A fluid dispenser for automatically providing cold water to animals. There is a first container, configured to contain ice, and having a plurality of holes disposed therethrough; a first and second supporting member each coupled to the first container, and extending vertically therefrom to support the first container. Of the first container there is a first and second portion removably couplable to the other. The first and second portions are substantially identical. Further, the first portion and the second portion are coupled at a substantially vertical interface. Also, the first portion and the second portion are coupled at a substantially horizontal interface. Additionally, there is a second container, substantially below the first container, configured to contain water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid dispensers, specifically to fluid dispensers for automatically providing cold water to animals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, it is known to use fluid dispensing devices to automatically dispense water for consumption by animals. It is known for owners and caretakers of animals to need to leave such animals unattended for extended periods of time. Over such extended periods of time it becomes necessary to provide water for consumption by the animals. Therefore there is a need for an affordable, durable, practical, safe and easy to use automatic water dispensing device for animals. Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples include but are not limited to the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,104, issued to Klemer, discloses an automatic animal feeder device for providing a constant supply of solid food and water includes a housing having an upper and a lower compartment therein. An open top receptacle is mounted externally to the housing A tube leads from the upper compartment through the housing to the receptacle for delivery of a water supply from the upper compartment. A pair of drawers are slidably contained in the lower compartment of the housing, wherein the drawers are adapted to receive a supply of animal food. A mechanism is provided for retaining the drawers within the lower compartment and for selectively releasing the drawers at predetermined times to move outwardly from the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,341, issued to Riba, discloses a pet tending device includes a cabinet having a spring opened door which withdraws and returns a food bowl carrying slide plate with the opening and closing of the door. A conventional alarm clock having a spring wound alarm motor with a winding shaft is mounted in the cabinet and the shaft rotates a member with the release of the alarm which retracts a latch which releasably locks the door in a closed position. The alarm motor is wound with the rotation of the retraction member in an opposite direction to permit the relocking of the door, the alarm motor shaft rotation being restricted to a predetermined amount. A closed water tank is located in the upper part of the cabinet, and its bottom is connected by a feed tube to an external trough which may be raised and lowered, and the upper part of the tank is connected to a vent tube which terminates in a downwardly directed opening at the upper part of the trough. Various accessories are associated with the cabinet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,618, issued to Strother, discloses an automatic pet feeder controlled by a timer which releases a door to a feed compartment and simultaneously rings a bell to signal the pet that the door has been opened. A second door is released by the same timer at a later time for a second feeding also with a simultaneous ringing of the bell. A supply of water is released by the same timer simultaneously with the opening of one of the doors with the water supply being fed into one of the feeder dishes to moisten dry pet food at the time of its being made available to the pet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,911, issued to Greenberg, discloses a portable animal fluid dispenser including a reservoir and a container detachably mounted to a side wall of the reservoir. The container has an outlet in fluid communication with a passage in the side wall and a closure removably coupled to the passage. A carrier is provided to attach the carrier to an article worn by a person, for example a belt.
U.S. Design Pat. No. 330,099, issued to Sutherland, discloses the ornamental design for a pet waterer.
The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages. Such disadvantages include being complex, unreliable, heavy, and/or being otherwise limited in versatility and application.
What is needed is a fluid dispenser for automatically providing cold water to animals that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

Fluid dispenser for automatically providing cold water to animals


An electrolyte membrane for a lithium battery, the electrolyte membrane including: a matrix including a polymerization product of a (meth)acrylate monomer composition; and a porous metal-organic framework dispersed in the matrix, wherein the metal-organic framework includes a crystalline compound including a metal ion or metal ion cluster which is chemically bound to an organic ligand, and a liquid electrolyte including a lithium salt and a nonaqueous organic solvent.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte membrane for a lithium battery, a lithium battery using the electrolyte membrane, and a method of preparing the electrolyte membrane. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electrolyte membrane for a lithium battery that has good lithium ion conductivity and is structurally stable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium secondary batteries are rechargeable at high rates and have energy densities that are about three times higher than conventional lead storage batteries, nickel-cadmium ("Ni—Cd") batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, or nickel-zinc batteries.
According the type of electrolyte, lithium secondary batteries may be classified as either a liquid electrolyte battery or a polymer electrolyte battery. In general, batteries using liquid electrolytes are called lithium ion batteries, and batteries using polymer electrolytes are called lithium polymer batteries.
Safety issues with lithium ion batteries, such as a risk of fire or explosion caused by an organic solvent of the liquid electrolyte, have led to a growing desire to use polymer electrolytes.
However, it is currently impractical to use a polymer electrolyte in a lithium ion battery because currently available polymer electrolytes have a lithium ion conductivity of 10−5 Siemens per centimeter ("S/cm") or less.
A liquid electrolyte impregnated in a polymer gel may provide a lithium ion conductivity of about 10−3/cm. However, if a degree of hardness of the polymer gel is increased to provide sufficient structural stability, the lithium ion conductivity may decrease by about 10 to 100 times. Thus there remains a need for an improved electrolyte membrane that provides improved lithium ion conductivity and safety.

Electrolyte membrane for lithium battery, lithium battery using the electrolyte membrane, and method of preparing the electrolyte membrane


The present description relates to the use of a SRSF3 agent for regulating the function of a myeloid cell, such as a microglial cell and/or monocyte, for treating neurological conditions, cancers, bacterial infections and viral infections wherein the SRSF3 agent inhibits expression or function of SRSF3.

Microglia are the principal immune cells of the brain. Under physiological conditions microglial cells are essential for maintenance of the brain tissue homeostasis (Tremblay et al., 2011), however, in the context of disease and/or injury it is becoming increasingly clear that microglial cells have pivotal role in initiation and regulation of inflammatory responses in the brain (Hanisch and Kettenmann, 2007). The consensus today is that once activated, microglia can acquire a wide repertoire of immune profiles ranging from the classical pro-inflammatory to alternative, anti-inflammatory polarization phenotypes (David and Kroner, 2011; Kierdorf and Prinz, 2013; Ransohoff and Brown, 2012). Over the past decade, it was shown that optimal and timely activation of microglial cells is instrumental in the control of the inflammation-induced damage to the central nervous system (CNS) (Chen and Trapp, 2016; Gravel et al., 2016; Lalancette-Hebert et al., 2007; Lalancette-Hebert et al., 2009; Schwartz and Shechter, 2010). However, at present, the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of microglia polarization profiles remain elusive.

Use of SRSF3 agents for the treatment and/or prevention of neurological conditions, cancer, bacterial infections or viral infections


A novel digital variable rate clock synthesizer is provided with a novel fractional-N digital phase locked loop. The all digital phase locked loop employs a digital input signal to a phase comparator which has a second input coupled to a digital control oscillator through a divide by N or a divide N+1 circuit. The digital output of the phase comparator is coupled to an error accumulating circuit which has a phase correction input signal from a fractional register and an associated accumulator. The output from the error accumulator is coupled to a pair of detectors for generating phase and frequency error detection signals which are digitally coupled to the control input of the digital control oscillator to provide a variable frequency output selected by the value of N and N+1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to fractional-N phase locked loops. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel digital fractional-N phase locked loop embodied in a novel variable data rate all digital clock synthesizer
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are not now commercially available any all digital phase locked loop integrated circuit devices. Further, there are no known all digital variable data rate clock synthesizers which employ all digital fractional-N phase locked loops.
There are analog fractional-N phase locked loop circuits which are shown and described in text books such as the third edition of "Frequency Synthesizers-Theory and Design" by Vadim Mannassewitsch; copyright 1987 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. see section 1-5 "Fractional-N Phase locked Loop". Such circuits have been used in commercially available synthesized signal generators such as the Hewlett Packard Model HP-8662A.
It would be desirable to provide an all digital fractional-N phase locked loop of the type easily reduced to a single discreet integrated circuit chip device.


A method for making an integrated photonic device involves depositing buffer, core and cladding layers on the front side of a wafer. A thick tensile stress layer is deposited on the back side of the wafer just prior to performing a high temperature thermal treatment above 600xc2x0 C. on the cladding layer to prevent the cracking of the layers as a result of the thermal treatment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the manufacture of integrated optical devices, such as optical multiplexers (Mux) and demultiplexers (Dmux), and in particular to a method of preventing cracking in optical quality silica layers.
2. Description of Related Art
The manufacture of integrated optical devices requires the fabrication of silica waveguides from low refractive index buffer and cladding silica layers and from a high refractive index core silica layer over a silicon wafer. These buffer, core and cladding silica layers must have excellent optical transparency in the 1.31 xcexcm S-band, in the 1.55 xcexcm C-band and in the 1.63 L-band.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 demonstrate that a novel PECVD technique described in our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,711 results in low refractive index buffer and cladding silica layers free from the undesirable residual SiNxe2x80x94H and Si:Nxe2x80x94H oscillators (observed as a FTIR peak centered at 3380 cm-1 and which second vibration harmonics causes optical absorption in the 1.55 xcexcm C-band) since eliminated after a low temperature thermal treatment of only 800xc2x0 C.
FIG. 3 demonstrates that another novel PECVD technique described in our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/867,662 results in a high refractive index core silica layer free from the undesirable residual SiNxe2x80x94H and Si:Nxe2x80x94H oscillators that are eliminated after a low temperature thermal treatment of only 800xc2x0 C.
FIG. 4 demonstrates that a high refractive index core silica layer free from the undesirable residual SiNxe2x80x94H and Si:Nxe2x80x94H oscillators can be achieved after a thermal treatment of only 600xc2x0 C. as described in our co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/956,916.
FIG. 5 shows that a thermal treatment of the cladding silica layer at a temperature of only 600xc2x0 C. is not sufficient to completely eliminate the residual SiNxe2x80x94H and Si:Nxe2x80x94H oscillators of the upper cladding silica layer. It is then necessary to increase the temperature of this final thermal treatment of the cladding silica layer beyond 600xc2x0 C.
FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show such a final thermal treatment of the cladding silica layer at a temperature beyond 600xc2x0 C. can result in cracking of the various silica layers joining deep etched structures in the optical device.
The following published literature describes the need for a high temperature heat treatment as to eliminate the residual SiNxe2x80x94H and Si:Nxe2x80x94H oscillators and achieve high performance optical quality PECVD silica layers: Valette S., New integrated optical multiplexer-demultiplexer realized on silicon substrate, ECIO ""87, 145, 1987; Henry C., Glass waveguides on silicon for hybrid optical packaging, J. Lightwave tech., 7 (10), 1350, 1989; Grand G., Low-loss PECVD silica channel waveguides for optical communications, Electron. Lett., 26 (25), 2135, 1990; Bruno F., Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of low-loss SiON optical waveguides at 1.5-xcexcm wavelength, Applied Optics, 30 (31), 4560, 1991; Lai Q., Simple technologies for fabrication of low-loss silica waveguides, Elec. Lett., 28 (11), 1000, 1992; Lai Q., Formation of optical slab waveguides using thermal oxidation of SiOx, Elec. Lett., 29 (8), 714, 1993; Liu K., Hybrid optoelectronic digitally tunable receiver, SPIE, Vol 2402, 104, 1995; Tu Y., Single-mode SiON/SiO2/Si optical waveguides prepared by plasma-enhanced Chemical vapor deposition, Fiber and integrated optics, 14, 133, 1995; Hoffmann M., Low temperature, nitrogen doped waveguides on silicon with small core dimensions fabricated by PECVD/RIE, ECIO""95, 299, 1995; Poenar D., Optical properties of thin film silicon-compatible materials, Appl. Opt. 36 (21), 5112, 1997; Hoffmann M., Low-loss fiber-matched low-temperature PECVD waveguides with small-core dimensions for optical communication systems, IEEE Photonics Tech. Lett., 9 (9), 1238, 1997; Pereyra I., High quality low temperature DPECVD silicon dioxide, J. Non-Crystalline Solids, 212, 225, 1997; Kenyon T., A luminescence study of silicon-rich silica and rare-earth doped silicon-rich silica, Fourth Int. Symp. Quantum Confinement Electrochemical Society, 97-11, 304, 1997; Alayo M., Thick SiOxNy and SiO2 films obtained by PECVD technique at low temperatures, Thin Solid Films, 332, 40, 1998; Bulla D., Deposition of thick TEOS PECVD silicon oxide layers for integrated optical waveguide applications, Thin Solid Films, 334, 60, 1998; Valette S., State of the art of integrated optics technology at LETI for achieving passive optical components, J. of Modern Optics, 35 (6), 993, 1988; Ojha S., Simple method of fabricating polarization-insensitive and very low crosstalk AWG grating devices, Electron. Lett., 34 (1), 78, 1998; Johnson C., Thermal annealing of waveguides formed by ion implantation of silica-on-Si, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, B141, 670, 1998; Ridder R., Silicon oxynitride planar waveguiding structures for application in optical communication, IEEE J. of Sel. Top. In Quantum Electron., 4 (6), 930, 1998; Germann R., Silicon-oxynitride layers for optical waveguide applications, 195th meeting of the Electrochemical Society, 99-1, May 1999, Abstract 137, 1999; Worhoff K., Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition silicon oxynitride optimized for application in integrated optics, Sensors and Actuators, 74, 9, 1999; Offrein B., Wavelength tunable optical add-after-drop filter with flat passband for WDM networks, IEEE Photonics Tech. Lett., 11 (2), 239, 1999.
None of these cited references, however, address the crack issue of the various silica layers joining deep etched structures in the optical device stressed by the final thermal treatment ranging from 600 to 1200xc2x0 C. in these cited references.
The present invention involves the use of a special technique wherein a thick PECVD silica layer is deposited on the back face of the silicon wafer just prior to a high temperature thermal treatment beyond 600xc2x0 C. of the cladding silica layer of integrated optical devices made of thick buffer, core and cladding silica layers so as to prevent the cracking of these thick silica layers. This results in lower optical loss devices in the 1.31 xcexcm S-band, in the 1.55 xcexcm C-band and in the 1.63 L-band.
The use of an extra film deposited on the back of the wafer reduces tensile stress and, in fact, as to impose a compressive mechanical stress in cladding and prevent cladding cracking from occurring following a temperature treatment of the cladding at a temperature of more then 600xc2x0 C.
Accordingly therefore the present invention provides a method a method of making an integrated photonic device having buffer, core and cladding layers deposited on a front side of a wafer having said front side and a back side. A thick tensile stress layer is deposited on the back side of the wafer just prior to performing a high temperature thermal treatment above about 600xc2x0 C. on the cladding layer to prevent the cracking of said layers as a result of said thermal treatment. The extra layer preferably has a thickness between 5 to 15 xcexcm and a tensile mechanical stress ranging from 10 to 2000 MPa.
The extra layer forms a core layer which is normally deposited after deposition of the cladding layer. The buffer, core and cladding layers are normally silica.
The invention also provides a method of making a photonic device, comprising providing a wafer having a front side and a back side; depositing a buffer layer on the front side of said wafer; subjecting the wafer to a first thermal treatment between 500 and 1200xc2x0 C.; depositing a core layer over said buffer layer; subjecting the wafer to a second thermal treatment between 500 and 1200xc2x0 C.; depositing a cladding layer; depositing an extra layer on the back side of the wafer; and performing a high temperature thermal treatment above about 600xc2x0 C. on the cladding layer to prevent the cracking of the deposited layers.

Method of preventing cracking in optical quality silica layers


Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a dye sensitized solar battery and a solar battery assembling apparatus. The method includes: forming electrode pads on electrodes of respective solar battery sub modules; applying a conductive adhesive on the electrode; and overlapping the electrodes of the solar battery sub modules, applying a current to the electrode pads, and then heating and hardening the conductive adhesive.

A solar battery is an apparatus for generating an electric energy by absorbing light (including sun light) and converting an optical energy of the light to an electric energy.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure of a general solar battery cell.
Referring to FIG. 1, the solar battery cell includes a positive electrode glass substrate 110 coated with a positive electrode 112, a negative electrode glass substrate 120 coated with a negative electrode 122, a catalyst layer 114 applied on the positive electrode 112 with a thin thickness corresponding to a level of an atomic layer thin film, a TiO2 layer 124 attached to a lower surface of the negative electrode 122 with a dye absorbed thereto, and sealants 140 for sealing an electrolyte 130 between the positive electrode 112 and the negative electrode 122 while maintaining an interval between the positive electrode 112 and the negative electrode 122 so as to prevent the positive electrode 112 and the negative electrode 122 from coming into contact with each other.
A voltage of an electric energy generated by one solar battery cell is generally about 1.0 V, so that, in order to generate a voltage and a current in a practical level, multiple solar battery cells are connected in series so as to increase the voltage.
A dye sensitized solar battery is formed by configuring solar battery sub modules connected in series by integrating a plurality of dye sensitized unit solar battery cells on one glass substrate and then connecting the solar battery sub modules to each other in series or in parallel. The dye sensitized solar battery may include a frame and a protection cover serving a protection function and a support function depending on a necessity.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general structure of a solar battery sub module integrated on a single substrate.
Referring to FIG. 2, the negative electrode 122 of the solar battery cell is connected to the positive electrode 112 of the adjacent solar battery cell through partition walls 150 functioning as both a sealant and an electrical insulation between the solar battery cells, so as to form an electrically series-connected circuit. The plurality of solar battery cells is integrated, to form one solar battery sub module.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing the dye sensitized solar battery by connecting the plurality of solar battery sub modules to each other.
Referring to FIG. 3, the positive electrode glass substrate 110 and the negative electrode glass substrate 120 protrude from both ends of the solar battery sub module, and the positive electrode 112 and the negative electrode 122 are coated on an upper surface of the protruding positive electrode glass substrate 110 and the lower surface of the protruding negative electrode glass substrate 120, respectively.
The protruding positive electrode 112 and the protruding negative electrode 122 are connected while overlapping each other, and the protruding positive electrode 112 and the protruding negative electrode 122 are coupled by using a conductive adhesive 310 in order to improve the electrical characteristic. In this case, the connection of the necessary number of solar battery sub modules in series is referred to as a string, and the dye sensitized solar battery is manufactured by connecting the necessary number of strings in parallel.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method generally used in the electrical connection between the solar battery sub modules.
Referring to FIG. 4, one end of a metal tape 410 is connected to one end of the protruding negative electrode 122 of the solar battery sub module by a means, such as a soldering, and the other end of the metal tape 410 is connected to the protruding positive electrode 112 of the solar battery sub module to be connected, so as to form the electrical series-connection.
According to the existing method, there are advantages in that the electrical connection may be possible through only a simple manual operation, and a used material is relatively cheap.
However, the conventional method of electrically connecting the solar battery sub modules has low location accuracy between the solar battery sub modules which are connected to each other, so that an error of an appearance of the dye sensitized solar battery is increased, it is difficult to secure strength and durability of a connection part, so that an additional supporting structure needs to be used, and the respective solar battery sub modules are separately soldered, so that quality uniformity is deteriorated and the method is not appropriate for mass production through an automation.
As a method of solving the problems, as illustrated in FIG. 3, if the electrodes of the solar battery sub module are bonded to each other by using the conductive adhesive 310 having excellent electrical conductivity and excellent durability and mechanical strength, the dye sensitized solar battery having excellent performance and high reliability may be manufactured.
That is, when the conductive adhesive 310 are applied on the electrodes of the solar battery sub module so as to couple the electrodes to each other, and then conductive adhesive 310 is hardened in a state where the electrodes of the solar battery sub module are fixed so as not to move, the connection part is mechanically fixed and simultaneously electrically connected.
Although there are several kinds of conductive adhesives 310, when low resistance loss and high reliability for a long term are demanded like the electrode connection of the solar battery sub module, an epoxy resin-based metal paste is mainly used.
The metal paste is generally hardened at a high temperature. The metal paste is a non-conductor or has a high resistance value before the metal paste hardens, but represents a very low resistance value and has a characteristic of excellent mechanical strength and durability after the metal paste is hardened.
In the meantime, since the dye sensitized solar battery includes a liquid electrolyte, the performance of the dye sensitized solar battery may be deteriorated or destroyed when the dye sensitized solar battery is in a high-temperature state. Accordingly, a selective heating of only a corresponding region is needed in a process of heating the electrode part at a high temperature for the hardening of the metal paste in order to prevent the dye sensitized solar battery from being damaged. The local heating method may use a laser heating method, a high frequency induction heating method, and a resistive heating method, and in order to prevent a temperature increase due to heat conduction, a local cooling may be used together depending on the necessity.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of heating the conductive adhesive by using the resistive heating method.
Referring to FIG. 5, a heating wire 510 is laid on the electrode 112 of the solar battery sub module, and the conductive adhesive 310 is applied in a thickness equal to or larger than that of the heating wire 510. The electrode 122 of the solar battery sub module desired to be connected overlaps the conductive adhesive 310. Then, when a current flows in the heating wire 510 so as to generate heat, the conductive adhesive 310 is heated and hardened, so that the solar battery sub modules are fixed to each other. In this case, in order to prevent the temperature increase by the heat conduction, the local cooling may also be used together depending on the necessity. Further, instead of the metal heating wire, a heating wire in a form of a thin film may be attached to and formed in the electrode for use.
However, when the separate heating wire is used as described above, a thickness of the region to which the electrode is attached cannot be smaller than that of the used heating wire and a separate heating wire or a heating wire deposition process and a material are required.
Since the electrode of the solar battery sub module is a thin film having conductivity, the electrode may be heated by making a current directly flow in the electrode. However, when a high current is applied so as to heat the electrode up to a hardening temperature of the conductive adhesive, the electrode in the form of the thin film may be damaged, and an excessively wide area, as well as the region coated with the conductive adhesive, may be heated depending on a type of the electrode.

Method of manufacturing dye sensitized solar battery and solar battery assembling apparatus for the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting an unwanted message. First, an electronic mail message is received. Text in the electronic mail message is decomposed. Statistics associated with the text are gathered using a statistical analyzer. A neural network engine coupled to the statistical analyzer is taught to recognize unwanted messages based on statistical indicators. The statistical indicators are analyzed utilizing the neural network engine for determining whether the electronic mail message is an unwanted message.

The present invention relates to SPAM detection methods, and more particularly to intelligently detecting and removing SPAM.
The rapid increase in the number of users of electronic mail and the low cost of distributing electronic messages, for example, via the Internet and other communications networks has made mass marketing via electronic mail (xe2x80x9ce-mailxe2x80x9d) an attractive advertising medium. Consequently, e-mail is now frequently used as the medium for widespread marketing broadcasts of unsolicited messages to e-mail addresses, commonly known as xe2x80x9cSPAM.xe2x80x9d
Electronic mass marketers (also called xe2x80x9cspammersxe2x80x9d) use a variety of techniques for obtaining e-mail address lists. For example, marketers obtain e-mail addresses from postings on various Internet sites such as news group sites, chat room sites, or directory services sites, message board sites, mailing lists, and by identifying xe2x80x9cmailtoxe2x80x9d address links provided on web pages. Using these and other similar methods, electronic mass marketers may effectively obtain large numbers of mailing addresses, which become targets for their advertisements and other unsolicited messages.
Users of Internet services and electronic mail, however, are not eager to have their e-mail boxes filled with unsolicited e-mails. This is an increasing problem for Internet service providers (ISPs) such as America Online (AOL(copyright)) or Microsoft Network (MSN(copyright)) and other entities with easily identifiable e-mail addresses such as large corporations (e.g., IBM(copyright), Microsoft(copyright), General Motors(copyright), etc.). ISPs object to junk mail because it reduces their users"" satisfaction of their services. Corporations want to eliminate junk mail because it reduces worker productivity.
To date, the prior art has been devoid of mechanisms that can block SPAM effectively. Traditionally, SPAM detection has been based around specific rules for detecting it. Such rules include searching for key phrases in the subject headers, determining whether the recipient is actually on the list of users to receive the e-mail, etc.
More particularly, prior art systems rely on a set rule-base or on blocking based on simple mail fields such as sender, subject, mail body, etc. As Spammers become more creative in their mailings, it is increasingly difficult to block unwanted messages based on fixed information. Text search mechanisms in particular often generate a number of misses or xe2x80x9cfalsesxe2x80x9d due to the limitations of the searching mechanisms.
In particular, such text search mechanisms traditionally utilize static logic for locating particular known strings. This is often insufficient due to the dynamic manner in which spamming methods change over time. Thus, what is needed is a process for dynamically and intelligently detecting unwanted SPAM electronic mail messages.
A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting an unwanted message. First, an electronic mail message is received. Text in the electronic mail message is decomposed. Statistics associated with the text are gathered using a statistical analyzer. A neural network engine coupled to the statistical analyzer is taught to recognize unwanted messages based on statistical indicators. The statistical indicators are analyzed utilizing the neural network engine for determining whether the electronic mail message is an unwanted message.
As mentioned above, the neural network engine can be taught to recognize unwanted messages. In one process of teaching the neural network, examples are provided to the neural network engine. The examples are of wanted messages and unwanted messages. Each of the examples is associated with a desired output. Each of the examples is processed with statistics by the neural network engine for generating weights for the statistics. Each of the weights is used to denote wanted and unwanted messages. Preferably, the neural network engine utilizes adaptive linear combination for adjusting the weights. Logic associated with the neural network engine is updated based on the processing by the neural network engine.
In another process for teaching the neural network engine, the neural network engine is updated to recognize an unwanted message. The message is identified as an unwanted message. The features of the message that make the message unwanted are identified, wherein the identified features are stored and used by the neural network to identify subsequent unwanted messages. Preferably, a graphical user interface is provided for allowing a user to identify the features of the message that make the message unwanted.
In another aspect of the present embodiment, the neural network engine uses artificial intelligence that analyzes previous user input for determining whether the message is unwanted.
A system, method and computer program product are also provided for teaching a neural network engine to recognize an unwanted message. Examples are provided to a neural network engine. The examples are of wanted messages and unwanted messages. Each of the examples is associated with a desired output. Each of the examples is processed with statistics for generating weights for the statistics. Each of the weights is used to denote wanted and unwanted messages. Logic associated with the neural network engine is updated based on the processing by the neural network engine.
In one aspect of the present embodiment, the neural network engine utilizes adaptive linear combination for adjusting the weights. In another aspect of the present embodiment, the neural network engine is updated to recognize an unwanted message. The message is identified as an unwanted message. The features of the message that make the message unwanted are identified. The identified features are stored and used by the neural network to identify subsequent unwanted messages. Preferably, a graphical user interface is provided for allowing a user to identify the features of the message that make the message unwanted.

Intelligent SPAM detection system using an updateable neural analysis engine


To fill insulating glass panes with a heavy gas, one of the glass plates (40) of which the insulating glass pane is formed is initially only partly joined to the other glass plate (42) during assembly and to that end is flexed along one edge so that a gap is temporarily left between the glass plate (40) and the spacer (41) and a heavy gas can be introduced through that gap to fill the interior space of the insulating gas pane.

Such a process and such an apparatus are described in WO 89/11021. In the known process two glass plates, which have been assembled to form an insulating glass pane, are temporarily provided with an access opening to the interior space between the glass plates in that one of the glass plates is resiliently flexed before or after the assembling of the glass plates. To that end the known apparatus is provided with vacuum cups, which are arranged in a vertical striplike recess in a wall and are adapted to be extended as far as to the forward surface of the wall and to be retracted parallel to themselves so as to be disposed some millimeters behind the forward surface of the wall. The wall itself is provided with holes, which are regularly distributed over the surface of the wall and through which air can also be sucked, to retain and position the glass plate on the wall. The glass plate which is gripped on both sides because air is sucked through the holes in the wall is caused to bulge in a strip-like area by the action of the suction cups in the striplike recess in the wall and high flexural stresses are thus produced in the glass because the sense of curvature is reversed several times in the flexing range. Owing to the high flexural stress it is difficult to flex thick glass plates and any microcracks existing in the glass plate may cause the glass plate to break whereas such cracks would not become apparent unless the glass plate was flexed. In accordance with WO 89/11021 the stresses can locally be alleviated in that the wall has a curved surface in a region which adjoins the recess on both sides so that there is a gradual transition from the planar portion of the wall into its recess and the steepness of the curvature at the edge of the recess can be decreased although the sense of curvature of the glass plate is still reversed several times.
In the prior art it has also already been proposed to flex the glass plate along one of its edges. But it has not been stated what apparatus is to be used for that purpose.

Process and apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air


An RF amplifier to increase a gain using a transformer is provided. The amplifier includes: a first transistor configured to generate a current by amplifying and converting an input voltage; a second transistor configured to amplify the generated current; and a first transformer configured to feed an emitter current of the second transistor back to a gate. Accordingly, Gm of the transistor is boosted using the transformer, such that a high gain can be obtained with a low current. Therefore, a problem of a gain reduction caused by a parasitic capacitor at a high frequency can be solved.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a related-art RF cascode amplifier. The RF amplifier is a block which is made to minimize a noise while amplifying a minute signal, and is core to RF circuit technology.
The RF rectifier is a block which provides a power gain and should match input/output each other. Therefore, it is common that impedance matching inductors Lg and Ls are used as shown in FIG. 1.
In the case of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), a gate is formed of a pure capacitor. Therefore, it is difficult to match the CMOS with an antenna having real impedance. To solve this, Ls is inserted. The inserted Ls serves to provide real impedance as indicated by Equation 1 presented below:
                                          Z            in                                          (            s            )                          =                              sL            g                    +                      sL            S                    +                      1                          sC                              gs                                                                                1                                              +                                    g                              m                                                                                1                                                                                L                s                                            C                gs                                                                        Equation                                                  1
In addition, as shown in Equation 1, Lg is an inductor which is inserted for impedance matching.
A small signal equivalent circuit of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the RF cascode amplifier has a structure in which a current source trans-impedance amplified and converted at M1 is current-amplified at M2 again, such that two-stage amplification is performed and an amplification gain is maximized.
The RF cascode amplifier having the above-described structure ideally operates at a frequency of 10 GHz or less, but, in a high frequency band in which Cp, which is a parasitic capacitor, relatively increases, a current signal trans-impedance amplified and converted at M1 may be lost.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the related-art RF cascode amplifier has a problem that a noise characteristic deteriorates as a frequency increases.id22=4KTγ2gdo2Δf  Equation 2
A gain obtained by the transistor M1 is expressed by Equation 3 presented blow:
                              A                      V                                                                          1                          =                              Gm            ×            Load                    =                                                    gm                1                                            2                                                  ω                  0                                                                  C                                      gs                                                                                1                                                                                R                  s                                                      ×                          1                                                                    ω                    0                                                                          C                    p                                                  +                                  gm                  2                                                                                Equation                                                  3
As shown in Equation 3, the gain may be divided into a Gm part and a Load part. Since the two parts are influenced by the parasitic capacitor, the gain of the amplifier rapidly decreases as the frequency (ω) of the signal increases, and as a result, the unique characteristic of the cascode may not be utilized.
However, in the related-art RF cascode amplifier, the parasitic capacitor Cp may not be minimized due to the sizes of defined transistors.

RF amplifier to increase gain using transformer


A vacuum cleaning head includes a housing having a suction opening for admitting an air flow to the head, an agitator for agitating a surface to be cleaned, the agitator having an active state and an inactive state, a duct for receiving the air flow from the housing, and a control assembly for controlling the state of the agitator. The control assembly includes a pressure chamber having an interior volume in fluid communication with the duct and which is variable between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration in response to a pressure difference between the interior volume and ambient air, an actuator for effecting a transition of the agitator from one of the active state and the inactive state to the other of the active state and the inactive state in response to a transition of the pressure chamber to the contracted configuration, and a control mechanism having a first state for preventing the pressure chamber from adopting the contracted configuration, and a second state for allowing the pressure chamber to adopt the contracted configuration. The control mechanism is arranged to change between the first and second states in response to an increase in the interior volume of the pressure chamber, for example in response to an increase in the air pressure within the duct.

A vacuum cleaner typically comprises a main body containing dirt and dust separating apparatus, a floor tool connected to the main body and having a suction opening, and a motor-driven fan unit for drawing dirt-bearing air through the suction opening. The suction opening is directed downwardly to face the floor surface to be cleaned. The dirt-bearing air is conveyed to the separating apparatus so that dirt and dust can be separated from the air before the air is expelled to the atmosphere. The separating apparatus can take the form of a filter, a filter bag or, as is known, a cyclonic arrangement. The present invention is not concerned with the nature of the separating apparatus and is therefore applicable to vacuum cleaners utilizing any of the above arrangements or another suitable separating apparatus.
A driven agitator, usually in the form of a brush bar, is supported in the floor tool so as to protrude by a small extent from the suction opening. The brush bar is activated mainly when the vacuum cleaner is used to clean carpeted surfaces. The brush bar comprises an elongate cylindrical core bearing bristles which extend radially outward from the core.
Rotation of the brush bar may be driven by an electric motor powered by a power supply derived from the main body of the cleaner, or by an air turbine assembly driven by an air flow into the floor tool. The rotation of the brush bar causes the bristles to sweep along the surface of the carpet to be cleaned to loosen dirt and dust, and pick up debris. The suction of air generated by the fan unit of the vacuum cleaner causes air to flow underneath the floor tool and around the brush bar to help lift the dirt and dust from the surface of the carpet and then carry it from the suction opening through the floor tool towards the separating apparatus.
When the floor tool is to be used to clean a hard floor surface, it is desirable to stop the rotation of the brush bar to prevent the floor surface from becoming scratched or otherwise marked by the moving bristles of the brush bar. When the brush bar is driven by a motor, a switch may be provided on the floor tool to enable a user to de-activate the motor driving the rotation of the brush bar before the floor tool is moved on to the hard floor surface. Alternatively, a sensor may be provided on the bottom surface of the floor tool for detecting the type of floor surface upon which the floor tool has been located, and for deactivating the motor depending on the detected type of floor surface.
WO2004/028330 describes a mechanism for allowing a user to stop the rotation of a brush bar driven by an air turbine assembly. The turbine assembly comprises a vaned impeller which is mounted within a housing for rotation relative to a guide vane plate. The housing is located on one side of the floor tool. The impeller is connected to the brush bar by a pulley system. The housing has an air outlet connected to a suction duct extending between the suction opening and the main body of the vacuum cleaning appliance, and an air inlet for admitting ambient air into the housing. When the appliance is switched on, ambient air is drawn through the housing, causing the impeller to rotate and drive the rotation of the brush bar.
The mechanism comprises a movable button which is connected to the inlet side of the housing by an annular diaphragm seal. The seal is connected to a cylindrical outer wall of an inlet cap located over the air inlet of the housing. The inlet cap has a conical inner wall which defines with the button and the seal an airflow path for conveying air towards the vanes of the guide vane plate and the impeller. The button, inlet cap and guide vane plate define a pressure chamber which contains a spring for urging the button away from the guide vane plate. The guide vane plate comprises apertures which allow air to be evacuated from the pressure chamber through rotation of the impeller relative to the guide vane plate.
To stop the rotation of the brush bar, the user depresses the button to urge the seal against the inner wall of the inlet cap to block the air flow to the vanes. The lack of air flow through the housing causes the impeller and the brush bar to come to rest. The pressure chamber becomes evacuated under the pumping action of the fan of the vacuum cleaning appliance. The force acting on the button due to the pressure differential between the air inside the pressure chamber and the ambient air gradually becomes greater than the opposing force of the spring, with the result that when the user releases the button the seal remains urged against the inlet cap.
To restart the rotation of the brush bar during cleaning, the user opens a valve to admit air into the airflow downstream from the turbine assembly. This valve may be a suction release trigger located on a wand to which the floor tool is attached. Opening the valve lowers the pressure difference across the button to allow the spring to push the button away from the inlet cap to open the airflow path through the turbine assembly and restart the rotation of the impeller.
The stopping and re-starting of the brush bar thus requires two different user operations; to stop the brush bar the user must depress the button, whereas to re-start the brush bar the user must operate the suction release trigger on the wand. Furthermore, the depression of the button can be inconvenient for the user. The user has to either bend down to depress the button, or invert the wand to raise the floor tool towards hand or eye level.


A tamper protected printed circuit board assembly including a printed circuit board and a partially enveloping tamper wrap covering the entirety of the top surface of the printed circuit board and a first portion of the bottom surface of the printed circuit board, wherein a second portion of the bottom surface of the printed circuit board is not covered by the tamper wrap is provided. The printed circuit board includes two security trace layers each having two security traces thereon, preferably in a serpentine pattern. The tamper wrap and the security traces together cover and prevent tampering with the electronic circuitry of the printed circuit board.

In many electronic applications, it is often desirable or even required to protect electronic circuitry, such as on a printed circuit board (PCB), from unlawful or unauthorized access. This is especially true for electronic circuitry that includes cryptographic modules or functionality. For example, postage security devices (PSDs) are required by the United States Postal Service to comply with FIPS 140-2 level 3 issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). FIPS 140-2 level 3 requires that PSDs have a full envelope of physical tamper protection and detection which encloses all electrical nodes.
Prior art methods of tamper protection, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,500, involve wrapping the entire electronic circuitry, such as a PCB, in a flexible tamper respondent laminate. The laminate in such methods is soldered to the electronic circuitry to complete the detection circuits and potted using an encapsulating epoxy or the like. Due to the manual manipulation required, these methods are typically time consuming and not well suited to automated/mass production.

Method of making tamper detection circuit for an electronic device


A compressor of a turbine engine, the compressor including stator blades with shrouds, the shrouds being surrounded, at least in part, by rotating structure and forming a shroud cavity therebetween, the compressor including: a plurality of tangential flow inducers disposed within the shroud cavity; wherein each tangential flow inducer comprises a surface disposed on the rotating structure that is configured such that, when rotated, induces a tangential directional component to and/or increases the velocity of a flow of leakage exiting the shroud cavity.

This present application relates generally to systems and apparatus for improving the efficiency and/or operation of turbine engines. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, the present application relates to improved systems and apparatus pertaining to compressor operation and, in particular, the efficient reintroduction of leakage flow into the main flow path.
As will be appreciated, the performance of a turbine engine is largely affected by its ability to eliminate or reduce leakage that occurs between stages in both the turbine and compressor sections of the engine. In general, this is caused because of the gaps that exist between rotating and stationary components. More specifically, in the compressor, leakage generally occurs through the cavity that is defined by the shrouds of compressor stator blades, which are stationary, and the rotating barrel that opposes and substantially surrounds the shroud. Flowing from higher pressure to lower, this leakage results in a flow that is in a reverse direction of the flow in the main flow path. That is, the flow enters the shroud cavity from a downstream side of the shroud and flows in an upstream direction where it is discharged back into the main flow from an upstream side of the shroud.
Of course, seals are employed to limit this flow. However, given that one surface is in motion and the other is stationary, conventional seals are unable to prevent much of this leakage flow from occurring. The reduction of the gap between stationary and rotating structures is desirable, but its elimination is usually not practical due to inevitable different thermal characteristics between the rotating and stationary components, as well as the centrifugal characteristics of the rotating components. With the added considerations of component manufacturing tolerances and variation in operating conditions, which govern thermal and centrifugal characteristics, it is generally the case that a leakage gap forms during at least certain operating conditions. Of course, leakage generally results from a pressure difference that exists across a leakage gap. However, while it might be possible to reduce the pressure difference across the leakage gap, this generally comes at too high a price, as it places an undesirable limitation on the aerodynamic design of working fluid velocity components.
It will be appreciated that compressor leakage of this nature decreases the efficiency of the engine in at least two appreciable ways. First, the leakage itself decreases the pressure of the main flow through the compressor and, thus, increases the energy that the engine must expend to raise the pressure of the main flow to desired levels before it is delivered to the combustor. Second, mixing losses occur as the leakage flow exits the shroud cavity and reenters the main flow path.
As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, mixing losses of this type may be significant and result in appreciable losses in compressor efficiency. One reason why mixing losses are relatively high is because, at the point of mixture, the leakage flow and the main flow are flowing in dissimilar directions and/or dissimilar velocities. More particularly, the main flow, having just passed through the rotor blades of the previous stage, flows at a relatively high velocity and with a significant tangential directional component. Whereas, the leakage flow, having negotiated the typically tortured pathway through the shroud cavity, flows at a relatively slow velocity and is directed in a primarily radial direction, and lacks the tangential directional component of the main flow.
As a result, there is a need for improved systems and apparatus that reduce the mixing loses that occur when the leakage flow reenters the main flow of the compressor.

Systems and apparatus relating to compressor operation in turbine engines


The present invention provides a computer-implemented method and system for optimally packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles into a container. In particular, the invention determines the preferred packing configuration in a preferred container for packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles in a customer order wherein particular articles in the order have specialized shipping requirements. In determining the preferred packing configuration, the method and system uses criteria based upon particular characteristics of the articles, the cost of packing labor, packing material, and delivery of the packed container. In a particular embodiment, the preferred packing configuration is displayed graphically or as written instructions and the container is packed manually.

Not Applicable.
A Computer Program Listing Appendix of the programming language, which can be used to practice the packing system of the present invention, is submitted with this application on two identical compact discs (CD). The compact discs are labeled Copy 1 and Copy 2 Each compact disc is entitled xe2x80x9c010427xe2x80x941148xe2x80x9d and each is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The CDs are write-only and are IBM-PC and MS-WINDOWS compatible. Each compact disc contains an ASCII text file entitled xe2x80x9cPackagingSolutionsxe2x80x9d (PACKAGxcx9c6.TXT) disclosing a computer program which can be used to practice the method and system of the present invention.
The file was created Apr. 27, 2001, and the file contains 340,054 bytes.
The file xe2x80x9cPackagingSolutionsxe2x80x9d (PACKAGxcx9c6.TXT) comprises the following computer program codes and files: (1) Table:1da, created Dec. 18, 2000, (2) Table: tblCarrierSchedules, created Dec. 8, 2000, (3) Table; tblCompanies, created Jul. 8, 2000, (4) Table: tblDimensionalData, created Jul. 8, 2000, (5) Table: tblFill, created Dec. 8, 2000, (6) Table; tblFragility, created Dec. 8, 2000, (7) Table: tblImages, created Oct. 22, 2000, (8) Table: tblIndustries, created Jul. 8, 2000, (9) Table: tblJournal, created Jul. 8, 2000, (10) Table: tblPackagingData, created Dec. 8, 2000, (11) Table: tblPackagingUsed, created Dec. 8, 2000, (12) Table: tblPairedData, created Feb. 1, 2001, (13) Table: tblPartInformation, created Jul. 8, 2000, (14) Table: tblPeople, created Jul. 8, 2000, (15) Table: tblPicturesAuditQuestion, created Feb. 1, 2001, (16) Table: tblPicturewithAudits, created Feb. 1, 2001, (17) Table: tblProductionOrderHeader, created Oct. 25, 2000, (18) Table: tblProductionOrderLine, created Oct. 25, 2000, (19) Table: Separations, created Dec. 8, 2000, (20) Table: tblShapes, created Dec. 8, 2000, (21) Table: tblTypeCompanies, created Dec. 8, 2000, (22) Table: tblTypeImages, created Oct. 22, 2000, (23) Table: tblTypesPartStatus, created Oct. 22, 2000, (24) Query: qurBoxorderData, created Feb. 8, 2001, (25) Query:
qurCalculateDimWeightGirth, created Dec. 21, 2000, (26) Query: qurCarrierMax, created Dec. 8, 2000, (27) Query: qurChooseBoxes, created Feb. 8, 2001, (28) Query: qurChooseBoxGirth, created Feb. 8, 2001, (29) Query: qurChooseBoxGirthandDimW, created Feb. 28, 2001, (30) Query: qurGetDimensions, created Dec. 8, 2000, (31) Query: qurGetgroupDetailedDimensions, created Dec. 21, 2000, (32) Query:
qurGetgroupSummaryDimensions, created Dec. 21, 2000, (33) Query: qurGetPossibleBoxes, created Dec. 21, 2000, (34) Query: qurGetPossibleBoxGirthDimWeights, created Dec. 21, 2000, (35) Query: qurgetweights, created Dec. 8, 2000, (36) Query: qurOrderDetail, created Dec. 21, 2000, (37) Query:
qurOrderDimensions, created Dec. 8, 2000, (38) Query: qurPackagingUsedDetail, created Dec. 8, 2000, (39) Query: qurPackagingUsed Summary, created Dec. 8, 2000, (40) Query: queseparateorder, created Dec. 8, 2000, (41) Query: qurWeighGroups, created Dec. 8, 2000, (42) Form: 000temp, created Aug. 8, 2000, (43) Form: frmAddImage, created Oct. 22, 2000, (44) Form: frmAdministration, created Oct. 22, 2000(45) Form: frmCariers, created Dec. 8, 2000, (46) Form: frmCharacteristics, created Dec. 8, 2000, (47) Form: frmCustomers, created Oct. 25, 2000, (48) Form: frmDefinePartStatus, created Oct. 22, 2000, (49) Form: frmDefineTypesImages, created Oct. 22, 2000, (50) Form: frmEnterAnOrder, created Oct. 25, 2000, (51) Form: frmFill, created Dec. 8, 2000, (52) Form: frmFragility, created Dec. 8, 2000, (53) Form: frmGetPictureName, created Feb. 1, 2001, (54) Form: frmHome, created Aug. 3, 2000, (55) Form: frmKaizen, created Oct. 25, 2000, (56) Form: frmListorders, created Oct. 17, 2000, (57) Form: frmpackagingData, created Oct. 25, 2000, (58) Form: frmPackImage1, created Feb. 8, 2001, (59) Form: frmPictureManagement, created Feb. 1, 2001, (60) Form: frmPicturesAuditReport, created Feb. 1, 2001, (61) Form: frmPicturewithAuditQuestions, created Feb. 1, 2001, (62) Form: frmPrintLabels, created Oct. 25, 2000, (63) Form: frmProcessWalkThrough, created Feb. 8, 2001, (64) Form: frmReports, created Oct. 25, 2000, (65) Form: SelectOrder, created Oct. 17, 2000, (66) Form: frmSeparations, created Dec. 8, 2000, (67) Form: frmShapes, created Dec. 8, 2000, (68) Form: frmUser, created Oct. 17, 2000, (69) Form: frmVendors, created Dec. 8, 2000, (70) Form: frnparts, created Aug. 3, 2000, (71) Form:
MsysCompactError subform, created Feb. 8, 2001, (72) Form: qurBoxorderData subform, created Feb. 8, 2001, (73) Form: qurCalculateDimWeightGirth subform, created Feb. 8, 2001, (74) Form: qurChooseBoxes subform, created Feb. 8, 2001, (75) Form: tblCarrierSchedules subform, created Dec. 8, 2000, (76) Form: tblCharSpecs subform, created Aug. 3, 2000, (77) Form: tblDimensionalData subform, created Dec. 8, 2000, (78) Form: tblFragility, created Feb. 8, 2001, (79) Form: tblproductionOrderLine subform, created Oct. 25, 2000, (80) Form: tblproductionOrderLine subform, created Feb. 9, 2001, (81) Report: qurGetWeights, created Dec. 8, 2000, (82) Report: qurpartDimensions, created Oct. 25, 2000, (83) Report: qurSeparateOrder, created Dec. 8, 2000, (84) Macro: mcrMaximize, created Oct. 17, 2000, (85) Macro: mcrRemovePictures, created Feb. 8, 2001, (86) Database:   Raven ravensn PS oppack.mbd, (87) Relationships, (88) Table: ImageHTML, created Apr. 9, 2001, (89) Table: tblHTMLData, created Feb. 21, 2001, (90) TableHTMLDataImages, created Mar. 3, 2001, (91) Table: tblHTMLDataStraightPage, created Feb. 21, 2001, (92) Table: tblOrderDetailStretch, created Apr. 23, 2001, (93) Table: tempOrderDetailStretch, created Apr. 9, 2001, (94) Table: tempOrderItems, created Apr. 9, 2001, (95) Query: GetCarriers, created Mar. 3, 2001, (96) Query: Maketableformat, created Apr. 9, 2001, (97) Query: qurAddHTMLBottom, created Apr. 20, 2001, (98) Query: qurAddImageBox, created Apr. 23, 2001, (99) Query: qurAddImageHTML, created Apr. 20, 2001, (100) Query: qurFilestoCopy, created Apr. 20, 2001, (101) Query: qurHTMLOnly, created Feb. 21, 2001, (102) Query: qurHTMLOnly2, created Apr. 20, 2001, (103) Query: qurHTMLVariable, created Feb. 21, 2001, (104) From: frmMakeImageHTML, created Apr. 9, 2001, (105) Form: qurContainers, created Apr. 20, 2001, (106) Form: tblOrderPositionTemp, created Apr. 9, 2001, (107) Form: tempOrderDetail subform, created Apr. 9, 2001, (108) Form: tempOrderDetailStretch, created Apr. 9, 2001, (109) Form: tempOrderDetailStretch1, created Apr. 9, 2001, (110) Form: tempOrderItems, created Apr. 9, 2001, (111) Table: tblQTYs, created Apr. 25, 2001, and (112) Query: qurDoNotUse, created Apr. 27, 2001.
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method and system for optimally packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles into a container or containers. In particular, the invention determines the preferred packing configuration in a preferred container for packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles in a customer order wherein particular articles in the order have specialized shipping requirements. In determining the preferred packing configuration, the method and system uses criteria based upon particular characteristics of the articles, the cost of packing labor, availability of containers, packing material, and delivery of the packed container. In a preferred embodiment, the optimal or preferred packing configuration is displayed graphically or as written instructions and the container is packed manually. The method and system can also create a historical database for the preferred packing configuration which adds intelligence back into the system.
(2) Description of Related Art
Packing and shipping customer orders is an important part of the ordering process in the retail catalog, direct mail, part supplier, wholesale shipping, Internet or e-commerce, catalogue fulfilment, and distribution industries. While many parts of the ordering process have been computerized, most companies in the above industries still employ human packers to make the final choice of which container to use for an order and how to pack that container. As a result, packing and shipping customer orders remains inefficient and more costly than it needs to be.
Packing and shipping customer orders is one of the several functions that are embraced by the art of warehouse management. Warehouse management includes all operations of a warehouse such as ordering and receiving inventory, storing inventory, maintaining particular inventory levels, and disposition of the inventory, which includes packing and shipping customer orders. While packing and shipping customer orders is an important function within the art of warehouse management, the art of warehouse management has remained focused on the field of automated systems for stacking or storing containers. The following U.S. Patents are representative of the current state and focus of warehouse management.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,410 to Kooy et al. discloses a data processing system that optimizes storage for pallets. U.S. Pat. No. RE34,416 to Konishi et al. discloses a pile planning system for three-dimensional objects for maximizing the amount of vacant space available on a pallet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,692 to Mazouz et al. shows a method of loading a pallet with randomly-sized objects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,396 to Calcerano et al. is representative of a number of patents disclosing a method of storing rectangular-shaped objects into the least amount of space for storage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,229 to Parsons et al. shows a system of storing and retrieving three-dimensional objects in a given area. U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,518 to Montgomery discloses a system for palletizing bundles of books in an efficient manner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,861 to Stringer et al. discloses an apparatus used to scan an object in order to measure its three dimensions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,831 to Snellem discloses a method of packing two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects into a rectangular space so as to optimize the area given. U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,491 to Calcerano et al. discloses a method of storing rectangular-shaped objects into the least amount of space for storage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,571 to Van Durrett et al. discloses an automated palletizer for different size and weight boxes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,826 to Scott discloses a system for maximizing the stacking efficiency of objects. U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,157 to Ross discloses an order control system for dispensing a preselected number of items in a particular sequence as requested. U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,807 to Anderson et al. discloses a method of stacking objects so as to match the outside dimensions of a pallet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,370 to Stringer et al. discloses a laser guided system for measuring objects in three dimensions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,283 to Huang et al. discloses a system for palletizing rectangular-sized objects of random sizes and weights.
While the above patents address particular warehouse management problems related to stacking or storing containers, none address the problems relating to packing and shipping customer orders. Such problems include low productivity and efficiency due to packer uncertainty as to the proper shipping container to use, high packing costs because inappropriate or wrong-sized containers were used for shipping, improper packing of containers that results in damage to the packed articles, and high shipping costs because an inappropriate shipper was used for shipping a particular packed container. Therefore, there remains a need for a packing method and system that will boost productivity and efficiency, reduce packing and shipping costs, and reduce the likelihood that the packed articles will be damaged during shipping.
The present invention provides a computer-implemented method and system for optimally packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles into a container. In particular, the invention determines the preferred packing configuration and preferred container for packing a plurality of randomly sized and shaped articles in a customer order wherein particular articles in the order have specialized shipping requirements. In determining the preferred packing configuration, the method and system uses criteria based upon particular characteristics of the articles, the cost of packing labor, packing material, and delivery of the packed container. In a preferred embodiment, the optimal or preferred packing configuration is displayed graphically or as written instructions and the container is packed manually. The method and system can also create a historical database for the preferred packing configuration which adds intelligence back into the system.
The general flow of the packing system of the present invention consists of taking an order from a customer and determining the most cost effective or preferred packing configuration for shipping the order to the customer. The system determines the preferred packing configuration based upon one or more of the following factors: the number of articles in the customer""s order, particular indicia of the articles in the customer""s order such as weight and dimensions, and other indicia of the articles such as restrictions, limitations, and rules for particular articles in the customer order, e.g., fragility, compatibility . The packing system then determines the number of containers needed to ship the order in view of the shipping and delivery options available.
The packing system of the present invention then selects the most preferred packing configuration based on the labor, delivery, and packing costs. The packing system provides instructions for packing the articles in the customer order and for shipping the customer""s order. In a preferred embodiment, the packing system graphically displays the preferred packing configuration and provides written instructions for the preferred packing configuration. In an optional embodiment, the packing system selects a second preferred packing configuration. The packing system further enables the packer to input information about the packing configuration that was determined. The inputted information is available for use by the packing system whenever a customer order comprises the same or similar articles or containers and for evaluating performance of the packing system.
Therefore, the present invention provides a computer implemented method for preferably placing one or more articles from a customer order into a container preferably suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) inputting indicia for a plurality of articles into a memory of a programmed computer to produce an article database; (b) inputting indicia for a plurality of containers for receiving the articles into the memory of the programmed computer to produce a container database; (c) selecting the indicia corresponding to the articles in the customer order from the article database; (d) selecting the indicia corresponding to one or more selected containers in the container database; (e) generating a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia of the articles in the customer""s order and the indicia for one or more of the selected containers; (f) selecting from the plurality of possible packing configurations a preferred packing configuration including a preferred arrangement of the articles in a particular container; (g) generating instructions for packing the one of the selected containers using the preferred packing configuration; and, (h) packing the articles from the customer order in the one of the selected containers according to the instructions.
The present invention further provides a computer implemented method for determining the preferred packing of one or more articles from a customer order into a container suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) inputting into a programmed computer an identifier for each article in the customer order; (b) retrieving data including indicia for each article corresponding to the identifier from an article database containing indicia for a plurality of articles stored in memory of the programmed computer; (c) retrieving data including indicia for one or more containers from a container database stored in the memory of the programmed computer; (d) generating a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia for the articles and the indicia for the one or more containers; (e) selecting a preferred packing configuration from the plurality of possible packing configurations having a preferred arrangement of the articles of the customer order in a particular container; (f) generating instructions for packing the particular container in the preferred packing configuration; and, (f) packing the particular container with the one or more articles from the customer order according to the instructions.
Further still, the present invention provides a method for packing articles from a customer order into a container suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) inputting customer order data into an order entry system in a programmed computer; (b) converting the customer order data in the order entry system to a language that enables the data to be portable across computer applications and computer operating systems; (c) retrieving from an article database indicia for the articles ordered and from a container database indicia for one or more containers wherein the article and container indicia are in a language that enables the indicia to be portable across computer applications and computer operating systems; (d) generating using the programmed computer a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia for the articles from the customer order and the indicia for the one or more containers using a program code that is independent of an operating system of the programmed computer; (f) selecting a preferred packing configuration from the plurality of possible packing configurations; (g) generating using the programmed computer instructions for the preferred packing configuration including a preferred arrangement of the articles from the customer order in a particular container; and (h) packing the articles from the customer order in the preferred arrangement in the particular container according to the instructions.
In the above methods, the present invention preferably includes retrieving from a carrier delivery and rate database, indicia consisting of carrier delivery and rate data based on dimensions of one or more containers and weight of one or more containers for each dimension and weight category accepted by a carrier. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention further includes retrieving from a labor cost database, indicia consisting of labor costs associated with each of the plurality of possible packing configurations.
In the above methods, the indicia for the articles from the customer order are selected from data from the group consisting of length, width, height, weight, fragility, composition, flexibility, health factors, safety factors, packing material to protect the article, and combination thereof, and the indicia for the containers are selected from data from the group consisting of length, width, height, weight, material, and combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of packing configurations is further based on compatibility of the articles from the customer order. In a preferred embodiment further still a second preferred packing configuration is selected. In the preferred embodiment, the packing instructions provide a visual representation of the preferred packing configuration and written instructions for the preferred packing configuration, which preferably are displayed on a computer screen, and the packing is conducted manually. The above methods can further include a packing history database that is then accessed when a subsequent preferred packing configuration is being generated.
Further, in the method of the present invention, the database uses a structured query language; the possible packing configurations are generated using a programming language that is independent of an operating system of the programmed computer; and the preferred packing configuration is provided in extensible markup language to enable data representing the preferred packing configuration to be portable across different types of applications and operating systems, and in extensible stylesheet language to enable the preferred packing configuration to be presented in different formats.
The present invention further provides a system for placing one or more articles from a customer order into a container suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) means for inputting indicia for a plurality of articles into a memory of a programmed computer to produce an article database; (b) means for inputting indicia for a plurality of containers for receiving the articles into the memory of the programmed computer to produce a container database; (c) means for selecting the indicia corresponding to the articles in the customer order from the article database; (d) means for selecting the indicia corresponding to one or more of the containers in the container database; (e) means for generating a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia for each of the articles from the customer order and the indicia for one or more of the containers; (f) means for selecting from the plurality of possible packing configurations a preferred packing configuration consisting of a preferred arrangement of the articles from the customer order in a particular container; and
(g) means for generating instructions for packing the particular container with the articles from the customer order in the preferred arrangement using the preferred packing configuration wherein the system enables packing the articles in the particular container according to the instructions.
The present invention further provides a computer implemented system for determining a preferred packing arrangement of articles from a customer order into a container preferably suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) means for inputting an identifier for each article of the customer order into a memory of a programmed computer; (b) means for storing and retrieving indicia for a plurality of articles in the memory of the programmed computer; (c) means for storing and retrieving indicia for one or more containers stored in the memory of the programmed computer; (d) means for generating a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia for each article of the customer order and the indicia for one or more of the containers; (e) means for selecting a preferred packing configuration from the plurality of possible packing configurations having a preferred arrangement of the articles of the customer order in a particular container; and (f) means for generating instructions for packing the particular container wherein the system enables packing of the particular container with the articles of the customer order in the preferred arrangement using the preferred packing configuration.
Further still, the present invention provides a system for packing articles from a customer order into a container suited for receiving the articles, comprising: (a) means for inputting customer order data into an order entry system in a programmed computer; (b) means for converting the customer order data in the order entry system to a language that enables the data to be portable across computer applications and computer operating systems; (c) means for retrieving from a database indicia for the articles from the customer order and indicia for one or more containers wherein the indicia are in a language that enables the indicia to be portable across computer applications and computer operating systems; (d) means for generating in the programmed computer a plurality of possible packing configurations based on the indicia using a program code that is independent of an operating system of the programmed computer; (e) means for selecting a preferred packing configuration from the plurality of possible packing configurations; and (f) means for generating instructions for the preferred packing configuration including a preferred arrangement of the articles from the customer order in a particular container wherein the system enables packing the particular container according to the instructions.
In the packing system of the present invention, it is preferable that packing system further include a means for retrieving from a delivery and rate database indicia for carrier delivery and rate data based on dimensions of each of one or more containers and weight of each of the one or more containers for each dimension and weight category accepted by a carrier, and a means for retrieving from the database indicia consisting of labor costs associated with each of the plurality of possible packing configurations.
In the packing system of the present invention, the indicia for the articles are selected from data from the group consisting of length, width, height, weight, fragility, composition, flexibility, health factors, safety factors, packing material to protect the article, and combination thereof. In the packing system, the indicia for the container are selected from data from the group consisting of length, width, height, weight, material, and combination thereof.
Preferably, the means for generating the plurality of packing configurations considers compatibility of the articles in the customer order. Preferably, the means for selecting the preferred packing configuration is capable of selecting a second preferred packing configuration is selected.
In a preferred embodiment of the packing system of the present invention, the instructions provide a visual representation of the preferred packing configuration and written instructions for the preferred packing configuration, which is displayed on a computer screen, and the packing system further including a means for packing the particular container manually.
In the packing system of the present invention, the order entry system is preferably a Legacy system; the means for storing and retrieving the indicia uses a structured query language; and the means for generating the plurality of possible packing configurations uses a programming language that is independent of an operating system of the programmed computer. In the packing system, the preferred packing configuration is provided in extensible markup language to enable data representing the preferred configuration to be portable across applications and operating systems of different types, and in extensible stylesheet language to enable the preferred configuration to be presented in different formats.
Finally, the packing system can provide a means wherein the preferred packing configuration is stored in a packing history database that is then accessed when a subsequent preferred packing configuration is being generated.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer implemented method and system that determines the optimal or preferred configuration for packing articles, in particular randomly sized and shaped articles, from a customer order into a particular container so as to reduce the time and costs associated with packing and shipping the articles in the customer order.
It is a further object of the present invention that instructions for the optimal or preferred packing configuration for a customer order be provided to a manual packer in a visual or textual format.

Method and system for packing a plurality of articles in a container


According to the present invention, an electronic handheld device is provided for receiving information related to a broadcasted sporting contest, and calculating a score based upon the received information. The information is entered into the electronic handheld device via a controller having plurality of buttons, each button having an associated score. The controller includes a display for displaying team information, which may include the team name and the score for each team. The controller further includes circuit board having circuitry operatively connected to the controller for processing the entered information and outputting the processed information to the controller display.

Fan involvement in sporting games has increased over the years. With the introduction of fantasy sports, e.g., fantasy football, more fans are watching more games with no interest in the outcome of the game, but instead, to keep track of their player's progress. Previous electronic devices are not concerned with current in-game statistics, but instead, are more concerned with the game players progress through the game provided by the electronic device. For example, Play Station's® PSP® device has a game called Madden Football®, where access to broadcasted live scores are provided over a network on the provided screen. However, scoring in the actual Madden game itself is determined by the player's actions within the game, whether a touchdown is scored or not, and not based on the broadcasted scores. While fan involvement in broadcasted games has evolved over time, the electronic devices remain more concerned with games provided for the device than the events occurring during the broadcasted sporting contest related to the provided game. Therefore, a need exists to provide an electronic device that keeps fans involved in the live football action, while providing an electronic platform for competing with other fans.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Handheld electronic device for entering activity of sporting event by multiple parties having party scores


The invention disclosed relates to a composite armor material comprising an outer ballistic impact resistant layer of a steel material having a Rockwell "C" scale hardness of 47-54, and an inner blast resistant steel layer having a fracture toughness of 3.6-6.5 J/mm, and a Rockwell "C" scale hardness of 28-36.

Presently in North America armored vehicles are engineered and manufactured primarily to provide protection against ballistic attack. The armor typically comprises a single plate, and is held in place using mechanical fasteners and/or by welding. Ballistic protection is achieved either by overlapping of several armor plates, or by covering joints with additional plates. From a mechanical strength standpoint, these armor materials are basically parasitic and do not add any significant strength to the vehicle.
More recent advances in armor materials include the use of dual hard steel. The dual property hardness steel armor has several distinct advantages over earlier prior art armor; such advantages include having requirements conducive to unlimited production quantities using existing facilities and having fabricability and intrinsic properties of steel. The earlier concept for dual property steel armor was developed from the knowledge that a high hardness was needed to shatter steel armor piercing projectiles and a high toughness was required to achieve multiple strike integrity.
Although the dual property steel armor principle provides an alloy capable of breaking up the projectile, numerous tested alloys have resulted in panel shattering. When panel shattering occurs the effectiveness of the armor is lost, particularly as an armor suitable for a multiple strike capability.
A further development of armor materials is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,174, which issued on Sep. 26, 1972. That patent discloses a composite material having an outer high hardness impact layer capable of breaking up a projectile, and a lower hardness tough backing layer capable of stopping the broken up projectile. The layers are hot-rolled together to form the composite. The difference in hardness being described as being in the range of 5-8 Rockwell C. The outer layer is further described as having a Rockwell C hardness of 58-59, and the inner layer having a Rockwell C hardness of 52-53. The thickness of the layers is described as being in the range of 2-3.5 inches.
It is apparent that both layers of this material are still relatively hard. Moreover, it is unlikely that the small relative difference in hardness between the two layers would be sufficient to achieve much of a difference in mechanical properties. Further, the hot-rolling process is bound to have an adverse impact upon such properties. Also, a composite of the described dimensions would add considerable weight to a vehicle. It will be appreciated that added weight will affect vehicle performance, particularly the power and handling requirements.
It is also known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,673 issued Aug. 14, 1990, to employ sintered ceramic tiles e.g. based on alumina or silica, to break up armor-piercing projectiles. The broken pieces of the projectile are then stopped by an armor plate backing.

Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Solicitor General acting through the Commissioner of the Royal Mounted Canadian Police


A computer-readable recording medium having a printer driver recorded thereon, the printer driver causing a computer to operate as a computer including: a setting reception unit that displays a first user interface and receives settings of print settings; and a print data generation unit that generates print data according to the set print settings, wherein, when settings of a plurality of print copies are received via the first user interface, the setting reception unit displays a second user interface and receives settings for dividing the number of print copies into groups per an arbitrary number of copies, wherein, when an instruction for settings print settings to one of the groups is received via the second user interface, the setting reception unit displays a third user interface and receives settings of the print settings of the corresponding group.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium having a printer driver recorded thereon, a copying machine, and a multi-function peripheral, and more particularly, to a technique of performing printing or copying to make a plurality of copies.
2. Related Art
A printer driver, a coping machine, and a multi-function peripheral may have a function of performing printing or copying to make a plurality of sheets.
For example, the printer driver receives settings of print copies via a user interface (hereinafter, referred to as "UI") screen displayed on a computer. In addition, the printer driver generates print data according to the received number of print copies and transmits the generated print data to a printer to perform printing to make the received number of copies. The copying machine and the multi-function peripheral also perform printing according to a number of print copies set by a user via a driver as the printer does. In addition, copying may be performed according to a number of copies for copying set by the user through a touch panel or the like.
During the printing or the copying to make the plurality of copies, the same print settings or the same copy settings are used for all the copies, and output results of all the copies are the same.
As a technique for allowing an arbitrary number of copies to be given different output results from those of the total number of copies designated, there is a printer driver of receiving settings for dividing the total number of copies set by a user into copies of color printing and copies of monochrome printing from the user and then collectively performing color and monochrome printing (see URL (http://www.samsung.com/sec/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=printersmultifunction&type=printersmultifunction&subtype=colorlaserprinter&model_cd=CLP-605 NDK)).
However, in recent years, there have been various demands from users on printing and copying to make a plurality of copies. For example, there is a demand to set different print settings (for example, print quality, color, paper size, print direction, print tray, paper type, two-sided printing, and the like) per an arbitrary number of copies from among the total designated number of copies, collectively perform printing (for example, by pushing a start button once), and obtain different print results per an arbitrary number of copies. There is the same demand for copying.
From this point of view, in a related art as described above, only two print settings including color and monochrome print settings can be set. Therefore, various needs of the users as described above cannot be satisfied.

Computer-readable recording medium having printer driver recorded thereon, copying machine, and multi-function peripheral