Device for the protection from effects of an electric field, of the metal parts of chains of insulators of already mounted and operational high-voltage transmission lines includes:                a fastening/support plate;        anchoring elements to anchor the plate to the suspension yoke of the conductors of the transmission line, the anchoring elements being adjustably mounted on the plate according to at least two degrees of freedom; and        at least one guard ring, which may be anchored on the plate with fastening elements. The plate has an upturned-U cross-section and its upper surface is formed by geometrically coupling with the lower surface of the suspension yoke. The anchoring elements include a pair of arms articulately, mounted on the plate; such articulation including, for each arm, a pin pivotally, mounted within seats formed in the plate perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof, and a pair of holes running through the pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of protection of the chains of insulators of high-voltage transmission lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
In high-voltage transmission lines, normally suspended to chains of insulators and anchored to tall support poles, the phenomenon of flashovers is known, which may arise particularly in critical environmental conditions—between the suspension means associated with the support pole, and hence grounded, and the transmission line conductors.
The corona effect is also known, produced by abnormal increments of the electric field. Such phenomenon is due to high electric loads and manifests itself on the first insulators of the chains, on the line side.
This is also the location where, in bundle lines, the supporting yoke of the conductors is connected to the last insulator by means of a metallic component which, despite its relatively small size, undergoes strong tensile stress.
In order to prevent the above-mentioned phenomena (flashovers and corona effect) from translating into corrosion of the metal parts next to the conductors, the use of so-called "guard rings" to be applied to the bottom of the chain of insulators has long been known. These guard rings have the function of improving the distribution of the electric load on the insulators, i.e. of reducing electrical field irregularities on the first insulators on the line side. As a result, by reducing the occurrence of electrical phenomena, the corrosive action thereof is reduced and any risk of early structural weakening, possibly leading to failure, is prevented.
Guard rings are generally manufactured from a rod or metal tube, bent so as to form a ring surrounding the lower end of the chain of insulators. These guard rings are further equipped with a support allowing the anchoring thereof directly on the spacing yoke. The support is suitably formed, so as to project also towards the insulators of the suspension chain.
It was also possible to ascertain that a guard ring must not necessarily fully surround the lower end of the chain of insulators: a protection projecting on the outer side of the line and of a suitable form, also called "racket", is sufficient. Such protection, formed by a rod or by a tube bent bow-like which does not surround the entire chain of insulators, performs equally well the function of modifying the electric field shape and of moving away the flashover. In any case, whenever reference is made in the present description to a "guard ring", it is intended to refer in general also to any type of suitably formed "racket-like protection".
Although said phenomena (corona effect and flashovers) are well known as being damaging to chains of insulators, some high-voltage transmission lines so far lack guard rings or similar protections. For such plants the problem then arises of how to achieve protection thereof.
It is clear that the currently most readily available solution of this problem is that of detaching the conductors from their respective chain of insulators and of replacing the existing spacing yoke with another one equipped with a guard ring and hence suitably formed to house it. Such a solution, however, is not feasible due to at least 3 reasons:                in order to be able to replace the existing assembly, the alternative assembly, i.e. spacing yoke and guard ring, cannot be of just any shape: it must be designed so as to interface with the sockets existing on the chain. It is therefore necessary to design and manufacture ad hoc a plurality of alternative assemblies according to the features of the various types of existing chains, with evident significant costs;        the replacement of the existing spacing yoke with an alternative assembly implies the need, as said, to detach the line conductors from their respective chain, with evident, equally high, operating costs;        finally, the detachment operation of the conductors from the chain must necessarily be carried out on a de-energised transmission line. This is generally not acceptable due to the resulting discontinuing of the power supply which, considering that this operation must be repeated on multiple poles, is relatively prolonged.

Protection device for chains of insulators of high-voltage transmission lines


The application is directed to a compressor having a housing with a fluid compression region to rotatably support a compressor rotor. The housing includes an inner wall formed as a thin wall positioned about the compression region and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. A cooling chamber is formed in a space between the inner and outer walls. A rib formed on the inner wall projects into the cooling chamber to provide structural support and prevent thermal deformation of the thin inner wall during compressor operation.

Fluid compressors necessarily heat compressible fluid during the compression process. Under some conditions high temperatures can cause portions of the compressor to thermally deform or "warp." Some compressor systems can include cooling means to remove heat from the rotors to prevent a defined temperature from exceeding a threshold limitation. Some existing systems have various shortcomings relative to certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology.


A reader has a one-pass both-side reading function and comprises a selector which synthesizes in a dot sequential manner image signals from a CCD for reading a front face image and from a contact sensor for reading a rear face image, and transmits both-side image data in the same configuration as that of an I/F which transmits one-side image data. It transfers image information to a printer at high speed without being equipped with a high-capacity memory and without increasing the number of signal lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and particularly to an image reading apparatus capable of reading a front side and a back side of a document sheet simultaneously or almost simultaneously.
2. Related Background Art
Heretofore, when a both-side document sheet is read, a document sheet reversing mechanism is provided inside an ADF, and a front side of the document sheet is first read on the side of an image reading apparatus, and then the document sheet is, after having been read, reversed by the document sheet reversing mechanism inside the ADF, and then a back side of the document sheet is read on the side of the image reading apparatus, thereby reading a both-side document sheet image in accordance with this operation.
However, in this configuration, the time for reversing the document sheet is a dead time for the image reading apparatus, so that reading performance is lowered. Further, the document sheet is often damaged because it is reversed.
In view of this problem, a one-pass both-side image reading apparatus has recently been proposed which is equipped with a reading system inside an ADF and reads a front side image and a back side image by one-time document sheet conveying operation. FIG. 6 is a view showing a schematic configuration of the one-pass both-side image reading apparatus. A reading operation of the one-pass both-side image reading apparatus will be described using FIG. 6.
A plurality of both-side document sheets disposed on a document sheet putting table 71 of an ADF 70 is conveyed one by one. In a conveying path, the document sheets are separately conveyed one by one by means of separating rollers 72 and 73, and the document sheets are conveyed along conveying guides 74 and 77 in accordance with the turning in a direction of an arrow of a conveying roller 75.
Before the document sheet is conveyed to a reading position, a reading unit 200 moves right under a shading corrector plate 211 and performs shading correction. After finishing the shading correction, the reading unit 200 moves right under a viewer window 212, and is in a read standby state until the document sheet is conveyed.
When the document sheet is conveyed, the front side image of the document sheet is read right under the conveying roller 75. More specifically, a line image of the document sheet image illuminated by a lamp 201 inside the image reading apparatus 200 is focused on a CCD 209 via a first mirror 205, a second mirror 206, a third mirror 207 and a lens 208, and the line image is read. The conveying roller 75 conveys the document sheets at a predetermined speed, and the document sheets are sequentially read in a sub-scanning direction, whereby the front side image of the document sheet is read.
When reading of the front side of the document sheet image progresses and an edge of the document sheet is conveyed right under an equal size reading box 250, an image of the document sheet back side is read by the equal size reading box 250. An optical system of the equal size reading box 250 is constituted of a Selfoc lens 251, an image sensor 252 and a lamp 253, and the line image of the document sheet back side image illuminated by the lamp 253 is focused on the image sensor 252 via the Selfoc lens 251. The line image focused on a contact sensor is an image of an equal size. Since the conveying roller 75 conveys the document sheets at a predetermined speed, reading of the document sheet in the sub-scanning direction is sequentially performed, and thus the back side image of the document sheet is read. The both-side document sheet having been read is sequentially discharged at a discharge tray 78.
Image data of the front side and back side thus read is sent to an unillustrated image processing circuit, and the images are reproduced by a host computer, a printer or the like connected to the image reading apparatus, and then image formation processing is applied so that the images are formed on a display or a printing paper.
As described above, in case the image is copied by the printer to which a reader for simultaneously reading the both-side document sheet is connected, since both-side images can not be printed simultaneously on a printer side even if the reader simultaneously reads the both-side images. Therefore, the reader can not send the image data of the back side until the front side has been printed if a image data bus width is the same as the bus width for one-side document sheet reading. Plus such a method has to be applied that the image data of the back side document sheet is stored in a buffer memory having about a one-side capacity, and after the data of the front side has been sent, the image data of the back side document sheet stored in the buffer memory is sent. For this reason, there is caused a big problem of increased costs for the buffer memory. To solve this problem, double system data buses may be provided for sending front side image data and for sending back side image data, but it is not realistic because a cable which connects the reader and the printer becomes extremely thick considering recent increasing bits of image data.
Furthermore, since the printer sequentially prints the back side image followed by the front side image, the reader has to be on standby for almost a printing time of one-side amount until the next document sheet reading starts after the first both-side document sheet has been read, and thus the reader has not been able to exert its performance of simultaneously reading the both sides.


An inductive charger adapter element includes a housing, a coil comprising electrically conductive material, the coil contained within the housing, the coil configured to inductively couple to an external primary coil; and a connector supported on the housing, the connector coupled to the coil and configured to couple the inductive charger adapter element to a port provided on a device, the connector including a first pair of conductors for providing power and charging current to a battery in the device.

Modern portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, handheld computers, and portable audio/video players are usually powered by batteries. Rechargeable batteries are often used to supply power to such devices. Rechargeable batteries can be charged from various sources including an AC source, e.g. using an AC/DC charger, or in a car, e.g. DC/DC charger plugged in the Cigarette Lighter Adapter (CLA), or using a portable charger. Recently, inductive chargers have been developed to charge rechargeable batteries in portable devices. Examples of such inductive chargers include systems such as Splashpower™, eCoupled™, Powermat™, WiPower™ and to PowerbyProxi™.
Inductive charging systems use a charging pad (having one or more primary or transmitter coils) on which the devices to be charged are placed on the pad. The devices to be charged are equipped with custom-made receivers, such as skins equipped with receiver inductive coils that are specific to the device. Such device-specific systems typically require acceptance by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Devices not equipped with custom-made receivers can be connected by a wire to an external receiver unit placed on the pad. Such an approach however, minimizes the benefits of inductive charging.


A set of command tags and associated command instructions are provided along with a driver mechanism for converting ETL instructions from a first set of ETL instructions to a second set of ETL instructions. With the system and method, the command tags may be used with a first set of ETL instructions to indicate the manner by which these ETL instructions are to be executed. The tags are identified by the driver mechanism and associated with one or more command instructions. The command instructions are loaded along with the first set of ETL instructions by the driver mechanism. The driver mechanism converts the first set of ETL instructions into a second set of ETL instructions based on the command instructions associated with the identified tags. The second set of ETL instructions are performed as a plurality of transactions rather than a single transaction.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to a system and method for data extract, transform and load (ETL) in a data warehouse environment. More specifically, the present invention provides a command conversion mechanism for dynamically converting ETL commands that operate as a single transaction into a plurality of ETL commands that operate as a plurality of transactions for enhancement of the performance of ETL execution and a system that supports such a mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
Data warehousing is the process by which data obtained by an operational system is stored in one or more databases separate from the operational system so that this data may be used for business analysis apart from the operational data in the operational system. There are many reasons why the data stored for business analysis is separated from the operational data. First, data may be integrated into a data warehouse from more than one operational system. In this way, data from multiple sources may be cross-referenced so that information regarding the correlation between data may be obtained from the data warehouse.
Second, the operational system's performance may be degraded because of analysis processes that are performed on the operational data. By separating out the data used for business analysis, the analysis operations may be performed separately from the operational aspects of the operational system and thus, a degradation in performance of the operational system is avoided.
Third, data that is stored in the data warehouse is typically non-volatile. That is, the data is not stored in the data warehouse until the data is most likely in its final state and is not going to be modified. For example, the order status does not change, the inventory snapshot does not change, the marketing promotion details do not change, etc. This allows the user that is performing business analysis to rely on the accuracy of the data stored in the data warehouse since it is unlikely that the data has been changed since it was stored in the data warehouse.
Fourth, data from most operational systems is archived after the data becomes inactive. Since the data warehouse is designed as the archive of the operational data, the data is stored for a very long period of time compared to the operational data in the operational system. The cost for maintaining the data in the data warehouse is minimal. As a result, data archived in a data warehouse may be retrievable at remote times from when the data was first obtained.
The data stored in the data warehouse is stored in a structured manner such that the data may be subjected to query and analysis. Typically, this structure takes the form of one or more database tables having records that are structured in a specific manner. These database tables may be queried and analyzed using database query and analysis commands such as are generally known in the art. For example, the Structured Query Language (SQL) is a language used to interrogate and process data in a relational database. Originally developed by International Business Machines, Inc. (IBM) for its mainframes, all database systems designed for client/server environments support SQL. SQL commands can be used to interactively work with a database or can be embedded within a programming language to interface to a database. Programming extensions to SQL have turned it into a full-blown database programming language, and all major database management systems (DBMSs) support the language.
Building a data warehouse involves taking the data from the operational system and storing it in the data warehouse in a structured manner. The process used for moving data from the operational system to the data warehouse is referred to as "extraction, transformation and loading" or ETL. To populate a data warehouse table, the ETL process typically makes use of combined SQL statements such as select-insert, select-update, and the like. These SQL statements are performed in a single transaction within the operational system.
In data warehouse environment, the size of the data to be transferred is usually very large. When SQL statements, such as select-insert and select-update, are performed as a single transaction, a large amount of log space and execution time is required to maintain data about the transaction in order to allow for rollback of the transaction. The performance of the execution usually will be downgraded. Thus, it would be beneficial to have a system and method for optimizing the execution of SQL statements such that the performance of the SQL execution is increased and the log space and execution time is minimized.

System and method for data ETL in a data warehouse environment

International Business Machines Corporation


An on-site electrical power generation system utilizing environmentally hazardous waste oils as a combustible fuel. The disclosed invention utilizes environmentally hazardous waste oils generated by one or more on-site processes, such as, for example, by the maintenance of transportation vehicles. In addition, the system is adapted to provide local space heating and hot water as a byproduct of the combustion process.

This invention relates to providing an improved electrical generation system utilizing waste oil as a combustible fuel. More particularly, this invention relates to the co-generation of electrical power using a generator powered by the heat energy produced by a waste-oil-fired furnace.
Approximately 1.4 billion gallons of used oil is generated in the United States each year. Approximately ten percent of that amount is properly recycled, with the remainder dumped into the environment. Waste oil dumping has increasingly become a major worldwide environmental issue. It has been shown that one gallon of waste oil can contaminate up to one million gallons of water. Currently, forty percent of the pollution found in the waterways of the United States is created by waste oil, with similar pollution statistics reported by other industrialized countries. In 1980 the U.S. Congress passed the Used Oil Recycling Act to establish a national policy governing used oil. One significant aspect of the legislation was the acceptance of on-site burning of waste oil to produce usable heat. Government leaders recognized that making used oil valuable for hundreds of thousands of small businesses was the best way to prevent dumping and water pollution.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently acts to establish, monitor and manage waste oil control guidelines in an attempt reduce hazardous environmental waste oil contamination from waste oil dumping. The EPA's rule generally states:


A crosslinked fluorocarbon such as perfluorocarbon, polymeric composition is provided having hydrophilic functional groups, which is crosslinked with fluorinated such as perfluorinated crosslinking groups. Also provided is a branched fluorocarbon such as perfluorocarbon, polymeric composition having hydrophilic functional groups.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fluorocarbon polymeric compositions having hydrophilic functional groups and more particularly a branched fluorocarbon polymeric composition having hydrophilic functional groups or a crosslinked fluorocarbon polymeric composition having hydrophilic functional groups and to a process for forming the branched fluorocarbon polymeric composition or crosslinked fluorocarbon polymeric composition having hydrophilic functional groups.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Articles made of fluorocarbon polymeric compositions are useful in a wide variety of environments due to their chemical inertness. Fluorocarbon polymeric compositions such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are commonly utilized in applications where highly reactive reagents are encountered and are formed into a variety of shapes including films, membranes, beads, tubes, fibers, fabrics, hollow fibers or the like.
One disadvantage of fluorocarbon polymeric compositions is their relatively low surface energy resulting in hydrophobic properties due to a lack of hydrophilic functional groups on the polymer chain. Therefore articles made from such polymers exhibit repellency properties towards water, aqueous fluids or other fluids that have surface tensions greater than the surface energy of the article. This characteristic can lead to poor contact between the surface of the article and a fluid having a relatively high surface tension in applications where intimate contact of the article's surface and the fluid is desired. This poor contact or lack of intimate contact between the surface and the fluid can lead to undesirably poor wetting or dewetting of the article's surface during use in these applications.
It is desirable to render the surface of a hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymeric composition such as a chemically inert fluorocarbon polymeric composition more hydrophilic. For example, mesh or woven or non-woven fabrics made from fibers of a fluorocarbon polymeric composition in some environments are desired to be more hydrophilic such as when used to form absorbent fabrics. In addition, it is desirable to render other fluorocarbon polymeric compositions ionic and more hydrophilic such as in non-porous ion exchange film membranes used in electrolysis, dialysis, fuel cells or chlor-alkali cells so that more intimate contact is attained between the aqueous fluid being processed and the film or membrane surface. Film membranes of this type made from more hydrophilic fluorocarbon polymeric compositions also exhibit enhanced ion transport across the bulk of the film resulting in more efficient processes.
It has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,792 to Moya, U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,859 to Benezra et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,308 to Mallouk et al to modify a substrate surface with a perfluorocarbon copolymer composition containing sulfonic acid groups to render the surface more hydrophilic. While the surface is rendered more hydrophilic, the thermal stability of the perfluorocarbon copolymer composition containing sulfonic acid groups is reduced. The perfluorocarbon copolymer composition containing sulfonic acid groups begins to significantly degrade at about 150° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,616 to Howells et al discloses a process for making linear polymeric bis (fluoroalkylenesulfonyl)imides by reacting a difunctional fluoroalkylene sulfonamide compound with a difunctional fluoroalkylene sulfonyl halide compound. Since this process relies on the use of low molecular weight reactants to produce the polymer, it is difficult to control the molecular weight distribution of the final linear polymeric composition and therefore it is undesirable. In addition, the linear polymeric bis(fluoroalkylenesulfonyl)imides cannot be crosslinked.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,005 to Desmarteau discloses a process for forming a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and a sulfonimide-containing unsaturated monomer wherein the monomer is derived from a sulfonimide-containing reagent. Since TFE is a toxic reagent, its use is undesirable. In addition, since this process relies on the use of low molecular weight unsaturated monomers, it is difficult to control the molecular weight distribution of the final polymeric composition.
It has been proposed by Shimazo in J. Electroanal. Chem. 258 (1998) pp. 49-59 to crosslink a perfluorocarbon copolymer composition such as Nafion™ films with radio frequency plasma. Crosslinking with a plasma is effected without the introduction of crosslinking groups. Crosslinking is effected through a bond linking two polymer chains. Unfortunately, ionizing radiation such as plasma degrades the perfluorocarbon copolymer composition.
It has been proposed by Greso et al in POLYMER vol. 38 No. 6 (1997), pp. 1345-1356 to crosslink a perfluorocarbon copolymer composition such as Nafion™ films via Si—O—Si bridges. This process is undesirable since the product contains a bound inorganic phase, which is chemically unstable.
It has been proposed by Covitch et al in Polymer Science and Technology Vol. 16, pp. 257-267 (1982) to crosslink a perfluorocarbon copolymer composition such as Nafion™ films with ethylenediamine and heat. This process is undesirable since the product contains a non-fluorinated ethylene portion, which is chemically unstable.
International Patent application PCT/CA99138897 discloses a fluorinated cross-linked polymeric compositions containing sulfonyl groups.
It would be desirable to provide a fluorocarbon polymeric composition having hydrophilic functional groups, which has improved hydrophilic properties and which is chemically stable. In addition, it would be desirable to provide such a polymeric composition which is produced from a fluorocarbon polymer precursor and which can be crosslinked.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fluorocarbon polymeric compositions having hydrophilic functional groups and process


A system comprising a host system, a driver in communication with a host system, and a plurality of host bus adapters in communication with the driver. The host bus adapters provide a plurality of data transmission paths between the host system and a storage device. The driver is operable to adjust data transmission loads between the paths without burdening the operating system.

Load balancing is a software technique that balances amounts of data sent over different network segments, such that the aggregate transmission rate may be maximized.
Fail over and fail back are techniques to redirect data transmissions over network segments after detecting a segment failure (e.g., line outages, damage, etc.). "Fail over" refers to switching from a primary network segment to a secondary network segment when a problem is detected on the primary segment. "Fail back" refers to reconnecting the primary segment after the failure has been corrected.

System with multiple path fail over, fail back and load balancing

Emulex Design & Manufacturing Corporation


A method of manufacturing a master for producing a hologram device is provided. The holographic image reconstructs when the photosensitive film of the hologram device is struck by a beam of light from a wide angle being defined relative to a perpendicular line to a surface of the photosensitive film.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to holograms and particularly a wide angle hologram device with an image that is reproduced from a near field illuminating source, and method of manufacturing same.
2. Description of Related Art
A hologram or hologram device is a device that includes a photosensitive film containing a recordation of an object. As is well-known, holograms are recorded with coherent light with a reference beam that strikes the photosensitive film directly and an object beam which strikes that object to be recorded and then strikes the film. The angles of these beams in relation to the plane of the film determines how the recorded image will be reproduced from the finished hologram, a process known as reconstruction. The image becomes visible when the hologram is illuminated by an appropriate light source from the same angle of either the reference beam or the object beam that was used during the recording process.
The angle between the reference beam and the object beam used in the recording determines the angle between the reconstructing light source and the reproduced image seen by the viewer that results in reproduction of the recorded image with maximum brightness and minimum distortion. This is often referred to as the "angle of reconstruction". Holograms are often designed so as to be viewed by an observer directly facing the film of the hologram, with the recorded image being reproduced perpendicular to the film of the hologram. Therefore, often times the angle of reconstruction corresponds to an angle with respect to a perpendicular line to the hologram surface.
Generally, either the object beam or the reference beam used to create the hologram is arranged at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a perpendicular line to the hologram surface, since this geometry is easy to record. In this case, a reconstruction light source positioned at the same angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a perpendicular line to the hologram surface is used for reconstruction, since this geometry results in reproduction of the recorded image with maximum brightness and minimum distortion.
Also well known, images from conventional holograms achieve maximum sharpness when reconstructed from collimated light, ideally from a point source. Therefore the light source is positioned at a distance from the hologram which causes the light to be naturally collimated.
FIG. 1A shows reconstruction of a conventional hologram with a distance the light source angled approximately 45 degrees from the hologram. Basically, the light from a light source is well above (or below) the hologram and the viewer.
In many applications, however, it may be advantageous to have a wide angle between the reconstruction beam and a perpendicular line to the film, from a light source positioned close to the hologram, as shown in FIG. 1B. One such application, for example, may be a thin wall display for advertising.
Others have described so-called edge light holograms. U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,515 to Upatnieks describes a technique that provides a monochromatic virtual image at infinity behind an edge-lit hologram. However a compact display is not possible due to reconstruction involving a laser positioned at a distance from the hologram.
A compact system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,229 to Benton et al., which requires a three-step process to produce a master used for duplication. Furthermore, the recording of Benton is performed using a mask with a slit which sacrifices vertical parallax. Parallax is an apparent displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight. For example, a hologram with horizontal parallax means that various horizontal perspectives of the image have been recorded, thereby allowing an observer to view these perspectives as the observer's position changes in a horizontal direction. Sacrificing vertical parallax, as occurs in Benton, means that only the top or the bottom of the image is able to be recorded in the hologram. As a result, an observer will only be able to view one vertical perspective of the image (i.e., either the top or the bottom, but not both), depending on which vertical perspective was recorded. This is the case regardless of whether the observer is viewing the hologram from the top or the bottom of the reconstructed image.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,624 to Nicholson describes a two step process for producing a transmission hologram that is reconstructed with a diverging beam of white light. However, this technique also uses a mask during recording and requires a light source position at a distance from the hologram in practical applications. As such, the hologram device of Nicholson does not reconstruct its image when illuminated with a near field source from a wide angle with respect to a perpendicular line to the film of the hologram device. In addition, the Nicholson device also sacrifices some vertical parallax.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,565 to Klug et al. describes a one-step process requiring extensive hardware (including computers) and sophisticated image manipulation, and is comparatively expensive.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a low cost, two-step method for creating a hologram device which reconstructs its image when illuminated with a near field source from a wide angle with respect to a perpendicular line to the film of the hologram device.

Wide angle hologram device illuminated with a near field source and method for manufacturing same


A circulator suitable for use in an external field, particularly of a magnetic resonance apparatus, has a planar ferrite structure. Instead of a permanent magnet, a field conducting device is provided that is designed to strengthen or weaken an external field, and/or at least one electromagnet is provided for generating an operating field. The operating field proceeds perpendicularly through the ferrite structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a circulator suitable for use in an external magnetic field, in particular of a magnetic resonance apparatus, of the type having a flat ferrite structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To excite nuclei in magnetic resonance and to acquire the response signals, magnetic resonance apparatuses employ radio-frequency antennas, in particular whole-body antennas that are arranged inside the magnet and must be activated with correspondingly high powers in the kilowatt range to emit the excitation signal. At least one amplifier is therefore provided that feeds a signal to the input of the radio-frequency antenna. Instead of a single amplifier for the entire antenna, it has been proposed to use multiple amplifiers with output signals that exhibit adjustable phase differences relative to one another, in order to respectively feed separate antennas. The intensity distribution of the transmission field within the excitation volume should thus be better adapted to the requirement of the magnetic resonance. Ideally, instead of one amplifier that delivers the total power, eight individual amplifiers are then required from which only one eighth of the total transmission power must be delivered.
So that the amplifier can operate ideally, the connected load impedance must always correspond to 50 Ohm. Depending on the weight and volume of the patient to be examined, however, the antenna impedance changes, and thus the load impedance for the amplifier also changes. However, a pre-adaptation can only be implemented for a standard load case, such that in most cases a portion of the power sent to the antenna is reflected at the feed point and arrives back at the amplifier. In order to solve this problem, the following possibilities are known.
First, the reflected power can simply be allowed to transduce into heat in the amplifier, which leads to an over-dimensioning of the cooling requirement and the structural size. This is reflected in high costs of the amplifier. Additionally, the risk exists that the current and voltage peaks of the reflection power can destroy the end stage of the amplifier.
Another possibility, in which the amplifier is protected from reflected power, is to use what is known as an adaptation tuner that minimizes the reflected power for every load case before the actual measurement. In particular given use of multiple amplifiers, such a procedure has disadvantages. A much greater circuit complexity is required for the adaptation tuner and the time cost for the load compensation is greater.
Therefore it has been proposed to interpose a circulator between the amplifier and the terminal of the magnetic resonance antenna, which circulator relays the transmission power arriving from the amplifier nearly without loss to the magnetic resonance antenna while the reflected power arrives at the third output of the circulator and there is consumed in a power dump (thus a reflection-free power termination) or is converted into heat.
A circulator is a non-reciprocal radio-frequency component. In the present case a circulator with three terminals is used. An ideal circulator ensures that a signal is relayed from one terminal to another in one direction practically without attenuation and free of reflection. For example, a signal can be relayed only from terminal 1 to terminal 2, from terminal 2 to terminal 3 or from terminal 3 to terminal 1. In order to achieve this non-reciprocal transmission, microwave ferrites are used that are saturated by a strong magnetic field. The ferrite structure used (also called a resonator) is essentially formed by two generally cylindrical ferrite plates between which a conductor trace structure is enclosed. The required constant magnetic field is generated by permanent magnets arranged above and below the ferrite structure. A housing or cover often serves as a yoke to close the magnetic circuit. Magnetic field lines are in principle closed. To generate a predictable magnetic field it is typical to merge the magnetic field into a magnetic circuit through components that are particularly good conductors in order to optimally avoid scatter field losses. Via such field conductor elements, the magnetic flux can be directed in specific, desired paths.
In order to obtain an optimally ideal circulator, it is important to find the correct operating point, thus in particular to find an optimal operating field. For real circulators it is additionally known that a temperature dependency exists. Known circulators accordingly require a static magnetic operating field of specific size which is produced by permanent magnets.
In magnetic resonance apparatuses or magnetic resonance antenna devices, cable damping (i.e. losses due to cables that are too long) should be optimally minimized, such that the amplifier should be arranged in proximity to the antenna. The power demand at the amplifier is thereby distinctly lowered. For the possibility of a decoupling of the reflected power via circulators, this means that these must likewise be arranged in the region of the antenna, but when the circulators are placed at that location, the strong magnetic scatter field of the magnetic resonance apparatus alters the field that is present in the region of the ferrite structure away from the optimal operating field such that the circulator loses its function. The magnetic properties of the permanent magnets additionally suffer a lasting change due to the strong scatter field of the magnetic resonance apparatus. Placement in proximity to the magnetic resonance apparatus is not reasonable in this case.
To solve this problem it has been proposed to use a circulator without permanent magnets that utilizes the fundamental "interfering" scatter field of the magnetic resonance apparatus. For this, the circulator would have to be mounted at suitable positions in the scatter field at which orientation and size of the magnetic field coincide with the optimal operating field as was generated by the previously present, but now removed, permanent magnets. However, ultimately this solution would be practical only in rare cases since design limitations (for example the attachment, the cooling or the wiring) to arrange the circulator exactly at the matching points in the scatter field are not allowed. An additional problem is that the scatter field is not constant over time, and disruptions thus can also occur.


A method and apparatus for accessing wireless carrier networks by mobile computing devices. An access client hosted by a mobile computing device accesses carrier networks using wireless access points. The access client uses an access point database to identify access points and carrier networks. The access client uses a methods database and a tokens database to access the carrier networks. The access client updates the access point database, the methods database, and the token database using an access server when the access client is operably coupled to a carrier network. The access client transmits user information to the carrier network. The carrier network uses the user information to authenticate the user and to generate session data while the user is accessing the carrier network. The carrier network transmits the session data to the access server. The access server uses the session data to generate billing information for the user. The access client also collects network performance data for individual access points and carrier networks. The access client transmits the network performance data to the access server. The access server aggregates network performance data from a plurality of access clients to generate quality of server reports for both individual access points and carrier networks. The access client further includes access point detection and evaluation features for use by a user in selecting access points available at a single location.

This invention pertains generally to the field of mobile computing and more specifically to accessing a computer or communications network by a mobile computing device.
Multiple carriers are installing public wireless carrier networks in high-traffic zones for the mobile business executive. The various locations include hotels, airports, and increasingly in restaurants and coffee shops. There are already a number of wireless-based Internet Service Providers (ISPs). These ISPs provide Internet access in public spaces such as hotels, airports, conference centers and retail establishments. The ISPs typically strike a deal with a landlord where the ISP pays to deploy Access Points (APs) in the facility and then either pays the landlord monthly fees and/or a cut of revenue. Airport authorities are getting into the game, signing up one or more wireless ISPs to deploy APs in airport terminals. In another deployment model, landlords buy the equipment to provide APs and managed network providers agree to manage the network for the landlords.
Not unlike the early days of the commercial Internet, each provider of wireless Internet access infrastructure in public spaces has a different mode of deployment, requires a different configuration of the user's machine and a different account and billing relationship. This deployment model may lead to several problems for a user. For example, multiple carriers mean multiple accounts for the user. Logging onto each successive network means needing a different logon account, and being billed from several sources. Also, networks are still sufficiently sparse as to present a challenge for the user to know when one is encountered, and to which carrier that network belongs. Additionally, inconsistencies in how the networks are configured can present connection hurdles to the vast majority of users who are not well versed in the technology or network management. Finally, configuration of mobile computing device network interface cards is still a one-off proposition. Users presently using Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) software supplied by manufacturers of network interface cards may not be able to negotiate different networks (i.e., home, office, public) effortlessly and easily log onto all public and private networks.

Method and apparatus for accessing networks by a mobile device


An autosampler for obtaining mass spectra from a plurality of fluid samples, in particular gaseous samples including a plurality of containers including sample sources providing the samples, wherein each one of the containers provides a docking port for being connected with a connector for enabling access to an inside of the respective container via the connector in order to obtain the respective sample from the respective container via said connector. The autosampler further includes an ionisation source for ionising at least a part of the samples, and a mass analyser for obtaining the mass spectra from the ions. The ionisation source is moveable within the autosampler sequentially to each of the containers for connecting the connector to the docking port of the respective container for collecting the sample from the respective container for ionising at least a part of the sample and obtaining the mass spectra from the ions.

Autosamplers are devices which automatically collect and analyse samples. Autosamplers for obtaining mass spectra from a plurality of fluid samples pertaining to the technical field initially mentioned are known. They commonly have the disadvantage that during the transfer of the samples from the containers to the ionisation source and subsequently to the mass analyser, an intermixture of the different samples occurs, contaminating the obtained mass spectra which downgrades their significance.


A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus detects the presence of a moving object along a vehicle periphery. The apparatus sets multiple detection lines along a horizontal axis of an image captured by a camera, and detects a brightness change of a pixel along the detection lines. With reference to the brightness change detected along the detection line and a parameter for determining whether such brightness change is caused by the moving object, the apparatus determines the presence of the moving object. In addition, the apparatus changes a determination condition for determining the moving object such that as the number of detection lines along which the brightness change is detected decreases, the harder it is to satisfy the determination condition for determining that the moving object is present.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-110202 (JP '202), a vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus having a wide-angle lens camera is proposed for providing a driver of a subject vehicle with a wider field of view, which has a view angle of at least 180 degrees. Though such an apparatus has a very wide view angle, a trade-off of having a smaller image size for an object captured in a corner/periphery of a captured image cannot be avoided. More practically, when a vehicle backs up, the driver of the subject vehicle, even though staring at the captured image of a rear view of the vehicle, cannot notice/recognize an object captured in the corner of the captured image that is very small, since the driver's attention is naturally drawn to a nearby vehicle parking on the left/right of the subject vehicle with minimum clearance.
Therefore, for example, a monitoring apparatus that emphasizes a moving object on a display unit is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-123968 (JP '968), which emphasizes the moving object after cropping such object from the captured image. In JP '968, the emphasizing scheme of the moving object is disclosed as a calculation of an optical flow of feature points in the captured image and a formation of a motion vector for each of the feature points, enabling a cropping of the moving object from the captured image. The cropped moving object in a dead angle of the subject vehicle Is then displayed in an emphasized manner on the display unit, thereby allowing the driver of the subject vehicle to easily notice/recognize such a dangerous object in the dead angle.
However, extraction of the motion vectors from the captured Image by processing an image based on a calculation of the optical flow, as provided in JP '968, requires a huge processing load. Thus, an accurate cropping in response to the motion of the moving object may only be enabled by a separate/dedicated processor for having processing results in a timely manner.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, in some recently-developed image capturing apparatus, a detection line L extending horizontally in a left-to-right axis is set in the captured image for capturing an outside periphery of the subject vehicle for the detection of the moving object. A detection area for detecting the moving object is narrowed to such detection line L.
Specifically, by setting the detection line horizontally along the left-to-right axis of the captured image, the moving object may be detected based upon a brightness change of the pixels along the detection line and a determination threshold (i.e., a parameter) for determining whether the brightness change of the pixels is caused by the moving object.
However, when the moving object is detected based on a configuration that detects the moving object according to the brightness change of the pixels along one detection line, a vertical size of the moving object is not considered in the captured image. In particular, a false detection of a moving object may be possible. For instance, fallen leaves or a noise in the image may be detected as the moving object, which should not be detected. Such false detection leads to an inaccurate device.


In an air pressure information display system of a vehicle tire, a vehicle (1) has air pressure sensors (7-9) for detecting the air pressure of a vehicle tire (2-5), and transmitting air pressure information indicating the detected air pressure via a wireless communication, and an informing unit (100) installed in a gas station or the like has a display module (100b) for displaying the received air pressure information.

Conventionally, a technique for detecting the air pressure of a vehicle tire, and informing the user of the detected air pressure as a tire air pressure state is known.
As such technique, for example, Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 10-508264 discloses a technique that corrects an air pressure signal of a tire detected by a pressure sensor in association with a standard temperature (20°), and displays the corrected air pressure signal on a display of a vehicle.
However, in the above prior art, the tire air pressure state cannot be displayed unless a vehicle comprises a control unit for displaying the tire air pressure state, and a display, and there is room for improvement in display versatility.
That is, even in a vehicle which does not comprise a control unit for displaying the tire air pressure state and a display, when its tires has been changed to those with air pressure sensors, since the air pressure state of the changed tires is detectable, it is demanded to present the air pressure information of the changed tires to the user somehow in that vehicle.
Even when a vehicle comprises a control unit for displaying the tire air pressure state, if a display controlled by that control unit is a simple warning lamp, the tire air pressure state cannot be displayed by means of detailed numerical values. Hence, it is demanded to provide that air pressure state to the user somehow.

Air pressure information display system of vehicle tire


An image sensor for sequentially reading signals from photoelectric converting elements disposed in a matrix and formed on a substrate in which both an image sensor and a photometry sensor are incorporated on the same substrate. The sensor includes a light-shielding layer disposed over the area of the substrate except the area of the photoelectric elements, the light-shielding layer forming a lower electrode. A pn-junction photodiode layer is disposed over the light-shielding layer, and an upper transparent electrode layer is disposed at least over the photodiode layer. The upper transparent electrode layer is divided into a plurality of pattern areas. If desired, at least one of the pattern areas of the upper transparent electrode layer may be further divided into a plurality of very small areas and color filters formed over the very small areas.

The present invention relates to an image sensor having a photometric function for sensing the intensity of incident light added to the functions of a conventional image sensor. The invention further relates to an image sensor enabling multi-pattern photometry to be carried out therewith.
Photometry is carried out before taking a photograph to determine various photographing factors such as exposure, white balance, etc., in an electronic photographing apparatus such as an electronic still camera, electronic video camera, or the like, similarly to an ordinary film-type camera. For this purpose, in a conventional electronic camera, separately from a photographing sensor, a special photodiode is provided on a lens in the front side of the camera or inside the camera body behind the photographing lens.
Various methods of carrying out photometry are known, including a center-emphasis system in which the subject is placed in the center portion of the scene and an edge-portion-emphasis system in which the subject is placed in an edge portion of the scene. In an ordinary film camera, furthermore, there is known a so-called multi-pattern photometry system in which the scene is divided into a plurality of pattern areas which are suitably selectively used as objective areas for photometry according to the composition of the picture.
However, it has not heretofore been possible to provide a photometry sensor on the same chip as the photographing sensor without lowering the aperture ratio of the photographing sensor. Furthermore, in order to employ the multi-pattern photometry system in an electronic photographing apparatus such as an electronic still camera, it is necessary to either add a special device to the photometry image sensor such as a photodiode as mentioned above, provide a plurality of photometry image sensors, or distribute the incoming light through a complicated optical system. All of these techniques are, however, unsuitable if the camera is to be miniaturized because of the provision of the separate photometry sensor.


Provided an antimicrobial substance that includes a base material layer, and a copper-tin alloy layer 5-200 nm in thickness disposed on the base material layer, the copper-tin alloy layer containing copper in an amount of more than 60 atomic percent but not more than 90 atomic percent, and containing tin in an amount of not less than 10 atomic percent but less than 40 atomic percent. The copper-tin alloy layer includes a Cu41Sn11 crystalline phase, and a Cu3Sn crystalline phase. The Q value (Ω/(nm·Cu atomic percent)), which is derived by dividing the sheet resistance (Ω) of the copper-tin alloy layer by the thickness of the copper-tin alloy layer and the copper content (Cu atomic percent), is 1.5×10−4-6.0×10−4.

To keep articles in a sanitary condition, antimicrobial substances are applied to their surface under certain circumstances. For example, in food-handling facilities, domestic kitchens and medical facilities, it is required to keep the surface of the interior floor and walls, instruments, fixtures or other articles germ-free in order to prevent possible contact infection or poisoning caused by harmful microorganisms such as bacterial pathogens attached to their surface.
As means of conferring antimicrobial properties, methods have been known wherein a metal thin film is attached to the surface of the article. As antimicrobial metal thin films, paper and plastic films have been proposed that have a thin film of metal such as copper, silver or alloy thereof attached to their surface.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a Sn—Cu alloy film containing a Sn—Cu alloy and 1 to 10 wt % of SnO2, as an antimicrobial metal thin film to be laid on a substrate. The literature discloses that the Sn—Cu alloy film is formed by forming a Sn layer and Cu layer by sputtering followed by an annealing treatment at high temperatures.
Studies been made to increase the wear resistance of metal thin films having antimicrobial properties. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a metal fibrous body containing fibers and metal coatings attached thereon, the surface of the coating exhibiting orange peel. The metal coating with orange peel surface is disclosed as having high adhesion strength and antimicrobial properties. In addition, Patent Literature 3 discloses an antimicrobial substrate having a base and a plurality of antimicrobial metal islands disposed on a surface of the base. The literature discloses that adjustment of contact angle of the antimicrobial metal islands can increase the wear resistance to maintain the antimicrobial properties for a long period of time.

Antimicrobial substance, method for producing same, and antimicrobial material


Supporting printer maintenance in a network environment having a server, at least one network device and a printer, the server containing a plurality of printer configuration files, wherein the printer maintenance is supported by accessing one of the printer configuration files which corresponds to the printer, the configuration file including a plurality of printer maintenance function names and a plurality of printer maintenance commands corresponding to the printer maintenance function names, generating an HTML-based page corresponding to the printer, the HTML-based page containing each of the printer maintenance function names from the accessed printer configuration file, and sending the HTML-based page to the network device, wherein, upon selection in the network device of one of the printer maintenance function names in the HTML-based page, the server sends to the printer the printer maintenance command which corresponds to the selected printer maintenance function name.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a network centric printing system in which printer maintenance functions are accessed over the network from a printer configuration file. Specifically, the invention accesses a printer configuration file and then builds an HTML page which displays available maintenance functions from the printer configuration file for selection and use by a network user.
2. Incorporation by Reference
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,431, entitled "Software Architecture for Cable Television Home Printing", and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,433, entitled "Internet-Based Push Printing Over Cable Network", are each incorporated herein by reference.
3. Description of the Related Art
In a typical network-based system, the network is comprised of at least one server and several computing devices, such as personal computers and workstations, through which network users access and utilize the network servers. In such a system, the network user typically has a printer driver located locally within the personal computer or workstation that is used by the network user. In this manner, when the network user desires to print an image or information from an application, such as a network browser or a word-processing application, the related data is transformed through the printer driver in the network user's computer into print data for printing on the desired printer, regardless of whether the desired printer is located as a peripheral of the network user's computer or is a network printer.
Recently, the implementation of network centric environments has increased, in which a network server is accessed and utilized by a plurality of network users through a simple network device at the location of each network user. For example, a digital cable network provides not only digital cable television services to a home user having a set-top box (STB), but also provides other services to the network user through the STB, such as internet access. In such an environment, the STB is connected to the television of the network user and is also connected to a cable head end (CHE) of the digital cable network. The CHE is used to combine digital cable television services, internet access services and other third-party services for distribution from a server of the CHE to the STBs of the network users who subscribe to the digital cable network. In this manner, a home network user can access and utilize data image files from the server at the cable head end and also may access and utilize files from various locations on the internet via a browser in the STB.
It is desirable for a home user of a digital cable network to have the capability to print images to a printer located within the home of the home user and connected to the STB of the home user. Such printing systems are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/357,431, entitled "Software Architecture for Cable Television Home Printing", and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,433, entitled "Internet-Based Push Printing Over Cable Network". These applications describe a digital cable network which provides the ability of a server in the CHE to prepare and send print data from the CHE to the STB of the home user for printing on a printer which is connected to the STB. For example, the print data prepared at the CHE may represent a weekly subscription to specific information of interest to the home user wherein the CHE collects the information from a third party, such as a web site on the internet, and then prepares a print job containing print data by using a printer driver located in the CHE. The utilized printer driver corresponds to the type of printer located in the network user's home. In the alternative, the print data may represent information from a third party, such as an advertisement from a store, in which the print job is initiated by the third party, prepared by the CHE using the appropriate printer driver, and sent to the home network user's printer for printing.
It can be appreciated that frequent use of the network user's printer may result in degradation of the print quality of the printer if printer maintenance is not performed to return the printer to a good printing condition. Typical maintenance of a printer, such as an ink jet printer, includes cleaning of the print heads, the printing of a test page to test the print quality condition, the performance of a nozzle check to ensure that the nozzles are performing correctly, and a cleaning of the rollers. In a conventional network environment in which the network user accesses the network server via a personal computer, the network user can access the printer maintenance commands supported by the printer driver for the network user's printer through a graphic user interface supported by the printer driver. For example, the network user may use a pointing device, such as a mouse, to click on an icon corresponding to the printer, whereupon the printer driver supports the display of a printer maintenance window in which the network user can select one of several commands corresponding to each of the available printer maintenance functions.
In a network centric environment, such as a digital cable network, the network device utilized by the network user, such as a set-top box (STB), typically has limited hardware resources available to support execution of significant, complex software programs. For example, an STB has a limited amount of memory available that is less than the amount typically found in a personal computer. Accordingly, an STB is unable to load and execute a conventional printer driver having graphic user interface capabilities. This presents a problem in network centric environments that support printing services. For example, in a digital cable network system, an appropriate printer driver for each network user's printer on the network is located in the server of the CHE of the digital cable network. As discussed above, the printer driver is utilized by the CHE to generate a print job, either at the request of the network user or of a third party, and to send the print job down to the set-top box of the network user for printing on the printer connected to the set-top box. Accordingly, printers residing on the digital cable network need to be managed both by the network administrator at the cable head end and by each corresponding network user at the location of the printer.
Unfortunately, the printer drivers for all of the possible types of printers supported by the digital cable network tend to vary greatly in size, functionality and format. Therefore, the use of a common software program in the CHE server to provide a graphic user interface for all printer drivers to network users, including network administrators, would be very complex and cumbersome.
Therefore, a printing system is desired for network centric environments in which a common printer maintenance scheme is utilized for allowing both the network administrator and the printer owners to access printer maintenance functions for maintaining the printer of each network user in a good printing condition, wherein the scheme is general enough to support many different types of printers. It is also desirable that the common printer maintenance scheme should not have to be modified every time a new type of printer is added to the digital cable network. In addition, the scheme should be easy to use by a network user via a network device having limited resources, such as a set-top box.

Printer maintenance scheme for a network centric printing system


A compute system for executing an h.264 binary decode symbol instruction including a first compute unit having a range normalization circuit and an rLPS update circuit, and operating in a first mode responsive to current rLPS, range, value and current context to generate the next normalized range and next rLPS for the current context; a second compute unit including a value update circuit, a context update circuit, and value normalization circuit responsive to current rLPS, range value and current context to obtain the output bit, normalized value and the updated current context; and a third compute unit or said first compute unit operating in a second mode including a range circuit and a next context rLPS circuit responsive to rLPS range, value and next context to obtain a next context rLPS value.

Arithmetic coding processes such as PEG2000, JPEG, On2, Or H.264 often use Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC). The original principle of binary arithmetic coding is based on recursive subdivision of the interval width Range. [For a full description of the H264 CABAC standards and details see ITU-T Series H: Audiovisual and Multimedia Systems Infrastructure of audiovisual-coding of moving video]. Given the estimation of probability pLPS of Least Probable Symbol (LPS), the interval is subdivided into two subintervals: one interval width rLPS=Range·pLPS which is associated with the LPS, and the other interval width rMPS=Range−rLPS, which is assigned to the Most Probable Symbol (MPS). Depending on whether the observed bit to be encoded is MPS or LPS, the corresponding subinterval is chosen as the new interval. The binary arithmetic coding process keeps updating the interval width register Range which marks the range of the interval and the code register Value which marks the lower bound of the interval. According to H.264 CABAC process, the Range·pLPS required to perform the interval subdivision is approximated using a 4×64 2-D pre-stored table. Range value is approximated by four quantized values (2-bits) using an equal-partition of the whole range 28≦Range≦29 and the value of pLPS is approximated by 64 quantized values indexed by a 6-bit MPS or LPS state. If the code offset (Value) is less than the current Range, the MPS path is taken where the most probable path range is determined from the previous Range and the approximated Range·pLPS. The most probable symbol (MPS) is designated as the next output bit, and the state transition is preformed based on the most probable symbol (MPS) look-up table. If Value is greater than current range, the LPS path is taken where the MPS bit is inverted, the current Value is determined from the previous Value and the MPS range, then range becomes rLPS. If the current LPS state equals zero, the MPS is inverted, and the state transition is preformed based on the least probable symbol (LPS) look-up table, followed by the renormalization process where the range and value are renormalized. Range is renormalized to the [511,256] interval by left-shifting range the required amount of bits and the Value is scaled up accordingly and the lower bits are appended from the incoming bit stream. Also see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/527,001, filed Sep. 26, 2006, entitled "Iterative Process with Rotated Architecture for Reduced Pipeline Dependency" (AD-473) and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/788,095 filed on Apr. 19, 2007, entitled "Simplified Programmable Compute System For Executing an H.264 Binary Decode Symbol Instruction" (AD-506J), each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Programmable compute system for executing an H.264 binary decode symbol instruction


The invention relates to a method of preparing a conductive composite material, consisting of performing at least one cycle of deposition comprising the following steps:

The present invention relates to the manufacture of electrically conductive composite materials comprising a conductive polymer such as polyaniline, in an insulating substrate.
It has particular application to the manufacture of porous membranes based on polymers and other insulating materials, rendered conductive by the conductive polymer.
Such materials can be used as electrodes, as gas sensors, as biological microsensors, or as filtration material for inflammable liquids.
Various methods are known which enable composite materials comprising a conductive polymer to be prepared.
Thus, the document Synthetic Metals, 60, 1993, pages 27-30 [1] describes the preparation of a composite polyaniline-poly (bisphenol-A carbonate) membrane used for the detection of ammonia. This composite membrane is obtained by electropolymerization of aniline on an electrode coated with polycarbonate. It contains about 50% by weight of polyaniline and has a conductivity of 10xe2x88x922 S.cmxe2x88x921.
The document Anal. Chem., 1999, 71, pages 2231-2236 [21] describes sensors constituted by an isoporous membrane of polycarbonate coated with gold, in the pores of which a polyaniline is caused to grow by electropolymerization. An enzyme is then immobilized on the polyaniline by an electrochemical method.
The document Anal. Chem., 1998, 70, pages 3946-3951 [3] likewise describes biosensors comprising a composite electrode based on polyaniline and on Nafion(copyright) perfluorinated ionomer, which is obtained by deposition of the polyaniline by electropolymerization on a vitreous carbon electrode coated with Nafion(copyright).
The document Synthetics Metals, 84, 1997, pages 107-108 [4] describes the preparation of a composite material based on porous glass and polyaniline obtained by the polymerization of aniline by chemical oxidation in situ in the pores of the porous glass.
The document Chem. Mater., 1994, 6, pages 1109-1112 [5] likewise describes a porous material in the pores of which polyaniline is formed by chemical polymerization in situ.
The methods described hereinabove for obtaining composites comprising a conductive polyaniline deposit polyaniline by also making use of electropolymerization or by chemical polymerization of aniline, and this has certain disadvantages.
The methods based on electropolymerization in fact make it necessary to first coat the insulating membrane with an electrically conductive material to permit the growth of polyaniline by electropolymerization. Such methods are furthermore not well suited to the preparation of membranes with large surfaces, since the electric field can be very inhomogeneous in an electrolytic cell of large dimensions, leading to the inhomogeneous deposition of conductive polymer. Furthermore, the electropolymerization reactions are very slow. Moreover, it is necessary to subject the membrane obtained by electropolymerization to a subsequent washing for eliminating the residues of salt and of electrolysis solvent, which could have a negative effect on the behavior of the membrane. Lastly, it should be noted that implementation of the process is lengthy.
In the methods using polymerization in situ by chemical means in the pores of the membrane, the process is difficult to control and the deposition of the conductive polymer can be inhomogeneous due to several factors which locally influence the chemical potential. Likewise, the product obtained has to be carefully washed to eliminate the secondary products of the reaction which would have a deleterious effect on the properties of the membrane, and the implementation of this method is likewise lengthy.
Another path for obtaining a film of composite material based on insulating polymer and conductive polymer, described in WO-A-98/05040 [6], consists of starting from a solution of conductive polymer and of insulating polymer in an appropriate solvent and forming a film by casting the solution and by evaporating the solvent. However, such a method is not suitable for obtaining conductive porous membranes.
The present invention has specifically as its object a method for preparing an electrically conductive composite material comprising a porous substrate made conductive by the deposition of a conductive polymer within the pores of the substrate.
According to the invention, the method for preparing an electrically conductive composite material comprising an insulating porous substrate and a conductive polymer disposed in the pores of the insulating substrate is characterized in that it consists in performing at least one cycle of deposition of the conductive polymer comprising the following steps:
(a) putting the porous substrate in contact with a solution of conductive polymer in a volatile organic solvent, chemically inert with respect to the porous substrate, and
(b) eliminating the volatile organic solvent by evaporation for forming a deposit of conductive polymer in the pores of the porous substrate.
Generally, several successive cycles of deposition are performed, for example, three cycles of deposition, for obtaining a sufficient quantity of conductive polymer, not only in the pores but likewise on the external surface of the substrate.
The method of the invention is very advantageous, since it enables the deposition of conductive polymer to be effected in a single step, much easier and more rapid to implement than the steps necessary to perform a deposition by electropolymerization or by chemical polymerization in situ, and furthermore omitting the steps of washing.
According to the invention, the important characteristic is the choice of the volatile organic solvent used for forming the solution for deposition of conductive polymer within the pores of the porous substrate.
The solvent used should be chemically inert with respect to the porous substrate, that is, it should neither dissolve nor damage this substrate, and should ensure good dissolution of the conductive polymer.
In the case of polyaniline, it is known, for example, that this can be solubilized in solvents such as meta-cresol, as described in the document WO-A-99/07766 [7] as well as in the document [6] cited previously. But such solutions cannot be used for introducing polyaniline into a porous polymer substrate, because they likewise dissolve numerous insulating polymers.
In the document Synthetics Metals, 48, 1992, pages 91-97 [8], it is mentioned that polyanilines can be dissolved in certain solvents such as N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), certain amines, concentrated sulfuric acid or other strong acids, but in the case of NMP, it is necessary to then dope the polyaniline, which has become insulating. Furthermore, it is stated in this document that a polyaniline of high molecular weight cannot be doped in the conductive form, then dissolved in the conductive form in the usual, polar or weakly polar, organic solvents. According to this document, particular doping agents are used in order to place the polyaniline in solution in solvents such as meta-cresol, chloroform, and xylene.
According to the invention, other solvents are chosen, permitting:
(a) keeping the conductive polymer in the conductive form,
(b) facilitating its penetration into the pores of the porous substrate, and
(c) carrying out a uniform deposition of the conductive polymer.
With this object, solvents are chosen which are capable of dissolving a sufficient quantity of conductive polymer to form a solution containing, for example, 1-10 g/l of conductive polymer, and having an appropriate viscosity, for wetting the surface of the substrate. Moreover, an amphiphilic organic solvent is preferably chosen for obtaining a uniform deposit of conductive polymer on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces of the substrate.
By way of example of organic solvents which can be used, there can be mentioned acetic acid, the halogenated derivatives of acetic acid such as trifluoroacetic acid, and the fluorinated alcohols such as hexafluoroisopropanol.
According to the invention, the conductive polymer can be chosen among polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes and derivatives thereof.
According to the invention, a polyaniline is advantageously used, preferably of high molecular weight, and more preferably in the form of emeraldine base. Polyanilines of this type can be obtained by the methods described in the document [7] and the document Synthetics Metals, 95, 1998, pages 29-45 [9].
In the case in which the conductive polymer is a polyaniline, the solution used is advantageously a solution of polyaniline and of protonating agent in an amphiphilic volatile organic solvent.
The protonating agents used are chosen to facilitate placing the polyaniline in solution. In particular, there can be used the aliphatic and/or aromatic monoesters and diesters of phosphoric acid, sulfonic acids, and phosphonic acids.
In the case of esters of phosphoric acid, the aliphatic monoesters and diesters are preferred. Preferably, camphosulfonic acid is used as the protonating agent.
The porous substrates used in the invention can be of very diverse materials. For example, insulating polymers, filter papers, glasses, and ceramics may be concerned. The pores of the porous substrates used usually have a mean dimension of 0.2-100 xcexcm.
For the implementation of the method according to the invention, the porous substrate is put in contact with the solution of conductive polymer, either by immersion of the substrate in the solution, or by spraying the solution onto the substrate, for example in the form of an aerosol. After this step, the deposit of polymer is formed within the pores and possibly on the external surface of the substrate, by the simple physical phenomenon of evaporation of the solvent with simultaneous solidification of the conductive phase of the conductive polymer in the form of a uniform layer. Thus, in contrast to the methods heretofore used for introducing a conductive polymer into the pores of an insulating substrate, no secondary product is formed; thus it is not necessary to proceed to the elimination of such products by washing. Moreover, the quantity and the morphology of the deposited conductive layer can easily be controlled by changing the polymer concentration in the deposition solution.
The invention furthermore relates to a solution of polyaniline which can be used for the deposition of conductive polyaniline onto a porous substrate, characterized in that it is constituted by a solution in trifluoroacetic acid of polyaniline in the form of emeraldine base and of a protonating agent.
The protonating agent is advantageously camphosulfonic acid. Preferably, the concentration of polyaniline in the solution is 1-10 g/l.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following description of embodiment examples, which are given, of course by way of example and not limitative, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method for preparing conductive composite materials by deposition of a conductive polymer in an insulating porous substrate and solution for use in said preparation

Abstract: (a) putting an insulating porous substrate (1) in contact with a solution of a conductive polymer such as polyaniline in a volatile organic solvent such as trifluoroacetic acid, and

Abstract: (b) eliminating the organic solvent by evaporation, for forming a deposit of conductive polymer (5) in the pores (3) of the porous substrate.


A hybrid vehicle includes an engine that is an internal combustion engine, a motor generator that is a rotating electric machine used together with the engine for driving the vehicle, an output shaft transmitting power to a wheel, a transmission member coupled to the output shaft, a power split device splitting the output from the engine to the motor generator and transmission member, a detection device detecting irregularities on a road, and a control unit reducing, when the detected result by the detection device indicates generation of periodic torque variation at the output shaft, the output from the engine based on the detected result. Accordingly, a hybrid vehicle that does not require a torque limiter is provided.

As a vehicle taking into account environmental issues, attention is now focused on hybrid vehicles that use a motor and engine together for driving the wheel. Some hybrid vehicles take advantage of the differential action of the planetary gear mechanism to control the rotational speed by means of the electric motor or motor generator connected to the planetary gear mechanism to drive the internal combustion engine at the optimum operating point. Such vehicles are configured to cover the excessive or insufficient driving force and engine braking force through the electric motor or motor generator, and further carry out energy regeneration in a deceleration mode to improve the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-237119 discloses the technique of preventing the transmission of excessive torque to the output member of a power split device in a hybrid vehicle of the above-described configuration by increasing the rotational speed of the motor generator, when the rotational speed of the output member becomes lower by at least a predetermined amount, to suppress generation of inertia torque from the engine.
However, in the case where periodic torque variation is applied to the drive shaft such as in the case of running on a bumpy road in which irregularities continue successively and periodically, the variation will be transmitted to the input shaft through the power split device from the engine towards the power split device. When the frequency of this torque variation approximates the unsprung resonance point of the main body, variation at the drive shaft will increase to cause greater variation at the input shaft. If the unsprung resonance point matches the torsional resonance point of the input shaft, excessive torque will be generated at the input shaft.
Thus, since the generated torque will be excessive and periodic in the case where the input variation towards the input shaft varies periodically and intermittently, control of the motor generator cannot keep up with the variation. Accordingly, vibration cannot be suppressed and will become noticeable.


The present invention relates to a composite porous hollow-fiber membrane including a first layer and a second layer which each include a fluororesin-based polymer, in which at least a part of molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane, the molecular chains of the fluororesin-based polymer have a degree of orientation it in the longitudinal direction of the composite porous hollow-fiber membrane of 0.4 or higher but less than 1.0, the degree of orientation it being calculated with the specific formula.

Separation membranes (also called porous membranes) are utilized in filtration in various fields including the field of water treatment such as water purification treatment and wastewater treatment, medical applications including blood purification, and the food industry.
The separation membranes suffer pore clogging when used in filtration. As the clogging proceeds, the filtration pressure increases, and this gradually makes it difficult to maintain a filtration rate. A method has hence been disclosed in which a filtration operation is conducted for a certain time period and the separation membranes are then cleaned. There are cases where separation membranes are cleaned by chemical cleaning with an acid such as hydrochloric acid, citric acid, or oxalic acid, an alkali such as an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, chlorine, or a surfactant. Because of this, separation membranes employing fluororesin-based polymers represented by poly(vinylidene fluoride) as materials having high chemical resistance have been developed in recent years and are utilized.
Patent Document 1 indicates that a porous hollow-fiber membrane which is includes a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based resin and in which a longitudinally oriented fibrous texture having a diameter of 0.9 μm to 3 μm accounts for at least 30% of the entire porous hollow-fiber membrane is excellent in terms of strength and pure-water permeation performance. The document describes a process for producing a hollow-fiber membrane, in which a solution of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based resin is pressurized in a liquid feed line before being ejected through a spinneret.
Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a hollow membrane having both a three-dimensional network structure and a spherical structure.
Furthermore, Patent Document 4 describes a technique in which a composition obtained by adding a plasticizer and a good solvent for vinylidene-fluoride-based resins to a vinylidene-fluoride-based resin is extruded into a membrane shape and cooled preferentially from one surface thereof to solidify the extrudate and the membrane thus formed is subjected to extraction of the plasticizer therefrom and then drawn, thereby forming a porous membrane. Patent Document 4 indicates that in the porous membrane, a crystal oriented portion and a crystal non-oriented portion (randomly oriented portion) are recognized in analysis by X-ray diffractometry.

Composite porous hollow fiber membrane, composite porous hollow fiber membrane module, and operation method for composite porous hollow fiber membrane module


A technology is described for mitigating global positioning system (GPS) spoofer signals. A potentially spoofed GPS signal received via an antenna coupled to a GPS receiver can be identified. The potentially spoofed GPS signal can be applied to a spoofer signal nulling loop to generate a set of spoofer nulling weights. The set of spoofer nulling weights can produce a direction vector associated with the potentially spoofed GPS signal. The direction vector can be compared to a beamsteering vector. The potentially spoofed GPS signal can be determined as being a spoofer GPS signal when a misalignment between the direction vector and the beamsteering vector is above a defined threshold. The spoofer GPS signal can be converted to a spoofer mitigation signal that is applied to satellite track channels of the GPS receiver. The spoofer mitigation signal can produce a spatial null in a direction of the spoofer GPS signal.

It is known that satellite navigation signals can be spoofed; such as to disrupt aircraft operations and/or to crash an aircraft. In general, a satellite system spoofing attack, such as a global positioning system (GPS) spoofing attack, can attempt to deceive a satellite receiver by broadcasting a spoofed signal with greater signal strength as compared to the satellite navigation signal. The spoofed signal can cause the satellite receiver to incorrectly determine its location. For example, the spoofed signal can falsely communicate a position that is any number of degrees off of the satellite receiver's actual position. As a result; the satellite receiver can falsely determine that the aircraft is off course, even though the aircraft is traveling along a correct heading or course and in the correct orientation/position. As a result, the aircraft may adjust its orientation to correspond with the spoofed signal, thereby causing the aircraft to travel off course. Where satellite spoofing may trick a navigation system by communicating spoofed signals, it is further known that satellite jammers may prevent satellite receivers from receiving satellite signals altogether.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.


The invention relates to a stream nozzle (13) for an inert gas welding torch (B). The inventive nozzle is provided with a coating (S) that adheres to at least a part of the surface of said nozzle in a material fit and consists of silver, especially galvanically mounted contact silver.

The invention relates to a welding torch as generically defined by the preamble to claim 1 and to a stream nozzle as generically defined by the preamble to claim 8.
The stream nozzle, also known as a contact nozzle, typically comprises electrolyte copper, or a more-wear-resistant copper-chromium-zirconium alloy. Other variant alloys also exist, for instance with beryllium. The task of the stream nozzle is to transmit current to the electrode wire and to guide it. For good process safety, an optimal current transfer from the nozzle stock to the stream nozzle is necessary. Moreover, the stream nozzle must transmit considerable heat over the mounting region. In practice, until now, stream nozzles have predominantly been used without surface treatment, that is, bare or bare to the copper; they are secured replaceably to the nozzle stock via a screw connection or a plug-type connection. In welding, welding beads or welding splashes that occur exhibit the undesired tendency to adhere to the exposed surface of the stream nozzle. This can cause adverse effects on the flow conditions for the inert gas that glows on the outside along the stream nozzle to the welding point. Welding splashes adhering to the end face and in the vicinity of the exit from the electrode wire duct can hinder advancement from friction with the electrode wire. In practice, stream nozzles are therefore known that at least on their jacket face and end face have a metal coating, in the form of chromium- or nickel-plating. This coating is intended to provide improved reflection of the arc radiation (reduced heat consumption) and also to prevent the welding splashes from adhering (anti-adhesive effect). Not only are coatings formed by chromium- or nickel-plating expensive; they do not meet the expectations made of them to a satisfactory extent.
In addition, whenever the coating extends into the mounting region of the stream nozzle, current transfer problems occur; this is suspected to be because the current transfer fluctuates as a function of the layer thickness. In applying the coating, it is therefore necessary that the application region intended for the current transfer be covered as well. This is expensive.
The object of the invention is to disclose a welding torch of the type defined at the outset, and a stream nozzle for this kind of inert gas welding torch, that makes it economically possible to achieve an optimal anti-adhesive and reflective action. A part of the object is also that the metal coating have no adverse influence on the current transfer but instead even improve the current transfer.
The stated object is attained by the characteristics of claim 1 and claim 8, respectively.
Surprisingly, a silver coating leads to excellent anti-adhesion and reflective effects. Even if the silver coating is meant to extend into the mounting region, it has no adverse effect on the current transfer but in fact even improves the current transfer. The heat transfer capability of a silver coating is already optimal. Applying the silver coating can be done economically, particularly in mass production. Since the silver coating has no adverse effect on the current transfer and in fact even improves it, when the coating is applied there is no need to cover regions of the surface that are important for the current transfer. This makes coating the stream nozzle simpler.
Expediently, the coating comprises galvanically or chemically applied contact silver. Contact silver can be applied with the desired layer thickness and good adhesion to the material comprising the contact nozzle at low equipment expense.
The coating should have an essentially uniform layer thickness, preferably between about 6 and 10 xcexcm.
The silver coating should be uniform, at least on the jacket face and the free end face of the stream nozzle.
However, it is especially expedient for the entire surfaces of the stream nozzles to be provided with the silver coating. This simplifies the procedure in galvanic or chemical coating of the stream nozzle considerably. The silver coating, which is also present in the region of attachment to or contact with the nozzle stock or inner tube of the torch as well, leads to optimal current transfer and heat transfer and makes an important contribution to process safety.
In a stream nozzle with a screw attachment for producing a screw connection to the nozzle stock or the inner tube of the torch, the male thread of the screw attachment is also covered with the silver coating.
A stream nozzle with a plug-in attachment for producing a plug-type connection to the nozzle stock or inner tube of the torch is also covered with the silver coating on the fitting faces of the plug-in attachment.
Other metal spraying methods are naturally also practicable for applying the silver coating.

Alexander Binzel Schweisstechnik GmbH and Co. KG


A threaded, coupled connection having tapered, buttress-type threads, the threaded portions of the connection having a thread pitch of seven threads per inch. Preferably the pin threads of the coupled connection are pull-out threads.

In the completion and production of an oil/gas well, it is often sometimes necessary to drill out a plug or other down hole obstruction which was used in the construction of the well. An example of this is so called fracing plugs used in fracing operations that are commonly conducted in shale formations. The fracing plugs are typically used to isolate lateral or horizontal sections of the well bore so that successive, isolated sections can be fraced to stimulate production. However, the fracing plugs must be drilled out so that the oil from the formation can flow to the well head for recovery.
In these types of workover or intervention activities, it is common to use a tubing string to drill out the plugs. In the past, this was conventionally done with work strings of tubing employing so called eight-round or LTC connections. However, in highly deviated or horizontal wells where most fracing occurs, connections employing eight-round threaded components are not sufficiently rugged enough to withstand the changing tension and compression loads that the work/tubing string undergoes.
Recognizing this problem, many operators elect to use a two-step or dual step threaded connection with a metal to metal radial seal which is an integral connection i.e., there is no coupling between the sections of tubing. While two-step, integral connections for tubing work strings are better than coupled eight-round threaded tubing strings, they are not without disadvantages. For one thing, two-step threaded connections are more expensive to manufacture and more expensive to rethread in the event of damage.
Ideally, a tubing string used in the activities described above e.g., drilling out of plugs and other well intervention techniques, would be capable of withstanding high make-up torque and could be made-up and broken-out multiple times e.g., 20 or more times, without any significant reduction in break-out torque. Such a connection would last longer and while in use would be more rugged and able to withstand the tension compression and bending loads placed on the connection especially, for example, in more acute bending modes e.g. 20 degrees per 100 feet. In particular, such a tubing string to would be resistant to the threaded connections backing-off to the point where the string separates.