount of the respective catalyst components, selection of the polymerization temperature and introduction of hydrogen. Further, in the polymerization of olefin in the present invention, the catalyst can be used to carry out pre-polymerization. Bringing a small amount of olefin into contact with the catalyst can carry out this pre-polymerization. In this case, the polymerization temperature is xe2x88x9220 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably xe2x88x9210 to 70xc2x0 C. and particularly preferably 0 to 50xc2x0 C. Also, inert hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and monomers are used as a solvent used in this pre-polymerization. In particular, aliphatic hydrocarbons are preferred. This pre-polymerization can be carried out as well without using solvents. The pre-polymerization is preferably carried out so that the pre-polymerization product has a limiting viscosity [xcex7] (measured in decalin at 135xc2x0 C.) of 0.2 deciliter/g or more, preferably 0.5 deciliter/g or more, and the conditions are preferably controlled so that an amount of the pre-polymerization product is 1 to 10,000 g, preferably 10 to 1,000 g per millimole of the transition metal component contained in the catalyst.
The present invention shall be explained below in further details with reference to examples, but the present invention shall by no means be restricted by the following examples.

Transition metal compounds, polymerization catalysts for olefins, olefin polymers and process for their production

Abstract: wherein M represents a transition metal compound of the fourth group in the periodic table; X represents a "sgr" bonding ligand; Y represents a Lewis base; T represents a group containing a "sgr" bonding atom; E is a specific group containing an atom which can coordinate with M via a lone pair; q is 1 or 2 and represents [(valency of M)xe2x88x922]; r represents an integer of 0 to 3; R1 to R4 represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a halogen-containing hydrocarbon group, a silicon-containing group or a hetero atom-containing group.


A thermal rotary massager is provided. The thermal rotary massager according to current application is comprised of two noble rotary electric connectors to heat four heaters embedded inside of four massage balls while the massage balls are rotating. Each electric connector according to current application is comprised of a seating member and one metal bearing connection parts for conduction of electricity. The seating member fits on ribs that is formed on the upper surface of a case and does not rotate. However, the massage balls are heated to emit far-infrared ray and anions while they are rotate-ably massaging user's body. It is possible due to the rotary connectors.

Most of rotary massage apparatus of prior art do not have heating elements that emits far infra-red ray or anions, which are known as effective for chronic diseases, such as constipation or digestive disorder. It was impossible because electrical connections for such rotating massage balls are not developed. Moreover, the relative position of the massage balls are designed without a significant consideration of the special nerve parts on the abdominal portion of a human body that are known to essential part for curing/preventing chronic diseases, such as constipation or digestive disorder. As a result, the rotary massager of the prior art are not effective for facilitating the circulation of blood, relaxing muscles, and reducing fats in the abdominal region of a human body. It is purpose of the current application to provide a rotating electricity connector for a massaging apparatus that emits anions and far infrared ray while rotatably massaging human body.

Far infra-red ray and anion emitting thermal rotary massager for decreasing fats in the abdominal region of a human body equipped with rotating electric connectors


The motor-driven hedge clipper has a machine housing; a main handle provided with one switch button; a hollow U-shaped auxiliary handle and a single deadman switch operating mechanism for turning off the hedge clipper when not activated by an operator. The single deadman switch operating mechanism includes one and only one U-shaped button element movably mounted in the auxiliary handle and extending around the inner contour of the U-shaped auxiliary handle, so as to be movable radially outward and inward relative to the auxiliary handle in all directions; a mechanical biasing device for urging the button element radially outward, whereby the button element moves radially outward when not being pressed radially inward into the auxiliary handle; and a cable line arranged in the auxiliary handle and connected to the button element, so that it moves exclusively longitudinally when the button element is moved radially inward in any direction so that the deadman switch operating mechanism is activated and the hedge clipper is turned on.

The present invention relates to hedge clippers.
Hedge clippers are usually provided with auxiliary handles which, for the safety of the operators are set into operation and can be held when both an on-switch on the main handle and also an additional switch activating button in the auxiliary handle remain pressed. When a switch actuation is released, the machine stops immediately. Therefore, it is not possible to operate the hedge clipper with only one hand which can lead to certain risks.
The European patent document EP-A-0 214 455 discloses a hedge clipper in which a C-shaped auxiliary handle is provided and has both legs as well as a web each supporting a control button. Thereby the buttons in all gripping positions of the hand which holds the auxiliary handle can be pressed simply and with good access. Each control button operates independently from the other buttons and acts on a single cable line which is prestressed and arranged in the interior of the hollow auxiliary handle. It can be deviated transversely to its longitudinal axis and because of the transverse deviation its ends tend to displace longitudinally. Since one of the ends of the cable line is fixedly connected in the interior of the auxiliary handle while the other end is arranged displaceably on an actuating element of the deadman switch, therefore during the transfer deviation of the cable line, regardless from which control button, the moveable cable line ends together with the actuating element are displaced and the deadman switch closes the operational current circuit for operation of the hedge clipper.
The known hedge clippers are composed of a plurality of different components, since the cable line is guided in the interior of the C-shaped auxiliary handle over its total length of the C-shape and over three control buttons supported on each C-leg independently from one another. As a result, the known hedge clippers have a relatively complicated construction and are relatively expensive.


An infusion set comprises a base member, an introducer cap, and an infusion cap. The base member preferably comprises a soft cannula extending from a lower side of the base member, and a port on an upper side thereof. The port is configured to be in fluid communication with the cannula. The port also comprises a septum adapted to seal the port against unwanted fluid flow. The introducer cap is adapted to be mounted to the base member and has a needle adapted to extend through the septum and said soft cannula in an assembled position. The infusion cap comprises a lumen adapted to receive an elongate flexible tube. The infusion cap also comprises a hard cannula adapted to be inserted through the septum and to place said soft cannula in fluid communication with said lumen.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the field of infusion sets and more particularly to infusion sets with removable injection needles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Subcutaneous injection is a standard method for the delivery of medication into a patient's body. To facilitate frequent or continuous subcutaneous injection of medication, subcutaneous injection ports are often used. Such injection ports extend through the skin and may remain in place for several days. Currently, a major application of such injection ports is to provide continuous delivery of medication, such as insulin, from portable pumps carried with the patient. When used with a portable pump, the injection port is typically connected to the pump via a fluid line. Another application of subcutaneous injection ports is to permit multiple injections of medication into a patient without the need to repuncture the patient's skin. In this application, medication is injected from a standard medical implement, such as a syringe, through a soft elastomer septum into the injection port which delivers the medication subcutaneously.
Subcutaneous injection ports generally require a sharp, rigid needle to pierce the patient's skin when initially attached to the patient. However, if the needle were left in place through the skin to provide medication delivery, after one or two days the needle would become uncomfortable to the patient. To solve this problem, infusion sets with removable needles and soft plastic cannula to be placed inside the body of a patient have been developed. However, these sets have many disadvantages. There remains a need for an improved infusion set that is less bulky, less susceptible to contamination, more comfortable to a user, and easier to use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A coolant flow path structure which cools a rotor is configured of a first coolant flow path forming a radial coolant flow path of the rotor and a second coolant flow path communicating with the first coolant flow path and forming an axial coolant flow path of the rotor, and a negative pressure structure, which brings an exist of the coolant flow path structure into a negative pressure as a result of a rotation of the rotor, is provided at the exit of the second coolant flow path.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotating electric machine, and in particular to a cooling structure of a rotor of a rotating electric machine.
Description of the Related Art
A rotating electric machine is used as a generator and a motor, but in any case, heat is generated by current flowing through the coils of a rotor and stator, and operational efficiency decreases due to the generated heat. Because of this, the operational efficiency is maintained by cooling, the rotor and stator.
When current is caused to flow through the coil of the stator of the rotating electric machine, heat is generated in the coil by generation of Joule heat. Also, permanent magnets being buried in a circumferential direction of the rotor, eddy current is generated in the permanent magnets as a result of a rotation of the rotor, and the permanent magnets generate heat due to the eddy current.
In order to cool the coil of the stator and the permanent magnets, it is proposed that an intra-axial coolant flow path, formed by hollowing out the shaft of the rotor, through which a coolant flows in an axial direction, and a radial coolant flow path, formed by an end plate of the rotor, through which a coolant flows in a radial direction, are provided, and that the rotor is cooled by causing a coolant to flow with a pump.
As for cooling of the rotating electric machine, for example, in JP-A-2010-239799 (Patent Document 1), a structure wherein the rotor is cooled by causing a coolant to circulate through the radial coolant flow path of the end plate from the intra-shaft coolant flow path of the rotation shaft of the rotor, and after the rotor has been cooled, the coolant spouts toward the stator, thus cooling the stator, is proposed as a cooling structure.
When the coolant flow path is configured by a plurality of members, such as the rotor and the end plate, in this way, a centrifugal force acting on the coolant becomes stronger when the rotor rotates at high speed, and the coolant leaking out from the gap between the rotor and the end plate becomes a problem. As a solution to the problem, for example, in JP-A-2011-254574 (Patent Document 2), a configuration is adopted such that a coolant leakage decreases by providing a mechanism which, by utilizing the centrifugal force generated by a rotation of the rotor, increases the adhesion of the rotor to the end plate in response to the centrifugal force.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2010-239799
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2011-254574
When the coolant flow path is configured by a plurality of members in this way, there is the problem that cooling efficiency decreases due to a coolant leakage unless the airtightness between the members is enhanced, and with a structure utilizing the centrifugal force for enhancing the adhesion, as in (Patent Document 2), as a solution to the problem, a new problem of an increase in the size of the whole device arises.


Computer-implemented methods, systems and products are provided for calculating a ranking value for business objects. Creating the ranking value for business objects may comprise calculating the number of references a business object is referenced to, mapping the business object together with the number of references of the business object into a document structure, and providing a ranking value according to the number of references.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing and retrieval. More particularly, the invention relates to computer-implemented methods, systems and products for creating a ranking value of a business object according to its relevance for a search query.
2. Background Information
In enterprise resource planning (ERP) software products, data objects are stored within structured business objects. Business objects may, for instance be data objects, which can relate to various areas within a company, for example, client data, factory structures, machine structures, production sequences, lists of materials, lists of staff and many others. The structure of the business data objects may be predetermined by the real conditions within the company or for maintenance of certain areas within the company. The business objects may insofar simulate the real structures.
Data objects may represent real world objects within a particular company structure. The data objects may comprise attributes and values, and insofar allow computer-aided planning, maintenance and the operation of a company with the aid of ERP software.
Various business objects can be interlinked and can thus represent an entire company network in an object structure, which can be hierarchical. The mesh of objects should insofar represent the actual structure of the company as far as possible.
In order to search for information within the data objects, the user requires a user-friendly user interface, as well as fast and reliable access to the data. With conventional search engines, such as those available on the Internet, for example, only document-like objects are almost exclusively searchable and displayed. These document-like objects, for example, text documents, are only slightly structured and can be searched with the aid of simple algorithms. The content of the text documents can be indexed automatically in most cases. The search engines access the created index during their search.
During the search, the keyword being sought is searched for in the index. Searching in the index allows attribute search or full text search. In the event of a match, a link to the corresponding text document may be put out. The user may then directly access the text document via the respective link.
In many cases, a search engine retrieves, upon a search, from an index a huge amount of different documents, which match with the search query. To allow users to evaluate the results, it is known to provide ranking values together with the search results. The ranking values allow sorting the search results according to their relevance for the user. FIG. 2 depicts such a search using-search engines.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a search engine 100 may comprise a database 102, an indexer 104, a crawler 106, and ranking means 108. Further depicted is a variety of web sites 110, a search engine user interface 112 and a user 114.
The search engine may have to be prepared prior to processing a search query. In this case, web sites 110 may be searched by the crawler 106. The crawler provides the indexer 104 with all found web sites 110. The found web sites 110 are indexed by the indexer 104. The indexer 104 creates an index of the content of the web sites 110. Further, the indexer 104 references the corresponding websites by, for example, their URL-references.
After indexing the documents, search engine 100 may be ready for processing search queries. In such a case, user 114 may start a search query 116 via search engine user interface 112. The search query 116 initiates a search routine within search engine 100. Search engine 100 tries to find documents that match best with the search query 116. The hitlist may be passed to ranking means 108. At this point in time, the hitlist might not be sorted, yet. Ranking means 108 may try to calculate the relevance of each document to provide user 114 with a sorted hitlist. According to the results of the ranking means 108, the hitlist is sorted depending on a relevance of the documents. The sorted hitlist is passed to search engine user interface 112. Together with ranking information and links to the corresponding web sites 110, the hitlist is presented to the user. The user may choose one of the corresponding links to retrieve the corresponding web site 110. One exemplary embodiment presents at the top of the hitlist the most relevant documents. The relevance may decrease the lower the position of the reference in the sorted hitlist.
A central functionality of the search engine is the ranking algorithm. For using the ranking algorithm, the documents are searched for certain keywords and index terms. Some index terms and keywords are more relevant for a search query than others. The ranking value depends to the corresponding ranking algorithm. As demonstrated by Baeza-Yates, R., Ribiero-Neto, B., "Modern Information Retrieval", Addison Wesley (1999) and Frakes, W./Baeza-Yates, R., "Information Retrieval: Data Structures & Algorithms" (1999), different ranking algorithms using term frequencies and inverse document frequencies are known.
A further ranking algorithm is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,440, where an initial set of relevant documents is obtained. For the initial set of documents, a relevance score is calculated for each document. A local score value is calculated quantifying an amount that the documents are referenced by the documents in the initial set of documents. The relevance scores of the documents are refined. According to this algorithm, the reference of documents to other documents is used for calculating a ranking value. The more documents reference a certain document, the more important this certain document is ranked.
A drawback of the proposed methods is that they only allow calculating ranking values for plain documents. In particular, business objects are more complex than plain documents. Business objects may have multiple references to each other. Business objects may further comprise master data and/or dynamic data and may comprise a variety of attributes.
It should be possible to provide a ranking algorithm taking the references between business objects into account.

Ranking of business objects for search engines


A bait-saving fish hook includes a rearward eye portion, a shank portion, and a forward hook portion together with a bait guard attached to the eye portion. The bait guard includes an elongated flexible member secured to the eye portion extending forwardly along at last one side of the shank portion, following the curve of the hook portion and extending rearwardly to and in engagement with the barbed point. The bait guard preferably returns correspondingly along the other side of the hook portion to be engaged with the eye portion of the fish hook. A slider can move from adjacent the eye portion to hold bait secured on the hook in place adjacent the barbed point.

Fish hooks known in the art have not successfully solved the problem of keeping bait from falling off the hook. Prior art patents have used strand-type basket devices for a variety of purposes. Livermore, U.S. Pat. No. 51,951, shows a loop guard attached to the eyelet of a fish hook for engaging the hook point upwardly or downwardly in the mouth of the fish. Wentz, U.S. Pat. No. 2.608,791, and Kracht, U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,296, also show a guarded hook for engaging firmly in the mouth of the fish. Showalter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,465,466, shows a weed deflecting guard which closes the gap between eyelet and hook. Flowers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,001, shows a fish hook with an encircling holder into which live bait is inserted.
In my previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,908, a bait guard is described in which the strands of the guard run substantially parallel to the curve of the fish hook, and the strands are engaged over the barbed point of the hook to hold the bait in place. The bait guard of U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,908 has been found to be less satisfactory than anticipated in holding bait of all types on a fish hook.

Fish hook including an improved bait guard with a slider


A machine for sharpening knives or similar cutting tools includes an endless abrasive belt and a tool engaging structure for supporting and guiding a tool into proper engagement with the belt. The tool engaging structure is located adjacent a portion of the belt path at which the belt is unsupported from behind so that as the tool is pushed against the belt the belt deflects inwardly. Damage to the tool and/or belt due to too large a force being applied between the tool and the belt is avoided by a pivotal unloader means which engages the tool and moves it away from the belt if an attempt is made to push the tool too far inwardly.

This invention relates to machines for sharpening knives and similar cutting tools, and deals more particularly with such a machine utilizing an endless belt.
Belt type abrading machines of the type having an abrasive belt and means for supporting and driving the belt along an endless path are well known, and it is also well known to use such machines for sharpening knives and other tools having elongated cutting edges. For a knife or the like to be optimally sharpened with such machines the edge must engage the abrasive belt at an appropriate angle and with an appropriate amount of force. During the sharpening procedure heat is generated at and near the area of co-engagement in rough proportion to the force existing between the edge and the abrasive belt. If the force is too great the edge becomes too hot and the resulting change in the microstructure of the knife material makes it less tough and less able to keep a keen edge, and the belt wears rapidly. On the other hand, if the force is too little the sharpening procedure may require an undue amount of time. Also, for best cutting results the two surfaces of the knife which meet to form the cutting edge should have an angle relative to one another falling within a narrow range, making the position of the knife relative to the belt quite critical.
To aid in the proper positioning of and the application of proper force to a knife being sharpened it is known to use a rest having a guide surface inclined to the path of travel of the belt and to mark, usually by trial and error, an index mark on the surface indicating the point to which a knife is to be moved for sharpening. However, this does not preclude the possibility of the knife being accidentally or intentionally moved beyond the index mark and creating overheating and other problems.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a simple, easy-to-use and inexpensive machine for sharpening knives and other cutting tools which provides for the proper positioning of the tool relative to the abrasive belt and which also provides a relief mechanism assuring that a tool cannot be advanced into the belt too far or with too much force during a sharpening process.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.

Knife sharpening machine with force relief means


Embodiments of the present invention provide disk controller operable to facilitate the efficient storage and retrieval of multiple content (data) streams to magnetic disk media. This disk controller includes an interface module, a memory module, and a processing module. The interface module is operable to couple the disk controller to a hard disk drive. The memory module and processing module in combination are operable to execute instructions that detect the geometry associated with the hard disk drive. Then the disk controller is operable to determine when the hard disk drive geometry supports assigning unique RW heads to unique content (data) streams. When the hard disk geometry supports assigning unique RW heads to unique content (data) streams, RW heads may be preferentially reserved or assigned to unique content streams wherein the RW heads are able to write unique content streams to memory locations within the hard disk drive, wherein these memory locations may be contiguous or near contiguous.

Currently, magnetic media, such as hard disk drives are used to store (record) and retrieve (playback) multimedia content in Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). While a hard disk drive may be quite efficient at storing and playing back a single content stream, many limitations arise where two or more content streams require simultaneous access. Each stream contains data that is best accessed from contiguous locations within the hard disk drive.
Contiguous storage of such content allows faster access and reduces fragmentation. However, since the data from two or more streams is multiplexed and placed at random track locations within the hard disk drive, the read write (RW) head has to continuously move between different sections of the disk to read or write this data. Alternatively, if the content received from the multiple channels is stored within a single contiguous section or contiguous block of the disk. The data (content) from the first channel (A) and second channel (B) alternates within the single memory location (contiguous section or block of disk) creating a potentially serious fragmentation problem. This second mode of operation is typically within most disk subsystems wherein their host is blind to the internal geometry and organization within the disk.
The structure and operation of hard disk drives is generally known. Hard disk drives include, generally, a case, a hard disk having magnetically alterable properties, and a read/write mechanism including Read/Write (RW) heads operable to write data to the hard disk by locally alerting the magnetic properties of the hard disk and to read data from the hard disk by reading local magnetic properties of the hard disk. The hard disk may include multiple platters, each platter being a planar disk.
All information stored on the hard disk is recorded in tracks, which are concentric circles organized on the surface of the platters. FIG. 1 depicts a pattern of radially-spaced concentric data tracks 12 within a disk 10. Data stored on the disks may be accessed by moving RW heads radially as driven by a head actuator to the radial location of the track containing the data. The track-based organization of data on the hard disk(s) allows for easy access to any part of the disk, which is why hard disk drives are called "random access" storage devices.
Since each track typically holds many thousands of bytes of data, the tracks are further divided into smaller units called sectors. This reduces the amount of space wasted by small files. Each sector holds 512 bytes of user data, plus as many as a few dozen additional bytes used for internal drive control and for error detection and correction.

Method and apparatus for efficient storage and retrieval of multiple content streams