A system and method to control imaging devices in a single-pass multi-color electrophotographic printing machine that includes a photoconductive member having a timing aperture, the photoconductive member moving along a path in the printing machine, and a plurality of imaging devices, each one of the plurality of imaging devices writing a latent image on the photoconductive member. The system further includes a sensor, located adjacent the photoconductive member, to sense the aperture in the photoconductive member as it passes the sensor and generate a signal indicative thereof and a control device and method that provides a timing signal for each of the plurality of imaging devices based on the signal generated by the sensor and a clock signal that is synchronous for all of the imaging devices.

This disclosure relates generally to control systems and methods for an electrophotographic printing machine and, more particularly, concerns systems and methods for registering different color component images of a multi-color image.
In a typical electrophotographic printing process, a photoconductive member is charged to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitize the surface of the photoconductive member. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charges in the irradiated areas. This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. Generally, the developer material includes toner particles adhering triboelectrically to carrier granules. The toner particles are attracted from the carrier granules to the latent image so as to form a toner powder image on the photoconductive member. The toner powder image is then transferred from the photoconductive member to a copy sheet. The toner particles are heated to permanently affix the powder image to the copy sheet.
The foregoing generally describes a typical black and white electrophotographic printing machine. With the advent of multicolor electrophotography, it is desirable to use an architecture that includes a plurality of image forming stations. One example of the plural image forming station architecture utilizes an image-on-image (IOI) system in which a photoreceptive member (photoreceptor) is recharged, reimaged and developed for each color separation (each color component of the multi-color image). This charging, imaging, developing and recharging, reimaging and developing, all followed by transfer to paper, is done in a single revolution of the photoreceptor in so-called single-pass machines, while multipass architectures form each color separation with a single charge, image and develop, with separate transfer operations for each color.
In single-pass color machines and other high speed printers, it is desirable to utilize as much of the surface area of the photoreceptor as possible to improve the efficiency and print speed of the printer. The photoreceptor typically is a belt that has a seam which is an area of the photoreceptor that is unusable for forming images thereon. A standard way of marking the seam is to have a hole located at a known distance therefrom and to trigger image formation from that hole. Many print jobs, however, vary in the size of media used, and it is therefore desirable to utilize the photoreceptor in what is known as a variable pitch mode. It is further desirable to utilize this variable pitch mode without having to change the photoreceptor belt to vary the pitch number for the particular print job.
A control system and method for controlling an imaging device in a single-pass multi-color electrophotographic printing machine has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,887, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In such electrophotographic printing machines, a belt hole sensor detects the passage of a timing aperture that identifies the location of the seam in a photoreceptor belt. After identifying the location of the seam, a controller calculates image areas where images can be placed on the belt by sequentially-placed imaging stations so as to align images placed by different imaging stations, and to avoid the placement of an image on the seam. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,887, the images are formed in relation to a series of "virtual holes" representing positions along the length of the belt. The movement of the belt corresponds with (and is tracked by) an encoder that provides a series of regularly spaced encoder counts or signals indicating the incremental movement of the belt. For example, the encoder is disposed on a roller about which the photoreceptor belt is mounted, and as the roller rotates due to belt movement, the encoder outputs pulses defining the encoder signal. After the belt has moved a predetermined distance, a signal is provided to the appropriate imaging station to cause the imaging station to form an image on the belt.
Typical in such systems and methods, when the timing aperture is detected by the belt hole sensor, the next output encoder count is established as the reference point for the belt seam. Each virtual belt hole is based on this reference point, with the placement of the virtual belt holes in relation to the belt determined from the number of encoder counts output after the reference point encoder count. After a specific number of encoder counts are output, the first virtual hole is representatively identified on the belt and a first image initiation signal is provided by the controller to the first imaging station to initiate the formation of an image containing the first color component by that first imaging station on the belt. After the output of an additional number of encoder counts, the first virtual hole is deemed to be positioned near the second imaging station, and therefore a second image initiation signal is provided to the second imaging station by the controller to cause the formation of an image containing the second color component by the second imaging station on the belt. This process is repeated for the remaining imaging stations until each imaging station forms its color component image juxtaposed with the color component image of the other stations for a particular image. The multicolor toner image then is transferred to the copy sheet and fused.
The aforementioned system and method, however, are limited because the encoder is not synchronous with the imaging stations. In the aforementioned systems and methods, the motors in the imaging stations are controlled through the use of a Master Clock providing a Master Clock signal. The Master Clock signal is not synchronous with the encoder signal corresponding to the movement of the photoreceptor belt. As described above, the image initiation signals sent to the imaging stations are based on the encoder signal. Accordingly, the imaging stations receive image initiation signals at times that are not synchronized with the signal from the Master Clock. Thus, when an imaging station receives an image initiation signal, it must compensate for the asynchronicity between that signal and the clock signal, thus producing a delay between receipt of the image initiation signal and the actual initiation of the image formation process by the imaging station. A delay occurs with each imaging station, but to different degrees because the image initiation signals are received by the imaging stations at varying times between consecutive clock counts.
The aforementioned delays detrimentally affect the operation of electrophotographic printing machines. For each imaging station, the delay causes error in the precise location of the image at the point on the belt corresponding to a virtual hole.
To compensate for the aforementioned delay, some systems have modified the operation of the imaging device to more closely coincide with the image initiation signal. This modification is generally done by using reference marks or chevrons just before the image areas on the photoreceptor belt and by the speeding up and slowing down of each of the motors driving the imaging stations to cause the respective imaging operations to more closely coincide with the image initiation signals, a process also referred to as "rephase." However, this modification interferes with the placement of chevrons in any inter-image area in which rephase is occurring, because the image is positionally unstable during rephase and because the image initiation signal is asynchronous to the Master Clock. To minimize this instability, an additional zone is required on the photoreceptor belt for the formation of chevrons.
The efficiency of such electrophotographic printing machines is reduced because the requirement for a dedicated zone for the formation of chevrons limits the maximum number of image areas that can be formed in each cycle of the photoreceptor belt. The time required to adjust motor phase also limits the minimum inter-image area size, and further limits the efficiency of the electrophotographic printing machine.

Image registration control utilizing real time image synchronization


A tent for human or animal habitation with a separate pet entrance which offers pets separate entry and exit to and from the interior of the tent at will. The pet entrance offers freedom of movement therethrough in either direction at the pet""s discretion followed by automatic closure and sealing of a pet entry door panel against planar panels at the side of the pet entrance.

None.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a tent, and more particularly, relates to a tent generally used to house humans but which has a pet entrance separate from the main entrance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable housings or shelters for animals or pets in the form of a tent structure are known in the prior art; however, no tent structure is known which is for human habitation and has an entrance for pets separate from that of an entrance generally incorporated for entrance of a human or which has a pet entrance that is used solely for entry to or exit from the interior of the tent structure by a pet. Opening of a human entry of a tent in order to allow passage of a pet to or from the interior of the tent can include the opening of multiple components, such as a screen door panel of flexible screen and/or a fabric door panel, and such can often be undesirable in that multiple closure devices such as zippers, ties, or the like must be actuated or manipulated. Also, to allow entry or exit of a pet through the human entry, an entry of extraordinary size with respect to the size of a pet must be opened. Opening of the large human entry, while being laborious, can also expose the interior of the tent for infiltration by insects or rain. Other issues also exist where a pet is housed in a tent and shares the interior of the tent with humans. A pet may track mud or dirt into the tent, thereby soiling the tent floor or other items, such as sleeping bags, clothing and the like; or the pet may even have unwanted access to food items stored in the tent. Pets may also have sharp claws which could puncture the tent floor. Clearly what is needed is a tent for human habitation which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art tents for human habitation by having a separate entrance for a pet, or, alternatively, by having provision for separate kenneling of a pet in a portion of the tent.
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a tent with a pet entrance. The tent with a pet entrance includes a tent having support structure, a plurality of side panels, one or more screen panels, a floor, a human entry door panel, a human entry door panel surround, a pet entry door panel surround, a dew barrier, a screen door panel and a separate pet entrance located preferably adjacent to the human entry door panel. The pet entrance includes opposing vertical side panels being triangular in shape, much like door jambs, extending inwardly from a tent panel towards the tent interior, an opening which aligns between the vertical side panels, the tent floor, and an edge or living hinge of a tent panel extending between the tops of the vertical side panels, and a positionable pet entry door panel of tent fabric or other fabric or other material pivoting about the edge or living hinge of the tent panel which extends between the tops of the vertical side panels. A pet can at will gain entrance to or exit the interior of the tent through the pet entrance by simply moving through the pet entrance, whereby the pet entry door panel pivots or is displaced to permit passage of the pet. Subsequent to passage therethrough, gravitational forces cause the pet entry door panel to automatically close. A fastening means, such as a zipper, can also be included for sealing of the positionable pet entry door panel in the closed position, if desired. In the alternative, an integral kennel can extend inwardly from the pet entrance and can include a closeable rear door panel for entrance to the interior of the tent, if required or desired. Also, in the alternative, a plastic rigid wall kennel could align to the rear of the pet entrance.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tent with a pet entrance. A pet entrance preferably is located near one side of the human entry door panel. An opening is provided as part of the pet entrance and includes a pet entry door panel co-located with the opening. The pet entry door panel pivots about a living hinge of a tent panel. The pet entry door panel seals against opposing triangular vertically oriented panels and the floor of the tent.
One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a tent having a pet entrance separate from a larger entrance for humans.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a tent with a pet entrance which is self-closing.
Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a tent with a pet entrance which operates without human assistance as a pet enters or exits the tent.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a tent with a pet entrance which can be sealed by a human to contain a pet within or exclude a pet from the interior of the tent.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a tent with a pet entrance which can include a flexible pet entry door panel of the same material as the general construction of the tent or, in the alternative, can include a pet entry door panel of flexible plastic material.
Alternatively, a still further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an internally located kennel adjacent to a pet entrance where the kennel can be integral to the construction of the tent or where the kennel can be a plastic rigid wall kennel suitably positioned or attached to the pet entrance.
Having thus described embodiments of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a tent for humans with a separate pet entrance.


A demultiplexing device that includes frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units that perform a frequency converting process and a low-pass filtering process for causing a signal to pass through a desired band, perform downsampling to reduce a sampling rate to half of a data rate of an input signal, and output the signal, reception channel-filter units that waveform-shape a signal with a desired frequency characteristic and output the waveform-shaped signal. The demultiplexing device also includes a filter-bank control unit that generates a clock control signal for supplying a clock to frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units and reception channel-filter units corresponding to signal passage bands, based on channel information, and a reception-clock supply unit that supplies a clock to frequency-conversion and reception low-pass-filter units and reception channel-filter units corresponding to signal passage bands, based on the clock control signal.

Conventionally, multirate digital multiplexing device and digital demultiplexing device can perform digital demultiplexing and digital multiplexing of signals with various bandwidths using combination of a subfilter and a Fourier transform (or fast Fourier transform: FFT) unit. Technologies related to the multirate digital multiplexing device and digital demultiplexing device are disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Non Patent Literature 1 mentioned below.

Demultiplexing device, multiplexing device, and relay device


A radio terminal 1 has a self-terminal information storing section 4 for storing terminal information of its own, an other terminal information storing section 3 for temporarily storing terminal information which is sent from other radio terminals, and a master determining section 2 for determining a radio terminal appropriate for being a tentative master, based on the stored terminal information. This master determining section 2 determines the tentative master based on the specified information of the terminal information such as transmission power, battery information and network address information. Since, if a user selects an appropriate radio terminal and starts the construction of a temporary network, the radio terminal acquires terminal information of all other terminals and determined an optimum tentative master, the network is then constructed while being the determined tentative master as a center, and communication can be conducted.

The present invention relates to a system for and a method of determining a tentative master of a radio conference system in case of bringing an unspecified number of radio terminals to arbitrary places, determining a tentative master thereof, temporally constituting a network by means of radio using the tentative master as a center, and conducting communication. Conventionally, as this kind of a system for determining a tentative master, there is a system disclosed in JP-A-245690/1991, for example.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the construction of the entirety of this conventional conference system between multi-points. Multi-points control units (referred to as MCUs, hereinafter) 50-52 are arranged at each position, respectively, and have jurisdiction over communication terminals within each of control areas 80-82 and conduct entire control of a conference. For example, the MCU 50 has jurisdiction over the communication terminal 40 indicated as "A", the MCU 51 has jurisdiction over the communication terminals 41-43 indicated as "B"-"D", and, the MCU 52 has jurisdiction over the communication terminals 44 and 45 indicated as "E" and "F" Communication circuits 60-65 are connecting circuits for connecting finally determined optimum MCUs to each of the terminals 40-45. Communication circuits 70 and 71 are connecting circuits which are used when a notice from the terminal 40 of the opening of the conference is issued to the MCU 51 by way of the MCU 50. Each of the MCUs has a terminal control table (kinds of the circuit, fee information and so forth).
The system shown in FIG. 5 operates as follows:
At first, in order to open a multi-points conference between the terminal 40 and other terminals 41-45, the circuit 70 is connected to the MCU 50 over which the terminal 40 has jurisdiction, and a demand for opening the conference is transmitted to the MCU 50. For determining an optimum MCU for controlling the said conference, the terminal control table is referred to by the MCU 50 that has received the demand, and the MCU 50 determines whether or not only its terminal control table has enough information. If the terminal control table has enough information, the optimum MCU is determined based on the information, the circuit is connected to the optimum MCU. Here, if the MCU 51 is selected, the circuit 71 becomes to be connected to the MCU 50. In addition, based on the information for the determination, the sum total of fees is calculated and obtained, for example, in case of assuming that the terminals are connected to each other with each MCU placed at a center. Also, if the information is not enough for the sole determination by the MCU 50, the MCU 50 conducts communication with other MCUs 51 and 52 and determines the optimum MCU based on information obtained from each of the MCUs 51 and 52.
After the optimum MCU 51 is determined in this manner, the demand for the opening is transmitted to the MCU 51. And then, after the connections between MCUs are cut and a notice of the opening from the MCU 51 is issued to the terminal 40, the circuit 70 is cut. Thereafter, the circuits 60-65 are connected between the MCU 51 and each of the terminals 40-45, and the conference is held in an optimum connecting form.
As mentioned above, the optimum MCU is determined based on the information of the terminal control table which is stored in the MCU, using information of the terminal control tables of other MCUs also if necessary.
However, although, in this prior art, the MCUs are needed in addition to the terminals for determining the optimum MCU and setting communication paths, the MCUs do not always exist in case of bringing unspecified radio terminals to arbitrary places.
Also, since the MCUs have the terminal control table and the terminals do not have the terminal control tables, communication of the terminal information cannot be conducted by only the terminals, and accordingly, the optimum MCU (which is a tentative master in the present invention) cannot be determined by only the terminals.

System and method for determining a tentative master of a radio conference system


Optical distance measuring apparatus has a focusing lens (16) directing light reflected from a target toward a detector (18), The lens has discrete or continuous zones each associated with a target distance. The area of the lens zones increases with an increase in associated target distance so as to compensate for a reduction in intensity according to the inverse square law.

The efficient collection of light transmitted in a beam and reflected back from a target, is easy to achieve if the distance to the target is known and constant. If the target distance varies, two main difficulties result.
First, one focusing lens may no longer be adequate to focus light onto the detector over the working distance range of the optical apparatus. A possible solution to this problem is to allow the user of the apparatus to estimate the target distance, to choose from a number of interchangeable lenses, and to insert the chosen lens into the apparatus. This solution allows proper focusing onto the detector but is clumsy for the user. One object of this invention is to reduce the effort required from the user without reducing the range of the apparatus.
Second, the intensity of the light focused onto the detector must normally lie within certain levels if the detector is to function correctly. With a very distant target, the intensity of reflected light is low and the detector may not respond. Conversely, if the target is extremely close, the intensity of the reflected light may be so high as to saturate the detector. Previously, this problem has been overcome by allowing the user to choose from a variety of interchangeable filters, one of which is then placed in the path of the received light. The sensitivity of the detector is selected to give the required maximum range and the filters are used to attenuate light from closer targets. A further object of this invention is to avoid the complications and inconvenience of interchangeable filters.

Multi lens for efficient collection of light at varying distances


A computer system including at least one microprocessor mounted on a printed circuit board, and at least two electrical connectors proximate to the printed circuit board, with the at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform.

1. Technical Field
This patent application relates, in general, to suppressing electromagnetic radiation in and around printed circuit boards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printed circuit boards used in various types of data processing systems (e.g., computers) are typically mounted within a plastic or sheet metal housing structure. During operation of a printed circuit board electromagnetic radiation is generated.
Electromagnetic radiation can interfere with data processing system operation. Accordingly, efforts are made within the art to shield printed circuit boards and printed circuit board components from electromagnetic radiation. Conventionally, such shielding is accomplished via a sheet metal housing (often referred to in the art as a xe2x80x9ccanxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cfencexe2x80x9d) used to enclose a printed circuit board. The sheet metal housing is normally grounded directly to a ground plane in the printed circuit board.
Printed circuit boards are conventionally referred to as motherboards and daughterboards. A motherboard is the main circuit board containing the primary components of a computer system. A daughterboard is a circuit board that attaches to a motherboard, or other type board, and provide additional or enhanced functions to a motherboard.
A daughterboard is typically connected to a motherboard via a card edge connector, the socket portion of which is conductively mounted on the motherboard, and the pin portion of which is an edge of the daughterboard with conductive traces thereon. Conventionally, the motherboard is generally horizontally disposed in the bottom portion of the housing structure, and the daughterboard is generally vertically disposed, being connected at its bottom edge to the card edge connector on the top surface of the motherboard. Daughterboards are also typically shielded with metal fences, or cans, in a fashion analogous to that described for motherboards.
Recent advances in the art have resulted in a movement toward smaller and smaller enclosures for the printed circuit boards used in data processing systems. Accordingly, it is becoming common for daughterboards to be oriented parallel with the motherboard, so that the necessary height requirement for the system is decreased. However, even with the daughterboards so oriented, the conventional method of shielding the mother and daughterboards and their attendant components continues to be a can, or fence, enclosing the area to be shielded.
Such a manner of shielding is disadvantageous for several reasons. For example, it is difficult to orient and correctly place the fence during board fabrication. The presence of the fence also creates a heat dissipation problem. In addition, the presence of the can requires the use of secondary parts and equipment above and beyond that normally necessary to fabricate printed circuit boards. Furthermore, use of the fence or can is generally fairly inflexible in that ordinarily it is used to enclose the entire board surface to be shielded.
From the foregoing, it is therefore apparent that a need exists in the art for a device which provides shielding of printed circuit boards from electromagnetic radiation in a way that overcomes or alleviates the foregoing noted disadvantages.
A device and a method of manufacturing the device have been discovered which provide shielding of printed circuit boards and printed circuit board components such that entire printed circuit boards and/or individual printed circuit board components can be shielded, the extra manufacturing steps and equipment associated with conventional devices for shielding printed circuit boards can be substantially eliminated, heat dissipation is increased over conventional devices for shielding printed circuit boards, and shielding can be implemented with standard printed circuit board manufacturing technology. In one embodiment a device includes a printed circuit board, and at least two electrical connectors proximate to the printed circuit board, with the at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform. In another embodiment a data processing system includes at least one microprocessor mounted on at least one printed circuit board, and at least two electrical connectors proximate to the printed circuit board, with the at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform. In yet another embodiment, a method of manufacturing includes deploying at least two electrical connectors proximate to a printed circuit board, said at least two electrical connectors spaced to attenuate at least one prespecified frequency electromagnetic energy waveform.
The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of this patent application will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.

Printed circuit board electromagnetic energy device


A method and system for dynamic scheduling and allocation of network traffic are provided. The method includes: distributing, by a central scheduling system, a domain name initial configuration table and a determination strategy to each detection node; detecting, by each detection node, each server node of a pre-set domain name in the domain name initial configuration table, thereby obtaining performance information of each server node; generating, by each detection node, a corresponding best coverage record; and converting, by the central scheduling system, the best coverage record into a target server node and feeding back, by the central scheduling system, the target server node to a local DNS server. The disclosed method and system for dynamic scheduling and allocation of network traffic improves network access speed and reduces operation and maintenance cost.

Since the birth of the Internet, the Internet application providers have been pursuing to provide faster and more convenient service experience for users. In such process, many technologies have been developed, such as domain name system (DNS), and content distribute network (CDN), etc.
DNS is configured to name computers and network services that are organized into a hierarchy of domains, and is the most important infrastructure service system of the Internet. The appearance of DNS may allow users to access the Internet more conveniently without remembering the IP strings that can be directly read by a machine. The conversion between the domain names and the IP strings is called domain name resolution, and the host computer that executes such function is called a DNS server. When a user inputs a domain name into an application program, the DNS service may resolve the domain name into other related information corresponding to the domain name, such as the IP address, thereby fulfilling the access to the website.
Based on the DNS system, a plurality of service systems are derived to improve the Internet access speed, such as various traffic scheduling systems. One of the most well-known traffic scheduling and allocating system is the content distribution network (CDN).
The primary task of CDN is to transmit content from source servers to clients as quickly as possible. The CDN technology is an effective approach that first emerges and rapidly develops in the United States in recent years for solving the issues of poor Internet performance and excessive delay in content delivery. The principle idea of CDN is to avoid bottlenecks and steps over the Internet that may affect the speed and stability of data transmission, thereby allowing the content transmission to be faster and better. Through the content distribute network constituted by edge node servers placed all over the Internet, the user access request may be re-directed to the best edge node that is the nearest to the users in real-time based on comprehensive information such as the network traffic, the load condition of each edge node, the distance from the edge node to the user, and the response time, etc. By adding a global scheduling layer to the existing network architecture, the system may distribute the source server content to the network edge nearest to the user. Thus, the user may obtain the desired content as nearest as possible, the situation of Internet congestion may be overcome, and the response speed of the website accessed by the user may be improved. Accordingly, the issue of slow response speed of the website accessed by the user that is caused by the small egress bandwidth of the source server, a large amount of user access, uneven distribution of the network nodes, the complex service provider network, and the small ingress bandwidth of user access network may be solved.
The existing scheduling systems often rely on the static strategies, i.e., via a plurality of DNS mapping tables. Through such DNS mapping tables, different domain name coverage regions may be differentiated, and the access traffic may be directed to different nodes based on the DNS mapping tables. Though such solution may solve a great amount of website traffic allocating issues, the following drawbacks still exist.
1. The static strategies based the DNS mapping table cost a lot of manpower for maintenance and adjustments, and the adjustments may not be timely enough.
2. The strategies may be too fixed, and are strictly divided based on the regional service provider, such that user may not access the best node.
3. The standard of constructing the accurate strategies is high, which may be gradually realized by technicians with rich experience after continuous long-term optimization.

Method and system for dynamic scheduling and allocation of network traffic


A passive variable negative stiffness device (passive VNSD) configured to facilitate a transition to zero stiffness by using elastic devices (e.g., springs) combined with translating and rotating components. An exemplary embodiment of a passive VNSD may comprise at least one pretensioned and/or precompressed elastic device to produce the desired force-displacement profiles. For instance, an exemplary embodiment of a passive VNSD may be adapted to produce force-displacement profiles that transition from zero stiffness, to negative stiffness, and then to positive stiffness (ZNP) and from zero stiffness, to negative stiffness, and then back to zero stiffness (ZNZ).

Exemplary embodiments described herein relate generally to passive variable negative stiffness devices that may be used, for example, to mitigate the effects of seismic events on structures, such as civil structures, or other types of vibration or other movement (e.g., equipment).
The effects of seismic events—especially large earthquakes—can be devastating to urban areas, and often include the collapse of structures, disruption of transportation infrastructure, and the interruption of business. These effects can lead to large economic losses and even the loss of life. In the United States, several major earthquakes have occurred in California within the last fifty years, such as the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Each of these events resulted in the collapse of large buildings or major highways, with deaths numbering less than a hundred per event (National Research Council, 2011). However, the magnitude (<7) of each of these earthquakes, and the size of the area that was impacted, was comparatively small.
In contrast, a report published in 2008 by the United States Geological Survey estimated that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurring on the southernmost 200 miles of the San Andreas Fault would result in 1,800 deaths and $213 billion in economic losses (building damages, non-structural damages, damage to lifelines and infrastructure, and fire losses). Furthermore, this hypothetical event does not even represent the largest earthquake that can be produced by the San Andreas Fault at the selected location.
The inelastic response of building structures combined with supplemental viscous damping has motivated research into apparent weakening for seismic response control. The term apparent weakening refers to the softening of the structure apparent stiffness through the addition of negative stiffness at a displacement that is smaller than the structure yield displacement. The resulting structure with combined positive and negative stiffness emulates yielding, thereby limiting the base shear forces and absolute accelerations. Viscous damping is also added to the structure to limit the increase in displacements that occur due to softening. The structure benefits from the yielding behavior, without incurring the damage associated with actual yielding, for structure displacements smaller than the yield displacement. While the benefits of apparent weakening may be realized through the addition of negative stiffness, it requires a passive adaptive negative stiffness device (NSD), which is not easily achieved.
In order to emulate yielding at a structure displacement that is smaller than the actual yield displacement (uy), negative stiffness should be added to the structure when it reaches a predetermined apparent yield displacement (uy′). This is represented by the dark grey line extending down from the x-axis on the plots shown in FIG. 1. If the negative stiffness added to the structure is equal to the structure positive stiffness (light grey line), then the combined structure-NSD stiffness will be zero (black line). Once the structure displacement reaches uy, yielding will occur and there will be a reduction in the structure stiffness. If the negative stiffness added to the structure remains unchanged beyond uy, the combined structure-NSD stiffness will become negative, and the structure will become unstable. Therefore, after uy has been reached, the negative stiffness should be removed.
Negative stiffness can be removed by transitioning to positive or zero stiffness. Transitioning to positive stiffness will result in a stiffening of the combined structure-NSD system as the positive stiffness from the NSD is added to the inelastic stiffness of the structure, leading to an increase in the combined stiffness beyond that of the inelastic stiffness of the structure (see FIG. 1 (a)). Transitioning to zero stiffness also leads to an increase in the stiffness of the structure-NSD system as the negative stiffness is removed and the inelastic stiffness of the structure remains (see FIG. 1(b)). However, the resulting combined structure-NSD stiffness will be less than that which occurs with the transition to positive stiffness. The transition to zero stiffness results in structure-NSD behavior that more closely emulates a yielding structure, and has been described as an ideal case that is difficult to achieve with a passive device.
Past research in apparent weakening has been based on a negative stiffness device that transitions to positive stiffness, rather than zero stiffness, after structure yielding. In particular, an adaptive negative stiffness system (ANSS) has been studied extensively through numerical and experimental investigation. The force-displacement profile of the ANSS is best represented by that shown in FIG. 1(a). Analytical modeling of the NSD component of the ANSS has been performed, and the effect of large rotations and inertia on the NSD force has been examined. An analytical model has been used to simulate the behavior of an equivalent SDOF building structure with NSD, and with and without dampers, subject to both periodic and random ground motions. It was found that for structures that remain in the elastic range, the base shear of the structure is reduced substantially and passive damping can be used to limit displacements. For yielding structures, it was found that the appropriate combination of NSD and a passive damper can significantly reduce displacements, accelerations, and base shear compared to the base structure. In laboratory studies on a fixed-base building without yielding, it was found that adding the NSD with no viscous dampers reduced the base shear by more than 30%, and the peak acceleration by more than 20%, compared to the structure with no NSD for the strong earthquakes considered. For the same building with mild yielding, the base shear and accelerations of the structure-NSD system were reduced by more than 30%. However, for severe ground motions, the system is subject to large displacements during which stiffening occurs. The stiffening results in an increase in the base shear and acceleration. The addition of the viscous damper to the structure-NSD results in consistent reductions in displacements, acceleration, and base shear by more than 20%.
In addition to the fixed-base building research, the performance of the ANSS has also been investigated for a seismically-isolated building. It was found that adding the NSD to the isolation system resulted in a reduction in the base shear force (force transmitted to the foundation), inter-story drift of the superstructure, and floor accelerations, and had little to no effect on the isolator base displacements. However, it was shown that the addition of viscous dampers to the isolation system with NSD resulted in a substantial reduction in base displacements. Additional shake table studies were performed to study the effectiveness of the ANSS for seismic isolation of a highway bridge model. The results showed that the inclusion of the NSDs can significantly reduce the shear forces in the substructure, thereby protecting the bridge piers and abutments from strong earthquakes. One of the favorable outcomes of the research was the effectiveness of the NSDs even when a flexible layer (i.e., bridge piers) is inserted between them and the foundation of the structure. Also of note was that the system achieved a non-resonant condition due to the constantly changing stiffness once the NSD is engaged. Numerical simulations on the same bridge model showed that the ANSS will not be effective for all ground motions, but that flexibility within the design parameters of the NSD may allow it to be modified to be effective for site-specific ground motions.
Another adaptive passive NSD that has been proposed for seismic protection is the rotation-based mechanical adaptive passive stiffness (RBMAP-S) device. It consists of a primary gear and two secondary gears mounted in series, but not initially in contact. The secondary gears are pre-torqued and held in place using a pawl. Rotation of the primary gear is initiated by displacement of the structure through a connecting arm. The system was designed so that the primary gear engages one of the two secondary gears after a predetermined structure displacement. Once engaged, the secondary gear disengages from the pawl and transfers the stored torque to the primary gear, which in turn transfers a force to the structure that assists its motion. Small-scale experiments and analytical equations both showed a sudden increase in the force exerted on the structure once the secondary gear engaged due to the sudden increase in torque on the primary gear. A modified version of the device including an additional precompressed spring, torsional spring, and slotted connections was proposed to obtain the desired force-displacement profile, which is best represented by FIG. 1(a).
A third adaptive passive NSD that has been recently proposed for seismic protection is the bio-inspired passive negative spring actuator (BIPNSA), which utilizes a preloaded spring attached between the first story of a structure and a roller bearing supported by a ramp on the ground floor. Lateral displacement of the upper story causes the roller bearing to move down the ramp and exert a horizontal force that assists the structure motion. Experimental validation of the concept was performed, and the same configuration was shown to be effective in small-scale shake table experiments at reducing the first floor displacement and third floor acceleration of a seismically-excited building model.
In sum, a review of the state-of-the-art in adaptive passive negative stiffness devices revealed only three that may be capable of producing the force-displacement profiles required for apparent weakening. Of these, the ANSS system was studied extensively through numerical methods and large-scale laboratory experiments. From those studies, it was revealed that the flexibility and inertia of the ANSS assembly influenced the negative stiffness of the system, and should therefore be minimized. It was also reported that improperly designed gap spring assemblies (GSAs) can lead to an undesirable force-displacement behavior of the assembly. Other issues with respect to the efficiency and reliability of the ANSS may also be related to the GSAs. The GSA forces are added to the NSD at all structure displacements, even after uy′ has been reached. As a result, the force from the precompressed vertical spring must be excessively large so that the net force produced by the NSD matches the desired force-displacement profile. Another potential issue with the GSAs is damage during an earthquake, which could occur through impact as the GSAs are continuously engaged and disengaged during operation. Damage to the GSAs would result in an unwanted increase in the negative stiffness provided to the structure, resulting in a potentially unstable condition.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may address some or all of the shortcomings of the known art. In particular, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may facilitate a transition to zero stiffness by using elastic devices (e.g., springs) combined with translating and rotating components. Some exemplary embodiments may allow, for example, spring sizes to be minimized. An example of the efficient design may increase the ability to realize the system in a variety of environments. Some exemplary embodiments may also allow for forces to be applied to, for example, a subject structure substantially continuously, which significantly improves the ability to account for movement in the subject structure while minimizing impact forces on the structure. For instance, some exemplary embodiments may be particularly useful in association with building and bridge structures, such as to address movement caused by seismic activity, wind, etc. or any other type of movement. Exemplary embodiments may also be used in association with other types of systems, structures, devices, etc., such as equipment that has a tendency to vibrate or experience other undesired movement during operation or for other types of movement isolation applications.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.

Passive variable negative stiffness device and methods of use thereof


There is disclosed a process of making metal chalcogenide particles. The process comprises the steps of reacting a metal salt solution with a precipitant solution under conditions to form metal chalcogenide particles and by-product thereof, coating the metal chalcogenide particles with a surfactant; and separating the surfactant coated chalcogenide particles from the by-product to obtain metal chalcogenide particles substantially free of by-product.

In recent times, nano-sized metal chalcogenides materials have been the subject of significant research due to their potential applications as biological markers, nonlinear optical materials, luminescent devices, photodetectors, catalysts, chemical sensors and in highly effective UV-protective coatings, etc. One known method to prepare metal chalcogenide nanomaterials involves reaction in a confined medium such as microemulsion or polymer matrix whereby difficulty has been encountered in producing particles of uniform sizes.
Although a large variety of synthesis approaches have been reported for the preparation of crystalline metal chalcogenides, the large-scale synthesis or mass production of nano-sized metal chalcogenides is still a challenge. Metal chalcogenides can be prepared using a variety of wet-chemical methods including sol-gel, co-precipitation, and hydrothermal synthesis.
The extensively applied sol-gel or co-precipitation procedures are based on the hydrolysis and condensation of metal halides or metal alkoxides as precursors in aqueous solution. However, these methods suffer some major drawbacks. For example, the as-synthesized particles are amorphous and subsequent heat treatment is necessary to induce crystallization. However, this additional step results in alteration, mainly particle growth, or even in destruction of the particle morphology. Further disadvantages of aqueous systems are reaction parameters that are difficult to control, such as fast hydrolysis rate of the metal alkoxides, pH, method of mixing, rate of oxidation or sulfuration and especially the nature and concentration of anions. Also, high temperatures (higher than 500° C.) are required to calcine or hydrothermally treat the intermediate to obtain crystalline metal chalcogenides. This has a negative effect on the finely divided nature since the particles are subjected during this treatment to form μm-sized aggregates which can be broken down only incompletely to the primary particles by grinding.
Another problem that plagues some of the known processes is the poor physical stability of the nanoparticles in dispersion medium that are formed. In these processes, the chemical reactions that lead to the precipitation of the metal chalcogenides particle inevitably result in the formation of by-products. Insufficient removal of the by-products adversely affects the monodispersibility of the nanoparticles in medium, which results in agglomerations of impure metal chalcogenide particles being formed. Furthermore, even when pure metal chalcogenide particles have been formed, the by-products can be difficult to remove. In light of the aforementioned problem of poor dispersibility of metal chalcogenide particles, improvisations of current synthesis methods have been carried out to enhance the physical stability of the metal chalcogenide particles. However, the solid loading percentages of substantially stable metal chalcogenide particles suspensions obtained by these methods are far from ideal, typically at a solid loading percentage of less than 5%. The low solid loading percentage of the suspensions translates to storage inefficiency for the particles suspensions.
There is a need to provide a process of making metal chalcogenide particles that overcomes, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages described above.
There is a need to provide a process of making metal chalcogenide particles that is able to separate any by-products from metal chalcogenide particles that are substantially free of by-products.
There is a need to provide highly concentrated substantially monodispersed metal chalcogenides nanoparticle dispersion that overcomes, or at least ameliorates, one or more of the disadvantages described above.

Process of making metal chalcogenide particles


In a multilayer band-pass filter, each of first-stage to third-stage LC parallel resonators includes capacitor electrodes, via electrodes, and a line electrode. Jump-coupling capacitor electrodes face the capacitor electrodes of the first-stage and third-stage LC parallel resonators. The direction in which the inductor electrode extends from the capacitor electrodes of each of the first-stage and third-stage LC parallel resonators is opposite to the direction in which the inductor electrode extends from the capacitor electrodes of the second-stage LC parallel resonator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer filter that includes a plurality of LC parallel resonators including inductors having a loop shape and capacitor electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical radio-frequency band-pass filter suited for miniaturization and low cost of manufacturing is configured such that a plurality of LC resonators is disposed in a laminate of dielectric layers and electrode layers.
Examples of such a multilayer band-pass filter are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67221 and International Publication No. WO 2007-119356.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-67221 discloses a three-stage multilayer filter in which the first-stage and third-stage resonators are jump-coupled by a coupling capacitor C3, as illustrated in FIG. 1 thereof. The jump-coupling capacitor C3 is configured such that an electrode pattern 151 forming an inductor L1 and an electrode pattern 153 forming an inductor L3 face an electrode pattern 161, as illustrated in FIG. 3 thereof.
However, with the configuration described above, because the electrode pattern 161 also faces an electrode pattern 152 forming an inductor L2, unnecessary parasitic capacitance occurs between the electrode pattern 161 and the electrode pattern 152. Therefore, there is a problem in that Q of the filter decreases and attenuation characteristics deteriorate.
International Publication No. WO 2007-119356 discloses a configuration in which parasitic capacitance between an electrode pattern of a jump-coupling capacitor and a capacitance electrode pattern of a resonator that is not coupled to the electrode pattern of the jump-coupling capacitor is reduced.
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a multilayer band-pass filter disclosed in WO 2007-119356. The multilayer band-pass filter illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a laminate including a ground electrode forming layer 601, a capacitor electrode forming layer 302, an input and output electrode forming layer 303, a line electrode forming layer 304, and an outer layer 305. Input and output electrodes 621 and 622 and an input-output intermediate capacitor electrode (electrode pattern of a jump-coupling capacitor) 160 are disposed on the input and output electrode forming layer 303. The input-output intermediate capacitor electrode 160 capacitively couples the input and output electrodes 621 and 622 by causing capacitance to occur between the input and output electrodes 621 and 622. Capacitor electrodes 311, 312, and 313 on the capacitor electrode forming layer 302 face a ground electrode 309.
To reduce parasitic capacitance between the input-output intermediate capacitor electrode (electrode pattern of a jump-coupling capacitor) 160 and the capacitor electrode 312 of the second-stage resonator, the capacitor electrode of the second-stage resonator is displaced from the capacitor electrodes of the first-stage and third-stage resonators in the plane direction of the laminate.
With the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, because the capacitor electrode of the second-stage resonator does not overlap the jump-coupling capacitor electrode when viewed from the direction in which the dielectric layers are laminated, the parasitic capacitance therebetween can be reduced.
However, the displacement of a capacitor electrode of a resonator in the layer direction (plane direction) increases the size of an area required for formation of capacitor electrodes, and there is a problem in that miniaturization of the device is difficult.


Systems and methods are provided for determining when the seal of a sealed container was broken. Such can include a sealed container with a seal that separates an interior of the container from the outside environment. An environmentally sensitive conductor of an electrical circuit is positioned within the interior of the sealed container. The conductor has an electrical property with a known initial value that changes in a predictable manner as a function of time and exposure to the outside environment. Accordingly, breaking the seal and exposing the conductor to the environment causes the electrical property of the conductor to change. When a present value of the electrical property is determined, it may be used in combination with the initial value and the expected change in the value over time in order to determine the time at which the seal was broken.

Field of the Disclosure
The present subject matter relates to systems and techniques for determining when a seal on a container or the like was broken. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to the use of an environmentally sensitive material to determine when a seal on a container or the like was broken.
Description of Related Art
It is common to keep employ a sealed container or environment for any of a number of applications. For example, medication is frequently provided in a sealed container, such as a blister pack, which may have a number of individual sealed cells that must be broken to access a dose of medication. It may be advantageous to be able to determine when the seal on a cell was broken, for example, a subject may be under the orders of a doctor or medical care provider to ingest a dose of medication at a particular time. If the subject is not within a facility under the control of the doctor or medical care provider (e.g., a hospital or nursing home), it may be difficult for the doctor or medical care provider to know whether the subject has ingested the medication at the proper time. Accordingly, in this case, it would be advantageous to provide systems and methods that may be used to determine when a particular seal was broken.

Methods and systems for determining the time at which a seal was broken

AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC


A system and method for adding and/or removing a software product to a distribution server is provided. Upon identification that a software product desired is not indexed in the installation server database of the distribution server, then adding the software product to the distribution server. The distribution server maintains multiple products, every product components of the multiple products is indexed by the installation server database of the distribution server. Removal of a software product requires removal of the software product from the index maintained by the installation server database of the distribution server.

A business system may include a variety of software applications that can be installed on a distribution server for later distribution to user computers to allow users to perform operations within the business system. Each software application generally includes an installation application, which when run on a computer configures the software application on the computer. Since a business system may include a large number of software applications, many such installations may be required to properly configure a computer before it can be used in the business system. When a previously installed software application is to be replaced by an updated version of the application, the previous version often must be removed from the computer prior to installation of the new version. Software applications may rely on other applications, requiring the applications to be installed in a particular order or priority.

Dynamic addition of products and removal of software products on a distribution server


An electrode assembly for an apparatus for trans-surface molecular includes a non-conductive carrier having a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a plurality of through holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the proximal surface, a first conductor disposed on at least a first portion of the distal surface and extending through at least a first portion of the plurality of through holes and connected to the first electrodes on the proximal surface, a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the proximal surface, and a second conductor disposed on at least a second portion of the distal surface and extending through at least a second portion of the plurality of through holes and connected to the second electrodes on the proximal surface, wherein the first electrodes and the second electrodes are configured and disposed in closely spaced relation on the proximal surface for engaging the tissue surface and applying an electric field.

The present invention relates generally to electroporation for drug and gene delivery and pertains more particularly to an electrode assembly for an apparatus for and a method of trans-surface delivery of genes, drugs, and other molecules through tissue surfaces for both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes.
The medical community has in recent years been investigating electroporation as a method of trans-surface delivery of drugs, genes such as DNA, portions of DNA, chemical agents, or other molecules without physical penetration or invasion of the tissue surface. This method can be used for the application of molecules for the therapeutic treatment of cancer or for cosmetic treatment of skin blemishes and abnormalities such as wrinkles and age spots. It can also be used for gene therapy. This method involves the electroporation of the tissue surface through the application of an electrical field by means of electrodes on the tissue surface. Electroporation can make tissue permeable to enable the molecules to pass through the tissue surface and more readily enter the tissue. Electroporation can also make cell tissue permeable to enable the molecules to enter preselected cells in the tissue without damaging them.
The molecules to be introduced into the cells are placed in close proximity to the cells, either in the interstitial tissue surrounding the cells or in a fluid medium containing the cells. The field is applied at a predetermined strength and duration in order to make the walls of the tissue surface transiently permeable to permit the molecules to pass through the tissue surface into the underlying tissue.
The voltage that must be applied to induce electroporation is proportional to the distance between the electrodes. When the space between the electrodes is too great, the generated electric field penetrates deep into the tissue where it causes unpleasant nerve and muscle reaction. The applicants have discovered electrode arrays and configurations that maximize the field strength and reduce the unpleasant nerve and muscle reaction.
Electroporation can be carried out by a sophisticated electroporation system having programmable power sequence and duration programmed in. For example, a suitable system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,326 issued Feb. 9, 1999 entitled ELECTROPORATION EMPLOYING USER-CONFIGURED PULSING SCHEME, which is incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth. Broadly, that invention concerns an electroporation apparatus for and method of generating and applying an electric field according to a user-specified pulsing scheme. One example of such a pulsing scheme includes a low voltage pulse of a first duration, immediately followed by a high voltage pulse of a second duration, and immediately followed by a low voltage pulse of a third duration. The low voltage field acts to accumulate molecules at the tissue surface, the appropriately high voltage field acts to create an opening in the tissue surface, and the final low voltage field acts to move the molecules through the tissue surface.
While electroporation provides new pathways through the tissue surface for passages of molecules, it does not provide a needed driving force to those molecules to move them through the tissue surface or through the tissue to the cell site. As a result, it is desirable to combine electroporation with techniques for providing a driving force. Iontophoresis alone, wherein low voltage is applied between widely spaced electrodes for a long period of time, can transport charged molecules through existing pathways such as hair follicles and sweat glands. However, the volumes of molecules transported for a unit of time is very small, and insufficient for many applications. Combining electroporation and iontophoresis can increase the amount transported initially while the created pathways are open. The paths created by the electroporation stay open for a only short period of time and then close.
One example of a surface for the trans-surface delivery of molecules is the skin or the stratum corneum (SC). The SC consists of a thin layer of dead cells with a high electrical resistance which presents a major obstacle to the administration of drugs and genes transdermally. However, this layer can be perforated by the administration of short high voltage pulses, which create a dielectric breakdown of the SC forming pores which can allow the passage of molecules.
There is a need for improved electrodes that maximize areas of desired field strength for tissue surfaces to which to apply electroporation which surfaces vary by their size, shape, location, porosity, and accessability, among others. It is desirable that an electrode assembly for an apparatus for and a method of trans-surface molecular delivery be available to efficiently accommodate a wide variety of these tissue surfaces.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved electrode assembly for an apparatus for and a method of trans-surface molecular delivery which maximize areas of desired field strength for tissue surfaces to which to apply electroporation.
In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, electrodes configured to apply to tissue surface are configured to minimize the conductive areas and areas of low field strength while maximizing the areas of desired field strength.
In accordance with the method molecules are brought into physical contact with the tissue surface, an electrode is contacted with the tissue surface, and an electric field is applied to the tissue surface by means of the electrode. This forms pores in the tissue surface. Then a driving force is applied to the tissue surface forcing the molecules through the tissue surface into the underlying tissue.

Electrode apparatus and method for the delivery of drugs and genes into tissue


Systems and methods for automated fluid sampling for tracer testing are described. In one aspect, an automated fluid sampling system includes a pressurized line, such as a production well or an injection well connectively and a fluid separation vessel receiving sample fluids therefrom. The fluid separation vessel includes a plunger and is configured for gravity-mediated phase separation of the sample fluids into a plurality of aqueous, organic and/or gas phase fluid fractions and includes pluralities of inlet and outlet ports for mediating flow of sample fluids therethrough. At least one purging fluid source, such as a gas or liquid, is used for driving the plunger. Sample fluid collection vessels receive phase-separated sample fluids from the fluid separation vessel. Pluralities of fluid lines and solenoid valves operatively link the pressurized line, purging fluid sources, sample fluid collection vessels, and disposal vessel to one another, whereby a controller selectively manages the automated flow of fluids through the various fluid lines.

Tracers are frequently used in oil, water, and gas industries to track flow patterns and rates of the particular fluid to which it is introduced. Tracers are also used to study properties of the reservoir or aquifer in which the fluid resides. Tracers commonly are chemical compounds that have negligible effects on the producing fluid. In operation, tracers are injected into a reservoir or aquifer, and thereafter produced and sampled to measure for tracer concentration.
The present practice of sampling and measuring the concentration of a tracer produced from a reservoir or aquifer is rudimentary and involves a field operator manually collecting a sample, transporting the sample to a laboratory, filtering the sample, and finally measuring the sample for tracer concentration. In other embodiments, an automatic sampler is used to automatically extract a sample and seal it into a vial. However, an operator is still required to transport the vials to a laboratory facility where it is thereafter filtered and measured.
Sample contamination, operator burden, significant cost, and delay are frequently encountered problems with the current method for sampling and measurement of a tracer in a reservoir. Furthermore, failed tracer testing is due largely in part to problems created by poor sampling.

Automated fluid fraction sampling system


A release-controlled pipe and a related manufacturing method comprise several main steps, which are mixing a formulation, first hot melt extrusion and cooling, grinding into pieces, second hot melt extrusion, molding and cooling. The present invention includes the steps of first mixing elastomer pellets and a binder, then pouring the formulation into a melt extruder for extruding and shaping a rod-like extrudate. Then the rod-like extrudate is ground into pieces and placed into a water-filled container and another dry container. The mixture of dry ground pellets, wet ground pellets including water, and a small amount of lubricant is poured into a melt extruder for extruding, and a release-controlled pipe is shaped via a pipe die head and gathered by a winder after cooling.

The present invention relates to a release-controlled pipe and a related manufacturing method, especially to a manufacturing process which improves the quality of a release-controlled pipe. The manufacturing process includes the following steps: formulation blending, first hot melt extrusion, stirring and shattering, second hot melt extrusion, and cooling. When the second hot melt extrusion is performed with ground pellets and water, the water serving as a vesicant, a uniform release-controlled pipe with good dispersion can be manufactured. Also, the cost of manufacturing and production can be reduced. In this way, the present invention constitutes a practical advancement which will be beneficial to the industry.
Release-controlled pipes have many applications, especially in agriculture. Manufacturing of a release-controlled pipe is not an easy matter, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,316 and in FIG. 1 herein. The referenced patent relates to a common manufacturing process for a release-controlled pipe, which mainly includes the following steps. First, the formulation is blended and shattered, then it is extruded via a compounding extruder. After water cooling is performed, pellets of the compounds are dried on a conveyor and then bagged. Then the pellets of the compounds are poured into a second extruder. After being heated to the molten temperature via three successive heating devices, the pellets are extruded to form release-controlled pipes, then cooled and gathered.
Using the release-controlled pipe produced from the foregoing manufacturing process may result in the following disadvantages:
1. The commonly used manufacturing process includes many steps, and requires many mechanical devices, so the cost is high.
2. The amount of dispersion of release-controlled pipes depends upon the number of gas holes. Therefore, for a release-controlled pipe to have good dispersion, except for the formulation, the water content during formulation and extrusion molding is important. However, the amount of water content in the formulation of the commonly used manufacturing process is not easily controlled, resulting in a low quality release-controlled pipe.
The first purpose of the present invention is to provide a simpler, less expensive manufacturing process of a release-controlled pipe.
The second purpose of the present invention is to provide a release-controlled pipe with better dispersion, which has better soaking and dispersing effects.
The third purpose of the present invention is to provide a new method for industry use that can be free of unessential components or mechanical devices in the manufacturing process, and can also improve the quality of a release-controlled pipe.
A related manufacturing method for a release-controlled pipe which can achieve the purposes described above comprises the following steps: mixing a formula, first compounding extrusion, cooling, grinding into pieces, blending, secondary extrusion molding and cooling, then gathering the pipe. The dry, ground pellets obtained immediately after the first compounding extrusion step, mixed with pellets including water content, using water as a blowing agent, undergo secondary hot melt extrusion. The quality of the release-controlled pipe is improved with the above manufacturing method.

Method of manufacturing a release-controlled pipe

18F-3, No. 20-3, Lane 128, Section 3, Chung-kang Road


When a video signal is recorded on a magnetic tape (14), a high frequency signal component of data converted by a DCT (discrete cosine transform) converter (3) in a DCT fashion or an outer code is recorded on a recording track at its beginning portion in which a waveform of a reproduced output is considerably deteriorated in amplitude when a reproducing head (15) starts to reproduce the recording track. Also, a low frequency signal component of data converted by the DCT converter (3) in a DCT fashion is recorded on the recording track at its succeeding portion in which the reproducing head (15) can stably reproduce the recording track by a recording head (13). The high frequency signal component or outer code is recorded on the area corresponding to the track at its beginning portion in which a waveform of a reproduced output is considerably deteriorated in amplitude when the reproducing head starts to reproduce the same upon playback and the low frequency signal component of data is recorded on the track at its succeeding portion in which the tracing of the reproducing head is stabilized relatively so that, even if a reproducing error occurs and increases because a waveform of a reproduced output is deteriorated in amplitude when the reproducing head starts to trace the recording track, then an amount that a picture quality of a reproduced signal is deteriorated by such error can be reduced considerably.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information data recording apparatus for use in a video tape recorder (VTR) having a digital format or the like, for example.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conventional digital video tape recorders, as U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,113 describes, an input analog video signal is converted into digital data and outer code data for error correction is added to the digital data. Then, the digital data added with the outer code data is shuffled, the shuffled digital data is multiplexed, inner code data for error correction is added to the digital data thus multiplexed and the digital data added with the inner code data is processed in a channel-coding fashion. Further, the digital data that was processed in a channel-coding fashion is amplified and then supplied to a recording rotary head such that the digital data is recorded by the recording rotary head so as to form oblique video tracks.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a digital video tape recorder (DVTR) tape format utilized when digital data is recorded by the digital VTR. As shown in FIG. 1, in the above digital VTR, video data of one field is recorded by six video tracks.
When video data recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced, the magnetic tape is transported in the direction shown by an open arrow in FIG. 1 and a reproducing head is rotated in the direction shown by a solid arrow in FIG. 1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a magnetic tape 14 is transported from an entrance tape guide d1 to an exit tape guide d3 and a rotary drum d2 having a reproducing head 15 mounted thereon is rotated as shown by an arrow R1 in FIG. 2. The magnetic head 15 sequentially scans video tracks T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 to reproduce recorded video data. Then, the reproduced data or signal is equalized and amplified. The reproduced signal thus amplified is decoded, de-shuffled and the reproduced signal thus de-shuffled is error-corrected. The reproduced signal thus error-corrected is error-concealed and the reproduced signal thus error-concealed is output as a digital or analog video signal.
In the digital VTR, if data recorded on the narrow tracks on the magnetic tape 14 is reproduced by the reproducing head 15 mounted on the rotary drum d2, when the reproducing head 15 starts to trace the magnetic tape 14, a waveform of a reproduced signal is deteriorated in amplitude by a spacing loss caused by a so-called air film or a so-called impact error of the reproducing head 15 relative to the magnetic tape 14, etc.
FIG. 3 shows an example of such phenomenon that a waveform of a reproduced signal is deteriorated in amplitude. Because the waveform of the reproduced signal is deteriorated in amplitude as shown in FIG. 3, a reproducing error tends to occur and increase at the beginning (portion at which the reproducing head 15 starts to scan) of the video track. There is then the disadvantage that a picture quality of a reproduced picture will be deteriorated.
When the magnetic tape 14 is reproduced by a DT (dynamic tracking head) formed of a bimorph plate bm and the reproducing head 15 mounted on the bimorph plate bm in a so-called dynamic tracking fashion as shown in FIG. 4, the DT head effects the tracking from the beginning of the video track by some suitable methods such as a wobbling or the like. However, until the tracking of the DT head is stabilized from the beginning of the video track, as shown in FIG. 5, a waveform of a reproduced signal is deteriorated in amplitude similarly as described above. As a consequence, a reproducing error tends to occur and increase. There is then the disadvantage that a picture quality of a reproduced picture will be deteriorated.


The method of orienting plastic pipe fittings in predetermined positions by passing the fittings downwardly through an inclined, rotating tube having a relatively smooth-walled bore so that the frictional agitation of the gravitating articles permits them to settle into a predetermined position with the center of mass in the lowermost possible position. The rate of rotation and the angle of incline are adjusted for different articles, and tubes of three different sizes are provided for interchangeable use. Two pairs of supporting rollers on opposite sides of the tube position are engageable with axially spaced annular collars on the tubes, the collars being sized to hold the tubes at the same discharge level and one of the rollers of each pair being driven by a variable speed motor to rotate the tube.

This invention relates to the orientation of articles of manufacture, and relates more particularly to a mechanism and method for orienting a series of similar articles of asymmetrical size and shape into a particular position, or attitude, and in single file in a materials-handling process, to facilitate the performance of a subsequent operation such as labeling or packaging of the articles.
In the past, there have been numerous proposals of orienting methods and mechanisms, for use with a variety of different products. For example, bottling plants use rail systems to arrange bottles upright in rows, and a somewhat similar method is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,908,855 for orienting generally cylindrical cups on a conveyor belt. Counter-rotating and downwardly inclined shafts can be used to orient oblong articles, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,531, with a variation shown in Pat. No. 2,403,862 for oblong articles like ammunition cartridges.
Other mechanisms and methods using rotating drums or tubes have been used for the separation and alignment of articles from a bulk supply to a single file. For example, a conical drum with internal wings is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,678 to separate packages in a flow from a bulk source, but with no apparent concern for orientation of the packages in any particular position. Pat. No. 3,426,881 recognizes the possibility of using a rotating feeding tube for articles to be aligned, but only as a first step leading to rotating conveying rollers for accomplishing alignment of the articles. Pat. No. 2,822,076 uses a rotating drum to convey balls or pellets longitudinally of the drum, with a special spreader at the discharge end of the drum and with no concern for orientation of the articles.
The present invention is concerned with the orientation of asymmetrical articles such as plastic pipe fittings in the form of "L"'s, "T"'s, adaptors, caps and the like, which are of irregular shapes making prior orientation methods and mechanisms unsuitable. These articles must be handled in very large numbers by manufacturers or suppliers, and require orientation for labeling, stamping and other secondary operations. At the same time, such articles are relatively inexpensive so that manual handling can be prohibitively expensive. Accordingly a need has existed for a method and mechanism for receiving such articles in random positions from a bulk supply and orienting the articles into a given position or attitude preparatory to the performance of another operation.

Mechanism and method for orienting articles


A module structure having embedded chips mainly comprises a dielectric layer, at least a semiconductor chip embedded in the dielectric layer, and at least a circuit structure formed on the surface of the dielectric layer, the circuit structure electrically connected to the semiconductor chip via a plurality of conductive structures formed in the dielectric layer, for embedding the module structure in an electronic device, and electrically connecting the electronic device via the circuit structure on the surface of the dielectric layer.

With the rapid development of electronic industry, electronic products are developed toward a direction of light, thin, short, small, high integration and multi-functional. To meet the demand of high integration and miniaturization to the package of semiconductor packages, conventional BGA or FC (Flip Chip) package of a single chip evolves to 3D package and module package, therefore generating many structures of the packages, such as SiP (System in Package), SIP (System Integrated Package) and SiB (System in Board).
However, such 3D and module packages attach single chips one by one to the surface of a carrier via flip chip or wire bonding technology; or adhere chips to the surface of the carrier via SMT technology. Although such packages apply module design and package to a plurality of different elements, however such packages demand high technology and cost a lot, wherein multi-function and modularization are achieved, while the electrically connections and properties of the crowded elements may be restricted because of noise signal. In addition, it become more difficult for the layout on the surface of the carrier because of the limitation of the area and size of the element; and it is not good for the decrease of the size of the module package and the enhancement of the property because all elements will be laid on the surface of the substrate.
Consequently, method of substrate having embedded chips is brought forward. As shown in FIG. 1, a schematic section view of a package with a substrate having embedded chips is illustrated. As shown in the figure, the package comprises a carrier 10, at least an opening 100a defined in a surface 100 of the carrier 10; at least a semiconductor chip 11, a plurality of electrical connection pads 110 formed on the semiconductor chip 1, attached on the carrier 10 and accommodated in the opening 100a; an circuit multilayer structure 12 formed on the carrier 10, and the circuit multilayer structure 12 electrically connected to the electrical connection pads 110 on the semiconductor chip 11 via a plurality of blind holes 120.
The semiconductor chip 11 comprises an active surface 11a and a non-active surface opposing the active surface, a plurality of electrical connection pads 110 are formed on the active surface 11a, the non-active surface 11b are attached to the opening 100a of the carrier via adhesive 13.
The circuit multilayer structure 12 comprises at least dielectric layer 121, a circuit layer 122 overlapping the dielectric 121, and a plurality of conductive blind holes 120 extending through the dielectric layer 121 to electrically connect the circuit layer 122, so that the plurality of conductive blind holes 120 electrically connects the electrical connection pads 110 on the semiconductor chip 11 accommodated in the opening 100a of the carrier. A plurality of electrical connection ends 123 is formed on the circuit layer on the outmost surface of the circuit multilayer structure 12, and a solder mask layer 124 is coated on the outmost surface of the circuit multilayer structure. The solder mask layer 124 defines a plurality of openings to expose the electrical connection ends 123 for mounting conductive elements, such as solder balls 125, so that the semiconductor chip 11 accommodated in the carrier 10 electrically connects external elements via the electrical connection pads 110, circuit multilayer structure 12 and solder balls 125 on the surface thereof.
The above package structure greatly increases the chips density and electrical property thereof; however, the embedded semiconductor chips are generally in a single form, which do not form a multifunctional module structure. In addition, under the circumstance of being used in multi-chips structure, each of the plurality of chips have to be electrically connected respectively, which consumes a great deal of fabricating time and cost, and is unsuitable for mass production.
Consequently, how to provide a multifunctional, high density module structure having embedded chips for shortening the length of layout, simplifying fabricating, enhancing the electrical property and adapting to mass production, thus avoiding the deficiencies of conventional technology, has become a problem desired to be solved.

Phoenix Precision Technology Corporation


A system, method and computer program product for forecasting one or more clinical pathways and resource requirements of at least one patient are provided. The system comprises an input module for receiving inputs pertaining to patient diagnostic data, the patient diagnostic data comprising information identified during diagnosis of the patient. The system also comprises a repository for storing data comprising at least one of patient data and pre-existing clinical pathways. The patient data comprises at least one of the patient diagnostic data received from the input module; patient historical data comprising historical treatment data of the patient and patient demographic data comprising demographic details of the patient. The system also comprises a clinical pathway forecasting module for forecasting clinical pathways by application of predetermined analytical models on the patient data and pre-existing clinical pathways. The system further comprises a resource requirement forecasting module for forecasting resource requirements of the patient.

In the healthcare industry, significant emphasis is provided to the management of resources. Forecasting and scheduling of resources are the key factors in efficient management of resources. Clinical pathways also referred to as care pathways, critical pathways, integrated care pathways or care maps, represent the sequence of medical procedures for treatment of patients. A clinical pathway is determined based on data gathered from outcome of medical examination and medical diagnostics of a patient.
Various models, based on queuing theory and simulation, are used for forecasting clinical pathways and managing resources in healthcare systems. These models focus on solving resource management problems, analyzing information flows within the healthcare systems, estimating resource requirements and so forth. Further, these models estimate the effect of demographic factors and service characteristics on capacity management in the healthcare systems. These estimates are used for cost reduction and service quality enhancement.
The models based on queuing theory provide solutions for problems with limited data and challenges related to randomness in data. These challenges are solved by making generic assumptions related to various constraints such as length of stay of patients, duration of medical procedures and so forth. The models based on simulation focus on identifying data complexity, identifying distribution of data, validating data, interpreting identified data and so forth.
Some models for forecasting clinical pathways consider patient specific data. For example, clinical pathways forecasted based on initial diagnosis consider the classification from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) assigned during initial diagnosis of patients.
The models for forecasting clinical pathways and resource requirements have one or more of the following limitations. The models based on queuing theory and simulation do not provide efficient solutions for problems with data complexity. Also, substantial weight is not provided to data collection, data verification and data validation. The models that use ICD data do not consider the patient clinical and diagnostic data, available subsequent to medical procedures, for forecasting clinical pathways, thereby providing incorrect resource requirements forecasts.
Consequently, there is a need for a method and system for efficiently forecasting clinical pathways. Also, the method should enable efficient forecasting of resource requirements. Further, a method and system is required for optimal utilization of resources in healthcare organizations.

Method and system for forecasting clinical pathways and resource requirements


A method, computer system, and computer program product for using sensor data to control message delivery to a user. The method may include defining one or more criteria which may include a message delivery, sensor, bypass, or rerouting criterion. The message delivery criterion may include a rule for delivering messages. The method may include operations performed by a device communicating with a communications network. The device may have a computer and may receive a message from a user of a plurality of users and data from a sensor. The method may determine whether the sensor data meets the message delivery criterion and suppress a message notification based on the message delivery criterion. In some embodiments, the sensor is an image sensor and the method includes determining that content of an image captured by the image sensor includes an activity corresponding with a message delivery criterion.

The present invention relates generally to a method, system and computer program for using sensor data to control message delivery to a user using a device communicating with a cloud.
Oftentimes individuals are engaged in a social situation or actively working on tasks that require their full attention. Some examples of such tasks may include cooking dinner, exercising, or working. In such instances, these individuals would prefer not to receive notifications on their personal electronic devices because such notifications interrupt and distract from the task at hand.

Using sensor data to control message delivery

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION