A video information processing apparatus capable of accurately making a motion decision is provided. The apparatus stores interlaced video information for a plurality of fields, generates motion information on each of the pixels contained in a plurality of fields from at least one of the interlaced video information and stored video information, and generates motion information on an interpolation pixel from motion information on pixels contained in the same field as the interpolation pixel among the generated motion information on each of the pixels. The apparatus also generates motion information on the interpolation pixel from motion information on the pixels contained in fields previous and next to the interpolation pixel at the same position as the interpolation pixel, and determines the motion information on the interpolation pixel from the motion information on these pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video information processing apparatus and a video information processing method both of which convert interlaced video information into progressive video information in television.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the transition from existing analog television systems to digital television systems has started to be considered. Owing to new technological innovations called digitization, television broadcasting is growing into to a far advanced information communications medium, and is making far more rapid progress. In Japan as well, digitization has already been realized in broadcasting using a CS (Communication Satellite) and broadcasting using a BS (Broadcasting Satellite). In addition, digitization of ground-wave broadcasting is currently being considered, and in the near future, all broadcasting waves will change to digital waves.
A great merit of digital television broadcasting is that a digital system can transmit three channels of programs with a frequency band corresponding to one channel in an analog system, so that multiple channels can be provided. Accordingly, it is possible to realized new services such as multiple programs (mixed multiple organized programs) in which news, sports, dramas and the like are combined, and multi-channel broadcasting in which three different programs are broadcasted in one channel.
Furthermore, digital television broadcasting enables broadcasting of not only video and audio but also integrated broadcasting services containing various kinds of data broadcasting. Services containing various kinds of data broadcasting are divided into types which provide multimedia-like services by adding data information to television programs and types which provide services independent of television programs. As main services, audience-participation programs, home shopping, various information services, and weather forecasts and news which can be watched at any time.
To cope with this digital television broadcasting, receivers for television broadcasting are also making progress, and flat-panel large-sized plasma displays have been provided. In addition, existing cathode-ray tube types of television receivers having high-definition resolution for digital television broadcasting have been provided. In these display devices, video display is performed not by existing interlaced scanning which scans every other line, but by progressive scanning. Accordingly, in the case where an existing analog television broadcast is displayed, interlaced video information is converted into progressive video information (hereinafter referred to as IP (Interlace-Progressive) conversion), and the resolution of the video information is converted to the resolution of a display device so that the video information is visually displayed.
The following is a brief description of a related-art IP conversion processing circuit. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the construction or a related-art general IP conversion processing circuit In FIG. 9, reference numerals 101 and 102 denote field information storage units which store inputted video information in units of fields. Reference numeral 103 denotes a motion detector-generator. This motion detector-generator 103 finds the difference between the currently inputted field information and field information which is outputted from the field information storage unit 102 and was inputted one frame period previously to the currently inputted field information, thereby determining in units of pixels whether the input video information is moving-image information or still-image information. Furthermore, the motion detector-generator 103 determines the motion of an interpolation pixel, from the obtained motion information on each pixel, and outputs the determined motion.
Reference numeral 104 denotes a line information storage unit which stores the inputted video information in units of lines. Reference numeral 107 denotes an adder which performs addition on two inputted signals Reference numeral 108 denotes a divider which finds the half value of the sum of values added by the adder 107. Reference numeral 109 denotes an interpolation information selecting unit. The interpolation information selecting unit 109 selects, according to the output signal from the motion detector-generator 103, either pixel information which is outputted from the field information storage unit 101 and was inputted one field period previously to the currently inputted field information, or an average value of pixel values which is outputted from the divider 108 and contained in lines above and below an interpolation pixel position, and determines the selected information as an interpolation pixel value.
Reference numeral 105 denotes an input-output conversion speed unit for storing the pixel information outputted from the interpolation information selecting unit 109 in units of lines and reading out the stored pixel information at a speed twice that of the inputted video information, while reference numeral 106 denotes an input-output conversion speed unit for storing the inputted pixel information in units of lines and reading out the stored pixel information at a speed twice that of the inputted video information. Reference numeral 110 denotes a display information selecting unit which outputs pixel information while effecting line-by-line switching between the pixel information outputted from the input-output conversion speed unit 105 and the pixel information outputted from the input-output conversion speed unit 106.
The operation of the related-art IP conversion processing circuit will be described below. Inputted interlaced video information is inputted to the field information storage unit 101 and to the line information storage unit 104, and pixel information which is delayed by one field period is obtained from the field information storage unit 101, while pixel information which was inputted one line previously is obtained from the line information storage unit 104.
FIGS. 10A to 10C are views showing video information displayed by interlace scanning of the NTSC (national television system committee) signal. In FIG. 10A, in the NTSC signal, one picture is made of 525 horizontal lines, and the unit of this one picture is called a frame. The frame is divided into an odd field in which odd lines are represented by interlace scanning as shown in FIG. 10B and an even field in which even lines are represented by interlace scanning as shown in FIG. 10C. In the NTSC signal, 525 lines of video information are represented by alternately displaying the odd field of video and the even field of video. Namely, the odd field and the even field are in the relationship of mutual interpolation of their shortages of line information.
Accordingly, the previous field of pixel information corresponding to the position of a pixel to be interpolated is obtained from the field information storage unit 101. In addition, pixel information contained in lines above and below the pixel to be interpolated is obtained from the inputted video information as well as from the line information storage unit 104. Furthermore, the average value of the pixel information contained in the lines above and below the pixel to be interpolated is found from the inputted video information and the line information storage unit 104 by the adder 107 and the divider 108, and is used as interpolation pixel information for a moving image.
The pixel information outputted from the field information storage unit 101 is further one field period delayed by the field information storage unit 102, whereby video information delayed by one frame period from the inputted video information, i.e., pixel information contained in the previous frame corresponding to the position of the inputted pixel is obtained.
The motion detector-generator 103 will be described below. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the construction of the motion detector-generator 103. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1031 denotes a subtracter which finds the difference between the currently inputted field information and the field information which is outputted from the field information storage unit 102 and was inputted one frame period previously to the currently inputted field information.
Reference numeral 1032 denotes an absolute-value unit which finds the absolute value of the difference value found by the subtracter 1031. Reference numeral 1033 denotes a threshold filter circuit which compares the value found by the absolute-value unit 1032 and a preset threshold. If the value found by the absolute-value unit 1032 is smaller than the threshold, the threshold filter circuit 1033 determines that the pixel is a still-image pixel, and outputs the value "0". On the other hand, if the value found by the absolute-value unit 1032 is greater than or equal to the threshold, the threshold filter circuit 1033 determines that the pixel is a moving-image pixel, and output the value "1". Accordingly, even if invalid pixel information such as noise is added to the inputted video information, the threshold filter circuit 1033 can eliminate the influence as long as the invalid pixel information is a small variation.
Reference numeral 1034 denotes a line motion information storage unit which stores in units of lines motion information on each pixel outputted from the threshold filter circuit 1033. Motion information on a pixel which was inputted one line previously to the inputted video information can be obtained from the line motion information storage unit 1034.
Reference numeral 1035 denotes a two-input one-output OR element which finds the logical sum of the motion information outputted from the threshold filter circuit 1033 and the motion information on the pixel which is one line previous and is outputted from the line motion information storage unit 1034, thereby determining motion information on an interpolation pixel and outputting the motion information.
If the motion information outputted from the motion detector-generator 103 is the value "0", the interpolation information selecting unit 109 selects the pixel information outputted from the field information storage unit 101, whereas in the case of the value "1", the interpolation information selecting unit 109 selects the pixel information outputted from the divider 108 and outputs the pixel information as interpolation pixel information.
The input-output conversion speed unit 105 and the input-output conversion speed unit 106 respectively store in units of lines the interpolation pixel information outputted from the interpolation information selecting unit 109 and the inputted video information. The stored pixel information is read at a speed twice that of the inputted video information, and the display information selecting unit 110 outputs the pixel information while effecting line-by-line switching between the pixel information outputted from the input-output conversion speed unit 105 and the pixel information outputted from the input-output conversion speed unit 106.
However, in the above-mentioned related-art IP conversion method, since the difference information between frames is used for the detection of motion information, if a motion occurs in a field between frames, the moving image is determined as a still image, so that erroneous data is set as an interpolation pixel value.
In addition, in the case where invalid pixel information is added by the influence of noise and the like and motion information cannot be accurately detected, switching frequently occurs between interpolation pixel information indicative of a moving image and interpolation pixel information indicative of a still image, so that a remarkable image quality degradation occurs in video.
To cope with these problems, several proposals have already been made. For example, to solve the erroneous detection caused when a motion occurs in a field between frames, JP-B-8-32025 and JP-A-2000-175159 disclose means for referring to motion information on the previous field as well. In addition, to solve the erroneous detection due to the influence of noise and the like, JP-A-10-98692 discloses means for referring to motion information on the previous frame as well. This method of referring to motion information on a previous field or frame in this manner is means useful for preventing erroneous detection of motion information.
However, as in the case of the above-mentioned related arts, only if motion information on a previous field or frame is simply referred to, new erroneous detection is likely to be incurred. The following is a description of such a case.
FIGS. 12A to 12D are views showing an example in which the letter "H" is displayed while travelling in the horizontal direction from right to left. FIG. 12A shows the display state of video information on a field of interest, FIG. 12B shows the display state of video information on a field which is one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 12A, FIG. 12C shows the display state of video information on a field which is another one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12D shows the display state of video information on a field which is yet another one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 12A.
In the related-art motion detection method, since motion information is detected by finding the difference between frames, motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 12A is obtained by comparing the display state of FIG. 12A and the display state of FIG. 12C. FIGS. 13E to 13G are views motion information in individual fields. Consequently, as shown in. FIG. 13E, the display state of "H" shown in FIG. 12A and the display state of "H" shown in FIG. 12C are obtained as motion information.
Similarly, the motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 12B which corresponds to the field which is one field period previous results as shown in FIG. 13F. Motion information on the next to the field shown in FIG. 12A results as shown in FIG. 13G. In this method, since the motion information is detected between frames, the motion information on the field of interest lacks, as shown in FIG. 13E, the motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 12B which corresponds to a field between frames.
For this reason, as disclosed in JP-B-8-32025 and JP-A-2000-175159, motion information on the previous field, i.e., the motion information shown in FIG. 13F is also used as the motion information indicative of the display state shown in FIG. 12A, whereby it is possible to avoid this detection leakage. As mentioned above, to refer to motion information in the previous field as well is means useful in preventing erroneous detection of motion information.
However, the motion information necessary for the display state shown in FIG. 12A is information indicating at which location the state of a pixel has varied from the display state which is one frame period previous. Namely, the variations of the motion shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C need only be detected. However, if the motion information shown in FIG. 13F, which is motion information which is one field period previous, is used without modification, motion information which is three field periods previous, i.e., the motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 12D, will be contained. Consequently, a portion which should be processed as a still image is processed as a moving image.
In the above-mentioned related-art IP conversion method, if that portion is processed as a moving image, an average value of pixel values positioned lines above and below in the same field is found as an interpolation pixel value, so that there is the disadvantage that the vertical spatial frequency is reduced to half, resulting in unsharp video images. For this reason, in order to maintain the vertical spatial frequency, it is preferable to process the portion as a still image as positively as possible and use a pixel value of the previous field as an interpolation pixel value. From this point of view, even when motion information on the previous field is to be used, the avoidance of use of motion information relative to unnecessary motion will lead to prevention of degradation of image quality.
FIGS. 14H to 14k are views showing an example in which the letter "H" is displayed while travelling in the horizontal direction from right to left. FIG. 14H shows the display state of video information on a field of interest, FIG. 14I shows the display state of video information on a field which is one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 14H, FIG. 14J shows the display state of video information on a field which is another one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 14H, and FIG. 14K shows the display state of video information on a field which is yet another one field period previous to the field shown in FIG. 14H
If the related-art motion detection method is used for these display states, motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 14H is obtained by comparing the display state of FIG. 14H and the display state of FIG. 14J. Consequently, the motion information shown in FIG. 15M is found. FIGS. 15M to 15Q are views showing motion information on individual fields.
In the case of these display states, referring to the state of the letter which has traveled from the display state of FIG. 14J to the display state of FIG. 14H, an overlapping portion exists between the position of the letter "H" in the display state of FIG. 14J and the position of the letter "H" in the display state of FIG. 14H, and motion information on the overlapping portion is handled as a still image. Although this portion in which the overlap of the letters has occurred must be originally handled as a moving image, the motion information is erroneously detected. Similarly, motion information indicative of the display state of FIG. 14I which is one field period previous results as shown in FIG. 15N.
In this case, erroneous detection information is contained in the motion information itself, so that accurate motion information on an interpolation pixel cannot be found. Furthermore, if motion information containing this erroneous detection information is used as motion information on the previous field as mentioned above in connection with FIGS. 12A to 13G, it becomes impossible to completely remedy erroneous detection. Accordingly, if more accurate motion information on an interpolation pixel is to be found, it is necessary to take measures against erroneous detection such as those shown in FIGS. 14H to 15Q and use the obtained information as motion information on the previous field. This erroneous detection cannot be avoided merely by referring to motion information on previous fields such as those shown in FIGS. 12A to 13G.
In the above description, reference has been made to the fact that erroneous detection of motion information which is caused by finding difference information between frames cannot be solved by simply referring to moving image on previous fields. However, even in the case where motion information on previous frames are referred to in order to reduce the influence of noise and the like, if similar erroneous detection information is contained in the motion information on the previous frames, no sufficient effect can be expected.

Video information processing apparatus and video information processing method


This disclosure generally relate to a method and system for mapping application dependency information. The present technology relates techniques that enable user-adjustable application dependency mapping of a network system. By collecting internal network data using various sensors in conjunction with external user inputs, the present technology can provide optimized application dependency mapping using user inputs.

Network infrastructure management is important for business and organizations. To track application dependencies, IT management has relied on conventional techniques such as spreadsheets. But the proliferation of virtualized data centers and cloud services has made it increasingly difficult to track dependencies using traditional methods.
For example, traditional IT management technologies are unable to map individual application and specifically unable to discover which computing component supports each application. As businesses have attempted to utilize IT management systems for more complex business and application management, they have discovered that this is a very manual process, involving constant maintenance and complex programming.

System and method for user optimized application dependency mapping


A reciprocating poultry chiller auger including a bearing, such as a simple cylindrical bearing, mounting the shaft of an auger-type poultry chiller for both rotation of the shaft and for linear reciprocating motion of the shaft along its axis. The shaft may be reciprocated backward and forward along the axis of the shaft by, for example, a hydraulic cylinder that alternately pushes and pulls the shaft so that it slides linearly in a reciprocating fashion within the bearing. The reciprocating motion of the auger provides agitation of the chilled water in the poultry chiller thus improving contact and heat transfer from poultry carcasses into the chilled water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auger-type poultry chiller, and in particular, to such an apparatus where the shaft of the auger is reciprocated to increase the agitation of the chilled water in the chiller.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
After evisceration, slaughtered poultry carcasses must be rapidly chilled to preserve the quality of the meat. Various types of poultry chillers are known in the art, but a common type is the auger-type poultry chiller. Auger-type chillers are typically in the form of semi-cylindrical tanks filed with chilled water. The carcasses are placed in one end of the tank and moved to the other end by a rotating auger. In order to prevent clumping of the carcasses and to obtain good contact between the poultry carcasses and the chilled water, the chilled water may agitated by various means, including air bubbles. However, while the prior art techniques for agitating the chilled water provide some agitation sufficient to achieve good contact between the carcasses and the chilled water and to minimize clumping, a more effective technique is needed.
The limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention as described below.


A method of preparing a potato product which is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside including the steps of slicing raw potatoes into thin potato slices, steaming the potato slices until fully cooked, cooling the steamed potato slices, coating the steamed potato slices with an egg mixture after cooling, freezing the coated potato slices, and baking the frozen coated potato slices in a conventional oven until a desired browning color and crispness is achieved. The combined steps of steaming the potato slices, coating the steamed slices and freezing before final baking produce a potato product that is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with a method for preparing potato products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of preparation of fat-free potato products such as french fries including the steps of steaming, coating, freezing and baking to achieve a cooked potato product that is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Potato products such as potato chips and french fries are immensely popular as snack foods. However, potato snacks are conventionally prepared with deep fat frying means which results in a snack with extremely high fat, oil and calorie content. The resulting high fat content product is undesirable for persons who are concerned with their weight and health. In recent years, snack manufacturers and cooks have become increasingly aware of these dietary concerns and have responded by introducing fat-free snacks and methods of preparing fat-free potato snacks.
Fat-free potato snacks are prepared by a variety of cooking methods including microwaving and conventional radiant oven cooking. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,483 discloses a fat-free cooking process for potatoes including the steps of microwave cooking followed by conventional radiant oven cooking. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,425 discloses a low fat potato product prepared using a process involving a microwave oven and a protein coating. Other known efforts in the field of fat-free potato product preparation include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,904,429 and 4,098,906, both of which disclose microwave cooking.
The prior art fat-free cooking methods for potatoes discussed above all employ microwave or radiant oven cooking. Although microwave cooking results in a low fat or fat-free potato product, it creates a finished snack which has poor texture due to uneven cooking. Additionally, microwave cooking tends to dehydrate the cut potato, resulting in a tough and stringy snack. Radiant oven cooking potato slices before and after freezing also results in a low fat product, but the two baking steps dehydrate the potato slices and form a tough coating on the finished product.
Since many consumers find snacks prepared by these prior art methods undesirable, the snacks are not suitable substitutes for deep fat fried snacks. Thus, the prior art points out the need for a method of preparing potato snacks which results in a snack which is both low fat or fat-free and of a desirable texture and moisture content.

Method of preparing egg coated potato slices


A device and a method enabling the enhancing of the modulation efficiency of lasers by matching the modulation frequency and the FSR of the laser. This is optionally achieved by eliminating the internal cavity of a laser diode (103) placed in an external cavity and matching the FSR of the external cavity to the modulation frequency. The modulation index is enhanced to and beyond the point of complete carrier suppression even at high modulation frequency and high beam intensities. The external cavity comprises a grating (107), the cavity length being adjusted with a PZT (108) and a translation stage (109). The laser diode (103) is driven by a bias current (110) from a driver (115) and a modulation current (111) from a modulation driver (116).

High frequency modulation of laser beams is an important tool in many fields, such as communication, atomic physics and many others. In particular, the experimental realization of a Λ-system sets the ground for many applications of precision measurements.
Some of these applications include atomic clocks [1, 2], magnetic sensors [3] and gravity gradiometers [4]. This Λ-system consists of two coherent laser fields, two hyperfine levels of an atomic ground state and an excited state. Depending on the application, the coherent coupling of the two sub levels of the ground state is done by laser beams which are resonant (as in CPT) or non resonant (as in Stimulated Raman transitions) with the transition to the excited state. In both cases the beams must be phase locked and with a tunable frequency difference in the range of several GHz (corresponding to the ground state's hyperfine split energy in alkali atoms).
Three main methods have been developed over the years for the generation of the two phase-locked beams: Direct light modulation either by AOM [5] or EOM [6, 7], optical phase locking of two lasers [8, 9] and direct current modulation of a laser diode [10]. The modulation of the DC current injected to the laser diode by an AC signal of the frequency fm produces optical side bands. The first order sidebands can then be injected to slave lasers for amplification and spectral purification. The final result is two phase locked laser beams with a frequency difference of 2fm. However, the modulation response of edge emitting diode laser decreases sharply as the modulation frequency increases.
An alternative is to modulate the current of a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) [11] which is much more susceptible to high frequency modulation but has very little power (total of 2 mw).
In the present patent application experimental results are presented, demonstrating the modulation response enhancement of an AR coated edge emitting laser diode in an external cavity.
By eliminating the internal cavity of the laser diode and matching the modulation frequency to the FSR of the external cavity per the present invention the modulation index is enhanced to the point of complete carrier suppression even at high modulation frequency. The result is a tunable modulation source in the range of 3 to 6 GHz, with more then 60% of the total power of the output beam concentrated in the two first optical sidebands.
Modulation enhancement by an external resonance cavity with a mode spacing corresponding to the desired modulation frequency was already reported both for edge emitting diodes [12] and VCSEL [13]. However, as the internal resonance cavity of these diodes was not eliminated, complete carrier suppression was not demonstrated in these experiments, or complete carrier suppression was demonstrated, only when the power of the beam was small.
The modulation enhancement of a "regular" (FP) diode (like the one used in [12]) is compared to that of the AR coated diode, to illustrate the effect of the elimination of the internal resonance cavity. The affect of the DC current on the modulation response is also examined.
FIG. 1 of the prior art is a schematic illustration of a resonance cavity 30 of distance L, having back reflector 1 which is a high reflectivity mirror, and an output coupler 2 which is a mirror with partial transmission.
As used herein the specification and in the claims section that follows, the term "FSR", (free spectral range), and the like refer to the basic resonance frequency of a resonance cavity.
FSR is given by:
                                          F                                                                          S                                                                          R                    =                      c                          2                                            L                eff                                                    ,                              L            eff                    =                                                    L                1                                                          n                1                                      +                                          L                2                                                          n                2                                      +                                          (                                  L                  -                                      L                    1                                    -                                      L                    2                                                  )                                          n                                                          (        1        )            were c is the speed of light and Leff is the effective length of the resonance cavity.    Leff=L, if the space inside the resonance cavity is empty.    Leff=n×L, if the space inside the resonance cavity is filled with a material with refractive index n.    Leff=n1×L1+n2×L2+ . . . if there are several materials inside the resonance cavity.
FIG. 2 of the prior art is a schematic illustration of a resonance cavity 30 with several materials, having several indexes n along its length L. The first material is spread along L1 and has indexes n=n1, the second material is spread along L2 and has indexes n=n2, etc.
Lasing Frequency
The laser will emit light at a frequency ν that is an integer multiplication of the FSR (resonance condition):ν=k×FSR,k=1,2,3, . . .  (2)
Typically, the value of k for an operating laser is between 105 and 107.
Direct Laser Modulation
In some lasers it is possible to introduce periodic perturbation to the amplification means (gain medium) of the laser. As a result, the laser light's spectrum will include additional components, known as sidebands. In this case the laser field is given by:E=E0ei ωt+Ek±ei(ω±kωm)t,k=1,2,3 . . .  (3)
Where ω=2πν is the main laser angular frequency (also known as the carrier frequency), and ωm=2πfm is the modulation angular frequency. E0 is the amplitude of the carrier and Ek± are the amplitudes of the sidebands.
Modulation Index (Depth)
The amplitudes of the carrier and the sidebands are approximately propositional to the Bessel functions of the first kind:E0∝J0(m),Ek±∝±Jk(m)  (4)
The dimensionless parameter m is an indicator to the modulation strength. For m<0.1 there will be no noticeable modulation. At m=0.4, the first order sidebands (k=1) will have about 4% of the energy each, and the second sideband will emerge. At m=2.4, the carrier amplitude goes to zero ("full carrier suppression") and all the energy is split between the first 4 sidebands. As m increases, more sidebands will appear in the laser beam.
Typically, direct modulation of a laser beam is achieved by modulating the DC current supply of a laser diode with an AC current source. Changing the AC frequency directly controls the modulation angular frequency ωm. The modulation index m is dependent on several factors: The ratio between the DC and AC power, the dissipation of AC along the diode feeding circuit, reflection of part of the AC power due to imperfect impedance matching and the susceptibility of the diode's material to the AC modulation. On top of all these parameters, as the modulation frequency goes up to the GHz range, the optical sidebands move noticeably away from the resonance condition (2), and are thus strongly suppressed by the laser resonance cavity itself, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 of the prior art is a graphical illustration of the suppression of the amplitude of the modulated sidebands due to the effect of the resonance condition
There is a need for a method and a device for enhancing the modulation efficiency of lasers.

Phase locked sideband beams by bias modulation of an external cavity laser diode having a grating

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Research and Development Authority


A bottle-gripping insert element is configured for detachable mounting in respective association with a bottle-receiving pocket of a star wheel of a bottle-handling apparatus. The insert element is formed from elastomeric material, and is dimensioned for interfering engagement with associated bottles dimensioned in accordance with normal manufacturing tolerances. The bottle-gripping insert element is preferably provided with a plurality of generally vertically extending gripping ribs for enhanced frictional engagement with associated bottles.

Bottle-handling equipment, such as closure-applying capping machines, must be configured for reliable, high-speed handling of bottles or like containers. While the particular configuration of such an apparatus will depend upon the specific bottles being handled, and the specific closures which are being applied thereto, many applications require that each individual bottle be restrained against rotation, about its own vertical axis, during application of an associated closure. Ordinarily this is accomplished by positioning each bottle in a respective pocket at the periphery of a rotatable star wheel of the apparatus, with the star wheel including an arrangement whereby the bottle is restrained against rotation. As the bottle is moved by the star wheel, a closure is applied to the bottle, and a capping head of the apparatus rotates the closure (while the bottle is held against rotation) for application to the bottle. The bottle is typically subsequently transferred to an output star wheel of the apparatus for subsequent handling, packaging, storage, and shipment.
In order to restrain each bottle against rotation as a closure is applied thereto, current capping machines are typically provided with a flexible belt which extends generally about the bottle-receiving star wheel of the capping machine. This belt, typically formed from suitable elastomeric material, is positioned so that a portion of the belt extends within each of the pockets defined by the periphery of the star wheel. Thus, as a bottle is moved into one of the pockets, it engages and displaces the segment of the belt extending within that pocket, thereby providing the desired restraint against rotation of the bottle as it is frictionally strained by the belt.
While the above-described arrangement for restraining bottles is widely employed, experience has shown that the bottle-engaging belt does not always restrain bottles against rotation as desired. Because such belts are subject to stretching, attendant to deflection by the bottles received in the star wheel, periodic adjustment of the belt tension is required. Additionally, the rate at which such stretching occurs can vary, thus undesirably resulting in inconsistent frictional forces between the flexible belt and the associated bottles. The inevitable build-up on the flexible belt of product being placed in the containers further contributes to inconsistent frictional forces, including undesired slippage of the bottles relative to the belt. Replacement of the belt attendant to wear or breakage has proven to be undesirably time-consuming, detracting from machine productivity by the required "down time" for belt replacement.
The present invention contemplates an arrangement for gripping bottles or other containers in a bottle-handling apparatus which promotes consistent, reliable handling of the bottles, while facilitating efficient maintenance attendant to normal wear.


A device and method for providing varying bias voltages to a security device in a cable set-top terminal, comprising a receiving unit in the security device for receiving replaceable conditional access cards, a card interface for sensing the insertion of conditional access cards in the receiving unit and outputting an enable signal to a logic unit, and the card interface for identifying a bias voltage of the conditional access card and outputting a request of the bias voltage to a controller, a controller for receiving the request of bias voltage from the card interface and outputting a selection signal of the bias voltage to a logic unit, the logic unit for receiving the enable signal from the card interface and selection signal of the bias voltage from the controller to output a control signal to a switch, and a switch for receiving a control signal from the logic unit and providing a switched voltage to the security device based on the selection signal from the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and a method for power supply switching, more particularly, to a device and method of switching voltages applied to security devices.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Viewers of cable television systems typically access cable content via a set-top box. The set-top boxes are usually equipped with conditional access and security circuitry for selective access to premium services such as pay-per-view.
The conditional access and security circuitry may be encapsulated in a replaceable security device such as a point of deployment (POD) module, smart card, etc. In this way, the security system can be upgraded or replaced over time without impacting the set-top box of a cable system.
While the security device is replaceable and different conditional access cards can be plugged into each individual module, different modules and cards require different bias voltages.
Further, when certain security device and conditional access cards are selected, different modes of a module require different voltage supplies. For example, except in standby mode, the Vcc pins of the security device should be supplied with 3.3V, while different voltages are needed for other modes of operation.
A need therefore exists for a device which can supply different voltages to a security device. There is a further need for a switching power supply device capable of sensing the change of voltage requirement when a security device is replaced or a different conditional access card is used for operation in different modes.
A device is provided for varying bias voltages to a security device in a cable set-top box, comprising a receiving unit in the security device for receiving replaceable conditional access cards, a card interface for sensing the insertion of conditional access cards in the receiving unit and outputting an enable signal to a logic unit, and the card interface for identifying a bias voltage of the conditional access card and outputting a request of the bias voltage to a controller, a controller for receiving the request of bias voltage from the card interface and outputting a selection signal of the bias voltage to a logic unit, the logic unit for receiving the enable signal from the card interface and selection signal of the bias voltage from the controller to output a control signal to a switch, and a switch for receiving a control signal from the logic unit and providing a switched voltage to the security device based on the selection signal from the controller.
A method for providing Vcc voltages to a security device in a cable set-top box, comprising the steps of receiving a replaceable conditional access card in the security device, sensing a replacement of the conditional access card in the security device, identifying varying bias voltages of the conditional access card in the security device, providing an enable signal from a card interface, providing a selection signal of the bias voltage from a controller, combining the enable and selection signals in a logic unit, providing a control signal to a switch, and providing a switched voltage to a receiving unit in the security device based on the selection signal from the controller.


A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. The example loom provides a device for holding elastic bands in place to enable the creation of a Brunnian linked article.

This disclosure generally relates to method and device for creating a linked item. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a method and device for creating a linked wearable item from elastic bands.
Kits that include materials for making a uniquely colored bracelet or necklace have always enjoyed some popularity. However, such kits usually just include the raw materials such as different colored threads and beads and rely on the individual's skill and talent to construct a usable and desirable item.


A radio such as a frequency division duplex (FDD) radio (100) has a first local oscillator (LO1I and LO1Q) that is set to coincide with the transmitter section's (126) center frequency or a sub-harmonic thereof. In this way, after the first down-conversion, the transmit interferer is converted to DC, where it can be effectively removed using a simple high-pass filter (110, 112) such as a DC blocking capacitor. Image rejection is achieved by the use of a two-step down-conversion approach that uses quadrature local oscillators to implement a single-sideband down-converter.

Given the huge proliferation of radio communication devices in the last several years with the advent of communication systems like cordless telephones, cellular and personal communication system (PCS) radiotelephones, etc. several possible receiver architectures exist for implementing a radio frequency (RF) receiver. Some of the most prevalent receiver architectures currently in use today are the Superheterodyne receiver, the direct conversion or Homodyne receiver, and the wide-band IF with double conversion receiver. A discussion of these different receiver architectures can be found in an article found in the IEEE journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 32, No. 12, December 1997, entitled "A 1.9-GHz Wide-Band IF Double Conversion CMOS Receiver for Cordless Telephone Applications" by Rudell, et al. Each of the receiver architectures mentioned above has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.
The largest interfering source (also referred to as "interferer") in a frequency division duplex (FDD) radio, such as a wide-band code division multiple access (WCDMA) transceiver, is the output signal from the transmitter's power amplifier. The transmitter output signal can interfere with and sometimes degrade the performance of the transceiver's receiver section. A radio architecture that could help minimize the noted interference problem would be beneficial.

Radio architecture for use with frequency division duplexed systems


A warning device that turns on a warning light and or a warning sound to indicate when a manhole cover or a service box cover or a metal pole for lights, traffic lights, transformers or others has become dangerously electrically charged. The invention is attached to the frame of a manhole cover, or a service box cover or a metal pole. The light and sound warns people to stay off the covers and their surrounding areas, and the surrounding areas of the metal poles.

This invention relates to a warning device that is attached to the frames of manhole and service box covers and metal poles to warn people that the covers and poles are electrically charged due to a mishap in the manhole and service box or pole, and are dangerous. This invention is composed of a variety of lights, sound makers, sizes and shapes, but it is still the same warning device against electrically charged manholes, service boxes, and metal poles for street lights, traffic lights, transformers and others. Remote access devices to warn repair offices of charged manholes, service boxes and metal poles are also included.


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for identifying nodes in a network data processing system. Cache data is received from a set of routers in the data processing system. The cache data includes an identification of the nodes sending data packets onto the network data processing system. The nodes on the network data processing system are identified using the cache data from the set of routers.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for processing data in a network data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for identifying nodes in a network data processing system.
2. Description of Related Art
A network data processing system is a system that transmits any combination of voice, video, and/or data between different clients. The network for this system includes a medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected within the network data processing system. These devices include permanent connections, such as wire or fiber optic cables, or temporary connections, such as those made through telephone connections. Devices in addition to server and client machines include bridges, routers, and switches. Additionally, a network data processing system also may include wireless connections with supporting hardware, such as antennas and towers.
A number of different types of networks are present, such as a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN). A LAN is a communications network that serves users within some confined geographic area. Typically, a LAN uses clients and servers that have network-enabled operating systems. A WAN is a communications network covering a wide geographic area, such as a state or country. LANs are typically limited to a building or complex. Another example of a network is the Internet. The Internet, also referred to as an "internetwork", is a set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from a protocol of the sending network to a protocol of the receiving network. When capitalized, the term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
Businesses and other organizations employ network data processing systems to conduct business and other transactions. These networks may be as small as a single LAN or may encompass many networks, including the Internet.
Enterprise networking involves using a network infrastructure in a large enterprise or business organization with multiple computer systems and networks. These types of infrastructures are typically extraordinarily complex. An enormous amount of effort goes into planning and managing the integration of different disparate networks and systems. Also, planning for additional interfaces as needs and demands change also occurs. In managing these network data processing systems, it is important to identify nodes within the network data processing system to identify resources in the network data processing system. A node is a network junction or connection point. A terminal, computer, hub, and switch are considered nodes. Currently, nodes are identified by sending or "pinging" addresses on a network data processing system and waiting for a response from the device at the address.
Such a system of identifying nodes becomes increasingly difficult with the increasing use of personal firewalls by users. With these personal firewalls, a node may ignore pings or data sent to the node. In particular, these personal firewalls consume Internet Control Message Protocol (IMCP) packets, making this traditional means of node discovery useless. As a result, a network manager or administrator is unable to identify what nodes are actually present on a network data processing system.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for identifying nodes on a network data processing system.

Non-invasive discovery of relationships between nodes in a network

International Business Machines Corporation


In an apparatus for use with a video tape having a longitudinal track in which an address signal is recorded and successive slant tracks in which a video signal and an information signal are recorded at predetermined intervals; a magnetic head unit reproduces the video signal, the information signal, and the address signal. The information signal is applied to a pulse generator for generating a control pulse signal, and an address indication circuit provides an address indication in response to the address signal or the control pulse signal. A control circuit is provided for coupling one or the other of the address signal and the control pulse signal to the address indication circuit selectively in response to the speed of movement of the tape.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video signal reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to a video signal reproducing apparatus for use with a video tape having a longitudinal track having an address signal recorded thereon and successive slant tracks having a video signal recorded thereon and an information signal recorded thereon at predetermined intervals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In editing a video signal recorded on a video tape, it is important to achieve time related information specifying the distance of movement of the video tape. It is the conventional practice to provide such time related information by employing a time code signal recorded on a longitudinal time code track (LTC). Although this approach is satisfactory when video signal reproduction is performed in a normal mode, it fails to provide any reliable time code signal when the video signal reproduction is performed in a slow mode where the tape speed is too slow to reproduce a reliable time code signal. In fact, any reliable time code signal cannot be obtained when the tape speed is one-fifth or one-tenth of the normal speed at which the video tape moves in a recording mode.
In order to avoid the problem, one approach employs a control signal recorded on another longitudinal time control track (TRC) at predetermined intervals, for example, of one field to update the time related information specified by the last time code signal obtained when the time code signal is still reliable. With this approach, however, the control signal itself becomes too unreliable to update the time related information correctly according to the distance of movement of the video tape when video signal reproduction is performed in a slow mode.
Another approach employs a signal produced at predetermined intervals of the distance of movement of the video tape from a timer roller having a video tape wound therearound at an angle, for example, greater than 180.degree. C. However, this approach creates other problems. First, it requires a space consuming timer roller, resulting in a large-sized apparatus. Second, the timer roller rotates in a frictional manner with respect to the video tape and damages the video tape. In addition, a slippage would occur between the timer roller and the video tape, resulting in an error between the number of rotation of the timer roller and the distance of movement of the video tape to cause inaccurate time related information.
It may also be considered to employ a time code signal recorded on one of the user's bits of each slant video track (TRV). However, this approach reduces the number of the user's bits alloted to users.

Video signal reproducing apparatus with two modes of keeping track of address


A gear rescue system is configured to attach to gear in water and to deploy when a deployment water pressure is reached. The gear rescue system includes an upper housing mechanically coupled to a lower housing and an upper cap. A line spool is housed within the upper housing with some line extending through the lower housing and attached to a locking attachment ring. The locking attachment ring is attached to the gear. A blow out plug is detachably coupled to the lower housing and configured to blow out when the deployment water pressure is reached. When he gear pulls the gear rescue system to the deployment water pressure, the blow out plug enters into the lower housing causing the line spool to deploy line enabling the gear rescue system to rise to a surface of the water.

The embodiments herein relate generally to devices that prevent any type marine gear such as crab, shrimp or lobster pots, fishing gear to include gill or drift nets, and so on from becoming derelict.
Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention, in the normal course of setting shrimp, crab or lobster pots; tides, wind, current or improper line length move pots to deeper water where the weight of the pots pull down the float or buoy and become lost derelict pots. This becomes a hazard trapping and killing all forms of sea life. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve these problems.


The present disclosure provides a method and related devices for domain name bandwidth adjustment. The method includes: receiving domain name bandwidth information reported by each on-site bandwidth management server and based on the domain name bandwidth information, determining a target domain name having the domain name bandwidth exceeding a specified bandwidth threshold; determining a to-be-adjusted bandwidth corresponding to the target domain name, and allocating the to-be-adjusted bandwidth among a plurality of sites; determining a bandwidth control threshold of the target domain name for the corresponding site; and generating a flow control instruction containing the bandwidth control threshold, and sending the generated flow control instruction to the on-site bandwidth management server at the corresponding site, where the on-site bandwidth management server adjusts the domain name bandwidth of the target domain name in each node server at the site.

As the live streaming business grows rapidly, to provide stable and fast live streaming services to users, live streaming platforms often select content delivery network (CDN) or cloud service providers to expedite live streaming contents. Serving massive number of live streaming users, certain service nodes in the CDN are likely to encounter sudden surges of bandwidth demands. In this case, the overall bandwidth demands of the entire CDN will increase, thereby degrading normal services to other users.
Currently, each node in the CDN is often configured with a bandwidth threshold. Once the bandwidth demand of a customer at the node exceeds the bandwidth threshold, the customer's access will be denied. However, the method of limiting the bandwidth may only be applied to individual nodes. If the same customer simultaneously accesses a plurality of nodes, the method is not effective to moderate the overall bandwidth demand of the customer.

Method and devices for domain name bandwidth adjustment


The tamper evident container includes a base with a base hinge panel and a lid with a lid hinge panel. A hinge connects the panels. A frangible line extends from an edge of the lid hinge panel to a first point on the panel and then outwardly to the hinge. The frangible line crosses the hinge and extends inwardly to a second point on the base hinge panel. From the second point the frangible line extends to an edge of the base hinge panel. When the container is initially sealed, the frangible line separates upon the application of an upwardly directed force to a first portion of the lid hinge panel while a second portion of the lid hinge panel is held in a fixed position or moved downwardly. The separation of the frangible line creates two grasping portions that can be used to pull the lid from the base.

It is known to use plastic containers in the food preparation and restaurant industry to package prepared foods. The typical food container of the prior art consists of a clear or solid colored base and a clear lid. In order to maintain the quality of food contents and prevent tampering with the contents of a sealed container, it is desirable that the food container, once initially sealed, not be capable of being initially opened without visible indication of the container having been opened. To achieve this feature, container manufacturers have designed plastic containers having integral tamper evident features. Typically, these containers consist of a lid that is hingedly attached to a base. The lid seals to the base by superposing the rim of the lid upon the rim of the base. These types of plastic containers are sold as one-piece containers and are often referred to as "clamshell" containers or packages.
In one type of hinged tamper evident container, the lid and base each have interlocking elements respectively located on or near the lid rim and base rim where the two rims meet when the container is sealed (i.e., at a non-hinged side or portion of the container). The interlocking element of the lid or base is conventionally located on a tab or flange extending from the rim of the lid or base. Either or both of the tabs are attached to their respective rims by a frangible section of plastic. When the lid and base are placed in initial sealing arrangement, the interlocking elements on or near the lid rim and base rim engage and lock together. In order to open the initially sealed container, the frangible section of one or both tabs must be ruptured so as to release the tab or tabs from the container. Because the interlocking sealing elements are located on the tabs, rupturing one or more tabs from the container disables the locking mechanism. The ruptured tab provides evidence of the container having been opened.
One shortcoming with the prior art food container described above is that the interlocked tabs can be cut from the container in clean fashion using scissors or another cutting implement so as to remove any indicia of the container having had a tamper evident mechanism. In view of the issues presented by incorporating a tamper evident mechanism in the meeting rims of the hinged container, some manufacturers have incorporated tamper evident features as part of the structure that forms or includes the hinge. In these containers, the container is designed to require a severance near the hinge in order to unseal (initially open) the container. This construct makes the hinge a single use hinge.
A variety of designs are known for tamper evident food containers that have, as an initial container opening mechanism, a frangible hinge structure. Virtually all of these designs rely on the container having a specific, noticeable structure (e.g., a tab) projecting outwardly from the container to serve as a grasping or pinching platform. That grasping or pinching platform exists for purposes of the user applying a tearing force to the container to either rupture a frangible (a/k/a "weakened" or "breakable") line or remove a strip of material from the container. In certain cases, the tab is built as a separate structure departing at a distinct angle from other structure of container. In other cases, the tab is a visibly oversized portion of existing structure of the container, typically a flange of the lid or base rim, that extends beyond an opposing similar structure on the lid or base rim to provide a dedicated grasping platform. Examples of these types of design can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,944,436, 9,676,527, 9,493,277, 9,365,331, 9,132,942 and 7,568,589. Tamper evident containers that eschew including visible tabs as grasping portions near the hinge area, generally have square-shaped or "boxy" hinge structures that require a significant vertical separation between the hinge structures emanating from the lid rim and those emanating from the base rim.
One problem with all of the foregoing designs is that a significant amount of additional material beyond a simple hinge structure is required to construct a reliably performing frangible hinge section that can be used to initially open the sealed container. In addition, many of the hinge structures or their frangible mechanisms are made using a complex arrangement of material folds and cutouts that are manufacturable only with complex tooling or forming machinery. There is thus a need in the art for a re-closable plastic food container that: is easy for end consumers to operate; combines reliable tamper evidence and defense against prying intrusion; and that uses a minimum of material to manufacture.


A radar wave camouflage structure is disclosed. The radar wave camouflage structure comprises a substrate; a first layer on the substrate, comprising a first polymer matrix; magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in the first polymer matrix, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles comprise a mixture of Fe3O4, Fe3O4-4C carbide, Fe3O4—Ni composite and Fe2O3; a second layer on the first layer, comprising a second polymer matrix; and carbon black dispersed in the second polymer matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radar wave camouflage structure and method for fabricating the same, and in particular to a radar wave camouflage structure comprising Fe3O4 nanoparticles and method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radar wave camouflage materials are widely applied in a variety of fields such as the aerospace field to absorb incident electromagnetic wave radiation without reflection. In order to avoid such wave reflection, it is necessary that the radar wave camouflage materials have a large penetration depth so that when the wave is absorbed aerospace into the material, it can be attenuated or cancelled prior to exiting the material. Additionally, absorbance of radar wave camouflage materials is associated with relative electrical conductivity (σγ), relative magnetic permeability (μγ), thickness, dielectric constant (k) or other parameters.

Radar wave camouflage structure and method for fabricating the same


An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder that is a mechanism to automatically supply documents to an image reading unit and in particularly, improves productivity in reading both sides of documents.
2. Description of Related Art
In automatic conveying units that supply documents automatically to an image reading unit such as a scanner and the like, some of them supply both the front and back sides of documents to an image reading unit. In such an automatic document feeder that is capable of supplying both sides of a document, it is desirable that a collating order of a document placed on a paper supply tray before reading the document is the same as the collating order of the document discharged on a paper discharge tray after completing the image reading in either cases to read a document image on one side only or document images on both sides.
In the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-220149, a technology is proposed to place documents on a paper supply tray with their front sides upward and supply them to an image reading unit first from a document put on the top in the case of reading both sides and after reading the front side, reverse the document for reading the back side and after reading the back side, reverse the document again by the reversing mechanism and discharge through the paper exit and thus, the document in the same collation order as that before supplying the documents with the front side downward is discharged onto a paper discharge tray.
However, in the conventional technology mentioned above, it is considered to discharge documents by collating them but the documents are discharged in the as-is state onto the discharging tray in the open state and alignment of discharged documents is not considered. As a result, it was necessitated for operator to align documents after completing the reading. Further, when documents are relatively small in size, the collation might become out of order on the paper discharge tray.
Accordingly, in an automatic document feeder capable of supplying both sides of documents to an image reading unit, it is demanded to discharge documents on the paper discharge tray in the same collation order and good aligned state as before the reading.


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a composite material comprising a vinylidene difluoride (VDF)-containing copolymer and an electrically non-conductive polymeric material, to a composite material obtainable via said process, to its use in electrochemical cells and to an electrochemical cell comprising said composite.

Separators for use in electrochemical devices, in particular in secondary batteries, are needed to keep the anode physically and electrically separated from the cathode of the electrochemical cell, while permitting flow of electrolyte ions.
Separators must be chemically and electrochemically stable towards the electrolyte and the electrode materials and must be mechanically strong enough to withstand high tensions generated during battery assembly operations.
Further, their structure and properties may considerably affect battery performances, including energy density, power density, cycle life as well as safety.
For high energy and power densities, the separator is required to be very thin and highly ionically conductive, while still remaining mechanically strong.
During battery operation, thermal runaway may occur, which may cause dimensional shrinking or melting of the separator, eventually leading to physical contact of the electrodes and to internal short circuit and fire hazard.
For battery safety, the separator must be able to shut the battery down when overheating occurs, so as to avoid the thermal runaway.
Inorganic composite membranes have been widely used as separators for electrochemical devices including secondary batteries, in particular Lithium-ion batteries. Examples of composite porous films for use in membranes are disclosed in. US 2002/197413 A (TEIJIN LTD) 13 Sep. 2001
WO 2015/022229 (SOLVAY S.A.) discloses a process for manufacturing a solid composite separator comprising coating a porous substrate with a composition including a copolymer of VDF/HFP/HEA and silica, followed by a drying step and then, optionally by a curing and by a compression step.
US 2014/315080 (ABUSLEME) discloses a hybrid VDF-HFP-HEA/silica polymer obtained by reaction of TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate) with a composition including a copolymer VDF-HFP-HEA.
Also, a low thickness of the separator is required for high energy and power densities. However, this adversely affects the mechanical strength of the separator and the safety of the battery thereby provided.
A variety of inorganic filler materials have been long used to fabricate inorganic composite membranes wherein inorganic particles are distributed throughout a polymeric binder matrix.
Although inorganic composite membranes offer excellent wettability by the electrolytes, good thermal stability and zero-dimensional shrinkage at high temperatures, they are usually not mechanically strong enough to withstand handling in cell winding and assembly.
In particular, separators used in wound electrochemical cells require a high mix penetration strength to avoid penetration of electrode materials through the separator. If particulate materials from the electrodes penetrate the separator, a short circuit will result.
In many cases, the inorganic composite membrane contains a very high content of inorganic filler materials. In some instances, the so-obtained inorganic composite membrane exhibits poor mechanical strength and tends to break down during handling, hence they ultimately result very difficult to use in the manufacture of assemblies for electrochemical cells.
One particular challenge has been thus to provide for composite membranes with acceptable thickness to be suitably used as separators in electrochemical devices.
Multilayer composite membranes can be obtained using multiple coating steps. However, multiple steps disadvantageously increase processing costs.
There is thus still the need in the art for an solid composite separator having high ionic conductivity, to be suitably used in electrochemical devices, that exhibits also outstanding thermal and mechanical properties necessary during assembly and/or operation of the same devices, and for the process for its preparation.


A polysaccharide derivative having the structure Sacch--O--Z--Ar--CH.dbd.N--Y or ##STR1## where Sacch--O-- represents a polysaccharide molecule; Z is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- or ##STR2## Ar is a divalent aromatic group; Y is (a) a monovalent group derived from a water-soluble substituted or unsubstituted aromatic compound containing only one free primary amine group, or (b) a monovalent group derived from a water-soluble substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or cycloaliphatic compound containing only one primary amine group, or (c) a multivalent group derived from a water-soluble protein containing more than one primary amine group; n is one or greater; and m is zero or greater, is prepared by first modifying the polysaccharide with a reagent to introduce free aromatic aldehyde groups and then reacting with a suitable amine-containing reagent. The siloxane-containing starch derivaties are useful in glass forming size compositions.

The present invention relates to polysaccharide derivatives which contain substituents which are the reaction product of an aromatic aldehyde group present on the polysaccharide and selected reagents containing no more than one free primary amine group.
Dialdehyde starches are known. Their major uses reflect the reactive nature of the polymeric polyaldehyde in crosslinking substrates containing amino, hydroxyl, and imino groups. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,633 (issued Dec. 19, 1972 to E. Katchalski et al.) which discloses the condensation of a dialdehyde starch with an alkylene diamine to produce a highly crosslinked polymeric product which is then reduced, diazotized, and coupled with an active enzyme. Japanese Kokai No. 57,202,362 (published on Dec. 11, 1982 - CA 98:200152m) discloses water resistant aqueous adhesive compositions containing starch or a starch derivative containing at least two aldehyde groups (e.g., starch dialdehyde) and a compound containing at least two isocyanate groups (e.g., polymethylenepolyphenylene polyisocyanate).
The present invention also relates to a method for preparing glass fibers and in particular to the application of a forming size to continuous filament glass fiber strands.
Glass fibers are produced by a means whereby a molten glass composition is flowed or pulled through tiny orifices or tips in a heated platinum bushing. The individual glass filaments are passed through a sizing bath, grouped into a strand, and then wound on a rapidly rotating forming tube. A size is applied to the filaments in order to bind them together, maintain the integrity of the strand during winding and unwinding, as well as facilitate eventual processing. The strand on the forming tube is thereafter placed in an oven to dry or is allowed to air dry to reduce the moisture content of the strand.
Many different compositions have been used as glass forming sizes. Typically, the sizes have comprised aqueous dispersions of various modified and unmodified starches and oils. The following patents are directed to such compositions:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,192 (issued Jan. 4, 1966 to D. Griffiths) discloses an aqueous forming size containing an amylose starch mixture containing approximately equal portions of a high amylose starch component having an amylose content of about 50-60% and a low amylose starch component having an amylose content of about 20-30%.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,468 (issued Jan. 26, 1965 to J. Lovelace et al.) discloses an aqueous forming size containing a starch ether or ester which is the reaction product of starch and a tertiary or quaternary amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,771 (issued Dec. 2, 1969 to A. Doering) discloses an aqueous forming size dispersion having a low metallic ion content which employs an uninhibited or inhibited (i.e., crosslinked) starch ether or ester derivative. Among the applicable starch esters are acetates, propionates, butyrates, laurates, stearates and oleates. Suitable crosslinking agents include aliphatic dihalides, ether forming epoxy halogen compounds (i.e., epichlorohydrin), polyfunctional reagents (i.e., phosphorus oxychloride, mixed anhydrides, and succini anhydride).
U.S Pat. No. 3,615,311 (issued Oct. 26, 1971 to R. Ignatius) discloses a forming size containing a cationic starch ether or ester and an underivatized starch that is preferably high in amylose.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,664,855 and 3,793,065 (issued May 23, 1972 and Feb. 19, 1974, respectively, to A. Morrision et al.) employ starch ethers and esters of a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic 5 or 6 member hydrocarbon ring in a glass forming size composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,666 (issued Dec. 23, 1975 to Morrison et al.) employs a starch ester of a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 isoalkanoic acid in a glass forming size composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,872 (issued Sept. 4, 1979 to R. Karpik et al.) is directed to a migration-resistant forming size which contains a portion of swollen but unburst partially cooked starch granules, preferably from a high amylose corn hybrid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,345 (issued Sept. 18, 1979 to B. de Massey at al.) is directed to a glass forming size composition containing both a modified starch of low viscosity and an acrylic polymer film-forming agent. The useful starch is modified by treatments including etherification, esterification, cationization or acid hydrolyis.
There is always a need for new polysaccharide derivatives, especially derivatives containing silane groups, which are useful for glass forming sizes with improved adhesion to glass.

Polysaccharides containing aromatic aldehydes and their derivatization via amine-aldehyde interactions

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a read unit for reading pattern information formed by conductive material and an execution unit for executing a predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the read unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system, and in particular relates to those for performing arbitrary operation by using a touch screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, among mobile and PHS phones with a built-in camera, QR code compatible terminals have been widely used. As shown in FIG. 6, a QR code is photographed by using a camera built in a QR code compatible mobile phone or PHS phone. Then, information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) can be easily obtained by using the information content of the photographed QR code.
For example, a QR code containing a URL of, for example, a website having detailed information or a website for mobile phones is printed on a printed medium such as an advertisement or a map or displayed on the web screen. When information content of a QR code can be recognized by photographing the QR code by a mobile phone or the like, an access to the site designated by the URL can be facilitated. Moreover, by printing a QR code containing personal data on a business card, registration of the personal data to a mobile phone's address book can be also facilitated. Moreover, QR codes are started to be used for payment for online shopping and the like.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system


An improved fabric tension control apparatus and method consisting of a fabric handler with a feed roller, an idler roller and a take up roller and where fabric on the feed roller is transferred from the feed roller past the idler roller to the take up roller. A feed roller motor is connected with the feed roller and a take up roller motor is connected with the take up roller. A motion sensor tracks speed of rotation of the idler roller. A feed roller driver is connected with the feed roller motor and a take up roller driver is connected with the take up roller motor. A controller is connected with the feed roller driver, the take up roller driver and the motion sensor where the controller receives the speed of rotation of the idler roller from the motion sensor and where the controller sends speed adjustment instructions to the take up roller driver and the feed roller driver and where the speed adjustment instructions are sent to the feed roller motor and the take up roller motor such that the speed of the take up roller and the feed roller are adjusted such that the speed of the idler roller is constant so as to maintain a desired tension on the fabric as it is transferred.

There are many occasions in which it is necessary to maintain proper tension on material as it is transferred from one place to another. By way of example only and not by limitation, the creation of quilts requires the fabric to be tensioned sufficiently during creation of a quilt and the application of thread designs and such. If the fabric is too loose or too tight the resulting quilt and/or design or image is invariably unacceptable. The prior art solution requires constant monitoring and manual adjustment of various clutches and other devices to allow the elements of a quilting machine to add or remove tension to the fabric. An added complication is that as a mass of fabric is transferred from one location to another, the reduction of mass in one place and the addition of fabric build up in another constantly alters the speed of transfer and the tension between the two.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a mechanism and method that addresses the aforementioned problems in a manner that is robust and flexible so as to accommodate a full spectrum of material manipulation machines, materials and dimensions.
It therefore is an object of this invention to provide an improved fabric tension controller apparatus and method for enabling the precise control and adjustment of fabric tension in a fabric handling machine that is easy to use and economical to install and operate.

Fabric tension control apparatus and method


Low particulate slit valve system and method for controlling the closure pressure applied to a slit valve. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a barrier having a slit valve aperture, a valve seat surrounding the aperture, a closure movable towards and away from the valve seat, a sensing mechanism for determining the pressure differential on the two sides of the barrier, a processing unit responsive to the pressure differential and operative to produce a control signal, and a valve actuator responsive to the control signal and operative to control the force applied to the closure. The method of the invention includes determining a first fluid pressure on a first side of the barrier, determining a second pressure on a second side of the barrier, and applying a closure pressure to the closure which is related to the pressure differential between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure. If the pressure differential is low, zero or very near to zero pressure is applied to the closure to seal the aperture. If the pressure differential is high, a proportionately larger pressure is applied to the closure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to chamber closure apparatus used in semiconductor processing apparatus and more particularly to a slit valve closure and associated actuating and control system and method.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Various types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment are used to process semiconductor wafers during the manufacturing of integrated circuits (IC's). For example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems are used to deposit insulating and non-insulating layers over a wafer, plasma etch systems are used to etch a wafer or a layer formed over the wafer, and physical vapor deposition or "sputter" systems are used to physically deposits conductive layers over a wafer. These various processes are usually performed within sealed processing chambers so that the processing conditions can be tightly controlled.
A common way of putting a wafer into a processing chamber and then subsequently removing it is to provide a "slit valve" in a wall of the processing chamber. An elongated, usually horizontal, aperture is formed in the wall. The aperture is sufficiently wide and high to permit the passage of a semiconductor wafer supported by the blade of a robotic wafer handling arm, and is surrounded by a valve seat. An elongated valve closure selectably engages the seat to close the aperture or disengages from the seat to open the aperture.
When the slit valve is closed, a gas-tight seal is required in order to isolate the chamber from external influences. This usually requires an elastomeric gasket or seal, such as an O-ring seal, disposed between the valve seat and the closure. Since the pressure on one side of the slit valve can be as high as atmospheric pressure, while the pressure on the other side of the slit valve can be as low as 10.sup.-8 torr, one atmosphere or more of pressure is often applied to the closure to ensure that the slit valve does not leak even under the most adverse of conditions. This amount of pressure tightly compresses the O-ring seal between the closure door and the valve seat.
It is very important to minimize sources of contamination in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Even very small particles on the order of 0.2 microns can damage an IC device being created on a semiconductor wafer. A problem encountered with prior art slit valves is that, under high pressures, the elastomeric material of the O-ring is compressed into the metal surfaces of the valve seat and closure such that, when the slit valve is opened, the O-ring is ripped from the metal surface of either the valve seat or the closure, thereby creating a large cloud of particles which can settle on a wafer, on surrounding surfaces, or remain suspended for a considerable period of time. Particles that eventually settle onto the active surface of the wafer can greatly reduce the yield of usable integrated circuits from that wafer.
The problem of particle cloud generation during slit valve opening is of even greater concern with the advent of multiple chamber semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Referring now to FIG. 1, wherein is illustrated a prior art multiple chamber semiconductor processing system 100. The system 100 includes a wafer handling chamber 102, a wafer cassette loading/unloading chamber 104, and a number of wafer processing chambers 106a-106d. The system 100 is typically designed to process a single wafer 108 at a time within any one of the processing chambers 106.
The wafer handling chamber 102 is provided with a computer controlled robotic wafer handler 110 which can support and move the wafer 108. A typical wafer handler 110 includes a "frog's leg" assembly 112 which is coupled at one end to a motor assembly 114 and, at the other end, to a wafer support blade 116. The motor assembly 114 allows the blade 116 to be rotated around an axis A of the motor assembly 114 and also to be moved radially in and out relative to the axis A as indicated by an arrow 118, by opening and closing the "frog's leg" assembly 112 in the direction of an arrow 120. These two degrees of movement allow the wafer handler 110 to move the wafer 108 into and out of the loading/unloading chamber 104 and the processing chambers 106a-106d.
Wafer handlers, such as the handler 110, are commercially available from such companies as Applied Materials of Santa Clara, Calif.
The wafer handling chamber 102 is pentagonal in shape to accommodate the four processing chambers 106a-106d and the loading/unloading chamber 104. A slit valve assembly is disposed in a wall of each of the chambers 104, 106a-106d. Thus, a slit valve assembly 130a is disposed in a chamber wall 132a that forms a boundary between the handling chamber 102 and the processing chamber 106a. Also, a plurality of slit valve assemblies 130b, 130c, 130d are disposed in chamber walls 132b, 132c, 132d, respectively, that form a boundary between the handling chamber 102 and the other processing chambers 106b, 106c, 106d, respectively. Similarly, a slit valve assembly 130e is disposed in a chamber wall 132e that forms a boundary between the handling chamber 102 and the loading/unloading chamber 104. The slit valve assemblies 130a-130e permit the wafer 108 to pass through the walls 132a-132e, respectively, of the handling chamber 102 into the chambers 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d and 104, respectively. Typically, the wafer handling chamber 102 is evacuated during the wafer handling process by a vacuum pump (not shown).
In operation, a stack of wafers (not shown) is placed within the loading/unloading chamber 104, and the slit valve assembly 130e is opened to permit the handler 110 to remove one or more of the wafers from the loading/unloading chamber 104. The slit valve 130e is then closed and the handling chamber 102 is evacuated.
A slit valve assembly to one of the processing chambers 106a-106d is opened to permit the wafer 108 to be placed on a pedestal 134a-134d, respectively, disposed in the processing chamber. As an example of a multiple processing operation, the wafer 108 is initially provided with an oxide layer and is then etched. Thus, in the initial step, the wafer 108 is to be placed in, for example, chamber 106a which is an oxide CVD chamber. Slit valve 130a is opened and the handler 110 passes the wafer 108 through the opening and places it on the pedestal 134a. Slit valve 130a is then closed and the CVD process is performed. After the completion of the CVD process, the slit valve 130a is opened and the wafer 108 is removed by the handler 110 and the slit valve 130a is closed. In the next processing step, the wafer 108 is etched in a reactive ion etch (RIE) chamber. If chamber 106b is an RIE chamber, slit valve 130b is opened, the handler 110 places the wafer 108 on the pedestal 134b, and the slit valve 130b is closed. After the RIE process is performed, the slit valve 130b is reopened, the handler 110 removes the wafer 108, and the slit valve 130b is closed. After the wafer 108 has been completely processed and it is returned to the loading/unloading chamber 104.
At every step in the process, a corresponding slit valve assembly is opened and closed. Since each slit valve opening creates particles which could potentially contaminate the wafer, it is particularly desirable to minimize the number of particles created with each opening of a slit valve.
In a processing sequence such as described above, the wafer 108 may be exposed at least six times to the particles produced by the opening of a slit valve. If the wafer 108 undergoes additional processing steps, it will be exposed to even more slit valve openings. As the trend towards increasingly complex, multi-chamber semiconductor manufacturing equipment continues, the problem with slit valve contamination will become increasingly troublesome. Furthermore, as the feature widths of integrated circuits decrease, integrated circuit wafers will become even more sensitive to damage from such contamination.

Low particulate slit valve system and method for controlling same


A method includes exciting, at a first time period, a first set of pixels in an excitation array, wherein the first set of pixels comprises more than one pixel, and no pixel in the first set of pixels is adjacent to another pixel in the first set of pixels. The method also includes exciting, at a second time period, a second set of pixels in the excitation array wherein the second set of pixels comprises more than one pixel, and no pixel in the second set of pixels is adjacent to another pixel in the second set of pixels. The method retrieves excitation data, wherein the excitation data is comprised of data from the first set of pixels and data from the second set of pixels, and the excitation data is capable of being combined to reconstruct an image of a target object for rendering on a display.

Ultrasound scanning is often used for non-destructive inspection imaging. An ultrasound scanning apparatus can be comprised of a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of transducers that image an object using ultrasound waves.
Current active excitation two-dimensional array imaging transducers excite all the excitation transducers in a coherent fashion, i.e., all the excitation transducers in the array are excited simultaneously. The signal received at individual transducers can interfere with adjacent transducers due to the phase shift generated from different distances the waves travel back to the detectors. This can create interference on at least some detectors and cause image blurring.
Such imaging provides low resolution imaging because of cross talk between individual detector arrays. The cross talk can become more apparent as the size of the detector numbers increases to reach a higher resolution in two-dimensional array transducers.
A plurality of transducers are in a phased array for use in active non-destructive imaging of objects. FIG. 1 is an illustration 100 of an image 102 rendered as a result of all pixels (T1-Tn) in a two-dimensional pixel array 104 being excited simultaneously. The image 102 is of objects 1061 and 1062. The two-dimensional pixel array 104 transmits acoustic waves towards the objects 1061 and 1062, which are reflected due to the objects 1061 and 1062 and the reflected waves are sensed by the pixel array 104 at the same time (or substantially the same time). In the image 102 produced, the objects 1061 and 1062 are blurred due to cross-talk between the individual transducers of the pixel array 104. The reflected signal received at individual transducers (e.g., R2 and R3) can interfere with adjacent transducers receiving other reflected signals, for example, due the phase shift generated from different distances the wave traveling back to the detectors. This creates a diffraction pattern interference, such as an Airy disk, on some detectors, which leads to image blurring, and a clear rendering of the objects 1061 and 1062 cannot be achieved.

Excitation array multiplexing for active non-destructive inspection imaging systems


The energy is minimized that is required to lower the concentration of the high boiling point components (containing the poisoning substance for the dehydrogenation catalyst) contained in the hydrogenated aromatic compound produced by the hydrogenation of an aromatic compound. The hydrogenation system (2) for an aromatic compound comprises a hydrogenation reaction unit (11) for adding hydrogen to an aromatic compound by a hydrogenation reaction to produce a hydrogenated aromatic compound, a first separation unit (12) for separating a gas and a liquid component from a product of the hydrogenation reaction unit while maintaining a temperature of the product generally higher than a boiling point of the hydrogenated aromatic compound, and a second separation unit (13) for separating the hydrogenated aromatic compound from the gas component separated by the first separation unit.

The organic chemical hydride process for hydrogenating aromatic compounds such as toluene has recently been developed for the purposes of storing and transporting hydrogen in the form of hydrogenated aromatic compounds (or organic hydrides). According to this process, hydrogen is converted into a hydrogenated aromatic compound at the site of production, and transported in the form of the hydrogenated aromatic compound. The hydrogenated aromatic compound is separated into the hydrogen and the aromatic compound at a plant or a hydrogen station located near a city or other user of hydrogen by dehydrogenating the hydrogenated aromatic compound. The aromatic compound produced from this dehydrogenation process is transported back to the production site of hydrogen to be hydrogenated by hydrogen once again.
It is known that the catalyst used for the dehydrogenation process is degraded over time by a poisoning substance contained in the hydrogenated aromatic compound (impurities contained in the aromatic compound before being hydrogenated, or impurities produced during the hydrogenation process), and has a limited service life. The kind and the amount of the poisoning substance vary depending on the reaction condition of the hydrogenation process, but most of such substances have higher boiling points than the boiling point of the hydrogenated aromatic compound.
It is also known in a hydrogen storage and transportation system based on the organic chemical hydride process to maintain the concentration of the poisoning substance that is mixed with the hydrogenated aromatic compound (such as methylcyclohexane) in the product of the hydrogenation process by providing a distillation unit following the hydrogenation reaction unit to remove the poisoning substance from the dehydrogenation catalyst and extend the service life of the catalyst. See Patent Document 1.

Hydrogenation system for aromatic compound, hydrogen storage and transportation system equipped with same, and process for hydrogenation of aromatic compound


A packaging system for the retail display of an electrical device is disclosed. The packaging includes a “try me” switch to allow a potential customer to activate the electrical device in the store. The product includes a photovoltaic array and rechargeable battery which is intended to be periodically charged by the photovoltaic array. When packaged by the manufacturer, the rechargeable batteries are sufficiently charged to substantially activate the electrical device. When depressed, the “try me” switch interconnects the primary rechargeable battery with the electrical device within the packaging.

Electrical products sold to consumers often have printed on their packaging an indication that the consumer may, before purchasing the item, activate the device and see how it performs. Such arrangements are often associated with a "try me" button. Such a button allows a customer in a retail store to push a portion of the packaging and see the device operate while the package is still on a retail store shelf.
When activated by the consumer, a "try me" button often interconnects a supplemental battery to the electrical device or a portion of it. If, for example, the electrical product is a series of lights, pushing the "try me" button may interconnect a supplemental battery with, e.g., a few of the lights. Such lights will temporarily illuminate in the retail store for the potential customer, giving the potential customer a better sense of how the device operates. After being purchased, the customer typically disposes of both the "try me" button and the supplemental battery.

Packaging system for the retail sale of an electrical device