The present invention provides a matte process employing an improved backing screen having particular application for use in composite photography. In particular, the present invention relates to color difference composite photography, whether still, motion picture, video, solid state digital electronic or electrophotographic imaging, in which foreground and background scenes are separately recorded and subsequently combined using known "blue screen" or special color background techniques to form a single image. The present invention includes a biaxially stretchable fabric of synthetic fibers treated with a dye formulation, including fluorescence which is reactive to the visible spectrum, to achieve any of a variety of specific spectral loci and luminances, for the purpose of providing a precise chromatic actinic stimulus response for a silver halide photographic film, or similar response for electronic imaging devices. The selected backing is deployed in a support such that the fabric is stretched to a smooth, featureless surface and then illuminated. Foreground subject matter interposed between the camera and the backing or directly on the backing will therefore be readily distinguished and "matted" for compositing by methods well known to the art. In a further aspect of the present invention, the light emitting characteristics of the fluorescent matte fabric of the present invention may be advantageously relied upon to obtain the desired lighting effect in, for example, underwater photography. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the matte fabric of the present invention may be configured to cover objects or parts of a person in a field of view.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to composite photography, and more particularly to a matte process employing backing screens having improved chromatic actinic stimulus for color difference composite photography, cinematography, videography and solid state digital imaging.
2. Art Background
In motion picture production, it is often impractical, impossible or simply uneconomical to place actors in the specific environments to be depicted. To resolve this problem, various techniques have evolved over the years to composite such scenes from separately filmed "elements." The patent literature contains a great deal of teaching in this field. A comprehensive discussion is to be found in my prior patents. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,417,791, 4,548,470 and especially 4,629,298. Reference is also made to the American Cinematographer Manual, Seventh Edition (hereinafter "the ASC Manual"), pp. 430-466, with particular emphasis on the section titled "Screen Types and Lighting" pp. 434-437. With these references in mind, the present discussion will be confined to a summary of the evolution of traveling matte technique.
The earliest efforts at composite photography generally resorted to animation, as in Georges Melies' "Trip to the Moon" (1902). Thereafter, techniques such as the "held/take" process were utilized, in which a scene was shot with predetermined areas of the successive frames blocked off with an opaque "matte" in order to preclude exposure thereof. The unexposed portions of the successive frames were thereafter exposed to the desired foreground subjects, with the background areas "matted" to protect the previously recorded latent images. Essentially the same process is used to incorporate a painting which depicts a distant, dangerous, or totally alien scene against which the actors are to appear; this is known as matte painting. In order to depict actors or other foreground subjects moving in front of the desired background scenes, it became necessary to produce "mattes" that would change from frame to frame, or "travel." Various techniques were developed over the years to accomplish this.
Early processes relied upon contrast alone, the foreground action being filmed against a jet black backing and the resulting image being printed through several generations of high contrast film stock or alternatively, having the image chemically "intensified" until a matte was produced. One example of this technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,273,435 to Frank Williams in 1918.
The results obtained by this technique were generally quite poor, due to the inevitable distortion produced by the multiple reversals or the intensification which result in "haloes" or "fringes" occurring between the scene elements. Efforts to address these problems led to the exploitation of the chromatic response of black and white photographic film and resulted in the Dunning-Pomeroy process (U.S. Pat. No. 1,613,163 to Carrol D. Dunning, 1927) and another Williams process (U.S. Pat. No. 2,024,081, Dec. 10, 1935). With the advent of color film recording, notably the Technicolor process, the chromatic based systems began to proliferate. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,693,126, and 2,740,712 to W. E. Pohl.).
The fundamental concept that makes it possible to derive a matte from a polychromatic photographic image is based on the fact that the superimposition of positive and negative images will cancel each other out and yield an opaque image. Thus it follows that if a given portion of the image is comprised of a pure monochromatic object, e.g., blue, this portion will appear as light in a print of the film record that is sensitive to blue and dark in prints of the film records that are not sensitive to blue, i.e. the red and green records. Therefore, if the red negative record, in which the "blue" object appears light, is superimposed with the blue positive record, in which the blue object also appears light, the blue object will remain the only significant "light" object in the scene, all polychromatic portions of the scene having canceled each other out to yield an opaque image. It is then straightforward to produce a set of positive and negative high contrast "mattes" and employ these to print, in succession, the foreground and background elements of a composite scene.
With the advent of monopak color photographic film it became possible to devise the ever more sophisticated color difference traveling matte techniques exemplified by Petro Vlahos' U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,477. As the compositing technology evolved to produce more convincing results, the requirements for the original photography of the "bluescreen" element became increasingly severe. Much ingenious attention was focussed on this area, and some of the results achieved have been recognized with patents and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific and Engineering Awards. Among these are: Eastman Kodak for color negative EC 5295, a film designed expressly for Bluescreen traveling matte photography (1987), the Stewart Traveling Matte Transmission Bluescreen backing (1964), the Blue-Max Blue Flux Front Projector (1984) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,298) and the Reverse Bluescreen Process (1983) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,791). The ultimate sophistication in traveling matte image acquisition is achieved with the Reverse Front Projection process described in the American Cinematographer Manual, p. 457, which solves a host of problems. This technique provides great control over chrominance and luminance and essentially cancels any prospect of "spill" and unwanted reflections.
The latest advances in compositing technology exploit the capacity of computer image manipulation processes and digital film scanning and printing techniques, and have vastly expanded the application and efficacy of composite photography. The catalogue of Petro Vlahos' patents in the field traces the development and increasing sophistication of electronic compositing. While the below listed patents describe the electronic hardware embodiments of the process, these have all now been implemented in computer software for digital electronic composites:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,987 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,487 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,569 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,085 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,611 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,013 PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,231
In Ultimatte (Vlahos) matte extraction logic, as applied to digital film composites today, the process (while still quite similar), is freed from confinement to the Blue record and readily incorporates garbage and window mattes without any compromise of the finely detailed continuous tone feature.
The starting point for a digital blue or green screen color difference composite is a matte generated by subtracting the value of one color from the value of another for each pixel in the image. (Whether this is accomplished through software or through analog video circuitry, the net effect is the same.)
With Blue logic, the raw matte is a greyscale image whose value at each point is simply the amount by which Blue exceeds the higher of the other two colors. The result is a matte which is dead black anywhere Blue is less than Red or Green and some shade of grey wherever Blue is predominant primary color.
This matte is subjected to a variety of adjustments before it is used to process the foreground and background images, but the crucial point is that the matte is generated from the absolute levels of the color components for each pixel. A pixel having values of 200 Blue, 100 Green and 100 Red will yield a pixel with a value of 100 in the matte while a darker pixel of the same hue with values of 100 Blue, 50 Green and 50 Red will yield a matte value of 50.
In other words, the Ultimatte electronic or digital color difference matting process is a function of the luminance or brightness of the backing as well as the chrominance (hue) or purity of its color and the uniformity or consistency of the matte field.
What emerges quite clearly from this description of how the Ultimatte (and other comparable matte extraction programs) work is that chrominance (the purity of the backing color), luminance (the brightness of the backing color) and uniformity (the lowest possible variations in chroma and luminance) are all crucial to the process of creating a matte and to the subsequent composite image.
In 1992, Eastman Kodak Company developed an effective film digitizing scanner and a complementary film printing laser. These systems and others produced by different manufacturers provide extensive software programs covering every facet of compositing and image manipulation technique. It is now possible to create composites containing an infinite number of elements without any degradation of image quality from the original digital scan through to the laser film output. The most subtle image attributes can be retained, including extremely fine detail such as strands of hair, as well as the all important motion blurred edges of moving objects. Translucent objects such as glass, water and smoke may now be routinely rendered in totally convincing "seamless" composites.
The extremely high demands such sophisticated computer compositing programs make on original traveling matte photography can demonstrably be met by the previously described technology such as Blue-Max (R) front projection, Reverse Front Projection and the like. However, these techniques, as sophisticated in their way as the computer programs, are technologically complex and time consuming to employ. The immense proliferation of composite photography occasioned by the facility and efficacy of digital composite technology require the development of simple, effective and economical techniques for achieving the original image or "bluescreen element."
Throughout this discussion, the process has been described by the term "Bluescreen." This is explained by the fact that for most of the history of the process, the backing color of choice, and frequently of necessity, has been blue. While it is possible to perform photochemical optical traveling matte composites using any primary color backing, there has been a persuasive technological rationale for confining the process to the blue version. With the advent of the digital electronic processes described above, however, the range of backing colors is expanded to include all the primaries and indeed, their complements. Further, freed from the constraints entailed in the photochemical process, the advantages to be found in matting on the green record can now be readily accessed. A full discussion of the relative merits of blue versus green is not warranted here beyond the mention of some of the more obvious attributes involved.
In monopak color film, particularly that balanced for Tungsten light, the Blue sensitive record is, of necessity, comprised of a fast, and hence, grainier record than either Red or Green. This is due to the relative paucity of blue light available in the Tungsten spectrum. In fact, the film emulsion designers make a major effort to provide the green record with the highest possible image attributes. Thus many aspects of perceived image quality such as resolution, tone scale, acutance, and so on are delivered to the viewer via the green record of the monopak color film. (A similar situation also prevails in video imaging devices, where the bandwidth assigned to the respective color channels was derived from the visual response of the human eye; thus the Green channel is some 59%, versus approximately 30% for the Red and only 11% for the Blue.) In most photochemical compositing techniques, this attribute of the green record was superfluous, as the "matte" record, usually blue, was reduced to a high contrast black and white matte. By contrast, in a sophisticated digital electronic computer compositing system, the matte record is rendered as a continuous tone black and white image. Actually, the matte should no longer be thought of as an "image," but rather as a signals matrix containing the instructions for combining the relative proportions of both foreground and background picture elements (or pixels) which will comprise the eventual composite image. This is now known as the Alpha channel. For a comprehensive discussion of the Alpha channel, see "Compositing Digital Images," Thomas Porter and Tom Duff, in Computer Graphics, Vol. 18, No. 3, p. 254, Jul. 1984, in which the concept was introduced. Mattes produced using this technology are capable of readily reproducing the most subtle image attributes including translucent objects such as smoke and water, filmy fabrics, and, importantly, the edge blur of rapidly moving objects in the scene, as well as shadows. Such attributes were relatively much harder to render in photochemical optical composites, though by no means impossible, when a highly skilled practitioner of the art was involved.
The most significant issues noted above are those of "motion blur" and "shadows." In these situations the compositing system will be combining proportions of both foreground and background portions of the scene together. It is desirable that a shadow cast by the foreground scene onto the background matte field will retain enough image density to record in the Alpha channel, or matte, as a smooth quiet signal. The same is true for the reduced background signal occurring in the area of "motion blur" when a rapidly moving portion of the foreground subject is partially, though not completely, obscuring the background matte field. A great deal of filmed traveling matte footage is transferred to video via a telecine device, the leading such device in the industry being the Rank Telecine. This is essentially a flying spot scanner device employing a CRT source together with optics, such that a film image frame is scanned by the CRT "spot" whereby each pixel is coded into its component parts and stored as data. The device is handicapped by the fact that the CRT phosphors employed are essentially green in color, requiring excessive amplification of the relatively weak signal derived from the blue record of film. Thus the relative grainy record of Tungsten balanced negative film is exacerbated by the excessive electronic amplification resulting in what is termed "noisy" mattes. Quite obviously, deriving a matte signal from the fine grain green record of the same film illuminated by an essentially green phosphor CRT tube will produce an electronically very "quiet" matte.
Another, small advantage of matting on the green record is derived from the fact that the optics of the camera are designed mainly around the green portion of the spectrum and, assuming the camera has been properly focussed, the very best focus will occur for the green record, with very deep red objects suffering slightly by comparison.
Further discussion on the relative merits of Blue versus Green may be found in Ultimatte Technical Bulletin No. 2, "Green or Blue--Selecting a Backing Color for an Ultimatte Composite." (Published by the Ultimatte Corporation, manufacturer of Petro Vlahos' inventions previously referred to.) After a discussion of the many complex issues, the bulletin concludes, "There are no simple rules for specifying when to use a blue or green backing. Each situation must be analyzed to see whether a blue or a green backing will yield better results."
Among the simplest of techniques for achieving a bluescreen element is that of deploying a fabric backing of the appropriate chrominance and luminance and staging the scene before it. This, indeed, has been one of the principal methods employed for several years. When it is possible to isolate the lighting of the backing from the lighting of the foreground scene, it is possible to achieve excellent results. The author's developments of fluorescent light sources specific to the task (as cited in the ASC Manual, p. 435) and those of others in the field have greatly improved the results obtained by this approach. However, it is increasingly desirable to be able to place the foreground action directly in, or on, the backing. In this situation the same light will, of necessity, light both the backing and the foreground action. As the discussion on page 436 of the ASC Manual illustrates, the existing techniques employing fabrics of the prior art are far from effective. Painted backings and floors have yielded better results, as these have been possible to endow with enhanced properties versus fabric. The greatest success in this approach has been the employment of fluorescent pigments incorporated in both opaque and transparent paints, (some aspects of this discussion are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,791), as these permit greater chromatic actinic stimulus for photographic film than do conventional pigments.
However, painted backings suffer the disadvantage of the relatively high cost of providing an appropriate substrate, the very high cost of the pigments required and the labor to apply them, as well as the inordinate time required for the whole operation. To obtain the efficacy of high quality painted backings with the simplicity, speed and economy of fabric backings requires the development of a new type of dyed fabric backing.


A power supply apparatus, including a power supply configured to supply power to a plurality of devices or circuits to operate said plurality of devices or circuits; and a moderation mechanism configured to control the power supplied to the plurality of devices or circuits, wherein the moderation mechanism is configured to control the power supplied to the plurality of devices or circuits such that the plurality of devices or circuits does not operate simultaneously at the time when the plurality of devices or circuits initiates its operation or stops.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera and a power supply apparatus suitable therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a digital camera has been used often in place of a conventional camera utilizing a film. Additionally, in the digital camera, it has been aimed to allow a lens-barrier motor, a zoom motor and a focus motor and the like to complete their predetermined operation as soon as possible at the time of activation or photographing to reduce the time lag and thereby to enhance user convenience. As one of the ways to accomplish the aim, for example, motor driving power is increased to drive the motor at high speed, or a plurality of motors is driven simultaneously, to achieve reduction of operating time of the camera. As a result, load power at the time of operation of the motor is increased and hence a large load is applied to a power supply.
As conventional technique to reduce such load in the power supply, JP-A 2001-208956 discloses a digital camera capable of adjusting the time required for starting-up thereof corresponding to capacity of a power supply currently used. According to this conventional technique, it discloses the technique in which the capacity and kind of the power supply are judged on the basis of a voltage value of the power supply inputted through a bus to control the driving of a DC motor as a motor for zooming and a stepping motor as a motor for focus in accordance with the capacity and the kind of the power supply judged.
However, as well as in the conventional technique disclosed in the above mentioned JP-A 2001-208956, there are many portions in the digital camera that require large load power such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and a memory, other than the load power for the motor. Accordingly, in the digital camera in which same power source is used with respect to those portions, there is a possibility that power supply voltage drops by increase in the load power of the motor and thereby operation of the digital camera itself cannot be carried out. Even if the digital camera is barely operated in such case, the problem occurs that the life of battery is shortened in a case where a battery is used as the power supply.
Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2794631, measures have been taken in which, when driving the plurality of motors simultaneously, each load current is reduced so as not to increase the load power. However, this makes a period of operating the motor long.
Meanwhile, there are three reasons for generation of a voltage variation in the power supply due to load fluctuation, first, for lack of supply capacity of the power supply, second, for lack of conversion capacity of a power conversion circuit in the power supply, and third, for too much loads. Among these reasons, it can be said that the lack of capacity of the power conversion circuit is the major technological issue with respect to the power supply.
The power conversion circuit constantly monitors output voltage, and operates in such a manner as to increases supply of power when the load is increased and decreases the supply of power when the load is decreased. However, in the rapid change of the load, for example if the load is increased drastically, the output voltage falls since the power cannot be supplied sufficiently, whereas if the load is decreased drastically, the output voltage rises due to excessive supplying of power. There are methods to change oscillation cycle and change duty of ON/OFF oscillation, in order to correspond to the drastic load fluctuation. However, there is a limitation in terms of software and hardware to allow the oscillation cycle to be faster, and 100% is the limitation to make "ON-duty" to be longer in the changing of the duty, thus the fall of the output voltage cannot be suppressed at some point. Therefore, it can be said that the operational limitation in terms of the software and the hardware is the limitation of the capacity in the power conversion circuit.
As conventional technique for the power supply, JP-A H6-119074 discloses the technique for reducing a variation in output voltage and a variation in input voltage caused by the load fluctuation. According to this conventional technique, a conventional power supply apparatus is combined with a flow diverter and an alternating current detecting circuit to construct a power supply apparatus. The variation in output current flowing through a load is detected by the alternating current detecting circuit, while the alternating current detecting circuit outputs an output signal which complies with the load fluctuation to the flow diverter. The flow diverter changes amplitude of the output signal in accordance with the output signal from the alternating current detecting circuit to divert current to be supplied from the power supply apparatus to the load.
In order to correspond to such voltage variation, the conventional power supply apparatus provided with the power conversion circuit uses a large capacity of condenser for the output or accelerates a response of feedback of the output as a way to suppress the voltage variation caused by the load fluctuation. However, use of the large capacity of condenser causes various adverse effects to generate such as increase of rush current, delay in rising and falling, rise in cost and increase in mounting spaces. In addition, there is a limitation to make the response of the feedback of the output faster, and even if the acceleration of the response in the feedback of the output is obtained, there is a problem that power consumption increases significantly because the response is accelerated.
Also, since the conventional technique disclosed in the above mentioned JP-A H6-119074 is the technique which carries out the feedback by regarding that the degree which the load fluctuates is the alternating current-like variation, and there is the limitation in order to accelerate the response in the feedback of the output, it also has the problem similar to the above described conventional technique.

Digital camera and power supply apparatus used therefor


A rolling-element bearing which has at least one inner ring and at least one outer ring. A relative movement is possible between the outer ring and the inner ring, and the at least one outer ring having has at least one flange for fastening to a rotatable component.

Rolling bearings are used, among other things, for the bearing and support of clutch units, for example in dry-plate clutches, or as transmission bearings. Here separate connection and retaining devices, such as bearing carriers, for example, are generally needed in order to fasten the rolling bearings to other components, such as rotatable clutch plates, for example, or a stationary housing. The rolling bearings generally comprise an inner ring and an outer ring and rolling elements arranged between these rings, the rolling elements rolling on bearing surfaces of the inner ring and the outer ring, so that a relative movement between the outer ring and the inner ring is possible.
The use of separate clutch plates and separate bearing carriers, however, requires additional fitting of these components to the rolling bearing. The rolling bearing and the clutch plate or the rolling bearing and the bearing carrier therefore first have to be assembled in an initial operation, before the rolling bearing can be fitted in subsequent operations. In addition, such a design requires a suitable connection of the components to the inner ring or the outer ring, which, due to the space taken up by this connection, however, and the generally very restricted overall space of such rolling bearings means that the entire rolling bearing has to be made smaller or that smaller rolling elements have to be used. Their support force and durability are thereby reduced. In addition, the small overall space means that the rolling bearing is capable of affording only a small space for lubricants. As a result this lubricant space can only accommodate an insufficient quantity of lubricant, so that a required service life of the lubricant or grease cannot be achieved.
Due in particular to the confined overall space, fastening the bearing carrier to the outer ring of the rolling bearing is therefore used in existing bearings, allowing the bearing carrier to provide a flange for fastening the rolling bearing to a stationary component. Accordingly the clutch plate is generally fastened to the inner ring.
DE 10 2005 014 916 A1 discloses a radial bearing for a vehicle drive shaft. This comprises a radial bearing, on an outer ring of which a separate retaining element or bearing carrier impinges. The retaining element comprises a flange for fastening the radial bearing, the outer ring being held in the retaining element in such a way that the radial bearing can be self-centering.
The publication DE 200 16 713 U1 discloses a bearing arrangement, which comprises a rotatable inner ring having a flange connected to a printing press roller. The associated outer ring likewise comprises a flange, which is attached to a stationary housing.

Rolling-element bearing comprising a flange


A carbon-air fuel cell defined by an enclosed heat insulating container, a cathode supported in the container and arranged to form an air space about the inside thereof, an anode basket positioned inside the cathode, spaced-apart from the container, and containing therein a charge of carbon, a charge of molten electrolyte, in the form of a hydroxide that is selected from the group consisting of Aluminum, Calcium, Cesium, Potassium, Sodium, Rubidium, Strontium and mixtures thereof, filling the space between the cathode and the charge carbon; and, a bubbler for passing an oxygen-containing stream of gas through the cathode into the molten electrolyte where the oxygen ionizes and diffuses through to the anode basket into contact with the carbon to produce an electrical charge at the anode basket.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of metal-air electrochemical energy converters, as well as solid fuel cells. More particularly, it pertains to a fuel cell that uses carbon directly as a "fuel" anode in an electrochemical cell with atmospheric air as the oxidizer and to design and operational modifications thereof that allow the fuel cell to be commercially viable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The element carbon (C) has an affinity for combining chemically with a large number of other chemical elements under a variety of conditions. In this instance, carbon has a chemical affinity for oxygen in the air and when brought into contact at a proper temperature, carbon enters into chemical combination with the oxygen in an exothermic reaction known as "combustion". However, as discovered by W. W. Jacques in 1896, carbon can be chemically combined with oxygen in the air, not directly as in combustion, but through an intervening electrolyte to produce predominantly electrical energy instead of heat.
This process of converting the potential energy of carbon into electrical energy has great potential for the transition to a sustainable energy infrastructure for the world's peoples. The world's oil and gas resources, as well as coal reserves, are being used inefficiently and are causing increasing pollution at an accelerating rate when used to provide heat, electricity and run industry. Although new reserves and resources are constantly being discovered, the cost of extracting them is also rising. The damage to the environment from mining, drilling and leaking pipelines, as well as inefficient and incomplete combustion, has caused pollution of the air and water, and destruction of wetlands, fishing grounds and forests.
The combination of the carbon-air fuel cell and using renewable biomass as a source of the carbon fuel (charcoal) eliminates all of these problems through the fuel cell's much higher efficiency and lower operating temperature. Also, using the solar biomass fuel cycle, there is no net increase in CO.sub.2 and no emission of toxic pollutants such as NOx, SOx, CO or volatile organic compounds (VOC's). By undertaking an increase in production of certain flora, on biomass plantations, using marginal and degraded lands not in conflict with conventional agriculture, carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere and converted to biomass, and thence to carbon rods, sticks, sheets, slabs, chunks and other forms such that they can become the anodes for carbon-air fuel cells. This will provide electrical power for stationary, portable and mobile applications, replacing the common internal combustion engine, diesel engine and gas turbine, giving greatly improved performance in electric vehicles over conventional lead-acid batteries.
The use of carbon directly as a "fuel" anode in an electrochemical cell was first practiced by Jacques. In his 1896 patent, he bubbled air upward through a molten salt electrolyte of sodium hydrate (caustic soda and sodium hydroxide), at a temperature between 400.degree. to 500.degree. C., to cause an ebullition of oxygen-saturated electrolyte that was then placed into contact with a carbon anode. The carbon was oxidized to form carbonic acid gas (carbon dioxide) and an electrochemical potential was developed between the carbon rod and the iron containment pot, that resulted in an electric current flowing through an external load connected between them. The container (from Jacques) was made from the inert metal, platinum, or Norway iron (ultra low carbon steel).
Jacques added magnesium oxide, a basic oxide, to the electrolyte, in a partially successful attempt to suppress carbonate formation. The tendency of the electrolyte was to react with the byproduct CO.sub.2 to form sodium carbonate. If the carbonate builds up beyond 30% by weight of the electrolyte, it will begin to adversely affect the cell's operation. With the addition of magnesium oxide, Jacques was able to increase the operational life of his cells from several days to several months before exceeding the 30% limit. At the end of the operating time the electrolyte had to be removed from the cells and regenerated to remove the carbonate.
Anbar and Weaver's patents were different from Jacques in that they used a molten carbonate electrolyte. Their two patents included a lead anolyte, but published research results indicated they dropped the lead anolyte and reverted to the Jacques geometry in its slab form. Their cell was not commercially viable for the following reasons: the operating temperature was between 650.degree. and 750.degree. C.--this caused severe corrosion problems (the same problems suffered by hydrogen fueled molten carbonate fuel cells); the electrolyte conductivity is low--resulting in poor current density and power density; the electrolyte would decompose from carbonate into oxide-evolving CO.sub.2. Only one of these problems has been solved technically, and that is the electrolyte decomposition. By introducing a partial pressure of CO.sub.2 into the cathode air feed, the decomposition is overwhelmed by the formation of more carbonate. In a practical system, this would require recovering 2/3 of the CO.sub.2 in the exhaust, and reinjecting it into the fresh air feed. The only technically feasible method for doing this at present, pressure swing absorption, is not commercially viable, and is too bulky for portable or mobile applications.
Over the years there have been improvements in electrolyte compositions, matrix materials, fabrication techniques, as well as in anode and cathode materials. Yet, no one has applied these improvements to the carbon-air fuel cell and the result has been that it has not yet become a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine, diesel engine, gas turbine or lead-acid battery.

Scientific Application & Research Associates, Inc.


An adapter for simultaneously winding multiple spools and a method for using the same. The adapter includes a body portion having a pair of opposed faces and an outer wall or perimeter. Each of the opposed faces may include a plurality of recesses configured to receive a plurality of pins for interconnecting multiple spools. The plurality of pins may be offset such that it provides for the entry hubs of the multiple spools to align with one another. The adapter further includes at least one depression or indentation on the perimeter for providing access to at least a portion of the spool flange. The depression provides an operator with easy access to insert or apply the finishing end of the welding wire or similar, to the finishing hub of the spools.

Welding systems utilize welding wires of many different sizes for use with welding guns during a welding operation. These welding wires are typically provided on different sized spools by welding wire manufacturers. When preparing spools of welding wires, the winding process begins with an operator first placing a single spool on the mounting spindle of a winding machine followed by locking the spool using a locking mechanism so that the spool remains in the proper orientation during the winding process. Once the spool is locked into its proper orientation, the operator's next step is to place the inserted first end of an often rigid welding wire into an entry hub or aperture in the spool, followed by manually bending the first end of the welding wire so that it hooks to the entry hub and holds the welding wire in place during the winding process. The next step is to start the winding process. Operators often elect to wind one spool at a time because of alignment problems caused when attempting to wind multiple spools. This alignment problem arises when the operator hooks the first end of the welding wire in the first spool, with subsequent rotation of the winding machine's spindle so that it is possible to hook the first end of another welding wire in a second spool. This requires the operator to rotate the spindle causing wire to prematurely wind on the first spool in order to align the entry hub on the second spool. If a third spool is desired, a second rotation is required to align the entry hub on the third spool, thereby causing a second premature winding of wire on the first spool and a first premature winding on the second spool and so on. Having to rotate the spools once welding wire is secured to the entry hub is undesirable, because it leads to an unequal amount of welding wire being wound on each spool once the winding process is complete, that is the first spool will have more wire that the subsequent spools because the starting point is different. Additionally, having multiple spools proximate to one another does not provide space for operator to hook the finishing end of the welding wire to the spool.
It is thus desirable to provide a device that interconnects multiple spools for simultaneous winding, provides an easy method of aligning the entry hubs of the multiple spools, prevents the outer flanges of the multiple spools from bowing during the winding process, and for providing access to the finishing hub once at the end of the winding process is complete.


According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, comprising a plurality of memory strings, each of the memory strings being constituted with a plurality of electrically erasable memory cells being serially connected each other, the memory strings comprising:                a columnar semiconductor layer perpendicularly extending toward a substrate;        a plurality of conductive layers being formed in parallel to the substrate and including a first space between a sidewall of the columnar semiconductor layers; and        characteristic change layer being formed on the sidewall of the columnar semiconductor layer faced to the first space or a sidewall of the conductive layer faced to the first space and changing characteristics accompanying with applied voltage;        wherein the plurality of the conductive layers have a function of a relative movement to a prescribed direction for the columnar semiconductor layer.

Conventionally, electrical elements have been integrated in a two-dimensional plane of a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate to form an LSI. A dimension of the element has been miniaturized for increasing a memory capacity in a semiconductor memory device, however, the miniaturization has become increasingly difficult from view point of cost and technology. Therefore, an improvement of photolithography technology is desirable. However, it is anticipated that physical properties such as a breakdown voltage or the like reach to limitation without scaling driving voltage or the like level when the miniaturization is accomplished.
Recently, various approaches have been studied for highly integrating the semiconductor memory device. For example, employing a multiple-value technique, three-dimensionally stacking memory cells disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-078044, U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,724, U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,885, for example, using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) has been studied. However, it is necessary to overcome many problems for realization the approaches mentioned above. For example, in the case of three-dimensionally stacking memory cells, processing steps in a conventional method are largely increased layer by layer to increase the cost. Further, in a seek-scan type memory device using MEMS, an area of memory storage for retaining data on one bit is fixed by thermal stability or the like so as to limit the memory density.

Semiconductor memory device and method for fabricating semiconductor memory device


A method and system for controlling the bandwidths of data traffic over virtual private networks are provided. The method includes classifying the data traffic for the virtual private network into different flows, monitoring a current bandwidth usage by at least one of the flows, comparing the current bandwidth usage with a predetermined threshold for the flow, and performing a bandwidth control operation for the flow if the current bandwidth usage exceeds the predetermined threshold for that flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a technique of managing the bandwidth of data traffic in an Internet Protocol (IP) Virtual Private Network (VPN) so as to provide Quality of Service (QoS) for the VPN, where VPN traffic is communicated preferably over the VPN.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
IP VPNs (hereinafter "VPNs") are specially configured networks that allow a group of users to communicate only with each other in a secured manner. Generally, VPNs are implemented over unsecured public networks of the wired nature (e.g., cable, DSL, dial-up, etc.) and/or of the wireless nature (e.g., IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (LANs), cellular digital packet data (CDPD) networks, etc.). In a VPN, data packets are encrypted and encapsulated in some other packets to provide a more secured data communication. The packet that encapsulates the original packet is referred to herein as the "encapsulating packet," whereas the original packet is referred to herein as the "encapsulated packet."
QoS refers to a technique and ability to control certain network requirements such as bandwidth requirements for packet transmission, latency requirements, maximum packet loss, etc. There are a number of different ways to provide QoS to existing TCP/IP-based networks that do not employ VPNs. For instance, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is a group of individuals who determine new protocols and application requirements, has proposed a differentiated services (DiffServ) framework or an integrated services framework for providing QoS to non-VPNs. Also, the use of an existing TCP rate control mechanism to provide QoS in a non-VPN has been proposed by Packeteer, Inc., Allot Communications, Ltd., or Sitara Networks, Inc.
Among the known QoS methods, one way of providing QoS in a non-VPN is to provide a special field called the Type of Service (ToS) in the header of an IP packet. Generally, an IP packet consists of a header and a body. The body contains data, whereas the header contains information such as source and destination IP addresses, protocol type used in the data, etc. The ToS field in the header of the packet is 3 bits in length. The value of these 3 bits in an IP packet specifies the level of priority this packet should receive in the network. With the use of 3 bit ToS, a total of 8 priority levels can be specified. Once the priority levels are set in the packet (either by the application or by a router/switch/gateway along the path of this packet), all subsequent devices which this packet traverses treat this packet according to the specified priority. For instance, a router which receives two packets, one with priority 1 and the other with priority 6, will forward the higher priority packet before forwarding the lower priority packet. Ultimately, this results in higher bandwidth, and lower delay, loss and jitter characteristics for the packets with higher priorities, thereby ensuring QoS. The IETF DiffServ proposal specifies the use of 6 bits (called DiffServ) bits in the header of an IP packet for the same purpose.
However, such existing QoS methods for non-VPNs simply do not work for VPNs because the header information of encapsulated packets communicated in VPNs is encrypted and the existing QoS methods for non-VPNs require such header information to be in a non-encrypted form (in clear text).
Recently, a proposal has been made by Radguard, Inc. and Allot Communications, Ltd. to provide QoS for VPNs using ToS or DiffServ bits. With VPNS, it is known that the original IP packet is encrypted and encapsulated in another IP packet. This means that the ToS or DiffServ bits in the original IP header are now hidden from any router/switch which is supposed to treat incoming packets based on priority. The Radguard and Allot proposal deals with IP packets constituting an IP layer (Layer 3), and simply removes this short-coming by exposing the ToS/DiffServ bits in the original IP header to the header of the encapsulating IP packet. This way the priority information is available to all devices that receive the packet.
Another proposal for a QoS method applicable to a VPN has been made by an IEEE 802.11e working group. However, the IEEE proposal addresses the QoS for only the wireless link and is concerned with enhancing QoS for media access control (MAC) protocol. Thus, for a packet traversing multiple devices, the IEEE proposal would only work for the wireless side (i.e., the link between the client and the Access Point (AP) and not for the wired side (e.g., the link between the server and the AP). The IEEE proposal is still in the draft stage and at this time consists of two ways to satisfy the different QoS needs of different frames which constitute a MAC layer (Layer 2).
The first way to provide QoS according to the IEEE proposal is using different priority levels of frames. Similar to IP packets, this allows the use of a priority field in the frame header and based on the value in this field, only the Access Point determines which frames receive preferential treatment. The second way to provide QoS according to the IEEE proposal is using a modification to the current channel access mechanism. This modification essentially allows the Access Point to schedule packet transmissions from each client at pre-specified times based on the QoS requirements of each client.
However, there are problems associated with the existing QoS techniques. First, none of the QoS techniques for VPNs above address effectively the bandwidth gap problem between wired and wireless sides. Generally, the maximum bandwidth for switched Ethernet wired networks is typically 100 Mbps, whereas the effective bandwidth for wireless 802.11b networks is only approximately 7 Mbps. But, the existing QoS techniques do not provide effective bandwidth management needed to conduct data transmission over such a tight bandwidth allotment for the wireless side. Secondly, the QoS techniques for the wired side cannot be combined with the QoS techniques for the wireless side to provide an end-to-end solution, because they operate on different layers. For instance, the IEEE proposal operates on the frames which constitute the MAC layer (Layer 2), whereas the Radguard proposal operates on IP packets constituting the IP layer (Layers 3 and 4).
Therefore, there is a need for an improved technique of managing the bandwidth of data traffic for VPNs to provide QoS, which overcomes the above-described problems and limitations of the related art.

System and method for providing bandwidth management for VPNs


The present inventive concepts relate to an inspection apparatus that snapshots an interference image pattern having a high spatial carrier frequency produced from a one-piece off-axis polarimetric interferometer and that precisely and promptly measures a Stokes vector including spatial polarimetric information. The inspection apparatus dynamically measure in real-time a two-dimensional polarization information without employing a two-dimensional scanner.

The present inventive concepts relate to an inspection apparatus and an inspection method, and more particularly, to an inspection apparatus and an inspection method that measure an image of a measured object.
Imaging technology has been widely used to investigate and study physical phenomena changed in real-time, and may be applied as various diagnosis and inspection tools. Polarization-based imaging technology is one of high resolution and high precision measurement technique applicable to diverse fields.
Most of polarization measurement technique requires either mechanically rotational polarizer mechanism or electronic polarization modulation device. However, the polarization measurement technique which employs mechanical mechanism or electronic polarization modulation has a disadvantage of complex hardware configuration and long measurement time.

Polarization measurement with interference patterns of high spatial carrier frequency

INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION FOUNDATION CHONBUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY


A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of vehicle safety and compressed natural gas and more particularly to safety system related to fueling vehicles powered by compressed natural gas.
Description of the Prior Art
Natural gas is becoming an abundant resource in the United States and several other countries. It is estimated that the natural gas reserves of the U.S. exceed the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia in terms of years of energy supply.
In order to utilize this resource effectively, and to replace crude oil, natural gas must be used in vehicles. Many fleet operators are switching their vehicles to natural gas since, with minor modifications, internal combustion engines run very well on natural gas.
Natural gas is typically supplied in two different forms: 1) as a compressed gas, and 2) as a liquefied gas. While more efficient in terms of the amount of gas that can be supplied in a single tank, liquefied gas is very dangerous to handle and requires highly specialized equipment to fuel with it and actually use it. On the other hand, compressed natural gas is relatively easy to fuel with and to utilize. Compressed natural gas can be supplied in pressure bottles a pressures between 3000 psi and 4000 psi. It is very well known in industry how to handle and fill such bottles. A natural gas "gas station" can fill a vehicle tank (pressure bottle) in just a few moments using fill techniques similar to high pressure air. A vehicle tank containing 100-200 cu. feet of natural gas at a pressure of 3500 psi is typically not more dangerous than a typical automobile's gasoline tank. The tank can be shielded from direct impact in an accident.
Many households and businesses in the U.S. have piped in natural gas for cooking and, in many cases, heating. Most Americans own at least one car or other vehicle, with many households owning several vehicles. This combination immediately suggests the possibility of filling a natural gas vehicle at home during the night for use the next day, or filling at the location of a small business. Because even a large compressed natural gas tank will not last as long between refills as a typical gasoline tank, it will become a very convenient to refill it during the night. The vehicle owner can also use natural gas filling stations; however, these will probably be more convenient for extended trips. Most people would prefer not to have to wait 5-10 minutes at a gas station to fill their vehicle. While exchangeable tanks are also possible, these require considerably more logistics and handling than a simple fixed onboard tank. Even with exchangeable tanks, the vehicle owner would still probably have to wait considerably longer to get a refill at a station than they currently do with gasoline.
At the present time, at least one car manufacturer is supplying a compressed natural gas vehicle and a home compressor to fill it. National fire codes currently prevent large gas storage tanks in homes or compressors that fill at fast rates. Given present standards, the home compressor will be directly attached to the vehicle via a high pressure hose, and the vehicle will take several hours to fill (depending on the size of the onboard tank). Again, this will be very conveniently accomplished during the night. The same arrangement can be used at small businesses, especially those with fleets of vehicles.
However, with numerous individuals filling natural gas vehicles in their garages at night or at their business locations, the potential for a very serious type of accident increases dramatically—namely what is called a drive-off accident. This is where the driver tries to drive away with the high pressure filling hose still attached to the vehicle. Such an accident in a home garage could be catastrophic if the fitting or valve on the vehicle is damaged, or if the compressor is pulled away from the home natural gas source. In either case, a considerably amount of gas could escape into the garage causing a fire or explosion danger. Also, even a "soft" drive-away accident, one where the driver stopped before breaking the hose or fitting could stress the fill hose and possibly cause small, very hard to detect, gas leaks. Such small leaks could result in the garage being filled with gas by morning.
Natural gas contains mostly methane and is thus lighter than air. Natural gas leaking in a garage will fill the garage from top to bottom. An explosive mixture for natural gas and air is between around 5% (for pure methane) and around 15-20%. Many garages contain furnaces and water heaters having open flames. As natural gas fills a garage, it can be easily ignited by a furnace or a water heater on a raised pedestal (fire codes require open flame devices in garages to mounted on pedestals to avoid gasoline vapor that might collect along the floor from a car gasoline leak). This is an ideal situation for a garage explosion. Hence anything that has the possibility of causing the release of natural gas or of causing a gas leak becomes a large danger. A drive-away accident is such an event.
Some techniques have been reported in the art to prevent a gasoline vehicle from starting at a gasoline station if the fill nozzle is still in the gas tank inlet. Among these are U.S. Published Application No. 2002/0162601 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,327. Other techniques have been invented to prevent pumping gasoline or other fuel if the fill hose is not in the fill inlet. Among these are U.S. Published Application No. 2008/0290152 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,497.
While these prior art techniques are useful for gasoline, they do not solve the problems associated with home or business filling a vehicle with high pressure compressed natural gas. In particular, a compressed natural gas tank is filled to a very high pressure (between 3000 and 4000 psi). A leak or disconnect of a fitting or valve on such a pressure vessel can cause a tremendous pressure explosion that can act like a bomb (this can happen with any compressed gas including air). Also, a very small leak at high pressure can cause a large quality of gas to escape. For example, an exploding tank can send metal fragments in all directions with enough force to penetrate the house and the driver's compartment of the vehicle. This can happen before there is any fire. After that, the tiniest spark could ignite the now explosive and highly flammable gas cloud reducing the house or business to rubble. Even a quick-disconnect hose does not typically solve the problem since the driver may attempt to drive away very quickly still damaging the fittings, tank, hose, compressor and/or natural gas supply.
It would be very advantageous to have doubly or triply redundant system and method that prevents the driver from ever starting the vehicle when the filling hose is attached and a safety valve is not in the correct position.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compressed natural gas vehicle safety system and method


The present invention relates to methods of recycling metal containing electrical components to recover one or more metal values therefrom by comminuting the used metal containing electrical component, preferably in an inert environment, separating water soluble and insoluble materials and recovering metal or metal compounds from at least one of these materials.

Metals used in the form of free metal or metal compounds in electrical components, such as batteries and conductors are often expensive to obtain and the recycling thereof can have economic value. Because metal and metal compounds can be corrosive, highly reactive or hazardous to plants and animals, there can be environmental value in recycling of these materials found in electrical components.
Although there has been some attempt to recycle lead acid batteries in the past, complex electrical components have not traditionally been recycled because of the logistics of concentrating a sufficient amount of recyclable electrical components in a single location and the hazards and potential complexity of the process technology. This is particularly the case when the electrical component to be recycled contains a material like lithium in metallic form which could be explosive.
Solid-state electrochemical cells are typically constructed from an alkali metal negative electrode (anode), an ionically conducting polymeric electrolyte containing an ionizable alkali metal salt, and a positive electrode (cathode). The cathode is usually formed by preparing a mixture of an active material, a metal salt, a polymeric electrolyte, and a conductive filler such as carbon black, and coating this mixture on a metal foil which functions as a current collector. Electrochemical cells formed in this fashion using lithium metal as the alkali metal anode have found wide use in numerous applications requiring portable battery power, since lithium batteries formed in this manner have a high energy density.
However, lithium metal is widely considered to be the major source of safety-related problems when lithium batteries are made rechargeable. Charging of such batteries converts lithium ions to metallic lithium, and the presence of metallic lithium in the recycle of the battery structure can result in explosion.

Method for recycling metal containing electrical components


An automatic document feeder which is capable of preventing the occurrence of jams that would be caused when a bundle of originals in which originals having lengths in a conveying direction equal to or greater than a predetermined reference length and originals having lengths shorter than the reference length are mixed are conveyed in a high-speed double-sided mode. When the originals are sequentially conveyed, a length of a respective original is detected. If the detected length of a preceding original being conveyed in the high-speed double-sided mode is equal to or greater than a predetermined length, the high-speed double-sided mode in which conveyance of the next original is started after start of non-reading conveyance of the preceding original is switched over to a normal double-sided mode in which the conveyance of the next original is started in advance of the non-reading conveyance of the preceding original.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automatic document feeder used in an image processing apparatus such as a scanner or copier, an image processing apparatus equipped with the same, an original conveying method, a program for implementing the method, and a storage medium storing the program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known an image reading apparatus that is mounted on a copier and capable of reading originals based on both stationary original reading method and moving original reading method. In order to realize moving original reading, this kind of image reading apparatus is provided with an automatic document feeder that automatically conveys an original from an original tray to a sheet discharge tray via a reading position. Moving original reading is a method in which an image on an original is read by means of a read sensor such as a linear CCD when the original passes through the reading position. Further, in this type of image reading apparatus, the original tray and the sheet discharge tray are disposed one upon another, thereby enabling stationary original reading and moving original reading to be implemented using a compact configuration.
There is known an automatic document feeder operable in a double-sided reading mode that is for reading both sides of an original. In the double-sided reading mode, after reading a first side (hereunder, referred to as "front surface") of an original using the moving original reading method, the surfaces of the original are inverted (hereunder referred to as "surface inversion") to read a second side of the original (hereunder, referred to as "rear surface"), and the sides of the original are reversed again before the original is discharged, so that the original may be discharged with the orientation equal to that at the time of reading the first side of the original. In the case where both sides of respective originals are read, each original is conveyed so as to pass through the reading position three times.
Further, to enhance the efficiency of double-sided reading operations, the automatic document feeder feeds two original sheets onto a conveying path inside the automatic document feeder.
In order to further enhance the efficiency of double-sided reading operations, the automatic document feeder can operate in a high-speed double-sided mode in which the front surface of the next original is read while a surface inversion and discharge (hereunder, referred to as "non-reading conveyance") is being performed for the preceding original for which the reading of the rear surface of the preceding original has been completed. In this case, the order of originals passing through the reading position is: front surface of first sheet→rear surface of first sheet→front surface of second sheet→first sheet (non-reading conveyance)→rear surface of second sheet→front surface of third sheet→second sheet (non-reading conveyance)→rear surface of third sheet, . . . , and so forth.
Further, another automatic document feeder is known that is operable in a high-speed double-sided mode only in a case where the length in a conveying direction of the originals to undergo double-sided reading is shorter than a predetermined value. In this mode, before the preceding original passes through the reading position for the third time, the succeeding original is caused to pass through the reading position for the first time (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-143104 and the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,589). When the length of the originals measured in the conveying direction is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, conveying of originals is carried out in a normal double-sided mode such that the succeeding original has passed through the reading position for the first time after the preceding original passed through the reading position for the third time.
To enable conveyance of originals in the high-speed double-sided mode, the above described automatic document feeder has a conveying path length and a driving system that are enough to simultaneously and individually perform non-reading conveyance of the preceding original and reading of the front surface of the succeeding original.
In order to convey originals of different sizes in the high-speed double-sided mode, however, the driving system becomes complicated and the number of motors increases. As a result, costs rise and the apparatus size is increased.
Further, when a bundle of originals in which long length originals and short length originals are mixed are conveyed in the high-speed double-sided mode, conveyance of the originals becomes impossible during the operation and a paper jam (hereunder, referred to as "jam") occurs. In that case, the user must perform jam processing by removing the sheets in the conveying path, thus inconveniencing the user.

Automatic document feeder, image processing apparatus, original conveying method, program and storage medium


In a camera, a zoom lens and focus lens are driven to predetermined positions corresponding to a zoom magnification factor to be changed upon a demand for altering the zoom magnification factor. During a zooming operation after the camera has been brought into focus by an auto-focusing function, driving rates of the zoom lens and focus lens are controlled in each of zoom intervals to set driving times required to drive the zoom lens and focus lens to positions corresponding to the next zoom magnification factor to the quickest zoom driving time Tz of the zoom lens and the longer driving time among the quickest focus driving times Tfa, Tfb of the focus lens corresponding to object distances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to camera equipment with a zoom function and auto-focus function and a method of controlling an optical lens system in the camera equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most of conventional digital cameras are equipped with a zoom function and auto-focus function. In general, zoom lens used in a digital camera alters an object distance, at which an image of an object can be brought into focus (focused focal position), as a zoom position alters. When the zoom position alters with an object image kept in focus, the focus lens is controlled so as to move to a position corresponding to the object distance at the altered zoom position after the zooming operation has been completed.
Since the above controlling operation can bring an object image out of focus during the zooming operation, such controlling operation has a disadvantage that it is not proper for photographing a moving image. A method of solving the disadvantage is proposed, for example, in Patent Document #1, in which method a focus speed (moving speed of a focus lens) is increased or decreased centering around an ideal speed at which the focus lenses move precisely after the focused focal lens locus, on the basis of levels (contract rate) of high frequency components contained in a video (image) signal obtained during the zooming operation. This method restricts object-image defocusing of more than a certain level during the zooming operation, and keeps object-image defocusing within an allowable range during the zooming operation.
[Patent Document #1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Specification Hei 6-62299, Paragraphs [0037] to [0045]
In this method, however, high frequency components contained the video (image) signal are successively detected and the focus speed is frequently altered based on the detected high frequency components, which causes a serious problem that increases burden imposed on the camera equipment (specifically, control unit in a micro computer) performing the above operation during the zooming operation.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide camera equipment, a method of controlling an optical lens system in the camera equipment, and a program for performing the method, which is capable of keeping defocus of an object image within an allowable range by a simple control operation.

Camera equipment with movable lenses and method of controlling lens driving operation


A scattered light fire detector and a method for evaluating scattering signals of a fire detector are disclosed. The microprocessor-based scattered light fire detector measures the scattering signals at two scattering angles and determines an alarm threshold. An alarm value is determined as a function of the ratio of the scattering signals and compared with the determined alarm threshold. The fire detector can be used with mixed fires without prior calibration. Fraudulent measurement values arising, for example, from water vapor can be stored in a memory.

The invention is directed to a method for evaluating scattering signals measured with a scattered light system of a fire detector which may include a microprocessor. The scattering signals are measured at two scattering angles to determine an alarm value which is compared with an alarm threshold. The invention is also directed to a fire detector for carrying out the method.
Scattered light fire detectors typically operate with infrared light emitted by a transmitter diode at a wavelength between 800 nm and 1 .mu.m. The fire produces an aerosol which enters a measurement volume of the fire detector. The light scattered by the aerosol is measured at a backscatter angle, i.e., at an angle between 0.degree. and 90.degree., and/or a forward scattering angle, i.e., a scattering angle between 90.degree. and 180.degree.. These angles are in relation to an axis connecting the transmitter with the receiver.
The measurement of light aerosols at a forward scattering angle produces a relatively large measurement signal. Conversely, the measurement of dark aerosols at a forward scattering region produces a measurement signal which is smaller by approximately a factor 10. The magnitude of the measurement signals increases with increasing forward scattering angle. The signal produced in the backscattering regime is independent of the type of smoke and smaller than in the forward scattering regime. The difference between the scattering signals of light and dark aerosols in the backscattering regime is noticeably smaller than in the forward scattering regime.
Conventional scattered light fire detectors operating in the forward scattering regime recognize different types of dark smoke less reliably than different types of light smoke. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the fire detectors has to be adjusted to the dark smoke to safely trigger an alarm. Such a sensitivity setting, however, tends to cause a high incidence of false alarms, since the detector is too sensitive to the light smoke. In particular, a false alarm can be triggered by water vapor, cigarette smoke, vapors or fumes produced by hot grease. Conventional scattered light fire detectors are therefore not suitable for use, for example, in large kitchens or in saw mills, since the intensive vapors and dust produced in these places can be easily mistaken for light smoke.
Fire detectors operating in the backscattering regime, however, are adversely affected by particles and dust or by salt crystals which can enter the measurement volume of the fire detector and produce a significant backscatter signal, thereby producing a significant risk of false alarms.
German Pat. No. DE 42 31 088 A1 discloses a method wherein scattering signals of an aerosol which may be present in the measurement volume of a scattered light fire detector, are measured under at least two scattering angles and compared with reference data for various types of smoke which are stored in a memory. The method determines the type of smoke present in the measurement volume and sets an alarm value depending on the type of smoke. However, this method is suitable mainly for analyzing known types of smoke using the reference data stored in the memory, and may produce erroneous results for the more frequently occurring mixed fires, since such mixed fires cannot be adequately classified.


Provided are a method and system for efficiently producing a purified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution having a high purity. This method for producing a purified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution comprises: step A for vaporizing a raw material containing a crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution; step B for condensing at least a portion of the gas and liquid obtained in step A, and separating the gas and liquid into a gas phase and a liquid phase; and step C for returning, into the raw material, at least a portion of a separation liquid which is the separated liquid phase, wherein step C further includes step D for adjusting the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the separation liquid.

Hydrogen peroxide is industrially produced by autoxidation of anthraquinone. By the way, for example, in the field of semiconductor fabrication, as a cleaning agent, an etching liquid and others, a high-purity aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is required. A crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution produced by an anthraquinone process contains a relatively large amount of impurities and has a low purity. Therefore, for providing the crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution produced by an anthraquinone process, for example, as a product for use in the electronics industry, it is necessary to further purify and concentrate the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution to increase the purity of the solution.
Conventionally, as a method for purifying and concentrating a crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, for example, as disclosed in patent documents 1 to 6, various methods have been proposed, and, for example, the method shown in the flow of FIG. 1 has been generally practically used. In FIG. 1, a crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution which is a raw material is fed to vaporizer 102 from line 101, and the gas liquor from vaporizer 102 passes through line 103 and goes into gas-liquid separator 104. In gas-liquid separator 104, the gas liquor from vaporizer 102 is condensed and separated into vapor containing hydrogen peroxide and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. The vapor separated in gas-liquid separator 104 passes through line 105 and goes into the bottom of rectifying column 106.
In rectifying column 106, the vapor rises and is reduced in the hydrogen peroxide concentration, while the liquid falls and is concentrated and increased in the hydrogen peroxide concentration. The concentrated purified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is taken out from line 111 at the bottom of the column. The vapor at the top of the column passes through line 107 and goes into condenser 108, so that condensed water containing substantially no hydrogen peroxide is discharged from line 110. Reflux water is fed to the column top from line 109.
Further, the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution separated in gas-liquid separator 104 is taken out from line 112 and industrially utilized as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution of general purity quality.

Method and system for producing purified aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution


A process for preparing a hydroxyacid or hydroxyester from a reactant selected from    (a) a carboxylic acid having an aldehyde or keto group; and    (b) an ester of a carboxylic acid having an aldehyde or keto group;    by contacting the reactant with a metal catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the metal catalyst is supported on a titanium dioxide or zirconium dioxide support.

Processes involving catalytic hydrogenation of carboxylic acids or esters thereof having an aldehyde or keto group are known in the art. The hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate over an alumina-supported platinum catalyst, for example, is described in J. Molecular Catalysis, 49(2), 195-203 (1989).
Levulinic acid can be catalytically hydrogenated to give the corresponding gamma-hydroxy acid 4-hydroxypentanoic acid (known as hydroxyvaleric acid) which subsequently cyclises to form the 5-membered lactone, gammavalerolactone. Early studies reported the hydrogenation of levulinic acid to gammavalerolactone using an unsupported platinum oxide catalyst (J. Am. Chem. Soc, 52, 3010 (1931)).
Other studies have also been reported. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,266, for example, the preparation of gammavalerolactone from levulinic acid is described by hydrogenation with a bifunctional metallic catalyst comprising a noble metal, copper, nickel or rhenium, or combinations thereof, optionally on a support which is preferably carbon but which may also be a metal oxide such as alumina or magnesium silicate or combinations thereof. Titania and zirconia supports are mentioned but not exemplified. A preferred catalyst is disclosed to be palladium-rhenium catalyst supported on a carbon support.
The catalytic hydrogenation of levulinic acid to give gammavalerolactone using a metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table, optionally on a catalyst support is also described in WO 02/074760. It is described that a preferred metal catalyst is ruthenium; the support is preferably carbon, SiO2 and Al2O3, with oxidatively stable carbon being particularly preferred.
Hydrogenation of levulinic acid or its esters to give gammavalerolactone using a hydrogenating metal catalyst on a support is also described in WO 2006/067171. Metal catalysts which are specifically exemplified include rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, nickel and nickel/platinum and rhenium/platinum combinations on a zeolite/silica or silica support.
A significant problem associated with such hydrogenation processes is the susceptibility of the catalyst to poisoning and/or degradation by the acid reactant. Both the transition metal and basic materials in the catalyst support can potentially react with carboxylic acids causing the metal or support to leach or dissolve. Carbon supports overcome the problem of leaching but do not allow for the regeneration of deactivated catalyst by coke burn-off. There therefore remains a need for improved catalyst systems for use in such processes.
Levulinic acid is readily available from cellulose feedstock material and is therefore a convenient starting material for the preparation of gammavalerolactone. Products such as ethyl valerate and pentyl valerate which are obtainable from gammavalerolactone by hydrogenation are of particular interest as fuel components and there therefore remains a particular continuing interest in the development of improved methods for preparing gammavalerolactone from levulinic acid.

Process for preparing a hydroxyacid or hydroxyester


A system and method for coupling a host to a drive in a high-capacity data storage system are disclosed. The data storage system comprises a number of drives arranged in a hierarchical manner. A control system is provided for controlling input/output of data and managing control signals. The control system comprises a hierarchy of controllers and switches. The control system receives a request for a drive from a host and couples the host to the requested drive through the hierarchy of controllers.

The present invention relates in general to digital processing and more specifically to a data storage system using hierarchical interconnection.
Typically, in computing devices, data storage systems consist of storage devices such as, hard disk drives, floppy drives, tape drives, compact disks, and the like. An increase in the amount and complexity of these applications has resulted in a proportional increase in the demand for larger storage capacities. Consequently, the production of high capacity storage devices has increased in the past few years. However, these storage devices with large storage capacities also demand high reliability and reasonably high data transfer rates. Moreover, the storage capacity of a single storage device cannot be increased beyond a certain limit. Hence, various data storage system configurations and topologies using multiple storage devices are commonly used to meet the growing demand for increased storage capacity.
A configuration of the data storage system to meet the growing demand involves the use of multiple smaller storage devices. Such a configuration permits redundancy of stored data. Redundancy ensures data integrity in case of device failures. In many such data storage systems, recovery from common failures can be automated within the data storage system itself using data redundancy and parity generation with the help of a central controller. However, such data redundancy schemes may be an overhead to the data storage system. These data storage systems are typically referred to as Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks (RAID). The 1988 publication by David A. Patterson, et al., from University of California at Berkeley, titled 'A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)', describes the fundamental concepts of the RAID technology.
There are several issues associated with high-capacity storage systems. As the number of drives increases, complexity of logic for switching between drives and the delays involved in parity computation increase exponentially, thereby reducing the system performance in terms of disk input/output. An increase in the number of drives also requires an efficient interconnect scheme for movement of data and control signals between the controller and the drives. Furthermore, disk-based storage systems, having a large number of drives, consume more power than tape based systems of equal storage capacity. This is because tape drives can support a large number of removable cartridges in a single automated library. Therefore, storage on multiple disk drives consumes more power than the equivalent tape drive system. In addition, as the number of powered drives increases, the probability of failure of a disk drive also increases. Therefore, it is desirable that data integrity and disk reliability be maintained.

High-density storage systems using hierarchical interconnect


Thermoplastic compositions that reflect ultraviolet light are provided herein, along with articles of manufacture and methods of fluid purification using the same. The thermoplastic compositions preferably comprise a suitable thermoplastic material and microparticles of UV reflective material, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The thermoplastic compositions are useful, for example, in forming articles of manufacture comprising a UV reflective surface that are suitable for use in a water treatment system in connection with a UV light source.

Ultraviolet light (UV) can be used to disinfect fluids, such as water. Exposure to ultraviolet light is believed to detrimentally alter the genetic (DNA) material in cells, thereby reducing the population of potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, molds, algae and the like. Typically, water flows past UV lamps in UV disinfection systems thereby exposing microorganisms in the water to a lethal dose of UV energy. Typical water disinfection systems and devices emit UV light at approximately 254 nm, which is believed to penetrate the outer cell membrane of microorganisms, pass through the cell body, reach the DNA and alter the genetic material of the microorganism.
Water purification systems often comprise a source of germicidal UV radiation configured and positioned to irradiate a water sample to be purified. The water sample can be contained in a conduit or chamber of any suitable shape and material to permit exposure of the water to a desired amount of the germicidal UV radiation. For instance, a UV radiation source can be placed adjacent to, or within, a water-containing conduit or chamber. A UV reflective surface can be positioned to reflect UV radiation back toward the water to be purified, to enhance the level of UV radiation within the water sample or to make more efficient use of the UV radiation generated by the source of UV radiation. For example, published U.S. patent application US 2004/0004044A1, filed Jul. 3, 2002 and published Jan. 8, 2004, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,636, filed Jan. 8, 1991, disclose the use of a reflective material such as aluminum foil to reflect UV radiation toward water to be purified. What is needed are compositions to provide a desired level of UV reflectance for use in water treatment systems. Preferably, such compositions are also suitable for direct contact with water to be purified.

Methods of fluid irradiation using ultraviolet reflecting compositions


The present invention discloses an improved process for the conversion of alkanes to alkenes in the presence of a recyclable mixed oxide and perovskite catalysts with high yield.

The selective conversion of short chain alkanes namely ethane, propane and butane (a by-product of petroleum processing and present in natural/shale gas) to olefins ethylene, propylene, the butenes, and butadiene respectively are important processes owing to its high commercial value of end products. The entire capacity of C2-C4 olefins worldwide is produced by three commercial processes; they are i) thermal cracking (pyrolysis or steam cracking), ii) catalytic cracking and iii) catalytic dehydrogenation. These processes suffer many disadvantages like rapid deactivation, high endothermicity and thermodynamic limitations. Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes is a commercially attractive route to produce alkenes. The main advantage is the exothermic nature of the reaction which avoids the thermodynamic constraints of other non-oxidative routes by forming water as a byproduct. Compared with the conventional steam-cracking method of dehydrogenating alkanes to olefins and current catalytic dehydrogenation processes, ODH could reduce costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy. ODH can be carried out with various oxidants like oxygen, air, carbon dioxide, etc.
The products obtained by dehydrogenation of ethane and butane are commercially more important. Ethene is one of the important building block chemical which ranks first in production among organic chemicals. Ethylene is a base material for the production for variety of chemicals like low, linear low and high dense polyethylenes (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE respectively, Ethylene dichloride (EDC), Vinyl compounds like Vinyl chloride, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), Vinyl acetate (VAM), Styrene and many functionalized compounds. This starts well with butane dehydrogenation where the product distribution is wide when compared to propane and ethane. On the other hand the major products formed during butane dehydrogenation is 1-butene, 2-butene (including cis and trans), 1,3-butadiene, propylene, ethylene. Components of the C4 stream are mainly consumed in the production of synthetic rubber (butadiene), polyethylene co-monomer (1-butene), specialty chemicals, engineering plastics and solvents. The main products obtained from the C4-olefins are hexa methylene diamine, Acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, Polymers based on butadiene and butane.
In recent years, butenes, especially 1,3-butadiene became a versatile chemical as a monomer in polymer industry. Current industrial process for the production of butenes is the steam cracking of naphtha. As an alternative method, dehydrogenation of n-butane requires high temperature and it will favor more of cracked products and increases coke formation which will lead to quick catalyst deactivation. Meanwhile researchers have put on efforts in finding a robust catalyst for an energy efficient process like oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH). A large number of metal oxide systems are studied for ODH of n-butane. Few reports for ODH of ethane, propane, octane and ethyl benzene are available over titania supported systems. Cobalt based catalysts are well known for Fischer Tropsch reaction and other related synthesis.
US20030065235A1 discloses a method for converting alkanes to olefins comprising: heating a feed stream comprising an alkane and an oxidant to a temperature of approximately 300-700° C.; contacting said feed stream with a catalyst comprising a base metal, metal oxide, or a combination thereof and a refractory support; maintaining a contact time of said alkane with said catalyst for less than 200 milliseconds; and maintaining oxidative dehydrogenation favorable conditions; wherein ethylene yield is at least 40%.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,768B2 discloses a method for the production of olefins by oxidative dehydrogenation wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a feed stream comprising an alkane and an oxidant; (b) heating the feed steam to a temperature of approximately 300-700° C.; (c) contacting the feed stream with a catalyst consisting essentially of one or more oxides selected from the group containing alumina, zirconia, titania, yttria, silica, niobia, and vanadia; (d) maintaining a contact time of the feed stream with said catalyst for less than 200 milliseconds under oxidative dehydrogenation favorable conditions so as to produce olefins; and (e) recovering olefins; wherein the recovered olefins include ethylene and the ethylene yield is at least 50%.
EP0832056B1 discloses a process for converting an alkane of the formula, CnH2n+2, to an alkene of the formula, CnH2n, where n is the same for the alkane and the alkene and n is from 2 to 5, the process comprising contacting the alkane in the absence of oxygen with a dehydrogenation catalyst and a solid oxygen source comprising a reducible metal oxide under conditions sufficient to selectively convert the alkane and reducible metal oxide to a reduced form of the metal oxide, the alkene, and water, wherein the dehydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from Cr, Mo, Ga, Zn, and a Group VIII metal, and wherein the reducible metal oxide is an oxide of at least one metal selected from Bi, In, Sb, Zn, Tl, Pb and Te.
WO2006063230A1 discloses a method of converting paraffinic hydrocarbons to alkenes, comprising the steps of: employing a perovskite composition, the composition having the general formula of BaSmTiO3, wherein in the composition, barium comprises from about 1 mole to about 2 moles, samarium comprises from about 0.1 mole to about 1.0 moles, and titanium comprises about 1 mole; heating a reactor which contains the composition to a temperature ranging from about 400° C. to about 500° C. using a gas and a means for heating; supplying a feed gas to the heated reactor, the feed gas comprising one or more paraffinic hydrocarbons, a quantity of oxygen, and a quantity of nitrogen, and wherein heat derived from converting the feed gas paraffinic hydrocarbon to alkenes heats the reactor to a temperature ranging from about 650° C. to about 1000° C., under conditions sufficient to convert the paraffinic hydrocarbon into one or more alkenes; and collecting the gasses exiting the reactor, wherein the alkenes are present in the collected gasses, the yield of C2+ compounds is greater than 20%.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,935 discloses a dehydrogenation of an alkane to an alkene, especially isobutane to isobutene carried out in admixture with oxygen and in the absence of added steam over a dehydrogenation and oxidation catalyst comprising a platinum group metal deposited upon a support, wherein the yield of desired alkene is in the range of 15 to 40%.
Article titled "Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over a perovskite-based monolithic reactor" by F Donsi e al. published in Journal of Catalysis, 2002, 209, pp 51-61 reports oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane investigated in a short-contact-time reactor consisting of a LaMnO3-based monolithic catalyst with a honeycomb morphology. Using an ethane/air mixture with a C2H6/O2 ratio=1.5 and a preheat temperature ranging from 250 to 400° C. results in a 55% ethylene yield.
Article titled "Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over some titanates based perovskite oxides" by T Hayakawa et al. published in Catalysis Letters, 1992, 16 (4), pp 373-387 reports a series of perovskite catalysts tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. The composition of these catalysts covered CaTi1-xFexL3-δ, with 0≤x≤0.4, SrTi1-xFexO3-δ, with 0≤x≤1.0, as well as mixtures of these. The maximum yield for ethene of 52% occurred at 1023 K with x=0.8.
Article titled "The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane by perovskite type catalysts containing oxides of strontium, cerium and ytterbium" by OJ Velle et al. published in Catalysis Today, 1990, 6 (4), pp 567-574 reports the compounds with the general formula SrCe1-xYbxO3-0.5x characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and BET, and its catalytic activity with respect to dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene. The different catalyst compositions were tested in a continuous flow tubular reactor with two different partial pressures of oxygen at 500, 600 and 700° C. A maximum yield of 49% was obtained at 700° C.
Article titled "Lanthanoid-free perovskite oxide catalyst for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene working with redox mechanism" by R Watanabe et al. published in Front Chem.; 2013; 1; 21 reports lanthanoid-free perovskite oxide catalyst for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. The catalyst Ba0.4Sr0.6Fe0.6Mn0.4O3-δ showed high styrene yield of 29.2% and selectivity to styrene of 96.6% at 813 K.
Article titled "Novel Perovskite-Type Oxide Catalysts for Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene to Styrene" by R Watanabe published in Catalysis Letters, 2009, 131 (1-2), pp 54-58 reports novel LaMnOx perovskite-oxide (ABO3) catalysts for effective catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene. Results show that the A-site in perovskite-type oxides affected catalytic dehydrogenation activities and that the B-site affected stability of the activities. The yield of styrene is in the range of 15 to 45%.
Article titled "Titania-Supported Cobalt and Cobalt-Phosphorus Catalysts: Characterization and Performances in Ethane Oxidative Dehydrogenation" by Y Brik et al. published in Journal of Catalysis; 2001, 202 (1), pp 118-128 reports TiO2-supported Cobalt and cobalt-phosphorus catalysts prepared by impregnation and their performances in ethane oxidative dehydrogenation. The best performance in ethane ODH is achieved at 550° C. with the sample containing 7.6 wt % Co. The reaction begins with a conversion of 33% and selectivity around 75%, then it decreases to reach after 150 min on stream a stationary state at 22% of conversion and 60% selectivity.
The present invention provides an improved process for conversion of alkanes to alkenes which is economic, efficient and has high yields.

Process for conversion of alkanes to alkenes

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH


Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and network traffic manager apparatus that assists with protecting a CPU during a DDOS attack includes monitoring network traffic data from plurality of client devices. Each of the plurality of client devices are classified as a valid device or a potential attacker device based on the monitoring. Next a determination of when CPU utilization of a network traffic manager apparatus is greater than a stored threshold value is made. The CPU utilization of the network traffic manager increases as a number of the plurality of client devices classified as the potential attacker device increases. One or more network actions are performed on the plurality of client devices classified as the potential attacker device to protect the CPU when the determination indicates the CPU utilization is greater than the stored threshold value.

Malicious network devices frequently attempt to disrupt the operations of service providers by using network-based attacks such as a "denial of service" (DoS) attack. A DOS attack generally attempts to make a target computing device or network resource, such as a server, unavailable to legitimate clients.
One common instance of a DoS attack involves saturating the target device with external communications requests, such that it cannot respond to legitimate traffic, or it responds so slowly as to be rendered effectively unavailable. Due to the number of requests required to mount such an attack, responsibility for implementing the attack is often distributed across many computing devices. These distributed attacks are therefore known as "distributed denial of service" (DDoS) attacks. Because attacked targets, such as specific web sites or domain names, are often hosted by a server, that server itself may also be targeted by the attack. Further, the server often hosts content on behalf of non-targeted systems or networks, which also may be affected by the attack due to their use of the server.

Methods for protecting CPU during DDoS attack and devices thereof