A printing system for printing documents that includes a recurring image. The printing system includes a computer connected to a printer over a communication link. The computer generates a named sequence to represent the recurring image and a parameter. The parameter value provides the printer with information that can be used to optimize the processing and printing of the named sequence.

A typical printing system includes a personal computer and a printer. The computer is connected to the printer by a communication link, such as a network. The computer is used to generate a document and to then send the document to the printer for printing. The document is sent in the form of page description language (PDL) commands. These commands describe the document. The printer receives these commands and responds by printing the document. "PCL" and "POSTSCRIPT" are each examples of a PDL. PCL is a trademark of the Hewlett-Packard Corporation. POSTSCRIPT is a trademark of Adobe systems incorporated.
Documents often include an image that occurs more than once in a document. For ease of discussion, such an image is referred to herein as a "form". An example of a form may be a company letterhead or a company logo that occurs on each page in a document. An "instance" of the form refers to a particular one of the recurring images.
Current versions of POSTSCRIPT and PCL provide language specific constructs that allow a named sequence of PDL commands to represent a form. For ease of discussion, it will be understood that the phrase "named sequence" as used herein refers to a set of PDL commands that describe a form.
In general, the use of a named sequence can eliminate the need for a computer to repeatedly send the same set of commands to print each instance of a form in a document. As a result, the use of a named sequence can reduce the amount of data that need be transmitted to a printer in order to print a document.
PCL version 6.0, for example, allows for a named sequence to be defined using the "Macro" commands. A Macro is a group of PCL commands that is given a name in the form of an identification number. Once stored in the printer memory, a macro can be executed repeatedly by additional command that calls the identification number of the macro. Versions of the POSTSCRIPT language include similar capability.
The amount of time it takes to print a document is a significant factor in that printer's success in the marketplace. Thus, there is a strong interest in developing techniques to improve the printing speed of a printer. For purposes of this document, the phrase "printing speed" refers to the amount of time it takes for a printer to print a particular document. This time is measured from when the print job is first received by the printer until when the document is completely printed.
Accordingly, techniques that can improve the storage efficiency and speed at which a printer can process and print a named sequence are needed as this can increase the overall printing speed of a document.

System for printing a document with recurring images

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An apparatus constructed to be used as a jump rope which includes a tube which sprays water upon a user jumping in a predetermined area. The apparatus includes a connection to a water source, a first handle including an on/off switch and a second handle. An auxiliary clip-on handle may be used for shortening the tube length to permit use by a single person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jump rope constructed of hose or tube material and connectable to a water source. More particularly, the present invention provides an entertaining and refreshing toy for children and adults. The toy provides a refreshing spray of water over the person in the jumping region of the toy. On hot days, such a device would be an enjoyable method for cooling off children and adults.
The apparatus of the present invention includes an on/off switch which also comprises a handle for turning the rope. A swivel is provided adjacent the handle to prevent twisting of the hose or tube material. A series of apertures are provided in the hose in the region of the hose where a person would most likely be when in the act of jumping. Such a region is defined as a "predetermined area". A handle is provided at the second end of the hose. The first end of the hose includes means for attaching the apparatus to a water source, preferably a garden hose.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
It has been known to provide water in a tube used for jumping rope. The water was added to taken from the tube to vary the weight for greater aerobic workouts. It has also been known to include light reflecting particles in water in a tube used for jumping for entertainment purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,417 discloses an opening for adding or removing water to adjust the weight of the jump rope apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,646 discloses a water filled tube including light reflecting particles used as a jump rope apparatus.
It has also been known to provide small apertures in hoses to permit the slow release of water to plants. These hoses are known in the gardening field as "soaker" hoses.
The present invention provides a jump rope including a refreshing spray.


A training and/or assistance platform for air traffic management is provided. The platform includes an air traffic management electronic system for obtaining input data representative of air traffic, to deliver, to an air traffic controller, information established as a function of the obtained input data, and to receive instructions from the air traffic controller The platform further includes a block for automatically determining instructions based on input data representative of at least the state of air traffic. The platform further includes an electronic processing module for collecting said input data and to provide it to the automatic determining block The platform further includes a neural network derived from learning on an input data history obtained by an electronic air traffic control system and received air traffic control instruction(s) received by the system.

Such a system receives data from outside systems (weather data, aircraft flight plans, radar detection, messages from air traffic controllers from neighboring sectors, etc.), processes this data, optionally combines it, etc., then retrieves, via an MMI (man-machine interface), this data or the information resulting from the processing operations for the air traffic controller. The air traffic controller, based on this data and information, determines instructions (commands intended for the aircraft, messages for the neighboring controllers including information, data, commands to execute additional functions of the system, etc.) and enters them via the MMI. The system next processes these commands.
Currently, no solution is offered making it possible for air traffic controllers to benefit from the experience acquired over time in the field of air traffic control, whether in the context of training or during operational air traffic control situations.
For example, air traffic controller training is done through test programs having a certain number of drawbacks: they offer a very limited number of scenarios, are not very upgradeable and therefore find it difficult to be representative of changes to air traffic control systems.

Training and/or assistance platform for air management via air traffic management electronic system, associated method


The invention relates to a method for determining a state of health of an electrochemical device in particular having improved reliability. Said method in particular consists of:                applying (10) to said electrochemical device an input signal comprising electrical excitations of different categories, and measuring an output signal (20) including the response signals to each electrical excitation;        estimating (41) at least one first parameter from an electrical excitation belonging to a first category and the corresponding response signal;        estimating (43) said at least one physicochemical parameter representative of the physicochemical behavior of the device from an electrical excitation of a different category, of the corresponding response signal and said first estimated parameter;        estimating (50) said state of health of the electrochemical device as deviation between the previously estimated value of the physicochemical parameter and a reference value.

In general, throughout the life cycle of an electrochemical device, its performance tends to gradually deteriorate. This can come from irreversible physicochemical changes that take place mainly during the operation of the device, but also when the device is stopped.
It can then be essential to have information on the state of general deterioration of the device, to thereby know how far it has advanced its life cycle.
Moreover, during operation of an electrochemical device, certain physical phenomena can take place that cause a sudden drop in performance. For example, in the case of fuel cells of the proton exchange membrane type, the engorgement and drainage phenomena cause substantial deterioration of the cell's performance.
It is therefore desirable to be able to detect these phenomena in real time to resolve them rapidly.
Determining the overall deterioration of the state of the device, as well as detecting certain harmful phenomena, amounts to determining a state of health of the electrochemical device.
The state of health of the electrochemical device can be defined as a deviation between the estimated or measured value of at least one physicochemical parameter at least partially modeling the physicochemical behavior of the electrochemical device, and a predetermined reference value of the same parameter. This deviation translates the operational nature of the device both in the long term (remaining lifetime) and short term (appearance of physical phenomena that abruptly decrease the performance). Of course, it may involve a relative or absolute deviation.
Of course, the notion of state of health covers various realities, which depend on information that the user wishes to obtain.
In general, a state of health may be determined from a set of characteristic parameters providing information on the static and/or dynamic behavior of said electrochemical device. These parameters can represent the different physicochemical phenomena coming into play within the electrochemical device, such as, for example, phenomena related to the chemical kinetics, ohmic phenomena, and, in the case of a fuel cell, diffusion phenomena of reactive fluids to the reaction sites.
As an example, determining a state of health of a fuel cell of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) type can comprise a real-time estimate of certain parameters such as the internal electrical resistance (generally likened to the electrical resistance of the membrane) of the cell, the moisture content of the membrane, or parameters relative to the diffusion phenomena or phenomena related to the chemical kinetics, with the aim of monitoring its state of general deterioration on the one hand, and detecting a drainage phenomenon of the membrane on the other hand. Thus, it is possible to react more quickly to prevent this type of phenomenon from lasting and irreversibly damaging the cell.
Several parameters estimating methods, for determining a state of health of the device, are commonly used in the context of PEM-type fuel cells.
In general, each of the methods usually comprises a first step of obtaining experimental data and a second step for exploiting measurements to estimate one or more characteristic parameters.
The first step consists of applying a particular electric excitation to the electrochemical device and measuring the electrical response thereof.
The second step is the analysis of the input and output signals to estimate one or more parameters at least partially characterizing the behavior of the cell. These parameters can belong to a static and/or dynamic model representing the global or partial behavior of the cell.
Lastly, a state of health of the cell is estimated as the deviation between the estimated value of the parameter(s) with a predetermined reference value with the same parameter(s).
A first method is based on the known electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. It can be used to detect the engorgement or drainage of a fuel cell, as described in the article by Fouquet et al. entitled "Model based PEM fuel cell state-of-health monitoring via ac impedance measurements" and published in 2006 in the Journal of Power Sources, 159, 905-913.
An input current is applied to the cell, which has a sequence of low-amplitude sinusoidal perturbations scanning a large range of frequencies. The voltage in response to these perturbations is measured at the terminals of the cell. It is then possible to obtain the impedance of the cell using an impedance analysis device. This impedance can be traced in the Nyquist plane, which gives the evolution of the imaginary part of the impedance as a function of its real part.
Then, the value of parameters of a model of said impedance (small signal dynamic model), of the equivalent electrical cell type, is estimated from signals measured using an optimization method, for example the method of least squares. The impedance model can be the following equivalent electrical circuit:
where Rmem, Rdiff, Ract are respectively the resistances of the membrane, for diffusion and activation, and Cdc and Cdiff are respectively the double layer capacity and the capacity of the equivalent diffusion layer. A description of the use of this type of model can be found in the thesis by Fontès entitled "Modélisation et caractérisation de la pile PEM pour l'étude des interactions avec les convertisseurs statiques," 2005, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, in section 3.4.3 "Exploitation of impedance diagrams."
The estimated value of one or more parameters of the model is then compared to a predetermined reference value of the same parameter(s). The deviation between the estimated value and the reference value characterizes the state of health of the cell.
A second estimating method, also known by those skilled in the art, is based on the study of the voltage response of the electrochemical device upon application of a current step such as, for example, a current interruption.
This method is in particular described in the article by Cho et al. entitled "Transient response of a unit proton-exchange membrane fuel cell under various operating conditions" and published in 2008 in the Journal of Power Sources 185, 118-128.
From measurements of the applied current and the voltage response, it is possible to deduce the internal electrical resistance of the device simply.
One then calculates a deviation by comparing the value deduced from the internal electrical resistance at a predetermined reference value, said deviation characterizing the state of health of the cell.
A third method, called high-amplitude scanning, is described in the aforementioned thesis by Fontès.
It consists of applying, to the electrochemical device, a periodic input current, preferably low frequency, and an amplitude corresponding to a current range going substantially from zero to the nominal current, and measuring the response voltage. Inasmuch as the scanning frequency is very low, the current/voltage polarization curve is drawn automatically.
Then, the parameters of a static or dynamic model, depending on the frequency of the scanning, of the electrochemical device describing the evolution of the voltage as a function of the applied current are estimated using experimental values, for example using an optimization method of the least squares type.
As an illustration, as shown by the Fontès 2005 thesis in section 3.4.1 entitled "Static exploitation of voltage-current curves" regarding a PEM-type fuel cell, the experimental polarization curve Ucellule=f(I), at a constant temperature and pressure, can be compared to the following static four-variable model:
      U    cellule    =            E      th        -                            R          ·          T                                      α            *                    ·          n          ·          F                                  ln                          (                      I                          I              0              *                                )                      -                  (                              R                          diff              ,              0                                +                      R            mem                          )            ·      I      where α* and I*0 are parameters relative to the activation over-voltages, Rmem is the electrical resistance of the cell due primarily to the ohmic losses in the membrane, and Rdiff, 0 is a resistance related to losses by diffusion, and in particular to diffusion over-voltages. As indicated above, the different parameters of the model can be estimated using an optimization method of the least squares type.
As before, one then calculates a deviation by comparing the estimated value of one or more parameters of the static model to a predetermined reference value of the same parameter(s), said deviation characterizing the state of health of the cell.
However, the operation time and/or quality of the results of each of these different methods can prove unsatisfactory. The performance time of a method designates, here and in the rest of the document, the time to obtain experimental data and process it to obtain the parameters. The quality of the results, here and in the rest of the document, designates, on the one hand, the coherence of the parameters obtained with the known and expected orders of magnitude, and on the other hand, the precision in terms of possible intervals of values for each of these parameters (ideally this interval is reduced to a single value for each parameter).
Furthermore, each method can only provide limited information in terms of accessible parameters, which can be insufficient to determine an actual state of health of the studied electrochemical device. One solution could consist of applying these different methods successively, but the processing time would be prohibitive, without, furthermore, improving the robustness of each method.

Method for determining a state of health for an electrochemical device

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


Disclosed are a method and apparatus for converting light energy to mechanical energy by modification of surface tension on a supporting fluid. The apparatus comprises an object which may be formed as a composite object comprising a support matrix and a highly light absorptive material. The support matrix may comprise a silicon polymer. The highly light absorptive material may comprise vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VANTs) embedded in the support matrix. The composite object is supported on a fluid. By exposing the highly light absorptive material to light, heat is generated, which changes the surface tension of the composite object, causing it to move physically within the fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of energy conversion, particularly to conversion of radiant energy (light) into mechanical energy (movement).
2. Related Art
Presented below is background information on certain aspects of the present invention as they may relate to technical features referred to in the detailed description, but not necessarily described in detail. That is, individual parts or methods used in the present invention may be described in greater detail in the materials discussed below, which materials may provide further guidance to those skilled in the art for making or using certain aspects of the present invention as claimed. The discussion below should not be construed as an admission as to the relevance of the information to any claims herein or the prior art effect of the material described.
Sunlight provides a vast resource that has spurred the development of various methods to convert photons into work: photovoltaics for conversion to electricity, solar thermal for water heating, fast growing plants to produce bio-fuels, and solar water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen (Ref. 1). Though useful, these disparate methods are often based on complicated, capital intensive, multistage processes: (Ref. 2) light is collected and converted to a high energy intermediate (e.g., electrical potential, thermal loading, or chemical fuel), which is then used to run a process, such as an engine, that performs work. This multistage approach is ubiquitous and allows for a myriad of applications, but requires production, transportation, and possible storage of intermediates. Considerable effort has been devoted to improving energy collection, storage, and utilization (Ref. 2, 3); however, strategic simplification through the removal of the intermediates remains under-investigated and could provide reductions in capital costs.
Few strategies exist for the direct conversion of light into work. Concepts such as the solar sail (Ref. 4) for interstellar travel and optical trapping of small particles (Ref. 5) rely on weak momentum transfer from photons. Harnessing the energy of photons is a far more powerful process. A few opto-thermal methods have been developed (Ref. 6); for example, the Crookes Radiometer produces rotational motion in part via light-based heating of gases, but requires stringent conditions (i.e., low pressure) to function. When applied to liquids, local heating can produce thermally induced surface tension gradients. Such gradients have been shown to induce thermocapillary convective flows in oils (Ref. 7), and, as first realized by Brochard-Wyart et al. (Ref. 8), can move silicone oil droplets on hydrophobic surfaces under precisely defined conditions or water droplets in oil filled channels (Ref. 9). Nature has shown that surface tension gradients, created from chemical gradients, can move insects on the surface of water (Ref. 10). Similarly, camphor chips (Ref. 11), soap boats (Ref. 12), and decomposing hydrogen peroxide (Ref. 13) have been used to produce surface tension gradients and motion in the laboratory, but all inherently rely on the supply of exhaustible chemical intermediates to function.
The invention described below comprises methods that couple optical heating with the capability of surface tension gradients to move objects on the surface of liquids or at the interface between two liquids. With this approach, a direct means of converting light into useful work is realized, and a simple strategy for remotely powering and controlling small objects is demonstrated. A simple and robust solid/liquid interfacial system can convert light directly into useful work through thermal surface tension effects. This is demonstrated by the propulsion of objects on the surface of water. The simplicity of the system allows for controlled linear motion and rotational motion.

Surface tension mediated conversion of light to work

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention provides for a pharmaceutical composition that provides for the symptomatic relief to an animal (e.g., mammal, such as a human) afflicted with inflammation. The pharmaceutical composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least two of: (a) sunflower extract, (b) rhubarb root extract, (c) milk thistle extract, (d) dandelion extract, (e) feverfew extract, and (f) ginger extract. The present invention also provides for a method for providing symptomatic relief to a human afflicted with inflammation. The method includes administering to a patient in need of such symptomatic relief an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition described herein, for a period of time sufficient to provide symptomatic relief to the human.

Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness on palpation at so called tenderpoints. The disease is diagnosed according to criteria as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) [see Arthritis and Rheumatism, Vol. 33, No. 2, pages 160-172, 1990]. In addition to pain symptoms, in the majority of fibromyalgia patients a variety of functional symptoms such as headache, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, sicca symptoms, increased sweating, dizziness, tremor, dyspnoea, arrhythmias, paraesthesias, headache/migraine, fatigue, psychopathological disorders and others occur. Therefore, the medical approaches towards management of fibromyalgia should not exclusively aim at relief of pain symptoms but also aim at improvements in functional symptoms.
Currently, there is a need for compositions that provide for the symptomatic relief from fibromyalgia and other diseases and disorders, believed by some within the medical community, to be related to inflammation, e.g., arthritis, osteoarthritis, herniated cervical disc, chronic fatigue syndrome, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), depression, anxiety, Sjögren's Syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. These diseases and disorders can have symptoms associated with inflammation, that include, e.g., diffuse pain, jaw or facial pain, back or neck pain, muscle pain, joint pain, arthritis pain, osteoarthritis pain, pelvic pain, chest pain, neuropathic pain, vulvodynia, urethral pain, weakness, fatigue, chronic fatigue, dizziness, paresthesia, impaired cognition, sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, tendonitis, hypersensitivity to cold, hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia, allodynia, hyperalgesia, and headache.

Compositions and methods of treatment that include plant extracts


The invention relates to a method or a system for the dependable stopping of axes of an industrial robot. The industrial robot comprises a control device (501, 502), power electronics (201, 202, 203) and a DC source (300), as well as at least one axis (700), which is assigned to an electric motor (100) and to a mechanical brake (600). In order to stop the axis a direct current is supplied by the DC source in at least one motor phase of the motor, which generates a braking torque.

Industrial robots are automatically guided manipulation machines, equipped with three or more freely-programmable axes, which are equipped with appropriate tools for the automatic manipulation of objects. They can be used in mobile or stationary applications. These robots are designed for use in industrial environments (e.g. automotive manufacturing) and generally comprise a manipulator (robot arm), a control device and drive means for moving the manipulator. In many cases, both the drive and the manipulator are monitored by means of sensors. The monitoring contributes to the control and regulation of the drive. The drive can, for example, be an electric drive, which comprises power electronics and an electric motor.
In certain situations, e.g. if a person enters a protected area surrounding the industrial robot, or if pre-determined limits for motor or axis parameters are exceeded, it is necessary to reliably and quickly stop the movement of the industrial robot and thus to dependably stop the axis/axes of the robot. The objective of the dependable stopping is to prevent movements which represent hazards, so as to not endanger machinery, workpieces and, in particular, people.
The standard EN 60204-1 differentiates between three categories of dependable stopping of robots:    category 0: Uncontrolled stopping of the axis through immediate (<200 ms) shutdown of the power supply to the drive.    category 1: Controlled stopping of the axis through interruption of the power supply to the drive, after the axis has been brought to a standstill (=time-delayed shutdown of the power supply).    category 2: Controlled stopping of the axis without interruption of the power supply to the drive.
In many applications, such as, for example, very quickly moved or gravity-loaded axes, a shutdown of the drive energy does not lead to the dependable stopping of the axis, since the axis can coast to a stop or sag as a result of gravity. Additional mechanical brakes are therefore used, conventionally disk brakes, which act, for example, directly on the motor shaft and which are maintained in the released state by means of a current-supplied electromagnet in failure-free operation of the robot. If the operating power is shut down—in the case of a category 0 stop, for instance—the brake is thus automatically applied. A common feature of all mechanical brakes is a certain activation delay. For current disk brakes, this is in a range, for example, of between 100 to 200 ms, before the brake pads come into contact with the brake disk once the braking signal has been sent.
Because the shutdown of the operating power almost immediately, i.e. within a few milliseconds of the command (i.e. after the signal to interrupt the power supply has been sent), leads to a shutdown of the motor, the drive coasts in an uncontrolled manner until the mechanical brake takes effect. Moreover, braking using the mechanical brake is disadvantageous, since high mechanical loads act on the components to be braked.
In order that these disadvantages can be avoided, a short-circuit braking of the motor, which is intended to reduce the coasting of the axis to a stop, is known from WO 2009/074 396 A1, for example. WO 2009/074 396 A1 corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,736,219 B2 to Hofmann et al., which was published in the English language on May 27, 2014 and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. To achieve a reduction in the coasting of the axis to a stop, the shut-down of the operating power short-circuits the motor phases of the electric motor, and a braking torque is thus generated. Because short-circuit braking relies, in a known manner, on the induction of current in the motor phases of the motor, the generated braking torque is, however, dependent on the rotational speed of the motor at the time of the shutdown of the operating power. In particular for axes moved slowly or for vertical gravity-loaded axes, the problem of sagging thus essentially remains unchanged.
The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a system for the dependable stopping of the axis/axes, which eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages and thus permits a quick stopping of the axis, in order to minimize or to avoid the coasting to a stop and the sagging of the axis in particular. This objective is achieved with the method for stopping of axes of an industrial robot according to Claim 1 and with the system for controlling an industrial robot according to Claim 6.

Method and system for stopping of axes of an industrial robot


A thermal and current sensing switch which brakes an associated electric circuit when an overcurrent is supplied to the electric circuit or the temperature of the electric apparatus rises beyond a predetermined temperature. The thermal and current sensing switch comprises a housing, fixed conductors fixed to the housing with the base ends thereof extended within the housing; a current fuse placed in the housing with the opposite terminals thereof in contact with the fixed conductors; a first spring biasing the current fuse away from the fixed conductors, a second spring pressing the current fuse against the fixed conductors against the force of the first spring, and a temperature sensing element provided between the housing and the second spring. When the ambient temperature rises beyond a predetermined temperature, the temperature sensing element reduces the force of the second spring to allow the first spring to separate the current fuse from the fixed conductors to break the electric circuit. The current fuse and the temperature sensing element are isolated electrically and thermal from each other so that the same are able to function independently.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal and current sensing switch capable of breaking an electric circuit in response to an overcurrent or a short-circuit current to protect overcurrent accidents and breaking the electric circuit to protect excessive temperature rise upon the detection of rise in the ambient temperature.
2. Prior Art
It is generally known to employ a current fuse to break an electric circuit when an overcurrent is supplied to the electric circuit, and to employ a thermal fuse or a thermostat which breaks an electric circuit upon the detection of an abnormal rise in the ambient temperature to protect the excessive rise in the temperature of the electric apparatus. Generally, the current fuse, and the thermal fuse or the thermostat are provided individually in the electric apparatus.
Efforts have been made to break an electric circuit by the action of a thermal fuse when an overcurrent flows through the electric circuit as well as responding to a rise in the ambient temperature.
Furthermore, efforts have been made to protect both excessive rise in the temperature of an electric apparatus and overcurrent accidents in the electric circuit by the action of a circuit protecting device comprising a series arrangement or an integral combination of a thermal sensing fuse element and an overcurrent sensing fuse element.
With the thermal fuse or the like for protecting excessive temperature rise, it is most important that the thermal fuse responds to ambient temperature at a high accuracy, i.e. at least within the range of several degrees centigrade for the predetermined temperature. However, heat generated in the electric apparatus by a current flowing through the electric circuit adversely affects the temperature accuracy of the thermal fuse.
With a current fuse or the like for protecting overcurrent, relation of response times to several values of overcurrents resulting from overloading, for example, a current of 135% or 200% of the rated current of the circuit, namely, a current-time characteristic, is an important factor. Furthermore, ability of safely and surely breaking the associated electric circuit in response to a large current, such as a short-circuit current, namely, breaking capacity, is another important factor of the current fuse. Generally, the thermal sensing device is placed in a place of a temperature higher than a room temperature when the associated electric circuit is in the normal operating state. Therefore, the overcurrent sensing ability of the current fuse must not be subject to the influence of the ambient temperature.
Since a thermal fuse is designed so that the influence of Joule heat is eliminated almost completely, when a thermal fuse is used to brake an electric circuit by the Joule heat, the thermal fuse does not respond to an overcurrent not much higher than the rated current and it is unable to break the associated electric circuit safely and surely when a very high overcurrent, particularly, a short-circuit current, flows through the electric circuit because its contacts weld or its fuse element explodes. Accordingly, such a thermal fuse is effective only with an overcurrent in a narrow range.
The thermal sensing fuse element and the overcurrent sensing fuse element of the foregoing circuit protecting device are connected in an electrically conductive manner, and hence the thermal sensing fuse element is subject to the influence of Joule heat. When the overcurrent sensing fuse element is formed of an alloy such as tin, lead or bismuth having a comparatively low melting point to suppress temperature rise attributable to Joule heat evolved by a normal operating current, the fuse element fuses at a low temperature when an overcurrent flows therethrough, the current-time characteristic of the current fuse is affected greatly by slight rise in the ambient temperature, and it happens that the current fuse is deteriorated or is caused to fuse by a current lower than the rated current. Furthermore, the breaking speed of a current sensing device employing a fuse element having a comparatively low melting point under an overcurrent is low and the breaking capacity of the same for a large current is small, because capacity of the fusible element is large.
When a fuse element having a comparatively high melting point, such as a silver, copper, nickel or tungsten fuse element, is employed to give priority to the current characteristic of the circuit protecting device, increased heat is generated at the normal operating current to enhance the influence of heat on the thermal sensing element remarkably deteriorating the thermal sensing accuracy.
The response temperature of some thermal sensing element is determined taking into consideration both the influence of heat generated by the current flows through the thermal sensing element itself and that of heat generated by the current flows through the associated current sensing element. However, it is difficult to stabilize the temperature sensing accuracy of such a thermal sensing element under a high operating current because the temperature sensing accuracy is affected significantly by the assembling accuracy, the quality of the material and small dimensional errors, and hence only thermal sensing elements of such a type having a small current capacity are feasible. When the response temperature is determined taking into consideration temperature rise resulting from heat evolved by a current in addition to the ambient temperature, a constant current must be supplied to the associated circuit at all times, which, however, is difficult to be met by general electric equipments.
Basically, the current fuse must respond sharply to Joule heat evolved by a current and is not significantly susceptible to the ambient temperature, while the thermal fuse must respond sharply to the ambient temperature and must not be susceptible to Joule heat evolved by a current. Such requirements apply also to heat sensing devices other than thermal fuses, such as thermostats.
It has been difficult for the prior art to provide a device meeting both the basic characteristics contrary to each other; giving priority to one of the basic characteristics unavoidably entails the degradation of the other.
Accordingly, it has been necessary to provide an electric circuit individually with a protective device for protecting the electric circuit from overcurrent and a protective device for protecting excessive temperature rise to ensure the protection of burning accidents in the electric apparatus.


An oily smoke treating and exhausting device for cooking equipment, has an upper smoke housing, two vertical passageways formed by three vertical plates extending down and up from the housing for oily smoke produced in cooking to be showered with water to let oil in the smoke be mixed with water and drop down into a separating tank so that oil may float on top of water in the tank and overflow into a waste oil tank to be exhausted.

A conventional oily smoke exhauster generally comprises an upper horizontal housing for treating oily smoke produced from cooking food in a utensil below the housing and pumping the smoke out through an air hole in the housing by means of a fan. But oil mixed in the smoke is not eliminated so portions of smoke passageways may be coated with sticky oil which is extremely hard to clean off.

Oily smoke treating and exhausting device


In an embodiment, a system and method permit an IPTV subscriber to display on a channel of an IPTV network video data from a subscriber video database. The system may include, in addition to the IPTV network and the subscriber database, an IPTV server and an IPTV set top box. The IPTV set top box is configured to receive commands causing the IPTV set top box to retrieve video data from an IPTV subscriber database, display the video data on an IPTV display unit; and to transmit the video data over an IPTV network to an IPTV server. The IPTV server is configured to transmit the video data from the IPTV server over the IPTV network such that the video data is displayable on a channel of the IPTV network.

Video content can be distributed to a plurality of viewers in several ways. The system and method of broadcasting over the public airways has long been established and enjoyed by literally millions of people worldwide. However, shortcomings such as limited transmission distance, poor reception quality, and limited bandwidth and channel availability, led to the installation of cable and satellite television systems in recent years. Satellite and cable systems offer greater bandwidth and channel availability, and higher quality reception.
With the development of the Internet and other public and private IP networks, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) systems have become the most recent means of distributing video content to a plurality of users. An IPTV network offers many of the advantages of a cable or satellite television network. An IPTV network also offers advantages over cable and satellite systems because of the IP technology involved.


A new pinball game includes a playing surface with a plurality of targets disposed on the playing surface. A player actuated flipper is used to propel a ball toward the targets thereby accumulating points in a first fashion. The pinball game also includes a track which has a first position wherein the ball rolls on the track and a second position wherein the ball is dropped off of the track. A mechanism is provided for positioning the ball on the track. At least one target associated with the track is located below the track. A sensor is connected to the target to detect engagement of the ball with the track associated target. The player actuates a button which causes movement of the track from the first position to the second position thereby dropping the ball off of the track. A memory is provided to store the point value of each track associated target each time such target is hit. The player uses the actuation button to try to drop the ball on or over the target.

The present invention relates to a pinball game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pinball game wherein a ball is rolled down a track and selectively dropped by the player at a predetermined location in order to score points.
For many years, pinball games have provided a source of leisure time enjoyment for people of all ages throughout the world. Typically, when playing pinball, a player sets a ball into play with a spring-biased plunger. The player then earns or scores points depending on the number of times the ball strikes various scoring elements or targets, such as posts, bumpers, slink shot bumpers and pivoting targets disposed across the playing surface. Once the player sets the ball into motion, it randomly strikes the various scoring elements and the player is awarded the point value of each target which is hit by the ball. The pinball playing surface is gently sloped such that the force of gravity constantly urges the ball towards the base of the table where the player is standing. In a typical pinball game configuration, two flippers are mounted near the base of the table. The flippers are electronically actuated by the player by depressing buttons located on the sides of the pinball machine cabinet. By correctly timing actuation of the flippers, the player can cause the flippers to strike the ball and propel it back into the playing area to again contact the various scoring elements.
In order to keep the interest of players, new pinball game configurations must constantly be devised. Usually, a new pinball configuration will consist of providing a new theme and relocating the targets, bumpers and other scoring elements on the playing surface. It is desirable however to provide new pinball configurations wherein the player scores by using nonconventional pinball techniques. Such nonconventional pinball techniques add an additional element of interest to the game.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel pinball game wherein the player may accumulate points by nonconventional pinball scoring techniques.

Pinball game with moveable track mechanism


The present invention features a non-human animal model of malaria, e.g., Plasmodium, particularly Plasmodium falciparum. The model is based on a non-human, immunocompromised transgenic animal having a human-mouse chimeric liver, where the transgene provides for expression of a urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the liver. The invention also features methods for identifying candidate therapeutic agents, e.g., agents having anti-pathogenic activity against malaria.

Protozoan parasites that belong to the genus Plasmodium, are the causative agent for malaria, and are estimated to be responsible for 200-500 million new cases of malaria each year. The parasite has a complex life cycle that involves both extracellular and intracellular forms. Infection is initiated in the host when an anopheline mosquito injects sporozoites during a blood meal feeding. The sporozoites then travel through the vascular system to the liver and invade hepatocytes, thus initiating the exoerythrocytic (EE) stage. Each uninuclear parasite subsequently undergoes division and differentiation to form a mature liver stage schizont with thousand to tens of thousands of uninuclear merozoites. The time for development in the liver stage schizont varies with the species, e.g., 5-7 days for Plasmodium falciparum.
At the conclusion of the initial liver stage, thousands of merozoites are released into the bloodstream where they invade erythrocytes. An erythrocytic stage (or "red cell" stage) cycle of 48-72 hr, depending upon the species, then ensues. Some red cell stages will differentiate into male and female gametocytes. Once ingested by a mosquito they can combine and form a zygote, which, upon further development, can produce sporozoites. These sporozoites are later inoculated by the mosquito into another host, thus repeating the cycle.
The sporozoites that are injected by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes rapidly reach the liver sinusoids. Contrary to earlier assumptions, it is now believed that the numbers of inoculated sporozoites are small, about 10-100 per bite. Whether sporozoites directly penetrate hepatocytes or first travel through endothelial or Kupffer cells lining the sinusoid is still a topic of debate. However, in vitro invasion of hepatic cells suggests that passage through Kupffer cells is not an absolute requirement for EE development. Additionally, evidence from studies done on rats depleted of Kupffer cells has demonstrated that relative to intact animals, Kupffer cell depleted animals had a significant increase in the number of EE stage parasites. This strongly suggests that Kupffer cells are involved in the clearance of sporozoites, not in the facilitation of sporozoite invasion.
Because sporozoites only develop in hepatocytes, it is likely that invasion is mediated by specific interactions between sporozoite proteins and hepatocyte receptors. Sporozoites appear to invade apically by invagination of the hepatocyte cell membrane which forms the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) surrounding the developing liver stage or exoerythrocytic (EE) parasite. As during merozoite invasion of erythrocytes, material appears to be secreted from sporozoite rhoptries during invasion. Shortly after invading a hepatocyte, the inner membrane and subpellicular microtubules of the thin sporozoite (1.5×10-20 μm) break down, and this area bulges out creating a uninucleated 3-5 μm trophozoite bounded by a plasma membrane situated in a vacuole surrounded by a PVM. The early exoerythrocytic stage parasite develops into a spherical, mature liver stage schizont that occupies most of the volume of the hepatocyte.
During schizogony, parasite antigens are inserted into the PVM which can form deep invaginations into the infected hepatocyte, particularly next to the hepatocyte nucleus. Development of mature EE schizonts containing at least 2,000 uninucleated merozoites takes 42-48 hours for the rodent malarias P. yoelii and P. berghei. P. falciparum liver stage development takes 5-7days forming up to 30,000 merozoites within a 80-100 μm schizont. During P. vivax EE development, some trophozoites do not develop further and may persist as small hypnozoites within hepatocytes for several years. It has been proposed that relapses of P. vivax arise from hypnozoites that are triggered to develop by unknown mechanisms. The signals and parasite molecules responsible for the development of a uninucleate sporozoite to a fully mature liver stage schizont and for rupture of this schizont are unknown.
Plasmodium-infected hepatocytes have been demonstrated to be an important target of a protective immune response in rodent models of malarial infection. This finding makes the identification and characterization of plasmodial antigens expressed in the infected hepatocyte or exoerythrocytic (EE) stage of the parasite and the immune responses against these antigens crucial for the development of a pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccine. A source of EE stage parasites is vital for the selection and characterization of monoclonal antibodies, that identify EE stage antigens, and to characterize the expression of Plasmodium genes expressed in infected hepatocytes.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to obtain biological material containing the EE forms of P. falciparum. Small quantities of P. falciparum EE stage parasites have been produced in primary human hepatocyte cultures and, in a single human hepatoma cell line. The human cell line is difficult to work with and the scarcity of available human liver tissue and low infection rates obtained in the in vitro systems make these approaches less attractive. While mouse forms of malaria exist, P. falciparum schizonts develop only in hepatocytes of human, chimpanzee or to a much lower degree in some non-human primates. Chimpanzees have been infected with parasites and liver tissue obtained, by biopsy, for cryosectioning. However, work involving chimpanzees is quite expensive, and does not lend itself to anything more complex than limited tissue harvesting.
There is a need in the field for a reliable small animal model for P. falciparum infection. The present invention addresses this need.

Malarial animal model having a chimeric human liver


A display panel comprises a display area including touch control signal lines and touch control electrodes, and a non-display area. The display area includes at least one notch, a first display area and a second display area. The touch control electrodes include first touch control electrodes and second touch control electrodes disposed at the first display area and the second display area, respectively. The touch control signal lines include first touch control signal lines and second touch control signal lines disposed at the first display area. A first touch control electrode is electrically connected to at least one first touch control signal line, and a second touch control electrode is electrically connected to at least one second touch control signal line via a connecting portion.

Existing display devices, such as displays, televisions, mobile phones, tablets, etc., often have generally regular rectangular screens. With continuous development of display technology, user demands on the appearance of display devices are becoming diversified. The shape of the display panel may be often designed as a shape other than a regular rectangle, such as a convex polygon, a concave polygon, a circle, a ring, etc., and such a display panel may be often referred to as an irregular-shaped display panel. The shape of the irregular-shaped display panel may be able to bypass some functional modules in the display device, such as a camera module, a sensor module or a speaker module, thereby improving the screen-to-body ratio of the display device and, accordingly, enhancing the display performance. How to design an irregular-shaped display panel with excellent performance and continuously improve the user experience may be an important technical problem to be solved in the industry.
The disclosed display panel and display device thereof are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.

Irregular-shaped display panel and display device

XIAMEN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


The present invention relates to the technical field of bee product processing, and discloses a continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen and related drying method. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen comprises: a box body; a first drying conveying structure; a second drying conveying structure; and a heat pump dehumidification heating structure. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen has the advantage of high drying efficiency.

Bee pollen is derived from nature, and is an irregular oblate lump formed by adding special gland secretions to pollen grains or nectar collected by bees and mixing the resultant. As the source of plant life, bee pollen contains all the nutritional ingredients and active substances for plant development, and it is often called "micro-nutrition library". The total production of bee pollen in China is the highest in the world. However, due to restrictions on the conditions such as post-harvest preservation, drying, storage and transportation often causes beekeepers to reduce the amount of bee pollen harvested. After fresh bee pollen is harvested, the moisture content is as high as 20% to 30% in wet basis, the activities of microorganisms and enzymes are very high, and it needs to be dried in time, otherwise, the bee pollen will rapidly ferment and deteriorate, the active ingredients will be lost, and the market value will be lost. Therefore, in the harvesting season, timely drying of fresh bee pollen is an essential way to avoid the deterioration of bee pollen quality and prolong its shelf life.
Currently, there are marry drying methods for bee pollen such as sun hot air drying, ventilation drying, electrothermal drying, drying by heated brick bed and the like. However, these methods are generally difficult to effectively protect the nutritional ingredients and active substances in the bee pollen as they are easy to cause fat oxidation, color change and the like during the drying process, thereby causing poor quality of the dried bee pollen.
In addition, low energy utilization and high energy consumption are commonly existed for these drying methods, which leads to high cost of the drying processing of the bee pollen.

Continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen and related drying method

INSTITUTE OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH CHINESE ACADEMY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES


A multi-switch for distributing satellite signals of different levels includes: multiple inputs for connection to controllable sources for satellite signals of the different levels; multiple outputs for connection to receivers for the satellite signals; and a switching unit for connecting outputs to inputs, the switching unit receiving requests for levels via the inputs and assigning the inputs dynamically to outputs on which the same requests were output. The switching unit outputs the requests for levels in accordance with the sequence of their arrival on unused inputs in a corresponding sequence. The requests are dynamically switched at the inputs in accordance with the requests at the outputs and are not assigned according to a predetermined scheme.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-switch having a dynamic input assignment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A receiving system for satellite signals typically includes a satellite antenna including a parabolic mirror and a low-noise signal converter (LNB) and a satellite receiver. Signals emitted by a communication satellite are focused with the aid of the parabolic mirror on the LNB and received thereby. The LNB converts a part of the received signals to a predetermined intermediate frequency and provides the converted signal to the receiver. The receiver decodes from this signal those audio or video signals which are required for output of a predetermined channel.
A satellite may emit signals of different frequencies and polarization levels. A typical lower frequency band (low band) is in the range of 10.70 GHz to 11.70 GHz, a typical upper frequency band (high band) is in the frequency range of 11.70 GHz to 12.75 GHz. The signals may be polarized horizontally or vertically. Four so-called levels, on which satellite signals may be received, result by combination of these alternatives. Typical household wiring is not capable of providing sufficient bandwidth for transmitting all levels in a single cable. To provide channels from more than one of the levels simultaneously at the receiver, more cable connections are typically necessary between the satellite antenna and the receiver. A receiver may typically apply a predetermined combination of a DC voltage and a pilot frequency in the audible range at its input to activate the LNB to output signals of the assigned level.
Multi-switches, which may be introduced into the signal cable between the LNB and the receiver, have the task of distributing signals of multiple levels to one or multiple receiver(s). In some specific embodiments, a multi-switch may be integrated with the LNB.
Published German patent application document DE 20 2004 007 763 U1 describes a multi-switch having inputs and outputs for distributing satellite signals.
Published German patent application document DE 202 11 276 U1 describes a multi-switch including a programming interface, to enable an assignment of satellite signals of different polarizations and intermediate frequencies to inputs of the multi-switch.
In general, in an apartment having multiple receivers, only as many channels may be received simultaneously from different levels as cables lead from the apartment to the satellite antenna. Since the wiring from a multi-switch or LNB is always to be carried out radially, an outlay for providing additional cables may be extremely complex. To receive all analog TV channels from Astra satellites, for example, previously double wiring has been sufficient to be able to receive both levels of the low band. Since the shutdown of the analog channels, it has been important to also be able to receive the levels of the high band for the digital channels in addition to the levels of the low band. The present invention is based on the object of increasing usability of channels from different levels, without having to lay new cables.

Multi-switch having a dynamic input assignment


Embodiments relate to techniques for efficiently and effectively propagating changes from a server to a client using a network filter driver configured to monitor network traffic for a signature. Techniques are presented for synchronizing settings with a remote server device. A method is provided, including (a) monitoring web-based messages exchanged between the computerized client device and the remote server device across a network, (b) detecting a pre-defined pattern within a particular message of the monitored web-based messages exchanged between the computerized client device and the remote server device, (c) in response to detecting the pre-defined pattern within the particular message, evaluating the particular message to determine whether a set of server settings has changed, and (d) in response to determining that the set of server settings has changed, updating a local version of the set of server settings. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

A conventional remote backup system includes client computers (sources of information to backup) and a remote backup facility. Each client computer typically runs a backup agent which coordinates aspects of the backup process (e.g., start times, what locations to backup to the remote backup facility, etc.) based on backup settings which are locally stored within both the client computer and the remote backup facility.
When a user of a client computer wishes to make a change to the backup settings, the user logs into a website of the remote backup facility and saves the change at the remote backup facility. The remote backup facility then communicates the change to the backup agent running on the client computer.
One approach to communicating the change from the remote backup facility to the client computer involves the client computer maintaining an open connection with the remote backup facility, allowing the remote backup facility to communicate the changes to the client computer over the open connection as soon as the changes are made. Another approach to communicating the change from the remote backup facility to the client computer involves the client computer opening a new connection to the remote backup facility at periodic intervals and querying the remote backup facility for changes. In some systems, the periodic intervals are short intervals, on the order of five seconds between connections. In other systems, the periodic intervals are long intervals, on the order of one day between connections.

Detecting change of settings stored on a remote server by making use of a network filter driver


A server device is provided with a fan module that includes a removable or reconfigurable partition for different size fan units based on system requirements. The chassis can include a plurality of sleds and a fan module. The fan module includes a removable partition that can be configured to house a plurality of fan units.

In a conventional rack system, one or more servers are often mounted with a fan system. Such a fan system typically includes a frame, with a fixed partition, to house individual fan units. However, traditional fan units can range in size. For example, in some conventional designs, eight 80 mm fan units can be housed in a fan system. In other conventional designs, up to three 140 mm fan units can be housed in a fan system. Consequently, conventional fan systems in rack systems typically have a fixed frame built-in to accommodate a fixed number of fan units of a particular size. This also results in a maximum cooling capacity for the fan system. Thus, to repair such a fan system, the entire frame and fixed partition must typically be removed, thereby increasing costs and difficulty for maintaining the rack system. Further, if the servers in the rack system are changed or modified such that the current fan system performance is not adequate to provide proper cooling, then the entire fan system would need to be replaced with a different fan configuration capable of cooling the new or modified server configuration.

Rear side swappable fan array module design


Apparatus and associated methods relate to a user height adjustable container support system having an elevated upper base, where the upper base is designed to receive and hingedly couple to a container so that a user may tilt the container while the upper base supports the container.

Portable fuel containers are usually found in garages, sheds, and anywhere else that vehicles or gasoline-powered devices may be stored. If a vehicle or equipment runs out of fuel, a person may retrieve their gas can, lift the can up to the fuel tank opening, and tilt the can to pour the gasoline into the vehicle.
Liquid fuel containers may be heavy, bulky, or otherwise difficult to maneuver and hold in position. Some people may not be able to hold the fuel container long enough or high enough or may just need to fill multiple vehicles with fuel.

Container lifting and positioning support


An actuator comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to move relative to the second part, wherein a labyrinth seal is provided between the first part and the second part, the labyrinth seal being configured to restrict the flow of gas from a first side of the labyrinth seal to a second side of the labyrinth seal, wherein one or more inlets and one or more outlets are provided within the labyrinth seal, the one or more inlets being configured to provide gas to a location within the labyrinth seal and the one or more outlets being configured to remove at least part of the gas from a location within the labyrinth seal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actuator that may form part of a lithographic apparatus.
2. Background Art
A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g., comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
Lithography is widely recognized as one of the key steps in the manufacture of ICs and other devices and/or structures. However, as the dimensions of features made using lithography become smaller, lithography is becoming a more critical factor for enabling miniature IC or other devices and/or structures to be manufactured.
A theoretical estimate of the limits of pattern printing can be given by the Rayleigh criterion for resolution as shown in the following equation:
  CD  =            k      1        *          λ      NA      where λ is the wavelength of the radiation used, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection system used to print the pattern, k1 is a process dependent adjustment factor, also called the Rayleigh constant, and CD is the feature size (or critical dimension) of the printed feature. It follows from equation (1) that reduction of the minimum printable size of features can be obtained in three ways: by shortening the exposure wavelength λ, by increasing the numerical aperture NA or by decreasing the value of k1.
In order to shorten the exposure wavelength and, thus, reduce the minimum printable size, it has been proposed to use an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation source. EUV radiation is electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of 5-20 nm, for example within the range of 13-14 nm, for example within the range of 5-10 nm such as 6.7 nm or 6.8 nm. Possible sources include, for example, laser-produced plasma sources, discharge plasma sources, or sources based on synchrotron radiation provided by an electron storage ring.
EUV radiation may be produced using a plasma. A radiation system for producing EUV radiation may include a laser for exciting a fuel to provide the plasma, and a source collector module for containing the plasma. The plasma may be created, for example, by directing a laser beam at a fuel, such as particles of a suitable material (e.g., tin), or a stream of a suitable gas or vapor, such as Xe gas or Li vapor. The resulting plasma emits output radiation, e.g., EUV radiation, which is collected using a radiation collector. The radiation collector may be a mirrored normal incidence radiation collector, which receives the radiation and focuses the radiation into a beam. The source collector module may include an enclosing structure or chamber arranged to provide a vacuum environment to support the plasma. Such a radiation system is typically termed a laser produced plasma (LPP) source.
It is usually necessary to move a substrate within a lithographic apparatus. The substrate may for example be moved from a substrate storage location to a location where the substrate may be patterned by the lithographic apparatus. An actuator may be used to move the substrate. One or more motors may be provided within the actuator. The one or more motors may generate contamination.
It may be desirable to reduce the likelihood that the contamination travels from the motor to a substrate, or to some other location in the lithographic apparatus.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an actuator comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to move relative to the second part, wherein a labyrinth seal is provided between the first part and the second part, the labyrinth seal being configured to restrict the flow of gas from a first side of the labyrinth seal to a second side of the labyrinth seal, wherein one or more inlets and one or more outlets are provided within the labyrinth seal, the one or more inlets being configured to provide gas to a location within the labyrinth seal and the one or more outlets being configured to remove at least part of the gas from a location within the labyrinth seal.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of sealing an actuator using a labyrinth seal, the method comprising introducing gas into the labyrinth seal via one or more inlets connected to a location within the labyrinth seal, and removing gas from the labyrinth seal via one or more outlets connected to a location within the labyrinth seal.
Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein


A transport device in the form of a cart or cargo hauler is foldable to permit the device to be used in transport applications with narrow or constrained parameters. The device may be loaded or unloaded when folded or unfolded, providing a flexible implementation that improves ease of transport. The device may include one or more wheels or skis depending on a desired application. Handles may be provided that telescope and/or fold to provide a compact folded configuration. The transport device may be folded compactly so as to be carried with a backpack or shoulder harness. The handles may be attached to waist belt or shoulder harness to permit hands-free transport. The device is suitable for use over rough back country terrain or sand.

The commercial and recreational marine industries are constantly moving cargo to and from vessels. Supplies are often located at significant distances from where vessels are docked or moored. Commercial vessels typically have the bulk of consumable stores sub-contracted to companies which re-stock the vessel upon its arrival in port. However, crew are often dispatched for specific items. These items can be numerous, bulky and/or heavy.
Unlike commercial vessels, recreational vessels which include; chartered/private captain-crewed vessels, year round/month/weeks cruisers, weekend and day boaters, are responsible for restocking their own vessels. For chartered and cruisers, restocking often involves walking, bicycling, scooter or taxi cabs, and dedicated and multiple trips. Provisions may include food, household supplies, gasoline for dinghy engines, water, vehicle or motor parts, sails or repair tools and hardware, as examples.
Weekend and day boaters typically transport gear from a vehicle to a docked or moored vessel. It is also likely that on occasion it may be helpful to transport gear while in port.
Other areas where items are transported in constrained circumstances include forest firefighters, park rangers, trail maintenance crews, and remote EMS personnel, to name a few examples. Additional recreational applications include campers, beach goers, RV'ers, remote hunting/fishing camps and outdoorsmen.
Devices that are currently available for the above applications are aluminum and plastic utility carts. Some examples of these carts are illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1a illustrates an aluminum folding marine cart. Other products, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 1c, include several variations on garden carts with either plastic or fiberglass tubs on wheels.
The cart illustrated in FIG. 1a may include optional adapters for both bicycles and tractors. The cart design shown in FIG. 1 may be limited in the maximum travel speed of the cart.


A system and method for automatically aligning immersive displays, including helmet-mounted displays, such displays creating composite images from at least one image source. A gimbal-mounted camera/rangefinder apparatus is used to create a high resolution three-dimensional (3D) map of the screen surface which, in turn, is used to generate geometric corrections of projected image segments. The rangefinder is typically a laser rangefinder and the laser element thereof can draw display channel outlines of the screen. The gimbal-mounted camera/rangefinder is used to automatically analyze a test pattern projected onto the screen, typically without geometric correction. Each defined point of the test pattern may then be “moved” to its proper location on the 3D screen map. Video signal processing, performed either in software or hardware, accomplishes geometric correction, edge blending, color (e.g., gamma) correction and intensity matching. Unique polygonal blend regions are used for edge blending.

The term "immersive display" is used in virtual reality discussions to refer to a display that at least partially surrounds a viewer. Typically consisting of large, curved screens (possibly as long as 24 feet or more in length), an image projected thereupon completely fills the peripheral vision of a viewer. The term "spatially immersive wall" is sometimes applied to such screens.
Such displays, often also referred to as wide field of view (WFOV) displays, are widely used in training simulators to provide realistic visual imagery to a person being trained in the simulator. Many other applications exist for such immersive displays. Well known applications include control centers (e.g., traffic, power, shipboard, emergency service, factory operations, process control, military, etc.).
In immersive displays and other similar applications, it is, therefore, highly desirable to project or display a unified, composite image formed from image segments originating at one or more image sources (e.g., projectors). Often, such composite images must be projected onto a non-planar surface, for example onto a screen curved along at least one dimension. Such images may be produced by either front or rear projection onto the screen. Because of screen imperfections, projector anomalies, projector/screen alignment differences, etc., the multiple images, if projected "raw," do not yield an acceptable composite image. Further, color balance and brightness differences among multiple projectors further detract from a seamless, contiguous, composite image.
It is, therefore, common practice in installations designed to exhibit such composite images, to align and calibrate system components to overcome image distortions introduced from the aforementioned sources. Such calibration and alignment procedures often suffer from one or more common shortcomings. For example, most calibration and alignment procedures of the prior art are either extremely time consuming and/or inaccurate. Further, minute changes in one or more system components often requires recalibration.
Traditionally, a number of instruments are used for alignment of immersive visual displays. Transits may be used to verify absolute locations of display imagery with respect to design specifications. Often, at least two transits are needed for calibrating at a price in excess of $20K each. Luminance meters may be used to measure colorimetry for channel matching and edge blending. Large amounts of manual setup, measurement, and interpretation, followed by manual and/or computer based calculations provide feedback to the image source to correct parameters.
Recent additions to high end projector devices allow for individual channel alignment. Such projectors still lack the ability to handle cross channel parameter measurement and adjustment in highly immersive environments with many adjacent display channels.
As projector and associated image processing costs continue to fall, immersive displays are utilizing more and more channels, thereby making setup and maintenance costs for such systems increasingly higher. Each added channel brings increased complexity and more need for aligning and blending image segments in the display.

System and method for automatically aligning immersive displays


A brick for use in a high temperature furnace, or the like, having a body portion with at least one tongue and groove pair in at least one of the body surfaces with anchor means formed integrally with the body portion. Tie-back brick assemblies are formed by mating at least two of such brick and clamping them together.. A lining for use in such furnaces is formed by using such tie-back assemblies with conventionally shaped brick.

This invention relates to brick and brick assemblies for use in a refractory lining wherein the lining is subject to thermal stresses which result in unwanted distortion of the lining.
Maintaining stability of refractory lining structures during the life of a furnace has been an age-old problem. Due to expansion of the refractory caused by heating and cooling or permanent growth caused by alteration of the refractory, a wall constructed of refractories tends to distort from the original dimensions. This often compromises the ability of the lining to contain molten metals or gases within the confines of the furnace. Numerous designs for interlocking brick have been devised to improve wall stability. Simple methods such as use of a common tongue and groove was first proposed in 1882 and was protected by U.S. Pat. No. 260,155. This concept was later expanded and applied to a complex structure as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 308,577. U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,997 illustrates a rather unique design for building a refractory box using individual members which have opposing male and female ends. Interlocking structures for refractory shapes designed to convey hot furnace gases are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,630,503, 4,436,144 and 4,940,081. These patents all show modification of the tongue and groove concept. The refractories interlock by a series of raised projections fitting into corresponding recesses. In all three cases, the brick are stacked in a vertical fashion and have longitudinally aligned holes for transport of the hot furnace gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,249 describes a novel approach for stabilizing the critical area on the wall of an aluminum reverberatory furnace. In this patent wall block are positioned standing on end. The working face block is interlocked with the backup block by means of a male projection on the working face block which fits into a corresponding female recess in the backup block. The working face block is thus structurally tied into the backup lining with minimal joints exposed at the working face.
While the prior art has improved wall stability by making advances in the way that brick are interlocked further improvements are desired, especially since metallurgical furnaces and other high temperature vessels are expected to last longer due to the high cost of replacing the linings and the economic need to keep these furnaces and vessels in continuous operation. Wall stability is an especially acute problem in furnaces having long axial construction such as rectangular-shaped non-ferrous reverberatory furnaces. These furnaces typically have walls about 30 feet in length. Such walls, without sufficient structural support, tend to bow inward over time thus causing premature failure of the lining.

Offsetting interlocking tie-back assembly


A photographic material comprising a support coated with a silver halide image-forming emulsion layer, a non image-forming layer, and a hydrophilic colloid protective layer wherein the non image-forming layer is situated between the protective layer and the image-forming layer and comprises metallic silver in particle form.

Photographic material conventionally comprises a transparent reflective support that is coated with one or several image-forming layers containing silver halide photographic emulsions. From shooting to development, these materials are subject to many mechanical stresses. In particular, these mechanical stresses act on the photographic material when it is being moved, for example during exposure, development, printing or projection. Physical deterioration of the photographic material follows with partial shredding of the superficial layers of the photographic material. This partial shredding generates debris and dust which accumulate on the material itself, on any other photographic material in contact or located close by, and on the conveyor mechanism.
This problem is especially important in the cinematography industry. Motion picture films are photographic materials that are always used in movement, for example when shooting, developing, printing or projecting the film.
In cinematographic shooting, a set of scenes is filmed on a first color negative film for shooting. This negative film is cut and spliced to make up the final motion picture film that comprises a selection of scenes. This assembled negative film is then printed on positive color film, called a Master. This master, which constitutes the final motion picture film, is used to produce a copy onto intermediate negative film. This intermediate negative film is then used to print positive copies intended for projection in movie theater. These copies are obtained by exposing copy positive film using the intermediate negative film, the two films being placed one against the other and driven at speeds in the order of 50 to 100 m/min. This copying step is repeated as many times as necessary.
Consequently, a large number of copies are printed from a single intermediate negative film.
While these copies are being printed, dust and debris are generated by the wear and tear of the superficial parts of the copy positive film as they move. These dust and debris tend to accumulate mechanically or electrostatically on the intermediate film, which causes the appearance of defects on the following printed copies. In order to limit these defects, the copy printing operation has to be interrupted regularly to clean the intermediate negative film on which the dust and debris have accumulated.
The objective of the present invention is to provide copy positive photographic material that generates a low amount of dust and debris when printing copies.

Photographic material for reducing drive mechanism dust


A television receiver includes a switching portion which receives each of a video signal received and obtained by an antenna and a video signal read from a storage medium, and selectively outputs one of the video signals in response to an instruction signal for output selection, a detection portion which detects a mode of a video signal, a selection/control portion which supplies the instruction signal for output selection to the switching portion, and outputs a detection result corresponding to a preset specific mode from the detection portion, a signal processing portion which applies sequential scanning conversion processing to the video signal selected and output by the switching portion, and a display portion which displays the video signal subjected to the sequential scanning conversion processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television receiver including a function to attach a detachable portable storage medium to, e.g., a digital camera and display a video signal recorded therein on a screen, and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a portable memory card having a built-in semiconductor memory is detachable in a digital camera. Further, in the digital camera, an optical image of a photographed object is converted into an electrical video signal and stored in the memory card. In this case, the video signal stored in the memory card is based on a progressive mode.
Furthermore, there has been developed a television receiver which has a function to attach such a memory card and display a video signal recorded therein on a screen. This television receiver converts a video signal read from the memory card into a signal based on the interlaced mode of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) standard, and displays it on a CRT (cathode ray tube).
Moreover, in this television receiver, sequential scanning conversion processing can be applied to video signals converted into signals based on the interlaced mode in order to convert them to video signals based on the progressive mode, thereby enhancing the quality of displayed images.
Here, when a video signal read from the memory card is still picture video, sequential scanning conversion processing to combine video signals of adjacent fields after interlace conversion is applied, thereby displaying a still picture image with the grade of the original video recorded in the memory card.
On the other hand, when a video signal read from the memory card is a moving picture video, since sequential scanning conversion processing based on scanning line interpolation is applied to each field after interlace conversion, there occurs a problem that the grade of a video to be displayed is degraded.
This problem is visually confirmed by a user as an out-of-focus feeling that a contour becomes blurred in a vertical direction of a screen or a jagged feeling that a diagonal line is stepped. Additionally, this problem likewise occurs when displaying a moving picture video created by applying editing processing such as slides, thumbnails, zooming and others to a video signal recorded in the memory card.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-10219 discloses that sequential double-speed conversion or field double-speed conversion is carried out in such a manner that a high-quality video can be displayed with less flicker obstructions in accordance with a video signal format based on a television mode and a type of a display monitor when displaying video signals based on different television modes, but it does not have any description about solving the above-described problem.

Television receiver and control method thereof for displaying video signals based on different television modes


Ink jet printing paper capable of providing, by using a low permeablity or a nonpermeable supporting sheet, a high surface glossiness and a high dot reproducibility of a silver halide photograph level, an excellent absorptivity of ink, and a high recording density, and preventing cockling by ink solvent, comprising the low permeablity or the nonpermeable supporting sheet, at least one ink receiving layer coated on the supporting sheet, and a luster layer coated on the ink receiving layer, the ink receiving layer in contact with the luster layer comprising pigment, as a main component, having a specific surface area-based mode diameter of pore distribution of 100 nm or less and an average secondary particle size of 1.3 μm or less, and the luster layer comprising pigment, as a main component, having an average primary particle size of 5 to 100 nm.

Ink jet recording system in which aqueous ink is ejected through a nozzle having fine pores to form an image on recording paper is widely used in terminal printers, facsimiles, plotters, sheet feeding printers, etc., due to low noise during recording, ease of performing color recording, possibility of performing high-speed recording, lower cost than other printing devices, and so forth.
Recently, demand has increased for high performance of printing paper which is used in an ink jet recording system due to increasing wide spread use of printers and development thereof to enhance high definition and high-speed performance as well as appearance for digital cameras in the field.
Accordingly, ink jet printing paper having excellent recording properties including a high ink absorptivity, a high recording density, a high water resistance, and, in particular, a high image quality and surface glossiness equivalent to a silver halide photograph is strongly awaited.
As a method for imparting glossiness to ink jet printing paper, a method in which the surface of a coating layer is smoothened by being passed between rollers to which pressure or temperature is applied using a device, such as a super calender, (i.e., calender finish) is generally known.
However, the glossiness of printing paper obtained by the calender finishing is not sufficient. In addition, there are problems in that the ink absorptivity thereof is reduced due to reduction of voids in a coating layer, and hence, feathering tends to be easily caused.
Other than the above-mentioned calender finishing, a number of methods have been proposed which improve the glossiness of paper by providing an ink receiving layer formed by an ink absorbing resin, such as starch, gelatin, water-soluble cellulose resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, denatured polyurethane, on a luster surface of a smooth plastic film or a resin coated paper.
However, although the printing paper obtained by the above methods have some degree of glossiness, the ink absorptivity thereof is not sufficient and ink drying speed is slow. Accordingly, it is not easy to handle the printing paper and there are problems that uneven ink absorption tends to be caused and that water resistance is low and curl is caused.
On the other hand, a method in which a coating layer is provided which includes ultra fine pigment powder of colloidal silica having small particle size is proposed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 2-274587, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 8-67064, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 8-118790, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-37944, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-353957.
However, although the printing paper obtained by the above method has a glossiness of some degree, voids are not sufficiently formed in the coating layer, and a satisfactory ink absorptivity cannot be obtained.
Ink jet printing sheet having at least a layer including synthetic silica having an average particle size of primary particle of 50 nm or less formed by a gas phase method and a layer including a colloidal silica in that order viewed from a supporting sheet is proposed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-37944. However, although the glossiness and anti-abrasion property thereof can be improved, its void rate is reduced by the primary powder, such as colloidal silica, and hence, the ink absorptivity thereof tends to be lowered. Also, if the coating amount is reduced in order to maintain the ink absorptivity, interference patterns are generated, lowering the quality of the luster surface, and a satisfactory glossiness cannot be obtained.
Also, ink jet printing sheet having at least a layer including synthetic silica having an average particle size of primary particle of 30 nm or less formed by a gas phase method and a layer including cationic colloid particles in that order viewed from a supporting sheet is proposed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-353957. However, although feathering of image after printing and water resistance may be improved, there is a problem that the ink absorptivity thereof is lowered as in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-37944.
As described above, a method for improving glossiness without significantly decreasing ink absorbing speed is not disclosed in any of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 2-274587, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 8-67064, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei. 8-118790, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-37944, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2001-353957, and so forth.
As a method for imparting glossiness other than the methods described above, so called cast coating methods are known in which a wet coating layer is pressed against a heated calender roll having a specular surface and dried to copy the specular surface (for example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,846 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Hei 7-89220).
Cast coating methods which are generally known are as follows:
(1) a wet cast coating method in which pigment composition having pigment and adhesive as main components is coated on a base paper, and while a coating layer is in a wet state, it is pressure welded against a specular-finished heated calender roll and dried to obtain a glossy finish;
(2) a gel cast coating method in which a wet state coating layer is gelatinized by acid, salt, heat, and so forth, and is pressure welded against a heated calender roll and dried to obtain a glossy finish; and
(3) a rewet cast coating method in which a coating layer of wet state is once dried and then wet plasticized using a rewetting solution, and is pressure welded to a heated calender roll and dried to obtain a glossy finish.
Although each of the above wet casting methods are recognized as a distinguished techniques among skilled persons in the field, the methods are similar in terms of pressure welding a surface of a coating layer in a wet plasticizing state against a calender roll, drying, and separating from a heated calender roll to copy a specular surface.
Cast coating paper obtained by the above wet casting method is mainly used for high quality printing matter since it has a high surface glossiness and a high surface smoothness and excellent printing effect can be obtained as compared with normal printing paper which is calender finished.
However, there are various problems for applying the cast coating paper to ink jet printing paper. For example, the above-mentioned cast coating paper acquires high glossiness due to the presence of a film-forming material, such as an adhesive, contained in the pigment composition forming a coating layer, which copies the surface of a calender roll of a cast coater as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,846. The porosity of the coating layer is lost by the presence of the film-forming material, and absorptivity of ink during ink jet recording is significantly reduced. For that reason, it is important to make the coating layer porous so that it easily absorbs ink and improves the ink absorptivity of the cast coating paper. On the other hand, in order to obtain a high quality image equivalent to a silver halide photograph, it is necessary that a uniform film be formed in the coating layer so that ink which is ejected through fine nozzles of an ink jet printer can be reproduced on the paper without cracks. However, it is extremely difficult to realize both a uniform film having no cracks and a porosity using a conventional wet cast coating method.
Also, in the cast coating paper, it is necessary that water components in the coating material be vaporized through the backside because the wet coating material is contacted the calender roll and dried. For this reason, vapor will remain in the coating layer if a supporting sheet having a significantly low permeability, such as resin coated paper or film, is used. Since the volume of vapor is much larger than the volume of water, the captured vapor will raise the supporting sheet. At that time, the weakest portion of the coating layer would be damaged.
For example, if the bonding of the coating material to the specular-finished heated calender roll is weak, peeling occurs at the boundary between the coating layer and the calender roll, and a so-called insufficient adherence that causes insufficient copying of the specular surface of the calender roll is caused. On the other hand, if the strength of an undried coating layer is weaker than the bonding strength between the calender roll and the coating material, the coating layer will be broken inside thereof and a part of the coating material will attach on the surface of the calender roll to stain the calender roll. In either case, a clear casting surface cannot be formed and becomes a cause of problems in terms of quality and operation.
Accordingly, a great difficulty is associated with obtaining a cast coating paper using a low permeability or nonpermeable supporting sheet, such as a resin coated paper and film.
Also, it is known that a defect called cockling may be observed during ink jet printing in which printing paper is elongated and wrinkled due to the effect of solvent, such as water, contained in ink. Cockling not only disturbs the appearance of printing matter but also makes the printing paper contact a recording head to stain the printing paper. This may lead to breakage of the printing paper or malfunction of the recording head.
In order to prevent the generation of cockling, it is effective to use a supporting sheet which is not enlarged by the solvent of ink, or to provide a layer between an ink receiving layer and a supporting sheet, which does not permeate the solvent of ink. For example, if a low permeability or nonpermeable supporting sheet, such as resin coated paper and film, is used, cockling can be effectively prevented.
That is, an object of the present invention is to provide ink jet printing paper including a low permeability or nonpermeable supporting sheet, having a high surface glossiness and a high dot reproducibility equivalent to a silver halide photograph level, the ink jet printing paper having excellent ink absorptivity and ink absorbing rate, and a high recording density, and which is capable of preventing cockling by ink solvent.