An internal antenna of a wireless communication terminal, in which internal style folded monopole antenna is installed, is provided. The internal antenna of a wireless communication terminal includes a folded monopole antenna. The folded monopole antenna includes two folded radiation planes having a quarter wavelength, and reactances loaded to predetermined positions of the two radiation planes. Therefore, a space for installing the antenna in the terminal is minimized, and due to the no directional characteristics, the internal antenna can be applied to a wireless communication system of dual bandwidths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication, and more particularly, to an internal antenna of a wireless communication terminal in which internal style folded monopole antenna is installed.
2. Description of the Related Art
As wireless communication technologies are developed, communication terminals using handsets, wireless personal digital assistants (PDA), and wireless LAN are developed, and antennas employed in the respective terminals are main parts to give influence to the wireless communication performance of the communication terminals.
An external dipole antenna and a helical antenna are widely used as conventional antennas, employed in conventional wireless communication terminals. However, the external antenna has shortcomings such that the characteristics of the external antenna may be deformed by a user, the external antenna may give bad influence to design the wireless communication terminals, and since the external antenna is mounted to the outside of the wireless communication terminals, the wireless communication terminal cannot have aesthetic pleasing appearance.
In order to overcome the shortcomings, internal antennas are inevitable. For example, internal antennas for wireless LAN are employed in laptop computers, smart displays, Internet refrigerators, or the like having weak interference in a space and weak influence from ground of adjacent circuits and a case of the wireless communication terminals. However, since portable communication terminals such as a handset, a wireless personal digital assistant, or the like, has a very small space, it is difficult to apply the internal antennas to the portable communication terminals.
What has been employed in the handset is a planar inverted F-antenna (PIFA), and the wireless personal digital assistants are employing a ceramic chip antenna and the planar inverted F-antenna.
However, since the planar inverted F-antenna has narrow bandwidth, radiation efficiency of the planar inverted F-antenna is reduced due to reflective loss of an input terminal, and since resonance characteristics is appeared at the length of a quarter-wavelength, the length of the planar inverted F-antenna must be increased.
Moreover, since the ceramic chip antenna employed in the wireless personal digital assistants uses high dielectric material, the radiation efficiency of the ceramic chip antenna is decreased.

Internal antenna of wireless communication terminal


A system for increasing the efficiency of electro-chemical batteries includes a liquid electrolyte battery having positive and negative terminals and electrolyte fluid input and output ports. The system also is provided with an electrolyte distribution manifold, an electrolyte filter, an electrolyte holding tank, and a pump and control valves for circulating the electrolyte fluid between the battery and the holding tank, whereby stratification of the electrolyte fluid is prevented and gases and solids are removed from the electrolyte.

The problems of electrolyte stratification, gas bubble formation on the electrodes, and a build-up of electrolyte impurities are well known in the art. Stratification occurs during battery charge/discharge cycling. The increase and decrease of the specific gravity of the electrolyte tends toward a buildup of higher specific gravity electrolyte toward the bottom of the cell and a build-up of lower specific gravity electrolyte toward the top of the cell. This non-uniformity of electrolyte specific gravity reduces the efficiency of the battery. Electrode gas bubble build-up occurs when hydrogen and oxygen gases tend to cling to the surface of the electrodes. This bubble formation reduces the surface area of the electrodes available for reaction with the electrolyte and reduces battery efficiency. Solid byproducts introduced into the electrolyte during the electro-chemical reactions occurring within the battery also tend to reduce battery efficiency.
Various attempts have been made to deal with these problems, but with only limited success. One popular method teaches the use of an over-voltage during charging to create gas bubbles which then tend to mix the stratified electrolyte as they rise to the top of the electrolyte. Hammer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,322) teaches a method of capturing overcharge gases and conducting the bubbles through a vertical conduit, creating a pump that transports high specific gravity electrolyte from the bottom of the battery cell to the top of the cell, thus reducing stratification. Ross (U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,963) teaches the external circulation of the electrolyte as well as filtration. This device, however, is designed for use with the zinc air battery with its built-in internal circulation capability. The design is not compatible with lead-acid batteries, nor does it provide for automatic system electrolyte quantity control or for recovery of the water after it has broken down into oxygen and hydrogen gases.

Battery recirculation and recharge system


A structural frame providing for supporting flexible containers; specifically, shopping bags with frontal or lateral integrated handles. The structure enables the use of shopping bags as a receptacle for trash or storage. Disclosed are embodiments for a polygonal shaped rim for supporting a flexible handle bag in open mouthed configuration; lateral bracing to restrict bag movement; ring like members allowing bag handles to be engaged securely; a support appendage with an angled spacer allowing flexible container to be easily mounted on said support frame; a lid with a perimetrical groove of a radius corresponding to that of said rim located on the underside of said lid allowing for a tight seal; and an integrated apparatus for mounting the invention to a planar surface.

Flexible plastic bags have been a part of nearly everyone's life as a means of dispensing human refuse. There has been a proliferation of different types of trash bags available in the market place to support such a trend. Additionally, in the United States alone hundreds of millions of dollars are spent to produce plastic consumer bags with handles, such as grocery bags. The average household accumulates many of these shopping bags which can be reused for other purposes. With the aid of the present invention these flexible bags can be utilized as a means to discard trash or be used as receptacles for a variety of needs.

Support frame for flexible bags with handles


A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

The present invention generally relates to selective phase change ink compositions and to a process for applying same to substrates, and more particularly to the application and use of such inks in a process in which phase change compositions having selective process capabilities are applied to a substrate in indirect printing processes where intermediate transfer surfaces are employed.
In general, phase change inks are in the solid phase at ambient temperature, but exist in the liquid phase at the elevated operating temperature of an ink jet printing device. At the jet operating temperature, droplets of liquid ink are ejected from the printing device and, when the ink droplets contact the surface of the printing media, they quickly solidify to form a predetermined pattern of solidified ink drops.
The phase change ink comprises a phase change ink carrier composition which is combined with a phase change ink compatible colorant. Preferably, a colored phase change ink will be formed by combining the above-described ink carrier composition with compatible subtractive primary colorants. The subtractive primary colored phase change inks of this invention comprise four component dyes, namely, cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The subtractive primary colorants employed typically comprise dyes from either class of Color Index (C.I.) Solvent Dyes, Disperse Dyes, modified Acid and Direct Dyes, and a limited number of Basic Dyes.
Phase change ink is desirable since it remains in a solid phase at room temperature, during shipping, long-term storage, etc. Also, the problems associated with nozzle clogging due to ink evaporation are largely eliminated, thereby improving the reliability of ink jet printing. Furthermore, in prior art phase change ink jet printers where the ink droplets are applied directly onto the printing medium the droplets solidify immediately upon contact with the substrate, migration of ink along the printing medium is prevented and dot quality is improved. This is also true of the processes and ink compositions described herein.
The initial prior art on the direct application of phase change inks in ink jet printing involved monochrome inks jetted by electrostatic printing devices. Thus, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,932, a low melting ink, 30 degrees Centigrade (.degree.C.) to 50.degree. C., is provided employing an ink base comprising diesters of sebacic acid. In a similar process, U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,219 describes another low melting point ink (30.degree. C. to 60.degree. C.) comprising a paraffin alcohol-based ink. However, when low melting point phase change inks are employed in printing onto a substrate, they exhibit offset problems, namely, when the printed substrates formed from these inks are stacked and stored for subsequent use, they can become adhered to one another, particularly if high ambient temperatures are experienced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,369 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,948 describe methods for producing monochrome phase change inks which employ a natural wax ink base, such as Japan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, etc., which is printed by direct application from a drop-on-demand ink jet device at a temperature ranging between 65.degree. C. and 75.degree. C. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,383, a monochrome ink composition is provided having an ink base comprising a C20-24 acid or alcohol, a ketone, and an acrylic resin plasticizer. These monochrome ink compositions are not durable and when printed by direct application can be smudged with routine handling and folding.
In Japanese patent application 128,053/78, amides which are solid at room temperature, such as acetamide, are employed as printing inks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,956 is directed to monochrome phase change inks utilizing synthetic microcrystalline wax (hydrocarbon wax) and microcrystalline polyethylene wax. This molten composition can be applied to a variety of porous and non-porous substrates using a drop-on-demand ink jet direct application technique.
EP 0177352 and EP 0206286 reference direct phase change ink jet printing in color. The ink bases for these systems comprise fatty acids, a thermoplastic polyethylene and a phase change material in the first application; and the alcohol portion of a thermal setting resin pair, a mixture of organic solvents (o- and p-toluene sulfonamide) and a dye in the second application.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,671, a hot-melt or phase change color ink composition is provided having the properties of stability and uniformity of performance under ink jet printing conditions. The resinous binder for the above-described phase change ink is the condensation reaction product of one equivalent of polymerized fatty acid, two equivalents of diamine and two equivalents of a monocarboxylic acid.
In PCT publication WO 91/10711, a hot melt ink for direct application by ink jet printing is provided. The colored ink jet images have a relatively narrow melting range and inhibit crystallinity upon quenching to reduce attenuation of transmitted light. Phase change ink compositions for direct application onto an underlying substrate are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,560, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,761, U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,304, U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,099, all of which are assigned to the assignee of this patent application, and all of which are incorporated herein by reference in pertinent part.
The carrier composition of phase change inks preferably includes a fatty amide-containing compound. It may also include plasticizers and tackifiers. Thin films of substantially uniform thickness of this ink composition are rectilinearly light transmissive, so that the inks are suitable for preparing overhead transparencies when used in the manner described in the patents just referenced above.
All of the above-described prior art relates to direct phase change ink processes in which the ink is jetted in the form of discrete drops directly onto a substrate. In prior art phase change ink systems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,560, special selective process capabilities are not required because the phase change ink is applied directly to the substrate by the use of an ink jet printing process. However, phase change inks which work in direct processes do not necessarily perform satisfactorily in indirect processes where the inks are first applied to an intermediate transfer surface and then to the final receiving substrate or surface. These problems are solved by the present invention which relates to phase change ink compositions with selective process capabilities.

Indirect printing process for applying selective phase change ink compositions to substrates


A rewinding device includes an upper frame linked to a lower frame and a tape rewinding unit for each tape. Each unit has a motor-driven hub for a take-up reel being positioned on the upper frame, and a tensioning arrangement including a slidable dancer disposed on a vertically disposed sliding bar having a roller receiving a loop of said tape prior to being wound on said reel, the tensioning arrangement includes an upper and lower switch which control rotation of the motor of the take-up reel in response to the position of the dancer.

The present invention is directed to a rewinder for thin tapes, especially those tapes used for supporting a metal foil which is being processed in a machine for processing sheet-like material, such as boards, paper and plastic.
A converting machine, which is designed, for instance, for hot or cold application of a metallized film, in accordance with one of several images on a sheet-like material being processed in the machine, generally includes at least one unwinding device for foil tapes, and means for unrolling the tape intermittently in such a way as to allow its surface to be utilized optimally and a mechanism for rewinding the remaining foil tape after the transfer.
Among the known devices for foil tape rewinding is a terminal wind-up reel which receives the foil tape. Currently the trade uses several foil tapes which extend parallel throughout the machine operating width. This arrangement compulsorily entails the use of the same number of terminal wind-up reels as foil tapes being used. Thus, for instance, if four foil tapes are used, four terminal wind-up reels will be necessary and will be positioned pairwise on two crosswise pivoting bars secured between the frames of the converting machine.
Every terminal wind-up reel is connected to its pivoting bar by means of a lever arm. The terminal wind-up reels are driven by means of two rotary shafts, which are arranged to extend crosswise between the frames of the converting machine. The circumference of these rotary shafts will make contact with the circumference of the circular lateral guides of each of the terminal wind-up reels which procedure involves a continuous frictional driving action. The different rates of advance of various foil tapes, thus, causes irregular rotation of the terminal wind-up reels. This means that, in certain cases, a terminal wind-up reel will be rotated, whereas another, for example one in which the foil tape is not being pulled forward, will remain motionless and have its circumference rubbing against the surface of the rotary shaft.
The designs mentioned above have certain drawbacks, for example they can only be arranged within the machine, which causes difficulty in obtaining access to the various terminal wind-up reels and increases the down-time of the machine when a fully rewound or filled reel has to be replaced by an empty reel. Another drawback is that, on account of the design of the terminal wind-up reel frictional drive, there is no possibility of avoiding a friction between the circumference of the reel and the rotary shaft, which will cause, in certain cases, a build-up of an undesired polish or smoothing of the contact surfaces. Such a polishing or smoothing of the contact surfaces can interfere with the frictional drive and result in a compromising of the desired tension on the foil tape on the occasion of its advance. In this connection, the wear of the circumferential parts of the reels should also be given consideration.


A cartonizing machine wherein articles are arranged either individually or in groups in trays passing through a feeding station and to and through a loading station wherein the articles on the successive trays are pushed transversely into respective carton members conveyed with a mutual spacing. The filling of the trays is facilitated when the trays are closely juxtaposed with such being achieved by a tray conveyor system disposed so as to operate with a reduced tray pitch and a tray speed in the feeding station.

It is desirable that such a cartonizer be adjustable to the effect that the cartonizer can handle different sizes of cartons and articles, for example, such that during one period of time large size units can be handled, followed by a period of handling small size units. Here the carton line sets a certain dimensioning limit, namely, with respect to a distance between the consecutive units. The carton line can be designed to handle carton members of a given maximum width, and it is then possible to use the carton line also for handling carton members of smaller widths, but what cannot be changed is the pitch of the carton line. The units themselves may be narrower than those having a maximum width, but the distance between their centers or, for that matter, between their front or rear ends will have to be the same as for units of the maximum width. It will be very complicated and expensive to make the carton line adaptable in this respect.
Particularly in connection with cartonizers designed for dynamic transfer of the articles into the carton members that is, during co-motion of the trays and the cartons, it is necessary to make use of the exact pitch as far as the trays on the feeding conveyor are concerned, such that, in the loading station, a tray can be aligned with a carton member almost before or immediately after the article on the preceding tray is laterally transferred into its associated carton member.
Conventionally, this has given rise to serious problems. It is no problem to provide the feeding conveyor with the article trays having a relevant width for the articles to be packed, as this will only be a question of replacing one set of trays with another set of broader or narrower trays, but for trays narrower than the maximum width, there will occur a certain spacing between the edges of the consecutive trays, and such spacing is highly inconvenient for a safe operation of the feeding station. In the feeding station, it is imperative that the articles can be placed neatly in the trays with a minimum of attention and, particularly, in connection with manual filling of the trays, it may well happen that the operator places an article in a tray not fully or not all centered therein, whereafter it should be relatively easy to correct the positioning of the article by a simply push on the article. When the trays are of the maximum width, the tray edges will be closely juxtaposed, for example, one tray will be followed practically immediately by another tray, and the operator can easily secure a correct positioning of the articles on the trays. This becomes more difficult when narrower trays with a mutual distance are used, and, from practical experience, there are many examples of operators having filled articles down into the open spaces between two consecutive trays resulting in sever operational disturbances. On this background, it is a common practice that the empty spaces between trays, narrower than the maximum width, are held covered by plate elements located in the top level of the trays, such that the operator can not loose any article, but rather easily scrape a misplaced article into the relevant tray. However, these added plate elements exhibit some problems of their own, mainly, with respect to the costs of their presence and with respect to their driving through the entire conveyor system.

Conveyor system with variable spacing between the carrier units


An approach for performing computations that require processing of values in a forward sweep as well as a reverse sweep, such as the Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) algorithm, is disclosed. A first series of values are computed, in which only every fth value of the first series of values and associated normalization values are stored. The first series of values are indexed such that these first series of values are partitioned in time as blocks. The first series of values are recalculated on a per block basis, whereby a second series of values are calculated in response to these recalculated first series of values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and is more particularly related to decoding of received signals from a communication channel.
2. Discussion of the Background
Reliable communication over noisy communication channels depends largely from the manner in which the signals are encoded and decoded. Traditionally, Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm (SOVA) is employed in maximum likelihood decoders to decode convolutionally encoded signals. An alternative algorithm, known as the Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) algorithm, has been developed, which provides an optimal symbol decision algorithm [1] for linear block and convolutional codes. The MAP algorithm exhibits superior performance over the SOVA; however, because of the implementation complexities of this algorithm, the MAP algorithm has not enjoyed the same success, in terms of industry acceptance, as that of the SOVA.
The emergence of Turbo codes has sparked great interest in decoding algorithms. Particularly, developments in Turbo codes have stimulated communication engineers to revisit the possibility of using the MAP algorithm within constituent decoders. Again, the conclusion is that the SOVA is preferred, strictly from the perspective of ease (and therefore, cost) of deployment, despite the inferior performance of the SOVA as compared to the MAP algorithm. Specifically, engineering studies have shown that the performance of the SOVA is 0.3-0.5 dB lower than the MAP algorithm. Nevertheless, because of the implementation complexity, most constituent decoders are based on the SOVA. This complexity stems primarily from the fact traditional MAP algorithm implementations require a significant amount of memory to store the computational parameters.
Based on the foregoing, there is a clear need for improved approaches for implementing the MAP algorithm with reduced complexity.
There is also a need to minimize the memory requirements for the computations of the MAP algorithm.
Based on the need to minimize the complexity of the decoding algorithm, an approach for performing computations that require minimal memory is highly desirable.
The present invention addresses the above stated needs by providing a capability to efficiently utilize memory in a computation that requires processing values in a forward sweep and a reverse sweep, such as the Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) algorithm. A first series of values are computed, in which only every fth value are stored. The first series of values are indexed such that these first series of values are partitioned in time as blocks. The first series of values are recalculated on a per block basis, whereby a second series of values are calculated in response to these recalculated first series of values.
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of performing computations is disclosed. The method includes calculating a first series of values based upon a plurality of input values, and storing the first series of values according to a predetermined scheme. Also, the method includes recalculating the first series of values starting with a last value of the first series towards a first value of the first series. The method further includes calculating a second series of values and generating a plurality of output values based upon the recalculated first series of values and the second series of values. The above arrangement advantageously minimizes storage requirements without sacrificing computational accuracy.
According to another aspect of the invention, a decoding apparatus comprises means for calculating a first series of values based upon a plurality of input values. The decoding apparatus also includes means for storing the first series of values according to a predetermined scheme. Additionally, the decoding apparatus includes means for recalculating the first series of values starting with a last value of the first series towards a first value of the first series, and means for calculating a second series of values. The decoding apparatus further includes means for generating a plurality of output values based upon the recalculated first series of values and the second series of values. Under this approach, the complexity of implementing the MAP algorithm is reduced.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for decoding a bit stream received from a communication channel. The method includes receiving a plurality of transition probability values, and calculating a first series of values based upon the plurality of transition probability values. The method also includes periodically storing the first series of values based upon a predetermined period (f), wherein the first series of values are partitioned into blocks corresponding to the predetermined period. The method also includes recalculating the first series of values associated with each of the blocks. Further, the method encompasses calculating a second series of values, wherein the second series of values are calculated in reverse order relative to the first series of values. The above arrangement advantageously enhances the feasibility of performing decoding using the MAP algorithm.
According to another aspect of the invention, a decoder for performing a Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) algorithm to decode a bit stream received from a communication channel is disclosed. A xcex3 computation module is configured to output a plurality of transition probability values in response to a plurality of soft decision input values. An xcex1 computation module is configured to calculate xcex1 values based upon the plurality of transition probability values. A memory is configured to store periodically the xcex1 values based upon a predetermined period (f). The xcex1 values are partitioned into blocks corresponding to the predetermined period. A recalculating module is configured to recalculate the xcex1 values within each of the blocks. A xcex2 computation module is configured to calculate xcex2 values based upon the recalculated xcex1 values, wherein the xcex2 values are calculated in reverse order relative to the xcex1 values. The above approach advantageously reduces the memory requirements of a decoder.
According to another aspect of the invention, a decoding system for decoding at least one of linear block codes and convolutional codes corresponding to a bit stream is disclosed. A soft decision module is configured to generate a plurality of soft decision input values associated with the bit stream. A plurality of decoders are coupled to the soft decision module. Each of the plurality of decoders comprises a xcex3 computation module that is configured to output a plurality of transition probability values in response to the plurality of soft decision input values, an xcex1 computation module that is configured to calculate xcex1 values based upon the plurality of transition probability values, and a memory that is configured to store periodically the xcex1 values based upon a predetermined period (f). The xcex1 values are partitioned into blocks corresponding to the predetermined period. Each of the decoders also includes a recalculating module that is configured to recalculate the xcex1 values within each of the blocks, and a xcex2 computation module that is configured to calculate xcex2 values based upon the recalculated xcex1 values. The xcex2 values are calculated in reverse order relative to the xcex1 values. The above arrangement advantageously minimizes the complexity of decoding linear block codes and convolutional codes.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for performing computations is disclosed. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions include instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of calculating a first series of values based upon a plurality of input values, and storing the first series of values according to a predetermined scheme. Other steps include recalculating the first series of values starting with a last value of the first series towards a first value of the first series, calculating a second series of values, and generating a plurality of output values based upon the recalculated first series of values and the second series of values. This approach reduces the cost of equivalent decoders by minimizing the use of memory to store intermediate values during computation.

Method and system for performing decoding using a reduced-memory implementation


A vehicle seat belt device includes an electric motor for retracting a loose portion of a seat belt during an emergency in a vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the electric motor. The control unit causes the electric motor to continuously rotate only in a belt retraction direction and repeatedly alternate between low-speed rotation and high-speed rotation when an emergency condition of the vehicle is predicted. The belt tension is varied by the repeated changing of the rotational speed between high speed and low speed, and the seat belt therefore vibrates. An occupant can be alerted to a predicted emergency by this vibration.

Progress has been made in recent years in the development of vehicles that are equipped with a seat belt device for protecting a vehicle occupant. Some vehicle seat belt devices are provided with a pretensioner for rapidly retracting a loose portion of the seat belt in emergency situations. A type of vehicle seat belt device in which the seat belt is vibrated in order to warn the occupant of an anticipated emergency condition in the vehicle is known as a technique for increasing occupant protection (see JP-A-2000-6759 and JP-A-2004-276896).
The vehicle seat belt device described in JP-A-2000-6759 or JP-A-2004-276896 is provided with an electric motor for retracting the loose portion of a seat belt during a vehicle emergency. When an emergency condition in the vehicle is predicted, the operation of the electric motor is intermittently repeated to cause forward rotation or backward rotation.
The seat belt is retracted when the electric motor rotates forward, and the tension of the belt therefore increases. The seat belt is unwound when the electric motor rotates backward, and the tension of the belt therefore decreases. Intermittently repeating the increase and decrease in belt tension causes the seat belt to vibrate with a constant force. A belt vibration can thus be used to alert an occupant and call the occupant's attention by intermittently tightening and loosening the level of restraint exerted on the occupant by the seat belt.
The restraining force of the seat belt experienced by the seated occupant varies according to the state of the occupant (occupant's body position, the type or thickness of clothing, and other characteristics) or the effect of the looseness of the seat belt, and "deviation" therefore occurs. The occupant can therefore feel that the restraining force is too small or too great when an emergency is predicted. When the restraining force felt by the occupant is too great, the rapid tightening of the seat belt that occurs each time an emergency condition is predicted is uncomfortable to the occupant. It is also difficult for the occupant to notice the vibration of the seat belt when the restraining force felt by the occupant is too small. The same is true when the seat belt is loose at the time an emergency condition is predicted. The restraining force felt by the occupant is more preferably optimized at all times in the prediction stage.
Furthermore, even when the restraining force felt by the occupant is appropriate, the occupant feels the impact of the seat belt when the momentary change in restraining force that accompanies belt vibration is sudden. Such a sensation of impact is irritating to the occupant, and should therefore be made smaller. When there is "deviation" in the momentary change in restraining force, the magnitude of the irritation felt by the occupant also changes. The change in the level of irritation should also preferably be small.
A potential therefore exists for improvement in order to call the attention of an occupant by imparting a belt vibration that is more suitable to the occupant.
There is therefore a need for a technique that is capable of more reliably alerting an occupant and eliminating the discomfort associated with the alert by vibrating a seat belt in a stage in which a vehicle emergency condition is predicted, regardless of the state of the occupant (occupant's body position, the type or thickness of clothing, and other characteristics) or the looseness of the seat belt. There is also a need for a technique whereby the occupant's attention can be called by imparting a more suitable belt vibration to the occupant.


A method for oxidizing an organic pigment including dispersing the pigment in an aqueous medium and exposing the dispersed pigment to ultrasonic radiation, whereby the exposed pigment exhibits from 3 to 10 microequivalents of carboxylic acid, or salts thereof, per square meter of pigment surface.

This invention relates to method for oxidizing an organic pigment. In particular the invention relates to a method for oxidizing organic pigment, particularly carbon black, by dispersing the pigment in water and exposing the dispersed pigment to ultrasonic radiation, optionally in the presence of an oxidizing agent, until the exposed pigment has from 3 to 10 microequivalents of carboxylic acid, or salts thereof, per square meter of its surface.
In inks, toners, paints and coatings some organic pigments such as, for example, carbon black are not suitable for use in the form in which they are produced. Surface modification, including oxidation, can result in carbon black which is useful for the previously mentioned uses. Various methods of oxidizing the surface of carbon black including gas phase oxidation and liquid phase oxidation have been disclosed. Specific chemical oxidation agents that have been used include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, and potassium permanganate. These oxidizing agents are effective but in each case there are significant disadvantages including the formation of hazardous emissions, toxic byproducts as well as the need for extensive purification of the oxidized carbon black. There is a clear need for an effective process to oxidize organic pigments such as carbon black without the disadvantages cited above.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,382 discloses aqueous carbon black dispersions containing carbon black, surfactants, and water formed using bead mills, ultrasonic mills, and/or an ultra-turrax.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,447 discloses an aqueous pigment ink composition suitable for ink jet recording including an oxidized carbon black using a hypohalous acid and/or salt thereof, and a water-soluble cationic polymer or oligomer.
It is desired to provide useful and improved methods for oxidizing organic pigments, the dispersed oxidized pigments so formed, and inks containing the oxidized pigments.
In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for oxidizing an organic pigment comprising dispersing said pigment in an aqueous medium and exposing said dispersed pigment to ultrasonic radiation, whereby said exposed pigment comprises from 3 to 10 microequivalents of carboxylic acid, or salts thereof, per square meter of pigment surface.
In the method of this invention an organic pigment is oxidized. By xe2x80x9corganic pigmentxe2x80x9d herein is meant a pigment which is predominantly an organic compound or mixture of organic compounds, explicitly including carbon black.
Carbon black is the generic name for small particle size carbon particles formed in the gas phase by the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons and includes, for example, materials known in the art as furnace black, lampblack, channel black, acetylene black.
Organic pigments include colored pigments which may be blue, brown, cyan, magenta, green, violet, red, yellow, or mixtures thereof. Suitable classes of colored pigments include, for example, anthroquinones, phthalocyanine blues, phthalocyanine greens, diazos, monoazos, quinacridones, (thio)indigoids, heterocyclic yellows, pyranthrones, and the like.
In the method of this invention organic pigment is dispersed in an aqueous medium. The aqueous medium is predominantly water but may include other water-miscible compounds. The organic pigment is dispersed by conventional methods including shaking or stirring in order to distribute the particles in the aqueous medium, the dispersion method not being considered critical to the invention; further, exposing the organic pigment in the aqueous medium to ultrasonic radiation is sufficient to maintain the pigment ifn a dispersed form.
In the method of this invention the dispersed pigment is exposed to ultrasonic radiation. Ultrasonic acoustic irradiation generates the growth and collapse of cavitation bubbles within a liquid and the collapse of these bubbles produces extremely high local temperatures and pressures. This phenomena produces both mechanical (surface cleaning, solids disruption) as well as chemical (production of free radicals) effects. In water the radical species formed are H* and OH*. The use of ultrasonic irradiation to oxidize an aqueous dispersion of an organic pigment would oxidize the surface as well as disperse the solid agglomerates.
There are various ways to generate ultrasonic acoustic waves including an ultrasonic cleaning bath, a direct immersion ultrasonic horn, and flow reactors. Ultrasonic cleaning baths are of limited utility as the intensity is low (about 1 W/cm2). Ultrasonic horns are more useful as the intensity is in the range of 50 to 500 W/cm2. Cavitating jets (such as those produced by Dynaflow, Inc., Fulton, Md.) have advantages over other ultrasonic devices in that the cavitation can be made much more intense, they are easy to scale up and the cavitating jets are more efficient. Use of such jets for oxidation of dilute aqueous solutions of p-nitrophenol has shown oxidation efficiencies twenty times higher than with an ultrasonic horn. The exposure of the dispersed pigment to ultrasonic radiation may be conducted at one time or via multiple exposures, i.e., by batch, multiple batch, semi-continuous, or continuous techniques.
In one embodiment of this invention the dispersed pigment is exposed to ultrasonic radiation and to a chemical oxidizing agent such as, for example, ozone, nitric acid, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen oxides, peroxydisulfuric acid, potassium permanganate, and hypohalous acid or salts thereof. Preferred is the use of ultrasonic radition and hydrogen peroxide. The exposure to a chemical oxidizing agent may occur before, during, or after exposure to ultrasonic radiation. Preferred is concurrent exposure to ultrasonic radiation and to a chemical oxidizing agent.
The exposed pigment has from 3 to 10 microequivalents of carboxylic acid, or salts thereof, per square meter of the pigment surface. The carboxylic acid groups on the surface of the exposed pigment is determined by titration with NaOH (Matsumura and Takahashi, Carbon, 1976, Vol 14, pp 163-167). By surface area of xe2x80x9cthe pigment surfacexe2x80x9d herein is meant the surface area of the pigment prior to effecting the method of this invention as measured by the nitrogen B.E.T. method, as is well-known in the art.
The ink of this invention may contain one or more colorants in addition to the oxidized organic pigment. In a preferred embodiment an ink jet ink is formed from the pigment dispersion of this invention. If the ink is an ink jet ink the optional colorants may be selected from the group of pigments and dyes generally useful in ink jet printing. Suitable organic pigments include non-oxidized carbon black, azo compounds, phthalocyanine pigments, quinacridone pigments, anthraquinone pigments, dioxazine pigments, indigo, thioindigo pigments, perynone pigments, perylene pigments, and isoindolene. Suitable inorganic pigments include titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and other metal powders. Generally, the total amount of pigment(s) used is less that 10%, preferably 3-8%, by weight based on the total weight of the ink. The pigment particle size must be sufficiently small that pigment particles will not clog the nozzles on the printing device in which the ink is to be used. Typical nozzle openings on thermal ink jet printers are 30-60 microns in diameter. Preferably, the pigment particle size is from 0.05 to 2 microns, more preferably not more than one micron and most preferably not more than 0.3 microns.
The ink composition may include a polymeric binder, preferably an emulsion-polymerized addition polymer. Preferably the binder is present at a level of 0.1 to 10%, more preferably 1 to 5%, by weight based on the weight of the ink composition. The preparation of emulsion polymerized addition polymers by batch, semi-batch, gradual addition, or continuous processes are well known to those skilled in the art for example as described in EP 747,456 A.
The ink composition of the present invention may also include water miscible or soluble materials such as humectants, dispersants, penetrants, chelating agents, co-solvents, defoamers, buffers, biocides, fungicides, viscosity modifiers, bactericides, surfactants, anti-curling agents, anti-bleed agents and surface tension modifiers, all as is known in the art. Useful humectants include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol with average molecular weight of 200, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1000, 1500 and 2000, dipropylene glycol, polyproylene glycol with average molecular weight of 425, 725, 1000, and 2000, 2-pyrrolidone, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1-methyl-2-piperidone, N-ethylacetamide, N-methlpropionamide, N-acetyl ethanolamine, N-methylacetamide, formamide, 3-amino-1,2-propanediol, 2,2-thiodiethanol, 3,3-thiodipropanol, tetramethylene sulfone, butadiene sulfone, ethylene carbonate, butyrolacetone, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, glycerol, 1,2,4-butenetriol, trimethylpropane, pantothenol, Liponic EG-1. Preferred humectants are polyethylene glycol with average molecular weight of 400 to 1000, 2-pyrrolidone 2,2 thiodiethanol, and 1,5 pentanediol. Preferred penetrants include n-propanol, isopropyl alcohol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and hexyl CARBITOL(trademark). The amount of humectant used is determined by the properties of the ink and may range from 1-30%, preferably 5-15%, by weight, based on the total weight of the ink.
The amount of defoaming agent in the ink, if used, will typically range from 0.05-0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the ink. The amount required depends on the process used in making the pigment dispersion component of the ink. Defoaming agents useful in forming aqueous dispersions of pigments are well known in the art and commercially available examples include Surfynol 104H and Surfynol DF-37 (Air Products, Allentown, Pa.).
The ink compositions of the present invention may be prepared by any method known in the art for making such compositions, for example, by mixing, stirring or agitating the ingredients together using any art recognized technique to form an aqueous ink. The procedure for preparation of the ink composition of the present invention is not critical except to the extent that the ink composition is homogenous.
The following examples are presented to illustrate the invention.


There is provided mechanisms for verifying a log entry in a communications system. A method is performed by a host server. The method comprises obtaining a log entry of a service access tracker. The log entry indicates access to a service during a client session, the service being tracked by the service 5 access tracker. The method comprises providing the log entry to a trusted third party for digital signing thereof using a digital trusted timestamping scheme. The method comprises verifying that the log entry has been digitally signed by the trusted third party. The method comprises providing a new aggregate comprising the digitally signed log entry and a previous aggregate 10 of previously digitally signed and aggregated log entries to the trusted third party for digital signing thereof using the digital trusted timestamping scheme. The method comprises verifying that the new aggregate has been digitally signed by the trusted third party.

In communications systems, there may be a challenge to obtain good performance and for a given communications protocol, its parameters and the environment in which the communications system is deployed.
For example, one parameter in providing good performance for a given communications system is the ability to verify what services provided by the communications system that have been accessed.
One example of a communications system where services are available is a communications system comprising host servers where the host servers host virtual machines. In general terms, a virtual machine can be regarded as an emulation of a particular computer system. Virtual machines operate based on the computer architecture and functions of a real or hypothetical computer, and their implementations may involve specialized hardware, software, or a combination of both.
Classification of virtual machines can be based on the degree to which they implement functionality of targeted real machines. That way, system virtual machines (also known as full virtualization virtual machines) provide a complete substitute for the targeted real machine and a level of functionality required for the execution of a complete operating system. On the other hand, process virtual machines are designed to execute a single computer program by providing an abstracted and platform-independent program execution environment.
Known mechanisms for verifying what services provided by the communications system that have been accessed cannot be used if the services are run by virtual machines hosted by host servers in the communications system since the typical hardware fingerprint mechanism can typically be replicated by copying a virtual machine.
Hence, there is a need for an improved verification of what services provided by the communications system that have been accessed.

Verification of service access in a communications system


There are disclosed a new process for production of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, comprising culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Paracoccus, Protaminobacter or Pseudomonas and capable of producing pyrrolo-quinoline quinone in a culture medium to produce the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone in the cultured broth, and recovering the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone from the cultured broth; and a new process for production of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, comprising culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Paracoccus, Protaminobacter or Pseudomonas and capable of producing the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone in a culture medium to form cultured cells, separating the cells from the cultured broth, resuspending the separated cells in a reaction medium containing precursors of the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, incubating the reaction medium to produce the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, and recovering the pyrrolo-quinoline quinone from the reaction medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the microbial production of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone (hereinafter referred to as PQQ).
2. Description of the Related Art PQQ has the following formula: ##STR1## and can be reversibly reduced to a reduced type PQQ (PQQH.sub.2) having the following formula: ##STR2## On the basis of this property, PQQ has an ability to convert apo-type quinoenzymes to the holo-type thereof. For example, PQQ acts as a coenzyme for methanol dehydrogenase in methanol-utilizing bacteria, alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, glycerol dehydrogenase, glucose dehydrogenase, or the like in acetic acid bacteria. PQQ is also physiologically important as a coenzyme for copper containing amine oxidase of animal, plant or microbial origin, amine dehydrogenase or choline dehydrogenase, or other various kinds of oxidoreductases which are inhibited by carbonyl reagents.
Moreover, PQQ may be a very important substance having vitamin actions because it acts as a coenzyme for important enzymes as described above, taking as an analogy the fact that coenzymes for other oxidoreductases and transferases, such as thiamine pyrrophosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, pyridoxal phosphate, flavin adenine dinucleotide, and flavin mononucleotide have to be taken in as vitamin, such as vitamin B.sub.1, nicotinic acid, vitamin B.sub.6 , and vitamin B.sub.2 , respectively. On the basis of the above-mentioned physiological importance, PQQ is useful for pharmaceutical purposes.
Conventionally, for the production of PQQ, chemical synthetic processes are known (see, for example, J. Am. Chem. Soc. Vol. 103, 5599-5600 (1981)). However, these chemical synthetic processes have various disadvantages. For example, the processes are time-consuming due to the necessity for multi-reaction steps, require complicated operations to remove many kinds of by-product isomers derived from the reactions, and provide a rather low yield of PQQ.
To overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the chemical synthetic processes, there has been presented a biological process for the production of PQQ wherein cells of a microorganism are cultured in a medium to accumulate PQQ and related compounds, and the accumulated PQQ is recovered by, for example, extraction with solvents (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai) No. 59-113896 published on June 30, 1984), or simple chromatographic method on ionexchangers (see, for example, Agri. Biol. Chem. Vol 48, 561-565 (1984)).
Therefore, a new process for the production of PQQ, which is more practical and economical, is desired.

Process for production of pyrrolo-quinoline quinone


A mobile communication device is able to communicate with wireless local area network and with a cellular network. A communication system is able to route a communication session between the mobile communication device and another communication device either by way of the wireless local area network or the cellular network. The communication system is able to trigger the mobile communication device via the cellular network to search for and attempt to connect to the wireless local area network. The mobile communication device, in response to reception of signaling via the cellular network, is able to activate a wireless local area network interface of the mobile communication device and to establish a connection to the wireless local area network.

Members of an enterprise may be provided with mobile stations that are able to communicate via both cellular networks and wireless local area networks (WLAN). While such a device is within the coverage area of an enterprise WLAN (eWLAN) or a public WLAN, a private branch exchange (PBX) of the enterprise may be able to route communication sessions between the mobile device and other communication devices via the eWLAN or the public WLAN, respectively. In addition, while such a device is within the coverage area of a cellular network, the PBX may be able to route communication sessions between the mobile device and other communication devices via the cellular network.
There is a tradeoff between WLAN detection latency and the power consumption required of the mobile station, i.e., the power consumption goes up with the rate at which the WLAN radio is activated to search for WLAN access points (APs). Unfortunately good responsiveness is difficult to obtain without severely impacting the power consumption of the mobile station. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11h has requirements for passive scanning until the mobile station determines its current regulatory jurisdiction. Passive scanning involves leaving the WLAN radio on in receive mode long enough to ensure that any AP beacons will be received with high probability. This is normally a much more power intensive process than using active scanning. The power consumption problem will also worsen as the number of WLAN channels increases, which will happen as handsets are equipped with IEEE 802.11a radios.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Power saving in a device compatible with cellular and WLAN networks


A semiconductor device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a wire electrically connecting a die pad and a semiconductor chip mounted on the die pad to each other, and an encapsulation body encapsulating the semiconductor chip. The die pad includes a wire-bonding region to which the wire is connected and a through hole penetrating through the die pad in a thickness direction. The wire-bonding region is covered by a metal film partially covering the die pad. The through hole is formed at a position overlapping the metal film. The encapsulation body includes a first portion formed over the die pad, a second portion formed under the die pad, and a third portion buried in the through hole of the die pad, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the encapsulation body are connected with each other via the third portion.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H03-218658 (Patent Document 1) has disclosed a multilayer lead frame structure in which an inner lead and a metal plane are adhered to each other via an insulating layer and in which a through hole is formed in one or both of the sides sandwiching a wire-bonding region of the metal plane.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-76228 (Patent Document 2) has disclosed a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip mounted on a die pad is electrically connected to the die pad via wires. In Patent Document 2, the die pad has a silver plated film formed over a portion to which the wires are connected.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-261187 (Patent Document 3) has disclosed a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip mounted on a die pad is electrically connected to the die pad via wires. In Patent Document 3, the die pad has a plated film formed over a portion to which the wires are connected and a trench or a slit formed between the plated film and the semiconductor chip.


The disclosure relates to a medical material including a copolymer having a repeating unit (A) represented by the following formula (1):

In recent years, medical materials utilizing various polymer materials have been studied, and they are expected to be used for membranes for artificial kidneys, membranes for plasma skimming, catheters, stents, membranes for artificial lungs, artificial blood vessels, anti-adhesion membranes, artificial skins, and the like. In these materials, a synthetic polymer material, which is an xenobiotic substance, is used in contact with a biological tissue or a body fluid such as blood. Therefore, such a medical material is required to be biocompatible. The biocompatibility required for a medical material varies depending on its purpose and usage. A medical material used as a material that contacts blood is required to have characteristics of inhibiting the blood coagulation system, inhibiting the adhesion/activation of platelets, and inhibiting the activation of the complement system (antithrombogenicity).
Usually, a medical device is made antithrombogenic by a method in which the substrate forming the medical device is covered with an antithrombogenic material, or a method in which an antithrombogenic material is fixed to the surface of the substrate.
For example, JP-A-4-152952 discloses a membrane for an artificial organ or a medical device, having on the surface thereof a synthetic polymer that simultaneously satisfies biocompatibilities of inhibiting the adhesion/activation of platelets, an inhibitory effect on the activation of the complement system, and affinity with in-vivo tissues. In addition, U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0262181 (corresponding to WO 2005/113620) discloses a biocompatible material containing a homopolymer or copolymer that has reduced interaction with biological components such as proteins and blood cells and is highly biocompatible.

Medical material, and medical device using the medical material

Abstract: wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Z is an oxygen atom or —NH—, R12 is a C1-6 alkylene group, R13 and R14 are each independently a C1-4 alkyl group, and R15 is a C1-6 alkylene group, and a repeating unit (B) represented by the following formula (2):

Abstract: wherein R21 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R22 is a C1-6 alkylene group, and R23 is a C1-4 alkyl group. The repeating unit (A) is contained in a proportion of 0.6 to 7 mol % based on all the structural units of the copolymer. The disclosure makes it possible to provide a medical material and a medical device, which exhibit excellent antithrombogenicity even when used under severe conditions prone to thrombus formation.


A method of Demand Response (DR) utilizing a Load Control Transponder (LCT) installed at the location of an electricity consumer. A DR program, in conjunction with the LCT, allows a consumer to determine, in advance, when they will reduce their demand on an electricity supply system. The consumer is informed of price points at which the cost of energy increases due to overall demand. The consumer then determines if, and when, they will reduce their demand on the system when a price point is reached. In addition, when an unplanned, critical event occurs, the method enables the utility to bypass any intermediate consumer established settings and immediately and directly drop the level of energy consumption to the consumer's lowest selected level for continuing service thereby to shed sufficient load on the system to maintain an adequate level of electricity supply. Once the event has been resolved, the method enables the utility to restore the consumer's previous level of usage.

This invention relates to the consumption of energy generated or supplied by a utility; and more particularly, to controlling the amount of consumption in response to increased load demands on the utility at peak times of usage, as well as in response to occurrences at the utility affecting its ability to supply energy.
Electrical energy is a form of energy that can be traded as a commodity, but cannot be stored. Rather, it must be generated as it is used. The traditional approach used by electrical utilities to manage energy is referred to as "reliability based". Using this approach, the utility brings additional generation capability on-line, in order to meet increased loads placed on the utility's power distribution system. Under this process, the system's operator must be careful to match the amount of electricity generated to the amount of load on the system. When, however, a crisis develops and the load threatens to exceed the supply, the utility will attempt to take action in order to maintain a stable system. At such times, account representatives at the utility may call upon certain, large electricity consumers (customers) and ask them if they would temporarily go off-line. If, however, the utility owns a load-control system (such as the TWACS® Load Control system), the utility can directly issue load-shed commands to thousands (or even millions) of electricity consuming devices located throughout the distribution network, and get them to go partially (or completely) off-line. This approach works solely on the basis of system reliability, without much concern for the supply-side economics that accompany the crisis situation.
A newer approach to managing energy in some areas is "price-based". This approach allows market forces to affect the price of electricity, and allows the consumer to buy (or not buy) electricity in response to changes in its price. When a power generation shortfalls occur, the scarcity of the commodity makes it more valuable, and the price for electricity, in a free-market economy, should rise. Conversely, when a surplus of electrical generation occurs, the price of electricity should fall. A free market economy automatically allows generators with low operating costs to obtain the lion's-share of the sale of electricity, with the consumer benefiting from its lower price. As the price rises, however, generators with more expensive operating costs are able to profitably contribute to the grid, and stability is maintained. Real Time Pricing (RTP), in all of its many forms, requires constant communication among all of the stakeholders. In a "pure", de-regulated RTP environment, the wholesale price of electricity rises and falls on the spot-market as a function of supply; and, depending on whatever contracts are in place, will likely be immediately reflected in the retail-price of energy. These retail prices can be communicated to consumers using a communication system such as TWACS®. Prices might be rendered in terms of cents per kWh (or dollars per MWh); but, alternatively, can be rendered in terms of a tiered pricing scheme. As set out hereinafter, such a scheme might use names such as "normal", "elevated", "Critical Peak 1", "Critical Peak 2"; or a color code scheme such as "green", "yellow", "orange", "red". Regardless of the labels used, all such schemes require communication with the consumers and/or their equipment in near real-time.
Many utilities currently employ a two-way automatic communication system such as TWACS® by which the utility sends messages to, and acquires information from, its customers. Communications with TWACS® provides the utility with "fresh" load information on the system. Historical usage information can be used to create distribution system models, with recent, fresh information used to verify the accuracy of the models. The models are then used to predict when peak demands on the system can be expected to occur for different times of the year, as well as for various sets of circumstances such as temperature and time of day.
However, in addition to the demands placed upon a distribution system during the normal course of events and which a utility can to some degree predict, other circumstances may occur which are not planned, yet which have an immediate impact on the supply of electricity to consumers. A generator 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) might suddenly drop off-line, a ground-fault may occur, an unexpected load will draw substantial amounts of power. Any of these can escalate to a point where the system becomes unstable. When such an occurrence happens, it can be readily ascertained in a number of ways. For example, one measure of the severity of the problems is that when too much load is placed on the system, generators start to run marginally slower. This is evidenced by a drop in the frequency of the electricity generated. In such instances, things can start to quickly unravel. While new communication technology can enable price-based, demand response programs such as described above to work in these situations, there still exists a need for an autonomous, emergency over-ride capability.

Achieving energy demand response using price signals and a load control transponder


Methods and arrangement for providing digital x-ray mammography image acquisition by means of an X-ray system that includes acquiring image data by irradiating an object, such as a human breast, automatically by the system analyzing the acquired image data with respect to presence of motion blur, indicating whether motion blur is present.

Motion blur may degrade image quality, in particular for X-ray mammography where images have to be very sharp to see small micro-calcifications.
In a typical workflow of screening mammography, patients leave the clinic before the images are thoroughly reviewed. When the motion blur is discovered, patients may have to be called back to acquire new images, which may cause inconvenience, anxiety and additional expenses. Normally, the "motion blur" origins from the small displacements of the patient's movements.
Efficient workflow is very important for specialized screening mammography clinics where healthy patients are examined on a regular basis. Speed requirements and cost control have driven many clinics to introduce a workflow that resembles an assembly line. Thus, the demands and requirements for mammography systems are different compared to other applications of medical X-ray imaging.
FIG. 1 illustrates a known configuration for an X-ray imaging system that scans a breast and acquires a set of overlapping part images, and computes a resultant image from said part images. The part images arise from irradiation of a human breast using a bundle of X-ray beams. Said bundle of beams is created by an X-ray source 110 and a collimator 120 with a set of long narrow apertures, also referred to a slits. Each slit forms a thin X-ray beam, which irradiates the imaged breast and rays passing through are received by a photon counting line detector. There is one line detector for each slit, mounted in a common detector unit 150.
In Ph.D. thesis "Motion Estimation and Compensation in Medical Imaging" by Magnus Hemmendorff, Linköping Studies in Science and Technology, dissertations thesis No. 703, Jul. 2001, hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, methods for generation of local motion constraints are described. One method is based on phase from quadrature filters; another is based on canonical correlation and scalar products of quadrature filters. In both methods, a local confidence measure is produced to increase accuracy and robustness. The local phase variations are used to generate local motion constraints and a motion field can be estimated by least square fit of parametric motion models, such as shift models, affine models and finite element models.

Method and arrangement relating to X-ray imaging


A baking oven 10 comprising an oven chamber 11, heating elements 20, 120 for generating heat, a support 14, 114A for supporting one or more baking trays 30 in a baking tray position within the heating chamber 11. The oven has an active region 120 under the baking tray position and an inactive region 130 positioned outwardly of the active region 120, the heating elements 20 being positioned to provide substantially more heat to the active region 120 than to the inactive region 130 for more directly heating an underside of the baking tray position. The oven chamber 11 may also include second support 114B within the oven chamber for supporting one or more baking trays above the baking trays on the first support 14 and second heating elements 127 intermediate the first support and a second support for supplying heat to an underside of the baking trays on the second support 114B; the second support 114B being movable relative to the second heating elements 127 and coaxial with the first support 20, 114A.

A previously disclosed baker's oven comprises a number of stacked oven compartments with individual oven doors at the front. Each level of the oven includes two components with each compartment generally having a turntable onto which baking trays or bread pans or a like can be loaded.
The oven compartments are heated by electric heating elements in the bottom and top of the compartments. The heating elements are formed as single heating units comprising a number of parallel arms connected in series by U-shaped elements. The parallel arms extend from the oven door to the rear of the compartment and are spaced across the width of the oven.
The top and bottom heating elements can be separately controlled to vary the heat distribution within the oven. For certain types of baked goods, it is advantageous to supply the heat predominantly from the bottom of the oven whilst maintaining the oven at a constant temperature.
Steam can be introduced in controlled manner into the oven compartment of the baker's oven to create glazed buns, "split" crusts or bakery products such as bread and rolls. One means of introducing steam into baker's ovens is to use external steam generators and introduce the steam into the oven through a conduit connecting the steam generator to the oven. This method of steam generation requires an additional steam generator and is thought to be inefficient, not only in terms of the overall heat requirements of the baking and steam generation process but an external steam generator uses up valuable bakery space.
In recent years to avoid the need for external steam generators, water has been sprayed into the oven compartments for conversion into steam. This creates problems for designers and manufacturers of baker's ovens in that the heat energy required to convert water into steam must not be so large as to cause the internal temperature in the compartments to drop more than say 5-10° C., or the quality of the finished baked products may be adversely affected.
Secondly, all of the water must be converted into fine steam before it comes into contact with the bakery products, as impingement of even very small water droplets on the surface of the baker products adversely affects the surface appearance thereof.
A further complication has arisen with the adoption of ceramic surfaces, e.g., ceramic tiles, on the oven turntables on which the products are baked. If the steam is sprayed directly at the ceramic surfaces, they will absorb the steam and the quantity of steam available to the baker's products is minimized.
Australian Patents Nos. 666365, 666633 and 669838, all in the name of APV Australian Pty Ltd, all disclose an internal steaming assembly for a baker's oven in which the parallel rods of the lower heating element in the oven compartments are positioned in the vicinity of a ballast bar. Water from a water supply pipe is sprayed onto the heated ballast bar at the front of the oven compartment and the resulting generated steam left to circulate in the oven compartment. Apart from a plate over the section of the ballast bar adjacent the water pipe to prevent splashing, the ballast bar is not covered and is exposed to debris such as product overflow falling from the rotating turntables onto the hot heating rods. This debris bakes onto the heating rods and ballast bars and must be regularly cleaned from the rods and ballast bars for heating efficiency and product quality reasons.
Australian Patent Application No. 2004262443 discloses a heating element fixed to an elongate steam generation chamber for more effectively generating steam. The contents of Australian Patent Application No. 2004262443 are herein incorporated by a reference.
It has been discovered that, particularly during the early stages of baking when the baking trays are relatively cool, steam from the underlying steam generators can impinge on the underside of the baking tray or turntable where it condenses. This results in a loss of effective steam from the oven cavity. This loss of steam has been found to affect the quality of the baked product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating arrangement that improves the heat distribution within a baking oven, improves the steam supply for a baking oven or at least provides alternatives to existing arrangements in the marketplace.

Heating element arrangement for baker's oven


An enhanced gaming system through which a variety of games of chance and/or games of skill can be made available to players. The gaming system separates game outcomes from game themes and game payout/buy-in information, thereby enhancing game flexibility. The gaming system also allows different games of chance and/or games of skill to be available to different subsets of player units, and gives a gaming hall operator the ability to dynamically control the size and distribution of such subsets. An “apparently random” permutation production technique is disclosed for use in certain games and regulatory environments. A PKI-based architecture is also disclosed.

States face ever-increasing costs just to maintain essential services, but residents are typically unwilling to pay higher taxes to fund these services. Some states have begun to recognize gaming as a potential revenue source which can help generate funds for the state, thereby offsetting the need for increased taxes. For example, most states now sponsor lotteries or the like, the proceeds of which are typically used to fund educational or other programs. In addition, more and more states are legalizing, albeit under heavy regulation, certain other types of gaming, such as slot machines.
One of the first games which is typically legalized by states, especially for non-profit fundraising activities, is bingo. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,911 to Fioretti ("Fioretti"), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, traditional bingo is played with a card, or gaming board, which is typically a five-by-five numerical array, with the centermost location being blank, or "free". Numbered balls, typically between 1 and 75, are placed in a hopper, and balls are chosen at random from the hopper. Players mark their bingo card as the numbers are drawn, and collectively the marks eventually begin to resemble various shapes. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,645 to Yoseloff ("Yoseloff"), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, the shapes may include an "X", a plus, a "T", a horizontal line, a vertical line, or other alternative shapes. When the marks on a player's scorecard match a pre-defined pattern, the player has a "bingo" and wins the pot for that game.
Although typically associated with fundraisers for churches and other non-profit groups, bingo has become so popular that even some casinos have begun to offer bingo to their patrons. In fact, bingo has become especially popular at tribal casinos. Congress enacted IGRA to regulate gaming operations run by Indian tribes on Indian land. The Act's purpose is to "provide a statutory basis for the operation of gaming by Indian tribes as a means of promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments". 25 U.S.C. §2702(1). The IGRA defines class II gaming in relevant part as follows:                (i) the game of chance commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic, computer, or other technologic aids are used in connection therewith)        (ii) which is played for prizes, including monetary prizes, with cards bearing numbers or other designations        (iii) in which the holder of the card covers such numbers or designations when objects, similarly numbered or designated are drawn or electronically determined, and        (iv) in which the game is won by the first person covering a previously designated arrangement of numbers or designations on such cards, including (if played in the same location) pull-tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.
Games that are not within the definition of class H games are class III. See 25 U.S.C. 2703(8). Congress excluded certain forms of gaming from the class II definition:
The term "Class II gaming" does not include:                i) any banking card games, including baccarat, chemind de fer, or blackjack(21), or        ii) electronic or electromechanical facsimiles of any game of chance or slot machines of any kind.
This vagueness, particularly with respect to "electronic or electromechanical facsimiles" created a conflict with another gambling statute, the Johnson Act. Congress' 1988 policy behind the IGRA—a civil regulatory statute—was to promote economic development and encourage tribal gaming within tribal jurisdictions by setting up a game classification scheme. However, Congress' policy behind the Johnson Act—a 1950's era criminal statute—was to criminally prohibit the use of "gambling devices." The two statues support diametrically-opposed congressional policies and thus create inherent and irreconcilable conflicts when read together regarding "electronic technology" aids." The Johnson Act is meant to restrict and criminally prohibit gambling. The IGRA is meant to encourage tribal economic development by promoting gambling.
The NIGC (National Indian Gaming Commission) adopted regulations in 1992 that applied the Johnson Act "gambling devices" definition to electronic equipment. Since then, the overwhelming majority of the district and appellate courts and the NIGC have found, however, that Congress intended for the IGRA to impliedly repeal the Johnson Act when considering class II gaming devices utilizing electronic technological aid equipment. In the preamble to the recently revised regulations, the NIGC recognized the hopeless circular reasoning found in its 1992 definitions of "electronic or electronic facsimiles."
The NIGC administers IGRA and regulates tribal gaming. However, the NIGC shares enforcement responsibilities with DOJ. Jurisdiction over criminal violations is vested in the United States Department of Justice, which also assists the Commission by conducting civil litigation on its behalf in federal court.
The NIGC and the DOJ have differed at times on policy choices (and legal definitions) about what constitutes an IGRA class II verses class III electronic aid equipment and whether the Johnson Act should apply to such equipment.
The NIGC's regulations define class II gaming to include:                (A) bingo or lotto (whether or not electronic, computer or other technologic aids are used) when players:                    a. Play for prizes with cards bearing numbers or other designations;            b. Cover numbers or designations when objects, similarly numbered or designated, are drawn or electronically determined; and            c. Win the game by being the first person to cover a designated pattern on such card;                        (B) If played in the same location as bingo, lotto, pull-tabs, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.
IGRA provides that class II games may utilize "electronic, computer, or other technologic aids" 25 U.S.C. 2703(7). The NIGC's recently revised final regulations define a technologic aid as follows:                (C) Electronic, computer or other technologic aid means any machine or device that:                    a. Assists a player or the playing of a game;            b. Is not an electronic or electromechanical facsimile, and            c. Is operated in accordance with applicable Federal communications law.                        (D) Electronic, computer, or other technologic aids include, but are not limited to machines or devices that:                    a. Broaden the participation levels in a common game;            b. Facilitate communication between and among gaming sites; or            c. Allow a player to play a game with or against other players rather than with or against a machine.                        (E) Examples of electronic, computer or other technologic aids include pull-tab dispensers and/or readers, telephones, cables, televisions, screens, satellites, bingo blowers, electronic player stations or electronic cards for participants in bingo games.
The NIGC also revised the definition of "electronic or electromechanical facsimile" in its final published rule:
502.8 Electronic or Electromechanical Facsimile
Electronic or electromechanical facsimile means a game played in an electronic or electromechanical format that replicates a game of chance by incorporating all of the characteristics of the game, except when, for bingo, lotto, or other games similar to bingo the electronic or electromechanical format broadens participation by allowing multiple players to play with or against each other rather than with or against a machine.
502.9 Other Games Similar to Bingo.
Other games similar to bingo means any game played in the same location as bingo (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 2703(7)(a)(i)) constituting a variant on the game of bingo, provided that such a game is not house banked and permits players to compete against each other for a common prize or prizes.
Bingo's increasing popularity has spurred the development of a variety of technological advancements. By way of example, bingo-like slot machines, such as those taught by Yoseloff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,002 to Falciglia, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, have been suggested. Still others have designed televised and Internet-based bingo games, such as those taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,396 to Tawil; U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,984 to Roseman; U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,892 to Frank et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,325 to Fisk; U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,038 to Graves et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,941 to Miller et al.; the teachings of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
As bingo's popularity continues to increase, bingo halls, casinos, and other gaming halls are increasingly interested in drawing players to, and retaining players already in, a particular gaming hall. One means some gaming halls, and especially tribal casinos, are using to attract and retain players are pull-tab games. Pull-tab games are typically implemented as two-ply laminated paper containing one or more "pull-tabs" comprised of a perforated tab of paper. When peeled back, the pull-tab reveals symbols or numbers related to a game theme. Examples of traditional pull-tab games include U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,219 to D'Amato et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,611, to Johnsen.
Pull-tab games typically feature a limited number of play tickets for a given deal or set (e.g., 100 individual tickets in a set or deal). The play tickets are individually sold to players for a fee. A player pulls one or more tabs on the ticket to determine if the player is a winner. Although typically designed as instant-win games, some pull-tab games provide qualifying symbols for entry into one or more award level rounds associated with the particular deal set. In such an embodiment, once all tickets for a given deal set are sold, those players holding a ticket eligible for the award level round are entered into a secondary game. Typically, this involves the game operator opening a special pull-tab card to reveal the award level round winners. These multi-level games are typically implemented with progressive jackpots to further enhance excitement. U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,916 to Brown discloses a seal card game scheme which includes a plan for multiple levels of non-progressive play. The Brown game card scheme awards a master case award to a winning ticket not among the deal winners. According to Brown, the non-progressive scheme retains the interest of players throughout the deals because everyone retains a chance of winning the case award.
Pull-tab games can help boost gaming hall revenues by helping attract and retain players. However, the paper pull-tab games of the prior art and are not convenient, efficient, or interactive, thus limiting their attractiveness to players, and consequently bingo halls, casinos, and other gaming halls.
The desire to further increase gaming hall revenues has lead to the development of electronic systems for rolling out instant-win, pull-tab game systems, such as those taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,035, to Morris; U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,398 to Schneier et al.; and Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0098882 to Lind et al., the teachings of each of which an incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These game systems allow players to play electronic versions of pull-tab games at specially programmed player terminals. Such terminals can be handheld units, such as the TED and Traveler lines of handheld gaming units manufactured by GameTech International, Inc., the assignee hereof, or fixed base station units, thereby allowing such game systems to be implemented in a wide variety of environments. Although the Lind, Schneier, and Morris game systems represent a progression in the art over paper pull-tab distribution devices such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,299, to Clapper et al., the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, the game systems still have limitations. For example, although the game systems allow a variety of pull-tab based games to be played, the systems do not allow players to participate in alternative types of games, or to simultaneously play a variety of games of differing types.
In addition, the technological advances represented by the various references can have a down-side. As recently experienced when a horse race betting system designed by Autotote, Inc. of Wilmington, Del., was compromised, computerized gaming systems can be alluring targets for those seeking to get rich illegally. Part of the allure of computerized gaming systems is that it can be harder to detect when a system has been compromised and to trace all of the parties involved than with traditional game systems. Some in the prior art have attempted to implement more secure gaming systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,522, to Alcorn et al., teaches a method of authenticating game datasets in an electronic casino gaming system.


A shadow mask for a cathode ray tube is formed with a curved surface such that a radius of curvature corresponding to a perpendicular axis which passes through the center of the shadow mask decreases monotonely along the perpendicular axis from the center of the shadow mask and a radius of curvature corresponding to a parallel axis which passes through the center of the shadow mask decreases monotonely along the parallel axis from the center of the shadow mask. The curved surface satisfies the following condition, [0.1RVmin+0.9RVmax, 0.9RVmin+0.1RVmax]⊂[RHmin, RHmax]. RVmin and RVmax respectively represent the minimum and the maximum value of the minimum radius of curvature corresponding to the perpendicular axis, and RHmin and RHmax respectively represent the minimum and the maximum value of the minimum radius of curvature corresponding to the parallel axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shadow mask for a cathode ray tube, and in particular, to a shadow mask for a cathode ray tube that defines a range of the minimum radius of curvature to improve properties in shock and howling simultaneously.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a cathode ray tube is an electronic tube where electron beams emitted from an electron gun are deflected due to a magnetic deflection field, pass through a color selection shadow mask, and then strike and excite green, blue, and red phosphors on a phosphor film within a panel, thereby displaying desired images.
The shadow mask has a color selection function of selecting the emitted electron beams and landing them on the phosphor film.
The shape of the shadow mask is determined according to size and shape of a panel, that is, a front plane glass of the cathode ray tube. The shadow mask is formed with a radius of curvature of about R=2000 mm (millimeters) generally.
Recently, cathode ray tubes have become larger, and the front surface of the panel has been flattened. Accordingly, the shape of the shadow mask has changed to correspond to these tendencies of the cathode ray tube.
However, when the shadow mask has a large size and a large radius of curvature, the structural strength of the shadow mask becomes poor, and this may induce many problems.
That is, when the radius of curvature of the shadow mask is 1.6R or more, the shadow mask cannot maintain its own shape due to shocks from the outside. Deformation of the shadow mask deteriorates the quality of the cathode ray tube.
In addition, when the shadow mask has a large size and a large radius of curvature, it has poor properties in howling. That is, when the cathode ray tube with the shadow mask is used as a television, the shadow mask trembles due to the sound of the television. In this case, the shadow mask becomes fragile by the howling phenomenon due to the weakness of the structural strength.
When the outer surface of the panel is formed with a flat shape and has a large inner radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the shadow mask also increases. Accordingly, the shadow mask becomes flat.
When the curved plane of the shadow mask becomes partially flat, deformations occur in the flat portion of the curved plane due to the shock load from the outside.
As the shock load is applied continually, the deformations are transferred to the edge portions of the shadow mask. Accordingly, plastic deformations occur in the shadow mask, and the electron beams emitted from the electron gun are distorted during passing through the shadow mask. Accordingly, the electrons cannot cause correct emission of the phosphors, and trembling of the images and deterioration of color purity occurs.