A method and system to optimally route telephone calls between shared service centers is presented. Using a combination of service tiers, Agent Directory, Instant Messaging (IM), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provides optimal routing of incoming calls for assistance. The method utilizes different protocols during normal operations, transitional operations, and emergency operations, and addresses Shared Service Center (SSC) planning and management.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of service centers, and in particular to multi-tiered service centers. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for routing service calls to an appropriate tier level in a service center.
2. Description of the Related Art
Enterprises may be generally defined as organizations that provide products, which include goods and/or services. Enterprises include private and public businesses as well as governmental and educational entities. The product may be a physical device such as a computer, a service such as information processing, a training program, a public utility, etc. When an enterprise delivers a product, or when a potential customer for the product has questions about the product, technical assistance is often needed by the customer/user. For example, a prospective student may have questions about a particular course. A computer buyer may have questions about configuring his new computer to access the Internet. A company may have questions about technical specifications of a contract that has been let or is open for bids. An Information Technology (IT) customer may have questions about accessing/manipulating a database. Such examples are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to illustrate the wide diversity of questions that may be received by an enterprise.
To handle such inquiries for assistance, enterprises may set up an internal service center. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, enterprises often choose to outsource, to a third-party service center, the handling of, or at least the routing of, requests for assistance. Depending on the nature of the request for assistance ("service request"), the third-party service center may, for example, 1) handle the service request, 2) forward the service request to the primary enterprise that sold/offers the product, or 3) forward the service request to another third-party service center. Determining how and where to route such service request calls can be difficult, slow, and expensive.

Call routing between shared service centers


Slide mounting tools are disclosed, including a magnetic slide mounting tool having at least one magnet for mounting a slide to a surface. In one embodiment, a first section of a slide can be magnetically coupled to the slide mounting tool and installed on a stationary component. In one embodiment, at least one magnet is oriented substantially vertically on the slide mounting tool for magnetic coupling with the first section of the slide during installation of the section on edge against a vertical surface. The magnetic mounting tool thus allows, for the first time, a user to not only magnetically couple a stationary component section of virtually any type of slide to a stationary component, but provides a design that allows an extension slide to be extended while clamped to the stationary component, thus allowing a single user to align, clamp, extend and install a stationary component section of a slide without any outside assistance. A non-magnetic slide mounting tool having a first substantially vertical surface clampable to a stationary component, the non-magnetic slide mounting tool further having a second substantially vertical surface perpendicular to the first substantially vertical surface is also disclosed. The non-magnetic mounting tools also allows, for the first time, a single user to align and install moving component sections, as well as stationary component sections of slides without any outside assistance.

Proper functioning of drawers or pull-out shelves in cabinetry, desks, entertainment centers and the like, requires careful installation of a slide comprised of a stationary component section and a moving component section. Together, these two sections allow the moving component to slide in and out of an opening in the stationary component. Such slides are commonly referred to as "drawer slides" even when used for shelves. Although both sections need to be installed properly, the stationary component section is known to be particularly difficult to align accurately.
The stationary component section of various types of slides can be installed against a vertical surface (typically in pairs on either side of an opening) in a substantially horizontal position lengthwise, but with its width portion oriented "vertically" with edges positioned on the top and bottom, i.e., on "edge". Alternatively, the stationary component sections can be installed in the center of the opening, again in a substantially horizontal position lengthwise, but with its width portion oriented "horizontally" with edges positioned on either side, i.e., in a "flat" position. One type of slide installed against a vertical surface is a bottom mount slide. With the bottom mount slide, two stationary component sections are typically installed on edge on either side of the opening in the stationary component. A moving component, sized to be inserted into this opening, has a corresponding pair of moving component (slide) sections located on each outer side. (The corresponding moving component sections of these slides are typically installed on a drawer nearest the bottom surface, hence the term "bottom mount" slide). However, current alignment tools for aligning the stationary component (slide) sections within the stationary component are specific to particular brands and/or sizes of slide such that there is no flexibility to accommodate varying sizes and/or types of slides. As a result, many different sizes and types of tools are needed to install different brands and sizes of stationary component sections for bottom mount slides. Additionally, many alignment tools rely on springs to pinch the top and bottom surfaces of the stationary component (slide) section and hold it in place. However, the presence of a spring limits the height of the stationary component section that can be installed and hence the overall height of the slide that can be used.
In addition to bottom mount slides, there are also various types and sizes of extension slides, each having a stationary component section and a moving component section as described above. Extension slides include full-extension slides and partial-extension slides. Partial extension slides include both European-styled low profile slides, commonly referred to as "Euro" slides, and bottom center mount slides. A full-extension slide is typically installed so that the section containing the extender portion, i.e., the "extender," is located on the stationary component and is therefore considered part of the stationary component section of the slide. In contrast, partial extension slides are typically installed so that the section containing the "extender" is installed on the moving component, such that the non-extending section of the slide is the stationary component section.
Full-extension slides can be installed on edge to, i.e., against, vertical surfaces (typically in pairs on either side of an opening) or in a flat position in the center of an opening as center bottom mount slides. However, with regard to partial extension slides, only the Euro slide can be installed both on vertical surfaces and in the center of the opening. Partial extension slides designed to be used only as center bottom mount slides are not intended to be installed on edge to vertical surfaces.
It should be noted that both fill and partial extension slides are useful in most any type of application, including "Euro" cabinets which have no face frame as well as conventional face-frame cabinets. However, there are currently no "alignment" tools made specifically for installation of the stationary component section of either the full-extension slide or the center mount bottom slide. Instead, various makeshift devices, such as templates with pilot holes, are used to install the stationary component section of a full-extension slide. Additionally, there are no tools designed specifically for aligning moving component sections of center-mounted slides onto moving components. Similarly, center bottom mount slides are currently installed using a tape measure, and possibly a level to align the slide properly within the stationary component. Such devices can be cumbersome to use and require at least a two-step process for installation. Although there are alignment tools available for installing the stationary component section of a Euro slide, these tools have the same limitations as described above (for bottom mount slides installed on vertical surfaces) with regard to being brand and/or size specific.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved slide mounting tools and methods.

Slide mounting tools, kits and systems containing same and methods related thereto


An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup and a signal processor. The optical pickup includes an optical splitting device which splits light emitted from a first light source into a main light beam and sub-light beams which are symmetrical with respect to the main light beam and irradiates the split light beams on a recording medium, and a light detection device which receives the main light beam and the sub-light beams reflected by the recording medium, so as to detect a tracking error signal in a three-beam method and one of a push-pull method and an improved push-pull method. The signal processor receives the detection signals output by the light detection device and detects the tracking error signal in the three-beam method and one of the push-pull method and the improved push-pull method, and otherwise selectively detects the tracking error signal in one of the three-beam method, the push-pull method and the improved push-pull method, so as to realize an optimal tracking servo-control. Since a selective use of one of the improved push-pull method, the push-pull method and the three-beam method can be made according to the type of an optical disc, the optimal tracking servo-control can be realized regardless of the depth of a pit in an optical disc during a reproduction of data from the optical disc, such as a non-rewritable optical disc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording/reproducing apparatus which realizes an optimal tracking servo-control according to the type of a recording medium such as an optical disc, and a method of detecting a tracking error signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a reproducing apparatus performs a tracking servo-control in a three-beam method, and a recording apparatus performs a tracking servo-control in a push-pull method, in particular, in a differential push-pull (DPP) method which is an improved push-pull method. Both the three-beam method and the DPP method utilize beams diffracted to the 0th and ±1st orders by a grating.
In a reproducing apparatus using the three-beam method, a grating in which the ratio in effectiveness of diffraction between the 0th and ±1st order beams is about 4:1 through 5:1. That is, the ratio of (0th order:±1st order)=(4:1) through (5:1) is adopted according to the intensity of a beam during a reproduction. The difference in phase between the ±1st order beam and −1st order beam irradiated on an optical disc is set to be 180°.
FIG. 1 shows a six-section photodetector 10 of a conventional reproducing apparatus. The six-section photodetector 10 includes a main photodetector 11 having a four-section structure and a pair of sub-photodetector 13 and 15 arranged at corresponding sides of the main photodetector 11. The tracking servo-control is realized in the three-beam method by detecting three beams diffracted by a grating. Here, a tracking error signal detected in the three-beam method is a differential signal between detection signals of the sub-photodetectors 13 and 15.
In a recording apparatus using the DPP method, a grating in which the ratio in effectiveness of diffraction between the 0th and ±1st order beams of about 10:1 through 15:1 is adopted to increase the efficiency of the 0th order beam used for a recording. The difference in phase between the +1st order beam and −1st order beam irradiated on an optical disc is set to be 360°.
FIG. 2 shows an eight-section photodetector 20 of a conventional recording apparatus. The eight-section photodetector 20 includes a main photodetector 21 having a four-section structure and a pair of two-section sub-photodetector 23 and 25 arranged at corresponding sides of the main photodetector 21. The tracking servo-control is realized in the DPP method by detecting three beams diffracted by a grating. Here, a tracking error signal detected in the DPP method is the difference between a sum signal of detection signals of sections I1 and J1 of the sub-photodetectors 23 and 25 and a sum signal of detection signals of sections I2 and J2 of the sub-photodetectors 23 and 25.
The tracking error signals detected in the three-beam method and the DPP method have a different magnitude according to the depth of a pit in an optical disc. FIG. 3 shows that the magnitude of a tracking error signal (TES3-BEAM) in the three-beam method becomes maximum as the depth of a pit of an optical disc is λ/4. In contrast, the magnitude of a tracking error signal (TESDPP) in the DPP method becomes maximum as the depth of a pit of an optical disc is λ/8, while the magnitude becomes minimum as the depth of a pit of an optical disc is λ/4.
Therefore, the depth of a pit of an optical disc is standardized to an intermediate value, for example λ/5, so as to realize the tracking servo-control for any one of the above servo-control methods adopted.
However, many of the optical discs currently being sold are manufactured so as to have a pit depth of closer to λ/4 which is deeper than the standardized size. As data is reproduced from an optical disc having deeper pits than the standardized size, the magnitude of a tracking error signal detected by a reproducing apparatus using the three-beam method is large whereas the magnitude of a tracking error signal detected by a reproducing apparatus using the DPP method is close to 0. Accordingly, the tracking servo-control itself becomes impossible.

Tracking error signal detecting method selectively using a push-pull method, an improved push-pull method, and a three beam method and optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the same


An eyeglass apparatus for use with an interchangeable character eye overlay includes a base frame adapted to be worn over at least one eye of a wearer and a first attachment mechanism for the base frame for removably attaching a character eye overlay having a cooperating second attachment mechanism.

In the field of novelty glasses, whenever a wearer wants to play the role of a different character, a different pair of eyeglasses is typically used for each character having certain eye characteristics. In order to eliminate the need to buy multiple pairs of eyeglasses for different characters it would be advantageous if a base pair of eyeglasses could be provided with multiple interchangeable overlays with different character eyes.

Eyeglasses with interchangeable character eyes


A turbine engine such as a pusher fan engine is provided. This turbine engine includes a nacelle with a bypass flowpath. A fan rotor is configured to propel air out of the bypass flowpath. A plurality of guide vanes are configured to direct the air to the fan rotor.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to a turbine engine and, more particularly, to a turbine engine with a bypass fan.
2. Background Information
Various types of turbine engines for propelling an aircraft are known in the art. An example of one such turbine engine is a turbofan engine which includes a fan forward of its core. Another example of a turbine engine is a pusher fan engine which includes a fan aft of its core. Still another example of a turbine engine is a propfan engine which includes an uncovered or unshrouded propeller (instead of a fan) aft of its core. While each of the foregoing turbine engine types have various advantages, there is still a need in the art for improved turbine engine efficiency as well as reduced turbine engine weight and costs.

Turbine engine with guide vanes forward of its fan blades


A drainage device for kitchen and bath facilities includes a downspout body (B1) and a pipe cover (B2). The downspout body (B1) is provided with a rotatable linkage unit capable of bending and stretching in vertical direction and a guide unit for guiding vertical movement. The pipe cover (B2) is connected with the upper end of the linkage unit, a coupling member is led out from the side wall of the downspout body (B1), one end of the coupling member is connected with the linkage unit and the other end is connected with an operating mechanism (A).

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a drainage device for kitchen and bath facilities.
2. Description of Related Arts
At present, there are two main kinds of drainage device for being applied to a basin in kitchen or bathroom. One is a traditional lifting type, in which the lifting part is installed on the back of the faucet. This drainage device is easy to be destroyed and is inconvenient to operate. The other drainage device provides an open-and-close member directly plugged into the outlet of the basin. This method is easy to operate and not easy to be destroyed. But its disadvantage is that during the opening and closing operation, a user has to contact with the used water in the basin.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Drainage device for kitchen and bath facilities


An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. The OLED display includes a plurality of subpixels on one surface of a first substrate, a second substrate attached to the first substrate, a shield electrode on one surface of the second substrate that is not opposite to the subpixels, the shield electrode being connected to a low potential voltage source, a touch screen panel on the shield electrode, a first printed circuit board (PCB) attached to the one surface of the first substrate, the first PCB receiving a driving signal driving the subpixels from a driving device, and a second PCB attached to the one surface of the second substrate, the second PCB transmitting a sensing signal generated by the touch screen panel to an external device.

1. Field of the Invention
This document relates to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting element used in an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display has a self-emission structure in which a light emitting layer is formed between two electrodes on a substrate. The OLED display may be classified into a top emission type OLED display, a bottom emission type OLED display, and a dual emission type OLED display depending on an emitting direction of light. The OLED display may be classified into a passive matrix type OLED display and an active matrix type OLED display depending on a driving manner.
In the OLED display, each subpixel includes a transistor unit including a switching transistor, a driving transistor, and a capacitor and an organic light emitting diode including a lower electrode connected to the driving transistor, an organic light emitting layer, and an upper electrode.
In the OLED display, when a scan signal, a data signal, a power, etc. are supplied to a plurality of subpixels arranged in a matrix format, selected subpixels emit light to thereby display an image. The above-described OLED display may be manufactured as a thin profile OLED display. Recently, many studies are being carried out to add a touch screen function to a thin profile display device such as the OLED display.


An optically coupled circuit is electrically coupleable to a capacitive probe transducer disposed in a liquid in a tank for sensing the capacitance of the probe transducer which is a measure of a parameter of the liquid. A first converter circuit receives optical energy over a non-conductive path and converts it into electrical energy at a predetermined voltage potential from which first and second reference voltage potentials are developed. A dual slope integrator circuit is coupleable to the probe capacitor for charging it during a first integration period and discharging it during a second integration period utilizing the first and second reference voltage potentials. The integrator circuit includes a circuit for comparing capacitive voltage generated during the first and second integration periods with the first and second reference voltage potentials to generate timing signals for each integration period. The timing signals from two successive integration periods are used for determining the capacitance of the probe transducer. A system and method of determining the probe capacitance are also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to optically coupled sensors for measuring a parameter of a combustible liquid, in general, and more particularly, to an optically coupled sensor using error self-correcting measurement techniques.
In general, conventional parameter measurement sensors for use in combustible liquids have been made intrinsically safe by transmitting power and control signals to and receiving measurement representative signals from the sensors over some non-conductive communication path, like an optical fiber path, for example. In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,729, issued Oct. 16, 1990 and entitled xe2x80x9cOptically Powered Sensor System With Improved Signal Conditioningxe2x80x9d which is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, a conventional capacitive probe for measuring fuel level in an aircraft fuel tank is sensed using electronics at or near the probe which are optically coupled to a remote controller. The controller includes an optical source which provides optical energy to the probe electronics over an optical fiber path. The probe electronics converts the optical energy into electrical energy which is stored for powering the probe electronics. When optical power is interrupted, the probe electronics performs two measurements of the capacitance value of the probe using an integrator and two comparators, one with a reference capacitor and one without. Two spaced apart pulses are generated from the comparators with each measurement. Each set of pulses are converted to optical energy using a light emitting diode (LED), for example, which is transmitted back to the remote controller over the optical fiber path during the period of optical power interruption. Optical power is then resumed until the next measurement sample. The remote controller computes a compensated measurement of liquid level from the timing of the two sets of pulses received during the sampling period.
The present invention provides a precision measurement of probe capacitance with a minimum of power, complexity and cost for the probe electronics. It also lowers power of the probe electronics well within the twenty (20) microjoule safety limit for fuel tank use proposed by some airlines, and uses integration techniques to eliminate all offset error caused by the probe circuits. Accordingly, the optically coupled sensor of the present invention is much more accurate and stable and lower in cost than such sensors currently being used. Conventional probe placement and compensation for fuel measurement in a tank need not be altered for an embodiment of the present invention.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an optically coupled circuit is electrically coupleable to a capacitive probe transducer disposed in a liquid in a tank for sensing the capacitance of the probe transducer which is a measure of a parameter of the liquid. The optically coupled circuit comprises: a first converter circuit for receiving optical energy over a non-conductive path and for converting the optical energy into electrical energy at a predetermined voltage potential; means for developing first and second reference voltage potentials from the predetermined voltage potential; a dual slope integrator circuit coupleable to the probe capacitor for charging the probe capacitor during a first integration period and discharging the probe capacitor during a second integration period utilizing the first and second reference voltage potentials, the integrator circuit including a circuit for comparing capacitive voltage generated during the first and second integration periods with the first and second reference voltage potentials to generate timing signals for each integration period; and means for determining the capacitance of the probe transducer as a function of timing signals from two successive integration periods.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an optically coupled sensor system for measuring a parameter of a liquid in a tank comprises: a capacitive probe transducer disposable in the liquid, the probe capacitance being a measure of the liquid parameter; and an optically powered circuit electrically coupleable to the capacitive probe transducer for sensing the capacitance thereof The optically powered circuit comprises: a first converter circuit for receiving optical energy over a non-conductive path and for converting the optical energy into electrical energy at a predetermined voltage potential, the optically powered circuit being powered by the electrical energy; means for developing first and second reference voltage potentials from the predetermined voltage potential; a dual slope integrator circuit coupleable to the probe capacitor for charging the probe capacitor during a first integration period and discharging the probe capacitor during a second integration period utilizing the first and second reference voltage potentials, the integrator circuit including a circuit for comparing capacitive voltage generated during the first and second integration periods with the first and second reference voltage potentials to generate timing signals for each integration period; and a second converter circuit for converting the timing signals into optical signals for transmission over the non-conductive path. The system includes means coupleable to the non-conductive path for receiving the optical timing signals and determining the capacitance of the probe transducer as a function of timing signals from two successive integration periods.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of determining the capacitance of a capacitive probe disposed in a liquid within a tank, the capacitance being used for measuring a parameter of said liquid, the method comprising the steps of: receiving optical energy from a non-conductive path; converting the optical energy to electrical energy at a predetermined voltage potential; developing first and second reference voltage potentials from the predetermined voltage potential; charging and discharging the probe capacitor during respective first and second integration periods utilizing the first and second reference voltage potentials; generating timing signals for each of the first and second integration periods utilizing the first and second reference voltage potentials; and determining probe capacitance using timing signals of two successive integration periods.

Optically coupled sensor for application to combustible liquids


A network having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. The network includes an event channel adapted to transmit an event between a publisher node and a subscriber node within the network. The network also includes a filter to identify the event on the subscriber node. The network also includes an application on the subscriber node to receive the event according to the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networks having nodes that exchange data. More particularly, the present invention relates to networks having a message capability to send and receive messages on shared communication paths.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Communication networks are used to transfer, exchange, send and receive information. Cluster networks may be those networks having a number of nodes that perform the above functions. Nodes within the network may receive information and use it, or pass it onto another node. Known networks may exchange the information in an asynchronous manner. An asynchronous messaging application program interface may provide a sequenced and reliable node-to-node connection stream. As networks increase in complexity and size, sequenced and reliable messaging between nodes is desirable.


The present invention provides an active targeting polymer micelle encapsulating a drug, preventing an inappropriate release of a drug which may damage a normal cell. A polymer micelle 100 includes a backbone polymer unit 10 that has a target binding site 11 and a backbone polymer unit 20 that has a drug 14 and is free from the target binding site 11, such polymer units 10 and 20 being disposed in a radial arrangement in a state where the target binding site 11 is directed outward and the drug 14 is directed inward, in which: i) when the micelle is bound to a target 40 while maintaining the radial arrangement, the micelle is taken up into a cell 50 supplying the target 40 through endocytosis, and the drug 14 is released into the cell 50 by collapse of the radial arrangement in the cell 50; and ii) when the radial arrangement collapses in blood 60 before the micelle is bound to a target 40, the unit 20 is excreted through metabolism, to thereby prevent a normal cell from being damaged by the drug 14.

When a drug is systemically administered through an oral route and by an intravenous injection, the drug is supplied to not only a focal site as a dosing target but also to normal tissue. As a result, adverse side effects due to the drug administration are observed, and in some cases, the therapeutic method must be changed or discontinued. In order to reduce adverse side effects, a drug referred to as a molecular target drug having a specific binding ability to a molecular marker such as a receptor, a ligand, and an enzyme peculiar to a dosing target has been developed (see H Asahina, et al., "A phase II trial of gefitinib as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations", British Journal of Cancer (2006) 95, pp. 998-1004). However, at present, such a molecular target drug has not been able to sufficiently reduce adverse side effects such as the occurrence of interstitial pneumonitis caused by the administration of gefitinib, and further, does not exhibit a sufficient therapeutic effect at the focal site.
In order to specifically supply a drug to a dosing target and maintain an optimum drug concentration in the vicinity of the dosing target, a technology referred to as a drug delivery system (DDS) is attracting attention. WO 2002/087497 discloses an active targeting polymer conjugate DDS in which a drug and a ligand are bound to a synthetic polymer.

Active targeting polymer micelle encapsulating drug, and pharmaceutical composition


A display device according to the invention has a passage between an image generation device (DMD) and a lamp, wherein the passage guides airflow to the vicinity of a reflector of the lamp, and, after the airflow cools the DMD, the airflow can further cool heat generated by a filter which converts light from the lamp to an image light corresponding to video signals of R, G, and B, and by a light pipe which uniformalizes the in-plane intensity distribution of light incident to the DMD.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection-type display device for projecting an image which is generated by an image generating device including a spatial light modulation element, and a cooling structure for the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A projection-type display device using a digital micromirror device (DMD: trademark) as a spatial light modulation element has been already put into practical use.
In the projection-type display device, spatial modulation of light giving a predetermined color to the light from a light source by using filters of R, G, and B is executed by means of the DMD, and image light obtained by spatial modulation is projected for obtaining a display image.
Recently, a larger light source (a high output light source), and a uniform intensity distribution of light from a light source have been desired in order to meet requirements for increasing the size of a display image at the final step, and for obtaining a sharp image even in a bright room.
However, there has been a problem that uniformalization of light-intensity distribution causes a loss in the intensity of light to be used for the display image at the final step, and the higher output of the light source makes the calorific value increase.
Accordingly, a method in which air flow is supplied to the light source or the vicinity thereof for cooling has been adopted in many cases.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 2000-330202 and 2002-318423, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,862 are well known patent documents disclosing a cooling technique for a projection-type display device.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-330202 has disclosed an example in which an airflow by which the optical system is cooled is discharged to the outside after passing through the inside of a power supply case.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-318423 has a description of heat dissipation of a light shield plate provided for controlling the influence of dust and the like in a mirror chamber in which an optical element is arranged.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,862 has illustrated an example in which, in order to realize the uniform intensity distribution of light from the light source, a light pipe is used.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 2000-330202 and 2002-318423, which have both described a cooling technology, have not illustrated an optical element which is required to be cooled in a manner independent of that of the light source with a large loss, that is, uniformalization means, though the uniform light-intensity distribution can be realized by the cooling technologies.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,862 describes the uniformalization means, but does not refer to cooling.
Here, a cooling method, or a cooling device, which meets the requirements for the uniform light intensity in order to realize a high output light source, and a large display area, cannot be achieved even by combination of the technologies described in the above-described three documents, wherein the high output light source, and the large display area have been currently realized.

Projection display device and cooling structure


A multi-stage motor-driven fuel pump including a motor section provided with an electric motor and a pump section to be driven by the electric motor, the pump section having a plurality of pump chambers partitioned by intermediate plates and communicated with each other by a fuel communication hole formed through each of the intermediate plates. A ratio of a sectional area of the fuel communication hole of any one of the intermediate plates between adjacent ones of the pump chambers to a sectional area of the pump chamber on a lower pressure side is set in a predetermined range such that a gradient of fuel pressure increase in the pump section is increased to early prevent vapor lock.

The present invention relates to a vapor lock preventing mechanism in a motor-driven fuel pump.
Conventionally, there is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 62-214294 a motor-driven fuel pump provided with a vapor jet in a pump chamber for eliminating a fuel vapor generated in the pump chamber at high temperatures or drawn with a fuel upon sucking of the fuel into the pump chamber and thereby preventing vapor lock.
Such a vapor jet is normally provided at a high-pressure position in the pump chamber. In the case of a multi-stage motor-driven pump, the vapor jet is provided at a high-pressure position in a first-stage pump chamber on a suction side of the pump section, so as to efficiently eliminate the fuel vapor under the high fuel pressure. However, if a large amount of fuel vapor is generated in the case of using a light gasoline as the fuel, for example, the fuel vapor resides widely in the pump chamber to pass the position of the vapor jet or generate vapor lock in the worst case.
Such a problem is considered to be eliminated by enlarging a diameter of the vapor jet or forming the vapor jet at a higher-pressure position to thereby improve a vapor discharging ability. However, the fuel is largely leaked with the fuel vapor through the vapor jet to cause a reduction in fuel discharge quantity of the pump and a reduction in pump ability at an ordinary temperature.
In another type two-stage motor-driven fuel pump disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-100686, a first impeller has a thickness and a vane depth greater than a second impeller to thereby increase a gradient of fuel pressure increase in a first pump chamber, thereby early diminishing the fuel vapor generated in the first pump chamber or efficiently eliminating the fuel vapor from the vapor jet.
However, in the latter case, since the first impeller and the second impeller have different shapes and sizes as mentioned above, a common member for each pump stage cannot be utilized, and an overall size of the pump section is increased.

Vapor lock preventing mechanism in motor-driven fuel pump


A data sharing system includes a first sharer terminal, a receiver terminal and a service server. The service server is configured to receive a first sharer identity data, a first sharing command and a identity verification which is one of a share characteristic and a first shared data from the first sharer terminal. The service server, according to the first sharer identity data, the first sharing command and a share request, adds a new share list, or saves, modifies, or deletes at least one share list saved in a list storage module.

With the development of network technology and mobile terminal devices, online video platforms and live streaming platforms have brought more immediate video services and social experiences to people in recent years. In the past, online video sharing could be achieved by a point-to-point communication or a point-to-multipoint communication. Video providers, such as online streamers, upload videos on the platforms and subscribers then visit the platforms to view the video content. The audiences (subscribers) had a direct relationship with the streamers. For example, an online streamer can invite other streamers, friends and audiences and broadcast online together. Under the current technology, the online video platforms and the live streaming platforms only allow subscribers to view the videos on the channels of the online streamers, which they subscribe to on the online video platforms and the live streaming platforms. Nevertheless, the subscribers cannot view the video content of other streamers, friends and audiences who broadcast online together with the streamers because they are not the subscribers of other streamers, friends and audiences. The subscribers need to respectively subscribe to the channels of other streamers, friends and audiences on the online video platforms and the live streaming platforms, so as to receive notifications for new shared videos later. This type of video sharing is still the point-to-point communication or the point-to-multipoint communication. However, some video activities are conducted by multiple streamers for a particular event at a specific time. These activities are multipoint-to-multipoint communications. In this circumstance, the viewer must subscribe to the channels of all streamers in the video activities to receive instant notification for new video sharing, but they need to cancel or edit their subscription list by themselves after the activities. It is quite troublesome.
Therefore, the management of multipoint-to-multipoint sharer lists is a critical issue which need to be solved an urgent problem to be solved in the field of online videos.

Data sharing system, share list processing method, and non-transitory machine-readable medium for data sharing


A system and method of fitting an Electric Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) system of a patient that has binaural hearing is provided. The patient has an ipsilateral ear and a contralateral ear opposite the ipsilateral ear, with the EAS system associated with the ipsilateral ear of the patient. Stimulation parameters of the EAS system are developed unilaterally while taking into account hearing abilities of the contralateral ear. The EAS system is configured based on the developed stimulation parameters.

A normal ear transmits sounds as shown in FIG. 1 through the outer ear 101 to the tympanic membrane 102 which moves the bones of the middle ear 103 (malleus, incus, and stapes) that vibrate the oval window and round window membrane openings of the cochlea 104. The cochlea 104 is a long narrow duct wound spirally about its axis for approximately two and a half turns in a human cochlea. It includes an upper channel known as the scala vestibuli and a lower channel known as the scala tympani, which are connected by the cochlear duct. The axial center of the cochlea 104 is called the modiolar where the spiral ganglion cells of the acoustic nerve 113 reside. In response to received sounds transmitted by the middle ear 103, the fluid-filled cochlea 104 functions as a transducer to generate electric pulses which are sensed by the acoustic nerve 113 and sent to the brain.
Hearing is impaired when there are problems in the ability to transduce external sounds into meaningful action potentials along the neural substrate of the cochlea. To improve impaired hearing, hearing prostheses have been developed. For example, when the impairment is related to operation of the middle ear, a conventional hearing aid may be used to provide acoustic-mechanical stimulation to the auditory system in the form of amplified sound to the tympanic membrane. Or when the hearing impairment is associated with the cochlea, a cochlear implant with an implanted electrode carrier can electrically stimulate adjacent auditory neural tissue with small currents.
In some patients with some residual hearing in the lower acoustic frequencies, a conventional hearing aid and a cochlear implant can be combined together in a hybrid Electric Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) system. The hearing aid acoustically amplifies lower acoustic frequencies perceived by human ear, while the cochlear implant electrically stimulates the middle and high frequencies. See von Ilberg et al, Electric-Acoustic Stimulation of the Auditory System, ORL 61:334-340; Skarzynski et al, Preservation of Low Frequency Hearing in Partial Deafness Cochlear Implantation (PDCI) Using the Round Window Surgical Approach, Acta OtoLaryngol 2007; 127:41-48; Gantz & Turner, Combining Acoustic and Electrical Speech Processing: Iowa/Nucleus Hybrid Implant, Acta Otolaryngol 2004; 124:344-347; Gstöttner et al., Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implantation for Electric Acoustic Stimulation, Acta Otolaryngol 2004; 124:348-352; all incorporated herein by reference.
FIG. 1 also shows some components of a typical EAS system which includes an external microphone that provides an acoustic signal input to an external signal processor 111 where two different signal processing paths are developed. An upper acoustic frequency range communications signal containing middle and high frequency range acoustic is converted into a digital data format, such as a sequence of data frames, for transmission via a transmitter coil 107 over a corresponding implanted receiver coil 106 into the electric implant 108. Besides receiving the processed acoustic information, the electric implant 108 also performs additional signal processing such as error correction, pulse formation, etc., and produces an electric stimulation pattern (based on the extracted acoustic information) that is sent through an electrode lead 109 to an implanted electrode array 110. Typically, this electrode array 110 includes multiple electrode contacts on its outer surface that provide selective electric stimulation of the cochlea 104. The external signal processor 111 also creates a lower acoustic frequency range communications signal to a conventional hearing aid 105 in the ear canal which acoustically stimulates the tympanic membrane 102, and in turn the middle ear 103 and cochlea 104.
To achieve optimal hearing preservation outcomes in a large population of EAS patients, a controlled electrode insertion depth was used (e.g., 18-22 mm in order to reach 360 degree of electrode insertion). More particularly, by investigating optimal electrodes, surtical approaches and how deep the electrode can be inserted in order to minimize electrode insertion trauma, higher hearing preservation rates have been achieved. The ultimate goal is the maximum possible electrode insertion depth while preserving acoustic hearing in as broad population of cochlear implantees as possible.
Following surgical implantation, the hearing aid and/or cochlear implant of the EAS subject must be custom fit to optimize its operation with the specific patient user. For the fitting process, it is important, for example, to know if an audible percept is elicited and how loud the percept is. Normally this information is gained using behavioral measures. For example, for each electrode contact the CI user may be asked at what stimulation level the first audible percept is perceived (hearing threshold (THR)) and at what stimulation level the percept is too loud (maximum comfort level (MCL)).
It is of high importance to develop a fitting algorithm for EAS subjects. The individual fitting techniques for the hearing aid and the speech processor of a cochlear implant for electrical stimulation is well described in numerous papers and patents. However, having the combination of both systems on the implanted side, a simple combination of both fitting techniques is not easily achieved. Studies show that separate fittings for the acoustic and electrical stimulations does not lead to an optimized benefit for EAS subjects (See Polak M., Lorens A., Helbig S., McDonald S., McDonald S., Vermeire K., Fitting of the Hearing System Affects Partial Deafness Cochlear Implant Performance, Cochlear Implants International, Vol. 11 Supplement 1, June, 2010, 117-21; and Nopp P. and Polak M., From Electric Acoustic Stimulation to Improved Sound Coding in Cochlear Implants, Van de Heyning P., Kleine Punte A. (eds), Cochlear Implants and Hearing Preservation. Adv Otorhinolaryngol, Basel, Karger, 2010, Vol. 67:88-95, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference). Polak et al. (2010) shows that a single parameter change (e.g., lower frequency end of electrical stimulation, AGC compression, AGC threshold, and lower cut slope) may have a dramatic effect on the benefit of EAS patients for hearing in quiet and/or noisy environments.
Acoustic and electric optimized fitting parameters depend on the level of hearing preserved and preoperative residual hearing. Consequently, it is disadvantageous that the hearing aid component and CI component of the combined audio processor be fitted separately.

Fitting unilateral electric acoustic stimulation for binaural hearing


A moisture sensor comprises a carrier element comprises an insulating material, a first and a second electrode structure at a distance from one another at the carrier element, a moisture-sensitive, dielectric layer element at a first main surface region of the carrier element and adjacent to the first and second electrode structures and a third electrode structure on a first main surface region of the moisture-sensitive, dielectric layer element, such that the moisture-sensitive, dielectric layer element is between the third electrode structure and the first electrode structure and between the third electrode structure and the second electrode structure. The first electrode structure is a first capacitor electrode and the second electrode structure is a second capacitor electrode of a measurement capacitor for capacitive moisture measurement, wherein the third electrode structure is a floating electrode structure.

The detection of environmental or ambient parameters in the surrounding atmosphere is becoming more and more important in the implementation of a corresponding sensor system within mobile devices, but also in the application in home automation, such as e.g., Smart Home, and for example also in the automotive sector. As the use of sensors becomes more and more comprehensive, however, there is in particular also a need to be able to produce such sensors with as little complexity as possible and thus as cost-effectively as possible, but the resulting reliability and accuracy of the sensors ought nevertheless to be maintained.


A feeding apparatus includes a pressing plate movable up and down configured to allow recording media to be stacked thereon, a feeding roller configured to feed recording media stacked on the pressing plate, an urging unit configured to urge the pressing plate in a direction to come close to the feeding roller, and a moving-away unit configured to cause the pressing plate to move away from the feeding roller against an urging force from the urging unit. The moving-away unit causes the pressing plate to move so that a distance between the uppermost recording medium being stacked and the feeding roller becomes approximately constant regardless of an amount of recording media stacked on the pressing plate.

There are some conventional sheet cassettes wherein sheet feeding is performed to a recording unit of a recording apparatus while bringing the uppermost one of recording media stacked on a pressing plate into pressure contact with a sheet feeding roller. Of such sheet cassettes, some are configured such that the recording media are spaced apart from the sheet feeding roller by pressing down the pressing plate by a given amount against a press-contacting force during a sheet feeding operation (see Japanese Patent No. 4006432).
Further, there are some sheet cassettes which have an elevation mechanism for moving a pressing plate toward a sheet feeding roller by generating an urging force in the process of mounting the sheet cassette into a main body. The elevation mechanism includes the pressing plate rotatably provided within the sheet cassette, a spring operably coupled to a free end of the pressing plate, and an elevating arm for pulling up the other end of the spring. In the main body, a guide for guiding the elevating arm is formed. In the process of mounting the sheet cassette into the main body, the guide pulls up the elevating arm, and the spring operably coupled to the elevating arm pulls up the pressing plate (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-154670).
Moreover, a mechanism for providing an opening for inserting paper sheets in the vicinity of a mounting port of the sheet cassette and feeding the sheets inserted into the opening using a separation/feeding mechanism of the sheet cassette is discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-269124. In this mechanism, a leading edge of the sheet inserted from the opening portion is guided toward a clearance between the sheets stacked in the sheet cassette and the sheet feeding roller.
However, in the sheet cassette discussed in Patent No. 4006432, the pressing plate is released by a given amount during a feeding operation, but there is no description whether the uppermost sheet of the recording media on the pressing plate is spaced apart from the sheet feeding roller at the time when mounting of the sheet cassette is completed. In addition, in the feeding apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-154670, there is a problem in that, because the recording medium on the pressing plate comes into press-contact with the sheet feeding roller at the time when mounting of the sheet cassette is completed, it is difficult to arrange a manual feed unit for manual sheet feeding on the top of the pressing plate using the same sheet feeding roller.
In the sheet feeding apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-269124, the manual feed unit for performing manual sheet feeding is arranged on the top of the pressing plate using the same sheet feeding roller, and the pressing plate is spaced apart from the sheet feeding roller by full-stroke. In the feeding apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-269124, however, a driving load becomes large in order to deal with a large capacity sheet feeding, because the pressing plate is spaced apart from the sheet feeding roller by full-stroke against press-contacting force necessary for sheet feeding.

Feeding apparatus and recording apparatus


An Internet facsimile apparatus includes an interface accepting remote commands sent by e-mail, a processor permitting or rejecting the remote commands based on a domain name or an e-mail address associated with the remote commands, and a processor executing the remote commands.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus and an apparatus setting method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An Internet facsimile apparatus, which has a printing function, is capable of transmitting and receiving facsimile data by attaching an e-mail, and also communicates with other G3 facsimile devices. It would be convenient for apparatus settings (such as environment and one-touch dial settings) to be controlled in remote service centers by using e-mail and the setting condition can also be referred or updated by users. However, when the settings can be referred or updated by remote control using e-mail, unauthorized third parties can check or change the settings.
Moreover, a sender of an e-mail cannot immediately verify referred or updated settings.
Furthermore, the Internet facsimile apparatus is not user friendly, as updated data must be described in a predetermined format every time it is updated.
Accordingly, a first advantage of the present invention is that the Internet facsimile apparatus accepts apparatus setting commands only from authorized senders.
A second advantage of the present invention is that the Internet facsimile apparatus authenticates a sender of an e-mail.
A third advantage of the present invention is that a sender of an e-mail including a command for updating apparatus settings (update e-mail) can immediately know the result of updating apparatus settings.
A fourth advantage of the present invention is that, when e-mail is returned from the Internet facsimile apparatus for notifying a result of updating apparatus settings (return e-mail), updated items are shown so as to be easily recognized.
A fifth advantage of the present invention is that, in the Internet facsimile apparatus, a sender of update e-mail can immediately know items that could not be updated.
A sixth advantage of the present invention is that, in the Internet facsimile apparatus, updated information is shown more clearly for the convenience of update e-mail senders.
A seventh advantage of the present invention is that the Internet facsimile apparatus can save labor because setting data can be described easily when updating apparatus settings.

Internet facsimile apparatus and the apparatus setting method


An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive ambient light information from a sensor. The processor may be configured to extract from the ambient light information (a) a brightness level and (b) a direction of light, compare the brightness level to a pre-determined threshold and generate a control signal if (a) the brightness level is greater than the pre-determined threshold and (b) the direction of the light corresponds to a field of view of a driver. The ambient light information may be determined in response to light directed towards one or more windows. The control signal may be configured to adjust an amount of tinting applied to the windows. The light may be measured in real-time.

While driving on a sunny day, glare from sunlight (direct or indirect) can be distracting, uncomfortable and even dangerous. Glare can affect the visibility of people who are traveling in an automobile, aero plane, ship, etc. In an automobile, the glare can come in through the side windows or from the front windshield. The glare can be caused from direct sunlight, reflections of sunlight off of other vehicles or objects, oncoming headlights, or other light sources. The source of light that causes the glare is not always stationary which can cause the glare to move across the field of vision of the driver.
There are existing solutions in the market to mitigate the glare from the sun such as tint strips and sun-visors for the windshield, or static tint films for side windows. These solutions are static and do not adapt to the changing environment, such as the direction of sunlight, intensity and angle of the sunlight or user preferences. For example, the sun-visor needs to be adjusted from front to side every time the direction of the car changes and is in the direct path of the glare. Furthermore, some angles of sunlight cannot be blocked with visors because the visor would need to also block the view of the road from the driver.
With the exception of the latest windows in aircraft (i.e., the 787 Dreamliner airplane) where a user can manually adjust the tint of the windows through manual presets, most solutions to mitigate glare problems are fairly static. The amount of tint permitted on the windows varies by region and is typically governed by local laws rather than a universal standard. Because of the various standards, automotive manufacturers cannot provide a universal solution during manufacturing. Vehicle owners have to resort to local after-market car shops to provide customization in accordance with the local law.
It would be desirable to implement using camera data to automatically change the tint of transparent materials.

Using camera data to automatically change the tint of transparent materials


A system and method for providing multilingual support to users communicating in an computing environment. The system and method may receive communications from a user in a first language. The system and method may store the communication in the first language. If the first language does not match a standard language of the environment, the system and method may translate the communication to the standard language and store the translation. If the system and method receives a subsequent request to access the stored user communication, the system and method may determine whether a language associated with the request matches the standard language or the first language. If there is a match, the system and method may return the stored original user communication or the stored standard language version of the user communication. If the access request language does not match either language, the system and method may translate the user communication to the request's language. The system and method may perform all translations directly from the stored original user communication, rather than from a previous translation, to reduce cumulative translation inaccuracies.

Language barriers have often been a challenge to effective communication in companies or other organizations that span multiple countries or regions or that generally have a diverse membership. An example of a context where multi-language issues may arise is an organization's information technology (IT) environment. In such an environment, supporting a plurality of users may involve supporting the many different languages spoken or written among the users. For example, employee self-service applications, such as a help desk or service desk application, may receive IT-related inquiries and comments in many different languages. In some instances, an employee of the organization in a United States office may submit a connectivity-related inquiry in English while a customer in Mexico may submit a software-related feedback in Spanish. The one or more applications associated with these communications may transmit the inquiries and comments as tickets to IT management personnel, such as a network administrator. The IT management personnel may need to be able to respond to tickets containing texts in many different languages. Moreover, the IT management personnel may themselves reside in different regions and speak many different languages (including those other than English and Spanish, per the given example).
While machine translation capabilities may be used to address language issues by making translation of information in a "just-in-time" manner more feasible, the manner in which machine translations is typically used presents numerous problems, including degradation of translation quality among multiple languages.

System and method for mixed-language support for applications


A method for producing a surface on a component, which has regions having different wettabilities with respect to a solder. The method includes forming a first metallic layer on the component and forming a second metallic layer on the first metallic layer, the second metallic layer preventing oxidation of the first metallic layer. The method furthermore includes removing the second metallic layer with the aid of a laser in a predefined surface region for exposing the first metallic layer, and oxidizing the exposed first metallic layer on the surface, which results in a wettability with respect to a solder in the predefined surface region that is less than in a surface region adjacent to the predefined surface region.

Soldering is a common method for integrally bonding (joining) components. In this method, the components are bonded via a molten metal or metal alloy, also known as solder. In order to produce bonds that are as free of degassing and residues as possible, as is required, for example, in the area of micromechanical sensors, flux-free solders are used.
Typically pure nickel layers are formed on the parts to be joined (which often contain steel, nickel alloys, etc.), since such layers make obtaining stable intermetallic compounds possible. The problem, however, is that nickel layers have a strong tendency toward surface oxidation. Surface oxidation may occur even at room temperature and is promoted in particular by increased moisture or increased temperature. The formation of an oxide layer results in reduction of the flow characteristics and wetting characteristics compared to a (flux-free) solder, which interferes with the formation of a soldered bond. In extreme cases no bonding of the solder occurs at all. To prevent undesirable effects of this type, a nickel layer is normally provided with oxidation protection or tarnish protection. A gold layer is then normally formed on the nickel layer, so that a reduction of wettability by a solder is prevented.
The surface region on a component which is to be wetted by a solder is often defined or delimited. Therefore, the component is selectively coated with nickel and gold in order to limit wetting by solder to a defined surface region. For this purpose, a structured masking layer is formed on the component in question prior to forming the nickel layer, which results in the nickel and gold layers being formed only in regions between the masking layer. This procedure is, however, relatively complicated and therefore associated with high manufacturing costs.


Connector for a reed switch comprises a cylindrical connector body having two stamped and formed contact members thereon. One of the contact members has a wire receiving slot adjacent to a first end of the switch body for one of the switch leads. The other contact member has a wire receiving slot adjacent to the second end for the other switch lead. Both contact members have slots for external conductors at the first end. An inserter is slidably mounted on the first end for pushing external conductors into the slots which receive the external conductors. The switch body has excess lead storage portions at each end for storing portions of the leads which extend beyond the lead wire slots. A housing encloses the switch body and has an opening through which the inserter projects.

A reed switch comprises a cylindrical switch body having wire leads extending axially from the opposite ends of the body. When the switch is placed in service, it is merely necessary to connect the external conductors, in the circuit in which the switch is being placed, to the wire leads.
In order for the switch to function properly when placed in service, a degree of care must be exercised in handling the switch and connecting the external circuit conductors to the switch leads. If, for example, it is necessary to trim the switch leads, the operation must be carried out carefully to avoid breaking the hermetic seal between the leads and the switch body. Also, the leads should not be trimmed or cut beyond some minimum point so that a minimum amount of lead wire extends from the ends of the switch body. Additionally, the amount by which the leads are trimmed should be such that the two leads, after being trimmed, are of the same length. The latter requirement stems from the fact that the leads are part of the magnetic circuit and if they are of unequal lengths or if trimming is carried out carelessly, the characteristics of the switch will be altered and it will not perform as intended; see page 19 of catalogue 7500/1187 issued by Hasco Components, Inc., 247-40 Jericho Turnpike, Bellerose Village, NY 11001.
The manufacturers of reed switches are thus dependent upon the technician who places the switch in service if their switches are to perform in an optimum manner. Careless handling and careless trimming of the leads will cause the switch to perform in a substandard manner.
The present invention is directed to the achievement of a connector for a reed switch which encloses and protects the switch when it is being installed, which permits the connections to the switch leads to be made at a preciselY predetermined location on the leads with respect to the ends of the switch body, and which simplifies the task of connecting the external conductors to the switch leads. The invention is further directed to the achievement of a connector which will avoid the necessity of trimming the switch leads so that the possibility of damage as a result of careless trimming is completely avoided.

Connector for reed switch or similar electrical component


An antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network comprising a CPU, a video signal converter, a plurality numbers of video cameras, an audio signal converter, an audio/video compression/decompression circuitry, a hard disk drive, a mobile phone interface and an I/O interface. The captured audio and video signals can be transmitted to the carrying mobile phone of the house owners on remote site with another mobile phone wirelessly.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network and, more specifically, to an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network that transmits audio and video signals to the carrying mobile phone of the house owners on remote sites with another mobile phone wirelessly.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, it is known that a antitheft system is made of electronic or mechanical sensors installed on window and door entrances, these sensors detect vibration or motion of objects to trigger alarm signals for antitheft effect.
Another type of antitheft system applies laser beam or regular light detectors; when light beam is blocked, the alarm system is triggered for antitheft purpose. The laser beam or regular light detectors must be installed in pairs that might causes troublesome in wiring; in order to achieve better effect, multiple reflecting mirrors have to be installed for multiple reflecting paths to achieve denser beam net to reduce the numbers of the light beam generators and light beam detectors. The cost to apply laser beam as light source is very expensive, therefore this method only applies in strictly security requirement.
Home antitheft systems are usually link to central monitoring center or police station monitoring system, they have to be connected together with cables and wires; wiring causes inconvenience and troublesome in connection and transmission, wiring might be very costly.
Upon burglar intrusion, only central monitoring center or police station monitoring system can aware right away, the house owners might not know immediately. Once there are visitors and the house owner is not at home, house owner will not aware at all, that causes visitors"" confusion and inconvenience.
Another known prior art applies existing telephone network for remote monitor and auto alarm system to transmit image and alarm signals, however telephone wire transmission can only apply to certain locations, such as police station, security center, house owners"" offices. Only upon burglar intrusion, police station, security center will send people and check the abnormal situation the sites; such scheme cannot achieve two-way communication. To the house owners the two-way monitoring system only applies on the locations with telephone wiring, two-way monitoring system cannot apply to the spots without telephone wiring, that causes blind spots. Another disadvantage of the telephone wiring system is the wires would be damaged easily accidentally or purposely.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network to transmit audio and video signals with mobile phone network wirelessly and remotely.
It is an objective of this invention to provide an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network that can do two-way transmission; users can directly control the system in distance.
It is still an objective of this invention to provide an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network that multiple locations can install video cameras simultaneously for multiple spot monitoring effect.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, an antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network in accordance with the present invention comprises a CPU, a video signal converter, a plurality numbers of video cameras, an audio signal converter, an audio/video compression/decompression circuitry, a hard disk drive, a mobile phone interface and an I/O interface. The video signal converter connects to a plurality numbers of video cameras for multi-point monitor; the audio signal converter connects to signal amplifier, speakers and microphones; the mobile phone interface connects to mobile phones; the I/O interface connects to a push button. Based on above structure, the push button is installed on the front gate, visitors press the push button to start the cameras to capture video images and microphone to input audio signals, the video images and audio signals are transmitted by a mobile phone to house owner""s another mobile phone, the house owner can aware who the visitors are remotely. The camera captured video images can also be control by software; on intrusion, the warning messages can be sent by the mobile phone to house owner""s another mobile phone remotely.

Antitheft system with signals transmitted by mobile phone network

3F, No. 12, Alley 15, Lane 71, Sec. 1, Shi-Pei Rd., Peitou


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for modifying a process definition to ensure accuracy, timeliness, or both of workcell measurement. One of the methods includes receiving an initial process definition for a process to be performed by a robot, wherein the process definition defines a sequence of actions to be performed in a workcell, and wherein a first action in the sequence of actions has an associated measurement tolerance; computing a predicted accumulated measurement variance for each of one or more actions that occur before the first action in the sequence; determining that the predicted accumulated measurement variance for the one or more actions that occur before the first action in the sequence exceeds a threshold; and in response, generating a modified process definition that inserts a measurement action at a location in the sequence before the first action.

This specification relates to robotics, and more particularly to planning robotic movements.
Robotics planning refers to sequencing the physical movements of robots in order to perform tasks. For example, an industrial robot that builds cars can be programmed to first pick up a car part and then weld a car part onto the frame of the car. Each of these actions can themselves include dozens or hundreds of individual movements by robot motors and actuators.
Robotics planning has traditionally required immense amounts of manual programming in order to meticulously dictate how the robotic components should move in order to accomplish a particular task. Manual programming is tedious, time-consuming, and error prone. In addition, a plan that is manually generated for one workcell can generally not be used for other workcells. In this specification, a workcell is the physical environment in which a robot will operate. Workcells have particular physical properties, e.g., physical dimensions, that impose constraints on how robots can move within the workcell. Thus, a manually-programmed plan for one workcell may be incompatible with a workcell having different physical dimensions.
In many industrial robotics applications, a major success or failure criteria for executing a plan is confidence in the measurement of the workcell. Accuracy, timeliness, or both, of the measurement can affect such confidence. For example, at a welding station in a car assembly line, the more confident a robot is about the actual location or shape of a car body, the more precisely the robot can complete the welds on the car body.


The invention provides a wet friction material having high friction coefficient, excellent compression fatigue property and positive gradient of a μ-V property. The wet friction material contains a paper base material and a binder, in which the binder contains a cured material of a liquid resin composition obtained by mixing a hydrolyzed solution of a silane coupling agent represented by the following formula (1) and a resol-type phenol resin, and a weight ratio (S/R) between respective non-volatile components of the hydrolyzed solution (S) of the silane coupling agent and the resol-type phenol resin (R) is in the range of from 80/20 to 20/80: (X)(R1)nSi(OR2)3−n (1), in which X represents an alkylamino group having a primary amine at a terminal; R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 0 or 1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wet friction material used in a friction engaging device such as a clutch or a brake employed within oil in an automatic transmission of, for example, a vehicle.
2. Related Background Art
A wet friction material has been used in an automatic transmission of an automatic vehicle and the like. The automatic transmission of the automatic vehicle involves a multi-plate clutch in which a plurality of friction plates each formed by sticking wet friction materials to surfaces of a metallic substrate (core plate) and a plurality of separator plates as friction counterpart materials each formed by a single plate such as a metallic plate are alternately arranged and is designed so that a driving force is transmitted by abutting these plates against each other or interrupting by releasing these plates from each other within ATF (automatic transmission fluid) used as a lubricating oil.
As a wet friction material used in the oil in this way, a wet friction material of paper type called as "paper friction material" is generally used. This wet friction material is generally formed by paper-making fiber base materials such as natural pulp fibers, organic synthetic fibers or inorganic fibers with filler such as diatom earth or a cashew resin and a friction regulator in a wet manner and, then, by impregnating a binder containing a thermosetting resin and, subsequently, by curing with heat. As a resin binder used on this occasion, a phenol resin having excellent heat resistance, high mechanical strength and a good compression fatigue property has conventionally been mainly used.
By the way, in a recent industrial field regarding automobiles, light weight and high efficiency of various parts have been sought in order to save energy and to achieve light weight. On the other hand, there is a tendency for seeking high rotation and high output of an automobile engine. Also in an automatic transmission, in order to cope with the compactness and light weight of the friction engaging device and the high rotation and high output of the automobile engine, regarding the wet friction material, enhancement of the friction coefficient and further improvements in heat-resistance and endurance have been sought.
In order to resolve these problems, a technique for compounding high hard filler such as alumina to the paper base material has been investigated. However, in this technique, although the friction coefficient is great in an initial engaging condition, since an attacking force against the friction counterpart material is strong, as the usage of the friction material is advanced, the friction coefficient is gradually decreased. Thus, this technique is not satisfactory. Further, in the past, resins other than the phenol resin used as the binder, for example, a silicone resin has also been investigated. The silicone resin has excellent heat resistance and endurance based on siloxane bonding of main structure and does not generate a burned area or peeling-off on a friction material under a high temperature/high load condition and has excellent long term stability of friction coefficient. Further, since the silicone resin is soft, a contact area thereof with the friction counter material at the time of abutting is increased and, then, the friction coefficient is increased; however, a compression fatigue property thereof is bad and a displacement amount of an entire thickness of the friction material becomes great and a problem of a long-term stability of friction property remains unsolved. Thus, a satisfactory friction material could not be obtained. Further, a μ-V (friction coefficient versus velocity) property may have negative gradient, with the result that, when the friction material is used in a clutch, a transmission shock may occur.
That is to say, regarding the wet friction material, there is a need for seeking further improvement in three factors, that is, the high friction coefficient, the excellent compression fatigue property and the positive gradient of μ-V property.
Aiming for solving these problems, for example, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. JP-A-2002-363542, a resin composition for wet friction material to be obtained by mixing a resol-type phenol resin and a hydrolyzed solution of alkoxysilane or a lower condensate thereof is disclosed. Compared with an ordinary phenol resin, the friction coefficient or heat resistance has been improved. However, the compression fatigue property, particularly, the displacement amount of the entire thickness of the friction material under a high pressure becomes great, compared with the ordinary phenol resin. Thus, it can not be said that the resin composition is satisfactory.


The present disclosure relates to a breathable cushion. The cushion includes a thigh support portion, a hip support portion, and a waist and back support portion. The thigh support portion includes a plurality of thigh support structures each having an opening structure; the hip support portion includes a plurality of hip support structures each having an opening structure; and the waist and back support portion includes a plurality of waist and back support structures each having an opening structure. The area of the opening structures of the thigh support structures and/or the area of the opening structures of the waist and back support structures is greater than the area of the opening structures of the hip support structures. The cushion has the following advantages. The cushion has an ergonomic design and structure, and provides reasonable and reliable supports. In addition, the light-weight and highly comfortable cushion has good air permeability.

With the continuous improvement of the society, more and more people sit for a longer and longer time. They usually sit in the office for long-term working, or sit in front of computers or televisions for leisure and entertainment. As is known to all, maintaining a sitting posture for a long time is harmful to the health of human body, which usually causes symptoms of waist sourness and back pain.
Therefore, people typically choose cushions to make it easy to maintain a long-term sitting posture.
However, conventional cushions usually fail to well support human bodies, and are stuffy and unbreathable. As such, the user does not feel comfortable enough when sitting on such conventional cushions.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a breathable cushion to address the above problems.


A multi-constituent mixing and metering dispenser adapted to yield a composition whose intermixed constituents are in relative proportions settable by the user. The extrudable constituents are stored in separate compressible pouches encased in face-to-face relation in the squeeze container of a supply section. Secured to the top of the container is a metering and mixing output section having a mixing chamber therein provided with an outlet. Each pouch has a flexible dip tube inserted therein leading to the mixing chamber in the output section. The container includes a check valve that is caused to close when the container is squeezed, thereby hermetically sealing the container and exerting pneumatic pressure on the pouches to cause extrusion of the constituents into the mixing chamber from which the resultant mixture is discharged through the outlet. Mounted in advance of the mixing chamber is a metering mechanism having a dial-turned shaft on which a series of cams is supported, each acting to pinch a respective tube to restrict flow of the related constituent into the mixing chambers. The cam arrangement is such that in the course of a full turn of the dial by the user, the relative proportions of the constituents is varied through a broad ratio range to produce a composition whose effective strength or other characteristic can be set by the user from a predetermined minimum value to a maximum value.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to manually-operated, multi-constituent dispensers, and more particularly to a dispenser in which the constituents are metered and then intermixed before being discharged to yield a composition in which the relative proportions of the constituents are settable by the user.
2. Status of Prior Art
Multi-constituent dispensers are known in which the constituents are separately stored and are intermixed before being discharged. Thus, the Moskowitz U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,104 shows a dispenser in the form of a squeeze tube divided into separate compartments, one containing a toothpaste and the other a germicidal agent which if intermixed and stored with the paste would in time result in deterioration of the toothpaste. When the Moskowitz dispenser tube is squeezed, the two constituents are then fed into a mixing chamber before being discharged as a mixture.
Along similar lines is the multi-compartment squeeze tube disclosed in the Cella U.S. Pat. 3,581,940 in which the compartments contain interactive fluid components and therefore must be packaged separately (such as constituents which when intermixed form a hair color preparation). In Cella, when the tube is squeezed, the liquids are then intermixed before being discharged.
In the Cella and Moscowitz patents, the volumetric ratio of the ingredients forming the mixture is predetermined by the parameters of the squeeze tube compartments, and therefore cannot be controlled by the user. A similar limitation exists in the two-component epoxy glue dispenser disclosed in the Wagenhals U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,983 in which the two components are stored in separate squeeze tubes having different transverse dimensions. These tubes are placed in a case under a pressure roller turned by a knob. As the roller is advanced, the glue components are concurrently extruded from the tubes in a ratio predetermined by the relative dimensions of the tubes.
The Ryder U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,872 shows separate flexible storage pouches containing different ingredients to be dispensed. Ryder's concern is with tinting of soft contact lens, and for this purpose, he provides a dispenser in which the fluids contained in the pouches are discharged in sequence to carry out a lens tinting operation.
The concern of the present invention is with a multi-constituent composition in which the relative proportions of the constituents determine the effective strength or other characteristic of the composition, and in which the characteristic must be appropriate to a given application. While the invention will be described as a dispenser for a sunscreen lotion composed of three intermixed constituents, it is to be understood that it is generally applicable to drugs or other compositions having at least two constituents which are not to be intermixed until the dispenser is actuated.
As noted in the article by Shaath, "The Chemistry of Sunscreens," that appeared in the Mar. 1986 issue of Cosmetics and Toiletries (pages 55 to 69), over a half million new cases of skin cancer a year are reported in the United States. The principal cause of such cancer is excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays emanating from the sun.
Ultraviolet rays induce photochemical reactions harmful to the skin. The most damaging are those in the UV-A region (320-400 nm), those in the UV-B region (290-320 nm), and also those in the UV-C region (200-290 nm). Rays in the UV-C region normally need not be taken into account in sunscreens, for these deleterious rays are filtered out by the ozone layer in the stratosphere. But rays in the UV-A and UV-B regions are not filtered out by the ozone layer. The present invention is not, however, limited to sunscreens which are effective only with respect to rays in the UV-A and UV-B regions, for large gaps which have developed in the ozone layer in certain areas of the world, as a consequence of industrial air pollution and other factors, make it now necessary in these areas to provide sunscreens effective against UV-C rays.
The function of a conventional sunscreen lotion is mainly to shield the skin from radiation in the UV-B region, for these rays penetrate the skin and may cause severe burning or erythema. Limited radiation from the UV-A region is permitted to penetrate the skin, for these rays act to stimulate the formation of melanin which produces a tan and acts as a defense against burning. But excessive exposure to UV-A rays can also be damaging to the skin.
Sunscreen chemicals are of two types. One acts as a physical blocker which tends to reflect and scatter harmful UV radiation. Among chemicals which function as physical blocks are titanium oxide and petrolatum. The other type is a chemical absorber such as PABA and actyl salicylate that tends to absorb harmful radiation (both UV-A and UV-B) to render these innocuous.
The effectiveness of a sunscreen is currently graded by its Sun Protection Factor or SPF. This rating system indicates the number of hours of sun exposure equivalent to one hour of unprotected sun exposure. Thus an SPF-8 gives eight hours of exposure with protection equivalent to one hour of unprotected exposure. The useful SPF range is SPF-2 to SPF-12 or higher; the lowest value affording minimum protection and the highest, maximum protection.
The practical problem experienced by the typical consumer with a standard sunscreen lotion is that a given SPF rating is not effective under all circumstances; for while this rating may be adequately protective, say, in the early morning hours, it may be altogether inadequate toward noon or in the early afternoon. Moreover, individuals differ from each other not only in their natural skin color and in their sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, but also in their objectives in regard to tanning. Thus some individuals wish to enhance their appearance by acquiring a deep tan without burning, while others are more concerned with possible skin damage and seek to minimize tanning even after many hours of exposure.
In order to provide sunscreens that satisfy the requirements of diverse individuals and accommodate quotidian changes in the intensity of the sun, it would normally be necessary to provide these individuals with a set of sun screen lotions each having different SPF ratings in the 2 to 12 range.
Thus if a family of seven were to go to the beach on a hot summer day, in order to protect the parents and children from the damaging effects of sun exposure and to meet their individual SPF requirements in the course of the day, even six sunscreen lotions having different SPF ratings may not be sufficient for this purpose. And it goes without saying that the need to bring along six sunscreen dispensers to the beach in addition to all of the other articles a family normally has to carry represents a practical drawback. It is more likely that no more than two or three lotions having different SPF ratings will be taken to the beach.
Because of the danger of premature aging of the skin and the risk of skin cancer resulting from excessive exposure to UV radiation, the need exists for a single sunscreen dispenser yielding an SPF grade appropriate to the prevailing intensity of the sun and to the skin of the individual being exposed.

Multi-constituent mixing and metering dispenser


An armband is formed by the succession of central elements 3, intermediate elements 2 and lateral elements 1. Each central element 3 include at each of its ends two fixing pins 13, crossing distinct intermediate elements 2. The ends of these fixing pins 13 are located on the same side of the central element 3, being axially retained into the outside element 1 by rider 19 which authorises a relative rotation of these fixing pins 13 with respect to the outside elements 1.

The present invention has for its object an armband for a watch constituted by a succession of members hinged one to the other. There are numerous armbands of this type generally comprising a certain number of elements which are removable in order to permit the adjustment of the length of the watchstrap on wrist of the user.
These armbands are generally intended to equip a given type of watch case for which they are particularly intended due to their shape and their ornament. Now for a same type of watch case, there exist several variants, embodiments made of gold, made of silver, and or in colors, with or without diamonds or precious stones. For each of these variants, it is desirable to have a particular variant of the watchstrap in order that the ornamentation of the watch and armband constitute a unity. This necessitates one to dispose of an important number of types of armbands and does not permit the buyer to personalize his watch since the armlet variants, which correspond to the variants of the casing, are decided by the manufacturer.


Equipment for removing paper from parent reels used for the production of paper logs of paper material, including a support system adapted to support an exhausted parent reel, where the exhausted parent reel includes a tubular core on which residual paper to be removed is wound, and including removal capabilities for removing the residual paper from the core when the exhausted parent reel is placed on the support system. The removal capabilities include a suction cylinder having a horizontal axis onto which the paper is transferred by effect of the contact between the suction cylinder and the exhausted parent reel and by effect of the rotation of the suction cylinder around the horizontal axis.

It is known that the production of logs made of paper material, from which are obtained, for example, rolls of toilet paper or rolls of kitchen paper, implies the feeding of a paper web, formed by one or more superimposed layers, on a predetermined path along which various operations are performed before proceeding to the formation of the logs, including a transversal pre-incision of the web to form pre-cut lines which divide it into separable tear-off sheets. The production of the logs normally involves the use of cardboard tubes, commonly called "cores", on whose surface a predetermined amount of glue is distributed to allow the paper web to be bonded to the cores that are introduced into the machine, commonly called "rewinder", that produces the logs. The glue is distributed on the cores when they pass along a corresponding path comprising an end section commonly known as "cradle" due to its concave shape. The formation of the logs also implies the use of winding rollers which impose each core to rotate about its longitudinal axis thus determining the winding of the web on the same core. The process ends when a predetermined number of sheets is wound on the core, with the gluing of a flap of the last sheet on the underlying one of the roll thus formed (so-called "flap gluing" operation). Upon reaching the predetermined number of sheets wound on the core, the last sheet of the log being completed is separated from the first sheet of the next log, for example by a jet of compressed air directed towards a corresponding pre-cutting line. At this point, the log is downloaded from the rewinder. EP1700805 discloses a rewinder working according to the operating scheme disclosed above. The logs thus produced are then conveyed to a buffer magazine that supplies one or more cutting-off machines by means of which a transverse cutting of the logs is carried out to obtain the rolls in the desired size.

Equipment for removing paper from parent reels used for the production of logs of paper material


Accuracy and efficiency of video quality measurement are major problems to be solved. According to the invention, a method for accurately predicting video quality uses a rational function of the quantization parameter QP, which is corrected by a correction function that depends on content unpredictability CU. Exemplarily, the correction function is a power function of the CU. Both QP and CU can be computed from the video elementary stream, without full decoding the video. This ensures high efficiency.

In IPTV (Internet protocol television), video programs have different format stages during their life circle. A video encoder compresses the video program to a bit stream, also referred to as an elementary stream (ES). The ES is further packetized into a transport stream (TS) and finally transmitted in an IP channel. Video quality can be measured using data that are obtained by accessing the transport stream, elementary stream or decoded video. Among the three types of measurement, using the transport stream is generally the fastest but the least accurate, since it has the smallest amount of video data available; using the decoded video is often accurate but the slowest, since decoding the video is computationally expensive; using the elementary stream can achieve a tradeoff between the accuracy and the computational complexity. Currently, particularly video quality measurement based on the elementary stream is being investigated.
Video compression generally employs quantization techniques. Quantization is a lossy compression technique by means of limiting the precision of signal values. It is well known that quantization is a significant factor to artifact visibility, and the quantization parameter (QP) is a powerful predictor to the video quality. Various functions of video quality with respect to QP have been provided in the literature, such as linear function [1, 2] and exponential function [3]. However, they are insufficiently accurate for the relatively large and/or the relatively small QP level, and thus their results are not satisfactory for low-bandwidth or high-fidelity applications.
The content complexity is another critical factor for video quality measurement (VQM). Visual artifacts in complex videos are more likely to be tolerated by the human eye, and thus show better quality. Therefore, content complexity in combination with QP can improve the accuracy of quality measurement, compared to using the QP alone.
Traditionally, as in [4], content complexity may be quantified as the variance, the gradient, or the edge filter response of pixel values, or their combinations. The traditional methods have at least the following disadvantages.
First, such features are not tightly correlated with human visual perception. A video with large content complexity may have not only rich texture and irregular motion, but also many edges and/or regular motion. For human eyes, visual artifacts are more likely to be tolerated in texture and irregularly (i.e., stochastically) moving regions, but ordinarily more attractive and visible in edges or regularly (i.e., constantly) moving regions. Second, such features can hardly be computed until the pixels are recovered after full decoding. Thus, the traditional complexity measurement is computational expensive since it requires full decoding of the video.

Method and apparatus for video quality measurement