A reluctance electric machine comprising: (a) a stator part (4) with stator teeth (12) of magnetically conductive material that are provided with coil windings (24); (b) and a rotor part (6) arranged coaxially with respect to the stator part (12) and located opposite the stator part (12) so as to leave free an air gap (8) therebetween; (c) the rotor part (6) having a number of discrete poles (20) of magnetically conductive material that project in the direction towards the stator part (12), characterized in (d) that cooling with channelled coolant flow is provided at least for partial sections of the coil windings (24) of the stator part (12).

The invention relates to a reluctance electric machine comprising
a stator part with stator teeth of magnetically conductive material that are provided with coil windings;
and a rotor part arranged coaxially with respect to the stator part and located opposite the stator part so as to leave free an air gap therebetween,
the rotor part having a number discrete poles of magnetically conductive material that project in the direction towards the stator part.
Reluctance electric machines differ from other electric machines in that they have no electromagnetic or permanent-magnetic excitation part. Reluctance electric machines operate by using the effect of magnetic attraction of magnetically conducting parts under the influence of magnetic flux flowing through are same. Both the stator and the rotor have distinctive magnetically conductive poles. The coil windings have current flowing therethrough such that they attract an adjacent rotor pole each. The current in the stator pole has to be turned off again at the proper time after attraction of the respective rotor pole, in order to release the rotor pole in running direction. For, if the coil current would continue to flow (irrespective of the direction of flow), continued attraction by the stator pole, i.e. a retroactive force, would result that would prevent further rotation of the rotor.
It is thus in the nature of reluctance electric machines that these are exploited basically half of the time only. This is why reluctance electric machinesxe2x80x94assuming otherwise identical design parametersxe2x80x94normally achieve only about half of the torque values or power values in comparison with other electric motors.
It is the object of the invention to improve a reluctance electric machine of the type indicated at the outset towards higher values as regards permanent torque and permanent power.
To meet this object, the reluctance electric machine according to the invention is characterized in that cooling with channelled coolant flow is provided at least for partial sections of the coil windings of the stator part.
Preferably, the coil windings are provided with an enclosure each. As an alternative, there are preferably several coil windings commonly provided with an enclosure each. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, the stator part is provided with an enclosure in its entirety. In all of the cases mentioned, there may be provided, for the space enclosed by the enclosure, one or more coolant supplies and one or more coolant discharges.
As regards the term xe2x80x9cprojecting, discrete polesxe2x80x9d in feature (c) of claim 1, it is to be pointed out furthermore that the portions between the discrete poles may also be filled with a non-magnetic material so that the rotor part is virtually smooth on the air gap side.
The invention teaches to make the cooling of the stator part considerably more efficient than with known reluctance electric machines. The electric machine thus can be subjected to considerably higher loadsxe2x80x94permanently and not only for short periods, as before.
The statements further below will make clear that the channelling of the coolant flow according to the invention, in practical application, mostly has the effect that the stator part of the reluctance electric machine is provided with a sealing layer on the side facing the air gap. The result of the sealing layer is that the distance between the stator poles and the rotor poles across the air gap is greater than without provision of a sealing layer. This meansxe2x80x94with otherwise unchanged design parametersxe2x80x94a reduction of the magnetic flux between the respective pair of stator pole and rotor pole in consideration and thus a deterioration of the magnetic conditions of the electric machine. With the corresponding designs of the reluctance electric machine according to the invention, which have a sealing layer, this disadvantage is deliberately tolerated; according to the invention, the considerably more efficient cooling achieves a greater advantage than the deterioration of the magnetic conditions due to additional material in the air gap.
These restrictions are not applicable when the stator poles, by way of suitable enclosures, have individually associated cooling spaces or cooling channels that cover only the end face portions and do not project into the air gap.
Known reluctance electric machines also have already made use of cooling means. Known concretely are the non-specific blowing of air through the entire electric machine (stator part, air gap, rotor part) or as cooling on the stator part side directed away from the air gap. In contrast thereto, the reluctance electric machine according to the invention employs direct or quasi-direct cooling of those portions where the heat losses arise in the first place. A first major portion of generation of heat losses are the coil windings (often referred to as xe2x80x9ccopper lossesxe2x80x9d; these are caused mainly by the passage of current). According to the invention, the coil windings are cooled directly by cooling medium flowing therealong. Even if the coil windings are cooled only in the spaces between the stator teeth or only in the spaces on the face side of the stator teeth (and not in both spaces), very efficient cooling is achieved since the material of the coil windings, which has good current conducting properties, also provides for good conduction of the heat losses to the portions cooled concretely. Another major place of generation of heat losses are the stator teeth (often referred to as xe2x80x9ciron lossesxe2x80x9d in simplified manner; these losses are caused mainly by the continuous alternation between magnetization and demagnetization or remagnetization of the stator teeth). The described cooling operation by flow of cooling medium through spaces accommodating coil windings of the stator part, at the same time constitutes cooling of the stator teeth sincexe2x80x94at least with many design types of the coil windingsxe2x80x94the cooling medium flows in the spaces mentioned so as to reach the stator teeth and since the coil windings establishing physical contact with the stator teeth dissipate heat from the stator teeth by thermal conduction. Furthermore, the cooling medium usually flows along the stator back between the stator teeth; the stator back receives heat from the stator teeth by thermal conduction.
A preferred development of the invention provides that the stator teeth have internal flow passages for cooling medium. This provides for direct, particularly efficient internal cooling of the stator teeth. Furthermore, it is pointed out as preferred possibility according to the invention to provide in addition to, or instead of, the described internal cooling of the stator teeth, internal flow passages for cooling medium in the region of the stator part which are set back from the stator teeth.
It is expressly pointed out that the term xe2x80x9creluctance electric machinexe2x80x9d used in the present application comprises both electric motors (conversion of electric energy to mechanical energy) as well as current generators (conversion of mechanical energy to electric energy). In addition thereto, it is expressly pointed out that the term xe2x80x9cstator partxe2x80x9d is not supposed to mean that the stator part cogently is to be non-moving, and that the term xe2x80x9crotor partxe2x80x9d is not supposed to mean that the rotor part cogently is supposed to be a rotatable part of the electric machine. Rather, it is easily possible to provide the stator part (i.e. the part of the electric machine provided with coil windings) as rotating machine part and the rotor part as stationary, non-moving machine part. The inverse design, however, is usually more favorable since the current windings having current supplied thereto and, in case of the generator, discharged therefrom, are located on a stationary machine part, whereby sliding contacts are avoided. In addition thereto, the possible embodiment is to be mentioned that both the stator part and the rotor part rotate at different speeds and/or different directions of rotation, in particular when they are connected to each other via a gear system or part of a gear system, e.g. a planetary gear system.
The electric machine according to the invention preferably is formed with electronic activation and deactivation of the coil winding, currents. By means of a suitable sensor or on the basis of electric information from feeding the electric motor, the rotational relative position between stupor part and rotor part is ascertained; the current through the coil windings is turned on and off again at the proper time each. Suitable electric circuits and suitable electronic components for realizing the described current control for electric motors and current withdrawal for generators, respectively, are known and need not be described here in more detail.
The reluctance electric machine according to the invention may be designed to have axe2x80x94roughly speakingxe2x80x94cylindrical air gap (so that cooperating pairs of stator pole and rotor pole, so to speak, are xe2x80x9cconfrontingxe2x80x9d each other in radial direction) orxe2x80x94roughly speakingxe2x80x94an air gap located in a plane perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the rotor part (so that cooperating pairs of stator pole and rotor pole, so to speak, are xe2x80x9cconfrontingxe2x80x9d each other in axial direction). It is possible in both cases to make use of several air gap portions, i.e. for example several cylindrical air gap portions on different diameters of the electric machine or several xe2x80x9cplanarxe2x80x9d air gap portions axially beside each other; in both cases there is formed a sequence of stator partxe2x80x94rotor partxe2x80x94stator partxe2x80x94rotor partxe2x80x94stator part etc.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stator part is provided with a sealing layer on the side facing the air gap. By means of the sealing layer, it is possible in particularly simple manner in terms of construction to seal the spaces accommodating the coil windings in the direction towards the air gap in tight manner with respect to the cooling medium. For sealing the spaces on the face side of the stator teeth in the other directions so as to provide tightness with respect to the cooling medium, it is possible in particular to provide for each stator tooth a component part of U-shaped cross-section. These circumstances will be described in more detail further below in the description of a concrete embodiment.
In case of thexe2x80x94roughly speakingxe2x80x94cylindrical air gap, the sealing layer normally is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical. In case of the xe2x80x9cplanarxe2x80x9d air gap arranged perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, the sealing layer normally is planar or substantially planar and, in a front view, has substantially the shape of a ring of a circle.
Preferably, the sealing layer has a first layer for fulfilling the sealing function and a second layer for taking up the forces acting on the sealing layer. The first layer may preferably by a plastics film. The second layer may preferably consist of plastics material, in particular fiber-reinforced plastics material (e.g. reinforced with carbon fibers). As regards the forces acting on the sealing layer, especially the forces due to excess pressure of the cooling medium and centrifugal forces due to rotation of the stator part (with a machine design with rotating stator part) should be mentioned. The thickness of the sealing layer is preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mm.
The reluctance electric machine according to the invention may use either liquid cooling medium or gaseous cooling medium. Liquid cooling medium as a rule leads to higher cooling efficiency.
In case of the design withxe2x80x94roughly speakingxe2x80x94cylindrical air gap, it is possible to select either a design with external rotor (the rotor part has its rotor poles located radially farther outside than the air gap) or a design with internal rotor (the stator part has its stator teeth located radially farther outside than the air gap). In the former case, the rotor part often is of pot-shaped configuration in its entirety. The same holds for rotors having the afore-mentioned multiple air gap of cylindrical configuration.
Preferably, the stator part, on the side directed away from the rotor part, is designed such that the heat transfer is increased. This can be achieved by increasing the surface area or also and in addition by the generation of turbulent flow. Heat dissipation ribs are indicated as a concrete example in this respect. On the xe2x80x9crear sidexe2x80x9d of the stator part, cooling can be effected either with the same cooling medium ad the one flowing through the flow passages associated with the coil windings. As an alternative, it is also possible to use a different cooling medium on this xe2x80x9crear sidexe2x80x9d, e.g. cooling air supplied by a fan or air without forced movement.
Preferably, the coil windings in the winding head portions located on the face side of the stator teeth, are provided with flow passages for the cooling medium that are left free between oil winding conductors. While the coil winding in the grooves between the stator teeth normally should be wound as densely packed as possible for electric and magnetic reasons, in particular for reducing losses, it is more tolerable in the winding head portions located on the face side of the stator teeth to arrange either individual coil winding conductors in spaced apart manner or, as a further example, to leave small distances between winding layers, e.g. in axial direction. The measures mentioned serve to intensify the heat transfer in the winding head portions mentioned.
In a preferred development of the invention, the coil windings of the stator part are in the form of individual coils that are not interlinked with respect to the magnetic flux. This is conceivable, for example, such that a prefabricated individual coil is slid onto each individual stator tooth. The individual coils either are electrically connected to each other directly (e.g. in series or in parallel) or are connected individually or in groups to the electronic current control.
Preferably, there are provided a first, internal cooling circuit for circulating the cooling medium through the flow passages described, and a second, external cooling circuit for circulating another cooling medium, with the external cooling circuit being connected to the internal cooling circuit via a heat exchanger. The cooling medium in the internal cooling circuit and the additional cooling medium in the external cooling circuit may be the same cooling media. However, particularly preferred is a design in which the cooling medium in the internal cooling circuit is electrically non-conductive oil and the additional cooling-medium in the external cooling circuit is a different cooling liquid, in particular water. As a rule, there is provided an additional heat exchanger via which the external cooling circuit dissipates its heat to the environment.
Preferably, the internal cooling circuit has a circulation pump of its own. The internal cooling circuit and the heat exchanger preferably are integrated in terms of space on the reluctance electric machine. The external cooling circuit may, but does not have to, extend a distance away from the reluctance electric machine.
The described design with two coupled cooling circuits allows the necessary volume of cooling medium in the internal cooling circuit to be kept low. This is favorable since, as a general rule, special cooling medium has to be employed here which may establish contact with the portions of the electric machine subjected to the coolant, without disturbance being caused thereby. These specific cooling media, e.g. electrically non-conductive cooling oil, are comparatively expensive.
A concrete embodiment for an electric motor cooling means with internal and external cooling circuits is described in German patent application 196 51 119.4. The total contents of this laid open publication is made part of the instant application by making reference thereto. Preferably, the reluctance electric machine according to the invention has one or more features that are disclosed in said German patent application 196 51 119.4.

Magnet-Motor Gesellschaft fur Magnetmotorische Technik mbH


A kit for usage by a nail polish application apparatus, the kit comprising one or more nail polish capsules. Each of the nail polish capsule(s) comprises a body portion defining a reservoir containing a nail polish fluid and a non-screw detachable cover having an integrated nail polish applying element. The non-screw detachable cover is mechanically coupled to an upper face of the body portion to seal an opening in the upper face.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a kit for usage by an automated nail polish application apparatus and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a kit comprising one or more nail polish capsules for usage by an automated nail polish application apparatus.
Applying nail polish to fingernails and/or toenails has been practiced since ancient times. Decorating the finger and/or toe nails is still fashionable in modern times as many people, in particular woman apply nail polish to decorate their fingernails and/or toenails.
Traditionally, manual nail polish application is the most common method. The manual nail polish application may require some expertise, skills and/or experience and may be time consuming. In addition manual application of the nail polish to one self's nails may be physically challenging due to the need to master the art in both hands and in case of the foot toenails reaching conveniently and efficiently the toes may also present difficulties. While many individuals have mastered the art of applying the nail polish manually for themselves, nail polish application may typically be practiced by professional manicurists and/or pedicurists.
With the advancement of technology and an enabling technical environment, automated nail polish application is becoming more common and popular and automated nail polish application apparatuses are used by more and more users for efficiently applying nail polish.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nail polish kit for use by an automated nail polish application apparatus


At user registration, a client device obtains a signature for a user ID, a password, and a public key by using a private key, and sends user information that includes the signature and the above-described information items to a service providing apparatus. The service providing apparatus verifies the signature by using the public key and stores the user information by which the password and the public key are associated with each other. When a request for a service is made, the client device allows authentication processing by sending to the service providing apparatus an authentication response that includes the user ID together with password authentication information, a signature for a challenge sent from the service providing apparatus, or a signature for the password and the challenge, irrespective of whether the authentication method for the service is password authentication, public key authentication, or public-key-and-password combination authentication.

As the Internet and other networks have become commonplace, online shopping, content services, and other online services have been increasing. In an ordinary online service, a service providing apparatus that provides the user with a service and a client device that performs user authentication for the service providing apparatus are connected to a network. The user performs user authentication to the service providing apparatus through the client device. The service providing apparatus then provides a service based on the result of the user authentication.
Password authentication has become a widespread user authentication method that can be easily implemented. To provide improved security by password authentication, a different password must be specified for each service, and the password must be as long as possible. Then, the user has to go through the trouble of memorizing all the passwords specified for the services. Actually, the user is likely to specify a common password or a short password that is easy to memorize, making it difficult to ensure security. Moreover, password authentication has a high risk of password leakage by phishing or the like.
A technology combining password authentication with an authentication method based on a public key cryptosystem (public key authentication) has been proposed. For example, in a user authentication system disclosed in Patent literature 1, a terminal device, a business server, and a proxy authentication feature are connected to a network. When the user uses the business server through the terminal device, the proxy authentication feature authenticates the user using the terminal device in place of the business server and, if the validity is verified, a series of processes is executed in the business server. The proxy authentication feature performs authentication using user authentication information such as the user ID and the password. The proxy authentication feature further receives from the terminal device a digital signature (hereafter simply "signature") calculated for a session ID sent from the proxy authentication feature to the terminal device, by using the private key of the terminal device, and verifies the signature, thereby performing stronger authentication. By using a single proxy authentication feature for authentication in a plurality of business servers, charges for using the business servers can be added up and collected by proxy. By adding the proxy authentication feature, the business servers can be used without modification.
Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2002-132727

Client device, key device, service providing apparatus, user authentication system, user authentication method, program, and recording medium

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A multi-touch method includes, in response to at least one finger of a user pointing toward a computer screen, recognizing an eye and at least one finger in an image frame taken by a camera; mapping a first coordinate of the recognized finger in the image frame to a second coordinate of the finger on the computer screen; mapping a third coordinate the recognized eye in the image frame to a fourth coordinate of the eye on the computer screen; determining whether the fourth coordinate is in the proximity of the second coordinate; in response to a positive decision, determining the second coordinate as a multi-touch point.

The present invention relates to multi-touch technology, and more specifically, to a multi-touch method and apparatus for general-purpose computers, and a portable terminal device.
The multi-touch technique is a technique allowing computer users to control graphic interfaces with multiple fingers simultaneously. With the prevalence of multi-touch capable smart phones, gesture recognition based on multi-touch control has gradually become a widely accepted human-machine interaction technique.
Multi-touch input must rely on multi-touch control devices, generally, multi-touch pads or touch screens supporting multi-touch input. However, such devices are not very popular nowadays, which commonly only present in high-end electronic devices, such as notebook computers, or need to be purchased separately. Many home or commercial desktop computers and notebook computers do not support multi-touch in terms of hardware, thus the applications of multi-touch input technology on general purpose computers are limited.
In order to develop and apply software systems supporting multi-touch input in the absence of multi-touch devices, many techniques of multi-touch input simulation have been developed. For example, a multi-touch input simulation software covers the window of target software which supports multi-touch input, and one or several points are clicked with a mouse device on the target software as fixed input points, then a moveable input pointer is simulated with the mouse device. It has also been done to simulate two input points by two mouse devices. The number of touch points that can be simulated by such method is very limited, with a huge difference between this input manner and that of multi-touch input operations, and an unfavorable effect.
Gesture recognition based on machine vision has emerged recently, in which gestures are captured with a camera, and interaction semantics of gestures are determined through calculating correlation coefficients between motion traces of gestures and predetermined templates. Existing methods of recognizing fingers and simulating multiple touches through a camera require a physical surface with checkerboard lattices as a simulated touch pad. Images of motions of fingers are taken by a camera supporting wireless communication, and then transmitted to a computer through wireless communication for analysis. Multi-touch inputs of users are acquired through camera auto-calibration, pose learning before using, image recognition in use, and the like methods.
However, such camera-based gesture recognition requires additional accessory devices, such as a physical surface with checkerboard lattices, a wireless camera added for capturing finger movements, an embedded transmission device, and connection to a computer through a USB wireless receiver. However, these requirements apparently limit the applications of such technique. In addition, such methods are unable to solve problems about the start and termination of inputs favorably. When fingers are present in images, users may possibly have not prepared to start or withdrawn fingers after their operations. It may cause a great inconvenience to the operations of users if it is unable to accurately distinguish the start and termination of inputs, or even lead to operation confusion, losing its practical value as a result.
Therefore, there is a need for a multi-touch technique applicable for general purpose computers, capable of overcoming defects in the prior art, which, on common personal computers and on the premise of without additional hardware devices, can support multi-touch input of users in a simple and natural manner as approximate as possible to that of practical multi-touch device operations.

International Business Machines Corporation


An adjustable clip having a first clip member and a second clip member. The first clip member includes a first slide tang that includes a first end, a second end with a detent tang. The second clip member includes a second slide tang having a first end, a second end with a detent tang. The slide tangs of the first and second clip members are positioned over the rail for installation and the slide tangs are moved towards each other until the detent tangs of the first and second clip members engage opposing ends of the rail.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable clip. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a mounting clip and method for use with a suspended ceiling structure.
In the typical wireless network environment, devices such as wireless routers, or access points, are affixed to ceilings. The access points are attached to the ceilings of businesses for a variety of reasons, including avoidance of damage to the unit. Access points placed on the ground are subjected to various hazards, resulting in damage to the unit, or loss of signals as the unit and/or connecting wires are trampled. The attachment of access points to ceilings presents additional difficulties. A variety of different ceiling types are employed by businesses, including drop-down ceiling tiles. The typical drop down ceiling employs a network of T-rails, which are first emplaced, hanging from original ceiling of a room and ceiling tiles are installed resting on the T-rails. An access point can be mounted on the T-rail by using a clip that grips opposing ends of the T-rails. However, currently there are three popular sizes of T-rails for ceiling tiles. Accordingly, each size T-rail size requires a different size clip. Therefore a vendor normally has to include at least three clips for ceiling mounted devices, such as access points, that are to be affixed to a T-rail of a drop ceiling, or other similar mounting.


Provided herein are carrier cells and virus combinations and methods for treatment of cancers. Also provided are modified carrier cells for such treatment, and methods of selecting carrier cells that are matched to subjects for such treatment.

Oncolytic viruses show promise as cancer therapeutics. Oncolytic viruses are designed to accumulate and replicate in cancerous cells. The oncolytic viruses can lyse cancerous cells and also can be used to encode and deliver anti-cancer agents. The efficacy of oncolytic viruses, however, can be impeded by circulating neutralizing antibodies, innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, and other clearing mechanisms that interfere with the delivery and/or accumulation of the viruses in cancerous tumors/cells. There is a need for improved delivery methods for effecting oncolytic therapy.

Cell-based vehicles for potentiation of viral therapy


Disclosed is an information providing apparatus, wherein information desired by users is provided with a high-precision selection, and at low processing cost. The information providing apparatus comprises: a data storing means for storing therein utilization log data that includes a plurality of sets of a plurality of context values inputted from a user terminal upon accessing a piece of content, and one or more information selection criterion values for the piece of content; a totalizing means for totalizing frequencies of accesses to pieces of content, from the utilization log data, for each of the combinations of the values that each of the contexts can take and the values that each of the information selection criteria can take; a context-influence calculating means for calculating a coefficient of association between each of the information selection criteria and each of the contexts, from the result of the totalization conducted by the totalizing means, and outputting the result to an information providing means; and the information providing means for selecting n [h] pieces (n [h] is one or more, and h is 1 to (the aforementioned m)) of contexts in priority from those having higher association with each of m pieces (m is one or more) of information selection criteria, on the basis of the coefficient of association, and selecting, on the basis of values of the n [h] pieces of contexts (current values) inputted from one of the user terminals (a current terminal), a piece of content to be outputted to the current terminal.

A user requires different information according to the user and the user's state. Hereinafter, a context means a state of the user. When the context changes, the information required by the user changes. As a technology with which in a state in which a context changes, the information desired by the users is presumed by collecting and analyzing a record of a user behavior and the information desired by the user is provided based on a result of the presumption, the following technologies are used.
An information presentation apparatus described in patent document 1 includes a map information accumulation means, a POI (Point Of Interest) information accumulation means, a map information acquisition means, a POI information selection log management means, a POI information weighting means, and a screen output means. Operation of the information presentation apparatus will be schematically described below.
The POI information accumulation means accumulate POI information for showing stores and the like on a map. The map information acquisition means extract map information and the corresponding POI information based on a user's current position or a user's status. The POI information selection log management means manage a log of the POI information selected by the user in past times. The POI information weighting means calculate posterior probability with which each piece of POI information is selected by using a probability network model for selecting the POI information according to the user's status (season, time, and place) and perform weighting of each piece of POI information according to the posterior probability. The screen output means display the POI information ranked according to the weighting in a screen.
A content delivery system which included an in-vehicle apparatus (a content reception reproduction apparatus), a content server for delivering content, and a service server for transmitting content candidate list information which can be delivered by the content server to the in-vehicle apparatus is described in patent document 2. The in-vehicle apparatus described in patent document 2 presumes a content desired by a user, creates a time table including information on content to be delivered by the content server and a delivery time of the content, and transmits the created time table to the content server. A program for scheduling program which creates the time table in the in-vehicle apparatus selects the content. Operation of the selection will be schematically described below.
First, the program for scheduling program generates a Bayesian network with a random variable about content information (information on content, consideration, data capacity, and the like), a random variable about user information (sex, favorite genre, and the like), and a random variable about status (information on a car and information about congestion). The program for scheduling program inputs information about a content to the Bayesian network and calculates a probability distribution about the user information and the status information. The program for scheduling program determines a degree of equivalence between a result of this calculation and various information about the user and the status at the time of recommendation, and determines the content with a high degree of equivalence as the content suitable for the delivery. The content is delivered in decreasing order of the degree of equivalence.
A content providing apparatus described in patent document 3 includes a user information management unit, a behavior log management unit, a rule management unit, a status recognition unit, a process selection unit, and a content delivery unit. Operation of the content providing apparatus will be schematically described below.
When the status recognition unit of the content providing apparatus described in patent document 3 acquires input data in relation to a certain user from various information devices which can communicate with the content providing apparatus, the status recognition unit compares the input data with an information recognition rule held by the rule management unit and recognizes the user's status. When the status recognition unit acquires input data which is user information data and behavior log data that are held by a user status management unit and the behavior log management unit respectively, the status recognition unit performs the status recognition to the input data. The information recognition unit outputs a result obtained by performing the status recognition as status recognition data.
Next, the process selection unit compares information recognition data with a process selection rule held by the rule management unit and determines a type of content to be provided to the user. The process selection unit outputs a content creation request data based on the determined content type.
Based on the content creation request data outputted by the process selection unit, the content delivery unit selects, from a plurality of content creation means for creating the content, a destination to which the request is sent, and makes the destination create the content. The content delivery unit delivers the created content to a user terminal associated with the user.
An information providing system described in patent document 4 includes an information providing server and a terminal that are configured so as to be communicable with each other.
The information providing server includes a recommendation data creation unit and a recommendation data transmission unit. The recommendation data creation unit of the information providing server creates pieces of content that fits the terminal or is a favorite of the user based on the state of the settings of the terminal and content utilization frequency data of the user in the terminal that are received from the terminal. The recommendation data transmission unit transmits the pieces of the content, which are created, to the terminal.
The terminal includes a terminal state detection unit, a setting data transmission unit, a recommendation data reception unit, a frequency data update unit, a frequency data transmission unit, an order calculation unit, and a display process unit. The terminal transmits the data of the state of the settings of the terminal and the data of the utilization frequency of content to the information providing server and receives the recommendation data from the information providing server. The terminal calculates a priority order by reflecting not only a degree of favorite but also a terminal's state when content is utilized in past times, arranges the pieces of the content recommended based on the calculated priority order, and displays them.
A method in which, by excluding a context parameter to which it is determined that it does not affect value judgment criterion, the context parameter which affects a whole information selection is optimized is disclosed in non-patent document 1. In the method disclosed in non-patent document 1, a degree of influence on the value judgment criterion when a certain context parameter changes is evaluated by calculating an amount of change, when one context parameter is varied, of a discrimination plane of a user preference model constructed by the SVM (Support Vector Machine) by using the Monte Carlo method.

Information providing apparatus, system, method, and program


Disclosed herein is a makeup puff apparatus. A puff is coupled in such a way so as to be freely movable, and is very efficiently designed to have functionality including flexibility, elasticity and a restoring force, thus ensuring durability resulting from firm coupling and enabling reliable operation, and thereby considerably increasing the ease and convenience of use. Particularly, the apparatus enables flexible motion and adjustment of the puff in conformity with a variation in angle on a touch portion when the apparatus is in use, thus continuously maintaining a soft touch sensation of the puff, and allows the apparatus to be immediately restored to its original state, thus preventing the angle of the puff from deviating from a predetermined angle.

Generally, in order to naturally cover blemishes and freckles of the skin exposed to the outside, such as the face, or to create clean and brilliant skin or clear and smooth skin, cosmetics such as foundation, concealer, twin cake and cosmetic powder are widely used.
The cosmetic powder should be evenly spread and perfectly applied to a desired portion without turning cakey. To this end, a makeup tool is used, which is referred to as a "puff".
Such a makeup puff may be used to apply cake-phased cosmetics, paste or liquid foundation as well as the powder-phased cosmetics. The makeup puff is classified into a manual puff and an electric puff. The manual puff has a finger insert band on a surface thereof, so that a user may spread and apply cosmetics to a desired portion by dabbing this portion with the puff covered with the cosmetics after inserting the user's finger into the finger insert band. The electric puff is automatically operated to put on makeup.
The electric puff is provided with an electric motor, and is moved forwards and backwards by driving the electric motor, thus automatically dabbing a portion that is to be cosmetized.
However, the above-mentioned conventional electric puff is problematic in that a different electric power may be transmitted depending on the movement of the puff and a variation in angle on a touch portion, and an angle of the puff may deviate from a predetermined angle, and it is difficult to be immediately restored to its original state.
Thereby, the conventional electric puff is problematic in that it is inconvenient to use.


A clutch, including: inner and outer races; a wedge plate; an electromagnetic actuator including a coil and an attenuating circuit. The coil is arranged to be energized by a power source to switch the wedge clutch between: a locked mode in which the inner and races are locked in a circumferential direction and a free-wheel mode in which the inner race is rotatable with respect to the outer race in the circumferential direction. The attenuating circuit includes a capacitor parallel with the coil and a switch wired to the capacitor. During the free-wheel mode: the switch is arranged to connect the capacitor to an electrical ground; and the electrical power source is arranged to energize the coil and charge the capacitor with a voltage. Following initiation of the locked mode: the switch isolates the capacitor from the electrical ground; and the capacitor discharges the voltage through the coil.

For known electromagnetic devices, windings in or around ferromagnetic material are energized to create magnet fields used to displace components of the electromagnetic device. For example: a winding (coil) of a solenoid is energized to create a magnetic field displacing a pin surrounded by the winding; and for a reluctance motor, circumferentially disposed windings of a stator are energized and de-energized in sequence to create rotating magnetic fields that rotate a rotor for the pump. When windings are de-energized, residual magnetism remains in the ferromagnetic material associated with the windings. The residual magnetism resists displacement of the components to desired positions, for example, the pin for the solenoid returning to a pre-energized position, or continued rotation of the rotor for the pump.

Wedge clutch with residual magnetism attenuation and pump with residual magnetism attenuation


A system for transacting business with customers is disclosed. The system includes a dispatch division receiving a complaint from a customer related to a problem the customer is experiencing. The dispatch division then deploys a technician to repair the problem. While the technician is conducting the repair, the system permits the technician to interact with the customer and negotiate and close deals for additional or modified products, services or features that the customer may want. The system also includes provisions for allowing the technician to retrieve information related to the customer and includes features that automatically notify various appropriate business offices for follow-up with the customer.

Companies that operate networks provide access to their network to many different customers. These customers generally pay a fee for this access. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a customer 104 resides at dwelling 102. If the customer 104 experiences problems with their network access, resource or asset, customer 104 will contact the company 106. The customer 104's call will be handled by a customer service division 108. The customer service division will record the nature of the problem, and information related to the customer, including the customer's name, address and identification of the network asset allocated to the customer. The customer service division then contacts the dispatch division 110 which then deploys a technician 112.
While the technician 112 is at dwelling 102 repairing the problem reported by customer 104, customer 104 often asks technician 112 about other features and functions of the network. In light of these conversations, customer 104 may decide to modify his existing service and/or purchase additional features and services from company 106.
It is often very difficult or impossible for technician 112 to modify the customer's account information or provide new and additional services for customer 104 since the technician does not have all of the necessary information to properly negotiate with customer 104. Because of these difficulties, technician 112 typically refers customer 104 to the customer service division 108 of company 106. For example, the technician does not know whether customer 104 is past-due on his current bill, whether a particular service is available in the customer's area, or the exact cost for an additional or modified service. Customer 104 contacts the customer service division 108 and the customer service division 108 often refers the call to a sales division 114. Customer 104 then communicates with sales division 114 to modify existing service and to purchase additional features and services from company 106. Sales department 114 then updates the customer's account information on an account database 116.
It is inefficient and problematic that in the present system described above, technician 112 is unable to quickly and easily modify customer 104's service plan. Because technician 112 cannot assist customer 104 in modifying their service plan, customer 104 is forced to conduct a second transaction, which is disadvantageous for many reasons. For example, some customers may simply not want to bother with a second transaction with company 106 and forego the modification to their service, which often results in lost profits for company 106. Further, if customer 104 does contact company 106, the company must expend additional resources to modify the customer's account information. That is, both customer service resources as well as sales resources must be expended to complete this second transaction.

System for facilitating technician sales referrals


A non-opaque junction box cover and troubleshooting electronic circuit board are described. The circuit board has one or more light sources. At least one of the light sources is configured to emit light if power is present at a specific terminal stud within the junction box. The non-opaque junction box cover transmits this light, allowing one to troubleshoot a problem in a vehicle's electrical system without opening the junction box. In one embodiment, the circuit board has holes that align with the terminal studs in the junction box. The holes allow the circuit board to connect to the terminal studs physically and electrically without additional fasteners and wires. In another embodiment, the circuit board is coupled to the non-opaque junction box cover. Proper alignment between the non-opaque junction box cover and the circuit board ensure proper electrical contact between the circuit board and the terminal studs.

Vehicles such as cars, trucks and trailers pulled by cars or trucks typically have electrical systems for powering electrical loads such as running lights, signal lights and small motors. A typical vehicle electrical system has a power source, wiring and junction boxes. The wiring carries the electrical power from the power source to the loads. Junction boxes are used to electrically connect one section of wiring to another section. A typical junction box has a case that encloses electrical terminal studs to which sections of wiring attach. The cover provides protection from water, dirt, oil and other elements. The case typically has a removable junction box cover that mates with a junction box based coupled to the frame of the vehicle.
A junction box is often used in trouble shooting the electrical system. Most mechanics when they encounter an electrical problem on a vehicle, locate a junction box that is electrically between the power source and the load, remove a junction box cover and check for power using a hand-held test device. If power is present in the junction box, then the problem is probably between the junction box and the load. If power is not present in the junction box, then the problem is probably between the power source and the junction box.
Removing the junction box cover can be tedious and time consuming. Some junction box covers snap and off, but this arrangement is less secure. More secure junction box covers are fastened with bolts, screws or some other type of fasteners. Given that vehicular junction boxes are often mounted on the frame of the vehicle in locations that expose the boxes to a harsh environment, securely fastened covers are preferable. What is needed is a way to allow for troubleshooting of the power system of the vehicle without removing junction box covers.
Presently known art attempts to address this problem, but has not completely solved the problem. The following represents a list of known related art:
Date ofReference:Issued to:Issue/PublicationUS Pat. Pub. 2009/269951Scheele et al.Oct. 29, 2009US Pat. Pub. 2005/037632IhdeFeb. 17, 2005U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,065WagnerFeb. 17, 2009U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,059Hoffman et al.May 6, 2008U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,852RekerDec. 2, 2003U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,699ScottJul. 24, 2001U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,478McGuireAug. 27, 1996.U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,447CodrinoDec. 28, 1976U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,911CodrinoJul. 1, 1975
The teachings of each of the above-listed citations (which does not itself incorporate essential material by reference) are herein incorporated by reference. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
US Published Patent Application 2009/0269951 by Scheele et al. for a "Flexible power distribution module" published Oct. 29, 2009 discloses a power distribution module for a vehicle includes an insulating housing including a component grid, the component grid defining a plurality of circuit protection footprints, the housing further including at least one connector mount or terminal mating location; a printed circuit board ("PCB") located within the housing and beneath the component grid, the PCB holding a plurality of fuse mounting terminals and at least one connector mounting terminal, the PCB including a plurality of conducting traces connecting the fuse mounting terminals to the at least one connector mounting terminal; and a cover that threadingly engages the housing, the threading engagement leading to a locking of the cover to the housing that tends to prevent the cover from loosening from the housing when the vehicle is being driven, the locking of the cover able to be overcome by a person so that the cover can be unthreaded readily from the housing.
US Published Patent Application 2005/0037632 by Ihde for "Lighted trailer wiring adapter" published Feb. 17, 2005 discloses a lighted wiring adapter for connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle and displaying a status of the vehicles' wiring. The adapter allows circuits on the towed vehicle to be powered or otherwise operated through circuits on the towing vehicle. The adapter broadly comprises a housing operable to physically connect the towed vehicle's wiring to the towing vehicle's wiring, a plurality of conductors internal to the housing each operable to electrically individually connect one of the towed vehicle's circuits to one of the towing vehicle's circuits, and at least one light to display the status of one of the circuits. The light may be colored or positioned to indicate which circuit powers the light.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,065 to Wagner for a "Surface mount trailer electrical connector" issued Feb. 17, 2009 discloses an improved, low profile, surface mounted female electrical connector for mounting to a vehicle. The connector has a flat rear surface that facilitates mounting on many different vehicles in many different locations. The connector may be mounted with or without drilling holes in the tow vehicle. The connector includes easy-to-use wire connectors with LED indicator lights to verify correct electrical connections between the tow vehicle and the electrical connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,369,059 to Hoffman et al. for "Electrical apparatus having status indicating means" issued May 6, 2008 discloses an electrical power distribution device such as a junction box or the like includes a status indicator that also serves not only to indicate the status of energization of a connector mounted in a first housing opening, but also to illuminate a translucent indicia-bearing plate mounted in second housing opening. The housing contains a chamber in which are mounted a light emitting diode that is energized simultaneously with the connector, and a light transmitting member that directs the light produced by the LED toward the second housing opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,852 to Reker for a "Junction box and distributor assembly" issued Dec. 2, 2003 discloses a junction box and distributor assembly includes an external connector that is mounted on a distributor device for connection with a mating companion connector that is mounted in an opening contained in a wall of the junction box, whereby remotely located sensors may be connected via the distribution device and the mating connectors with a programmable operating module contained within the junction box. In order to prevent the penetration of moisture into the junction box, a first seal is arranged about the housing opening between the distributor device and the outer surface of the housing wall. A second seal may be provided in compressed relation concentrically between the peripheral surface of the housing opening and the outer peripheral surface of the second connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,699 to Scott for a "Water heater with electronic control" issued Jul. 24, 2001 discloses A water heater of the invention includes a water container; an element located to heat water in the water container; a sensor located to sense temperature; and a controller, the controller monitors the sensed temperature at termination of a defined time interval and compares the sensed temperature against a predetermined temperature, with the controller further identifying the element as defective when the sensed temperature is less than the predetermined temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,478 to McGuire for a "Universal trailer light locator" issued Aug. 27, 1996 discloses a versatile, water-resistant trailer interface device that is capable of adaptation to a variety of connector assemblies. The mechanical and electrical apparatus is comprised of versatile connectors, a circuit board, indicator lights, resistors, a test circuit, wires and a casing. The user can test and connect each pin separately without the need for special tools. The large resistor prevents the destruction of automobile or trailer fuses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,447 to Codrino for a "Electrical junction box for motor vehicles having printed circuit fuse means and connecting means therein" issued Dec. 28, 1976 discloses a junction box for a motor vehicle electrical system for coupling electrical conductors extending from the rear of a vehicle with conductors extending to the front of a vehicle, comprising an integrally moulded body having removable end, top and bottom walls and an intermediate plate which can be slidably engaged in guides in the side walls of the body. The removable end and bottom walls are provided with connector units for connecting electrical conductors of the external circuit to the junction box. These connector units are interconnected internally by flexible printed circuit connectors which also make contact with actuating elements, such as relays, and with printed circuit fuses mounted in sheets on pivoted support plates by means of which fuse changing is facilitated.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,911 to Codrino for a "Junction box for a motor vehicle electrical systems" issued Jul. 1, 1975, discloses a junction box for a motor vehicle electrical system for coupling electrical leads extending to the rear of a vehicle with leads extending to the front of a vehicle, comprising a moulded body having various component parts, notably a tray member, one end wall and a bottom wall, constructed separately and carrying connector blocks for flat pin connector terminals; the connector blocks are interconnected internally to one another and to the tray member which houses the safety fuses of the circuits and various electromagnetic actuator devices, and which has a transparent lid.

Non-opaque junction box cover with troubleshooting electronic circuit board


An optical reproducing/recording apparatus (100) has a core (1), a frame (2), a top cover (4), a bottom cover (5), a drawer (3), a front panel (7) and anti-dust elements (61-65). The top and bottom covers, the frame, and the front panel engage each other to form an enclosure enclosing the core. At least one of the top and bottom covers has a plurality of position holes (431) by which the reproducing/recording apparatus is fixed in a computer. The anti-dust elements are attached to the at least one cover and drawer and cover the position holes and gaps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to optical reproducing/recording apparatuses, and more particularly to an optical reproducing/recording apparatus used in a personal computer.
2. Description of Prior Art
A conventional optical reproducing/recording apparatus uses an optical pickup head for reproducing signals from/recording signals on an optical disk which is positioned on a turntable. Dust is very harmful to operation of the optical reproducing/recording apparatus. When a signal surface of the optical disk is covered by dust, a laser from the optical pickup head may fail to track and focus on a signal track of the optical disk. Furthermore, when the optical pickup head is covered by dust, the intensity of a laser from the optical pickup head becomes weak, thus performance of the reproduced/recorded signals is reduced. Moreover, dust can increase friction between elements of the optical reproducing/recording apparatus.
An optical reproducing/recording apparatus with an arrangement for avoiding dust invasion is desired.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Ind. (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


A roller treatment process and a treatment device suitable for a total-amount steel slag treatment. The treatment process is: firstly, a slag tank (2) with the molten slag is tightly held by a slag tank tilting mechanism and moved to a slag inlet position, the slag tank (2) is tilted to pour the molten slag with good fluidity into a rotary roller device (5) through a feeding chute (51), so that a roller treatment is achieved; secondly, when the steel slag (3) without fluidity in the slag tank (2) cannot flow out, a slag removal machine (4) is used for pushing the high-viscosity slag or the solid slag into the roller device (5); and thirdly, the slag tank (2) is reversed by a large angle tilting to make the slag at the bottom of the tank drop into the roller device (5), so that the total-amount steel slag treatment of the same roller device (5) is achieved. The treatment device comprises a feeding system, the roller device (5), a particle slag conveying and storage system (7), a tail gas emission and purification system (6), a cooling water circulation system (8), a cold steel cleaning mechanism (10) and an electric control system (9); and the feeding system comprises the slag tank tilting mechanism (1), the slag tank (2), the molten slag (3) and the slag removal machine (4).

Steel slag is one of the bulk byproducts generated in steel production, accounting for about 10-30% of the output of crude steel. Steel slag is a complex mixture mainly consisting of oxides of metals such as calcium, magnesium, silicon, aluminum, iron and the like, oxides of non-metals such as phosphorus and sulfur, and various high melting polymers, with 1-10% metallic iron of varying particle sizes entrained therein. Steel slag exiting a furnace shortly has a temperature up to about 1500° C., most of which is in a molten state and exhibits certain fluidity. However, as its temperature decreases, the viscosity of the steel slag rises rapidly, and plenty of heat is released. As steel making processes differ from one steel maker to another, steel slag produced in smelting also differs somehow in composition and temperature: some high-temperature steel slag has good fluidity, capable of being poured like water; while some steel slag has so poor fluidity that it can hardly be dumped out in a convenient way from a slag tank (a container for holding and conveying high-temperature slag, also called slag ladle), and a mechanical force must be applied or the slag tank must be inverted to dump the slag from the slag tank. In order to prevent high-temperature steel slag from impacting the bottom of a slag tank when it is infused into the slag tank, and thus extend the service life of the slag tank, it's necessary to line the bottom of an empty slag tank with some cold slag before receiving slag from a converter. When high-temperature slag is infused into the slag tank, this cold slag contacts the high-temperature slag and mingles with it, together with steel lag on the inner wall of the slag tank, to form several tons or more than ten tons of large slag lumps, accounting for about one fourth to half of the total amount of the slag. The slag formed this way is also called tank bottom slag. Complexity of compositions and diversity of forms of steel slag result in great difficulty in steel slag treatment and subsequent use.
The most common steel slag treatment process is hot splashing+post-treatment. Specifically, high-temperature steel slag is splashed to a slag treatment spot for cooling in air; cooled steel slag is then broken, magnetically selected and screened; recovered cold steel is returned to a production procedure for use; and tail slag that is left after screening is recycled or sold commercially depending on its particle size and properties. Steel slag may be classified into a silicate material, which is inherently poor in thermal conductivity, and cools down extremely slowly in air. To increase the efficiency of steel slag cooling treatment and reduce the cooling treatment spot, measures such as mechanical shovel turning, cooling water spray and the like are often employed in a slag treatment plant where powder dust and waste steam diffuse. The working environment is bad, and powder dust in the surroundings is far out of limits. Moreover, risk of explosion can be caused by just a bit of carelessness. Nowadays, increasingly stringent requirements are imposed on environmental protection. A short-cycle process for treating high-temperature slag in a rapid, safe, environmentally friendly manner becomes a focus of urgent exploration by iron and steel enterprises. A roller technology for steel slag treatment developed by an iron and steel making enterprise was born at the right moment under such a background. It's a new technology for rapid hot-state treatment of steel slag in a closed space with resources recycled, wherein high-temperature metallurgical molten slag is cooled dynamically, continuously, rapidly and broken into a final slag product of particles having a particle diameter of less than 50 mm in a closed vessel, and dust-containing tail gas produced in the process is collected through a flue and purified for emission on standard through a smokestack. In addition, waste water is recycled with zero emission. This technology completely alters the status in quo of the other treatment processes where emission is not limited. This process is not only characterized by a short cycle and low capital cost, but also can be manipulated conveniently, safely and reliably. After treatment, steel slag may be used as a resource directly. Hence, this technology has been accepted by the industry once it emerged. The process technology and equipment level are under continuous promotion and rapid development along with industrial application and commercial popularization. Nevertheless, due to the limitation of the technological development so far, a single unit in a conventional roller process can only treat steel slag having good fluidity. Even with the aid of a slag tank tilting mechanism and a slag removal machine, only a portion of thick and viscous solid steel slag can be moved into the roller quantitatively. Bulky slag at the bottom of the tank needs to be treated using a specialized roller device for the tank bottom slag. This requires that two types of roller devices, namely one roller for special treatment of molten slag and one roller for special treatment of tank bottom slag, should be equipped when a steel slag treatment enterprise has chosen a roller process. Total-amount roller treatment of steel slag can be achieved only when these two types of rollers match with each other appropriately, for example, 2+1 or 3+2, selected depending on the difference in slag quantity and properties. This certainly increases the investment, maintenance cost and inspection cost of the enterprise. Patent applications, publications and other relevant literatures associating with the roller process technology for steel slag treatment all focus on a part of the technology. No roller process or device for total-amount steel slag treatment is available.
Chinese Patent Applications CN200420107540.1 and CN200810207918.8 propose a "device for tilted roller treatment of metallurgical slag" and a "process and device for tilted roller treatment of high-temperature molten slag" respectively. They mainly involve a body structure of a roller, wherein molten slag having certain fluidity is cooled rapidly with a plurality of media in sequence in the roller, broken and transported out of the device. This type of roller devices is unable to treat solid slag having no fluidity, particularly bulky tank bottom slag. Patent Applications CN200910050400.2 and WO 2012/024835 disclose processes and devices for treatment of high-temperature solid steel slag (tank bottom slag). By installing a large volume feeding roller body with a feed port in front of an existing working roller body, a buffer effect of the feeding roller body may be taken advantage of to turn over the tank once for all and treat the tank bottom slag in steps. Due to the structural limitation of these devices, they are only useful for treatment of bulky steel slag of the tank bottom slag type. Chinese Patent Application No. 99244833.6 discloses a replaceable slag receiving chute lined with a durable material for a roller slag treatment device, and Chinese Patent Application No. 201120266445.6 discloses a rotary funnel, wherein the problems that high-temperature molten slag sticks to a chute wall and blocks the chute are alleviated to certain degree. However, such a chute or funnel is only suitable for continuous, controllable feeding of slag. In other words, limited by the diameter of a slag feed port, such a feeding chute or funnel is only suitable for slag flow or removal at a small flow rate. Chinese Patent Applications CN201210197124.4, CN201310350518.3, CN02266663.X and CN200820151424.8 describe solutions and devices from various viewpoints wherein bulky solid steel slag is introduced into a roller. Chinese Patent Application CN201120412146.9 discloses an impact resistant feeding funnel in a device for roller treatment of slag, wherein the sidewall of the funnel is reinforced by positioning radial ribs and axial ribs at the exterior of the feeding funnel, and a breaking frame is positioned inside the funnel for pre-breaking bulky steel slag, so as to achieve an alleviation effect. These feeding methods and devices can only be used in cooperation with roller devices for treatment of solid slag. They are useful for treatment of bulky solid steel slag, but cannot treat flowable molten slag at the same time.
Chinese Patent Application CN200910052471.6 discloses a "device for feeding by tilting slag tank" from a viewpoint of feeding, wherein a fastening mechanism, a translating device and a tilting frame are used to achieve translation and tilting of a slag tank with the aid of a hydraulic system.
Chinese Patent Application CN200820150140.7 describes a spraying "device for purification of smokestack tail gas", wherein water-jetting guns and spray guns are arranged in a flue and a smokestack for purifying tail gas, and the tail gas is discharged through the smokestack after the dust concentration therein is ensured to be less than 50 mg/Nm3.
Chinese Patent Application CN201020032862.X discloses a "device for online separation and sorting of roller slag", wherein online slag-iron separation, sorting, custody transfer and storage of roller slag are achieved with the use of a composite transporter, a vibrating sieve, an iron remover, a vibrating chute, a bucket elevator, a vibrating feeder, a magnetic separation roller, a guide chute, a sorting sieve and a storage tank.
A reference document titled "Status Study on Technological Development of BSSF Roller Steel Slag Treatment" (Environmental Engineering, No. 3, 2013) describes a roller slag treatment technology integrating "roller+slag tank tilting device+slag removal machine".
For an ideal roller steel slag treatment process and device, in addition to operating reliability, safety and environmental friendliness, low capital and running cost is also a feature that should be possessed. Such a process technology will involve flow of and flow control over high-temperature steel slag (steady feeding), total-amount slag coverage in a single roller (capable of treating high-temperature molten slag having good fluidity and safely treating bulky solid steel slag), dynamic breaking in the roller, as well as a safe multimedia cooling process and a rapid slag-discharging process. It should also possess a suitable technical level of reliable particulate slag transportation, slag-water separation, economical online slag-iron separation, storage, satisfactory exhaust gas collection and purification, inter alia.

Roller treatment process and treatment device suitable for total-amount steel slag treatment


A vacuum sealing appliance for lidded containers. A container is evacuated by placing a conventional container with a lid under a bell cover or by applying a special lid to an open container. An actuator assembly moves a valve to an sealed position and energizes an electrical vacuum pump. A vacuum switch and solenoid simultaneously terminate the operation of the vacuum pump and allow atmospheric pressure to be applied to the lid, thereby to seal the lid against the container.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to apparatus for evacuating containers and more specifically to an appliance that facilitates the storage of foodstuffs or other articles in a sealed, evacuated container.
2. Description of Related Art
Many times there is a need to store articles, particularly perishable foods, for prolonged intervals. Such prolonged storage can be enhanced if the articles are in an environment that will preserve those articles. For example, it is often desirable to store foodstuffs in a sealed, evacuated container to reduce any interaction between the stored foodstuffs and oxygen and humidity thereby to prevent food spoilage. Such evacuated environments can also prevent other materials from deteriorating.
A wide variety of commercial and domestic apparatus for evacuating rigid and flexible containers exists. Commercial apparatus, however, tends to be physically large, complicated to use and expensive and therefore unsuited to home use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,967,346 (1932) to Barnby discloses apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers. This patent discloses a chamber for receiving large numbers of containers and various components that are required to implement container sealing in such large chambers.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,044 (1979) to Lang discloses an apparatus for sealing cans with lids under vacuum. This apparatus uses a lifting device and a vacuum bell. An unsealed container is placed under the vacuum bell. A vacuum is drawn and evacuates the container while the lid is spaced from the container. Once an appropriate vacuum exists, the lifting device raises the container and presses the lid in place. Then the vacuum bell can be brought to atmospheric pressure and the sealed container can be removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,292 (1991) to Natterer discloses a packaging machine with a vacuum chamber divided into lower and upper chamber parts. The upper chamber part is movable relative to the lower chamber part. In use articles are placed in a bag in the upper chamber part that then is brought into sealing relationship with the lower chamber part. A vacuum pump evacuates the chamber parts. When the vacuum reaches a prescribed level, sealing bars in the upper chamber part seal the bag. Then air under atmospheric pressure enters the chamber.
As previously stated, apparatus such as that described above are too complicated, unwieldy and costly for household use. Consequently a wide variety of processes and appliances for providing evacuated storage have evolved. The most basic process involves placing an open container with its contents in a boiling water to heat the contents and expand the gas in the container. After the appropriate temperature has been reached, a lid seals the container opening and the container is removed. As the container and contents cool and as the container now has a constant gas volume, the gas pressure reduces to provide vacuum sealing.
In accordance with another approach, flexible bags are evacuated to collapse around articles whereby the bag closely conforms to the articles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,025 (1984) to Scanlan discloses a packing device for vacuum sealing perishable materials in bags. A loosely positioned clamp means is placed about the open end of the bag that is filled with foodstuffs or the like. The bag and clamp are placed in a vacuum chamber. As a vacuum is drawn, the bag compresses around the articles and the clamp seals the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,808 (1993) to Wells et al. discloses a vacuum packaging machine with a chamber and lid movable between an open position exposing the chamber and a closed position sealing the chamber. The chamber contains a seal bar. In use, the bag and its contents are positioned in the chamber and in the seal bar. A vacuum is drawn to evacuate any air from the bag and collapse the bag closely to the contents. Then the sealing bar forms a seal across the container opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,880 (1996) to Landolt discloses an apparatus for performing a similar operation utilizing a machine with a vacuum chamber and a number of automatically operated valves and a vacuum sensor. An evacuation operation continues until a predetermined vacuum has been drawn within the chamber. Then another valve opens to atmospheric pressure to complete the sealing operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,404 (1997) to Hendrix discloses a portable self-contained vacuum packing device with an outer flexible container, two one-way valves and an inner flexible container. Squeezing the outer container compresses the air and causes the flexible inner container to conform to the contents. Air escapes through one of the one-way valves that blocks the return of air into the compressed inner container or package.
In a more mechanized approach particularly adapted for rigid containers, vacuum sealing devices include platforms, bell covers or jars for providing evacuation chambers and manual pumps for evacuating containers with lids. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,594,512 (1924) to Von der Lippe-Lipski discloses an apparatus for preserving food in which a container with a loose fitting top is placed in an evacuation chamber. The chamber is evacuated with a manual pump thereby reducing the pressure within the container as air passes from the container past the loose fitting lid. Then atmospheric air is admitted to close the lids on the food jars and hermetically seal the contents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,096 (1983) to Baum discloses a vacuum sealing device that generates a vacuum in the head space of a jar by means of a hood connected to an external vacuum pump. A valve assures that air under atmospheric pressure can not enter the hood until the lid has been pressed against the top edge of the jar""s mouth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,014 (1990) to Kobayshi et al. discloses a vacuum storage device with a base member, a housing sealingly and removably mounted on the base member to form a storage chamber, a pressure reducing device mounted on either of the base member and housing member and a means for introducing air into the storage chamber. In this disclosure a bell and bellows pump with a valve provides a method of reducing the air pressure within the storage chamber. After predetermined pressure reduction has been achieved, another valve admits air at atmospheric pressure into the storage chamber thereby to seal a lid to a container.
Each of these devices provide evacuated containers utilizing a fully manual operation. Moreover the apparatus tends to be overly complicated and involves entirely manual control. More recently, however, a vacuum sealing appliance for home use has been presented that utilizes an electric vacuum pump, a valve and control system that simplifies the sealing of a lidded container. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,265 (2000) to Ady discloses a portable vacuum apparatus with a vacuum chamber for lidded jars and the like. The vacuum chamber comprises a platform covered by a layer of resilient materials serving as a seal and a removable cover seated on the platform. Piping connects the vacuum chamber to an electrically operated vacuum pump and to an automatic valve that can connect the chamber with the atmosphere. To evacuate a jar or container in the chamber, the valve is manually closed to start pumping thereby exhausting air from the chamber and the jars. When the required vacuum has been reached, the valve opens automatically and interrupts the electrical supply to the vacuum pump. The valve also forms a wide passageway to the chamber causing air to rush in and create a shockwave. The lids on the jars and containers are conventional and have gaskets that are slightly lifted off the seats during evacuation. The shockwave firmly presses the lids onto the containers and closes the container under a vacuum condition.
More specifically, as the vacuum increases, a pressure differential exists across a sliding valve member held in position by a restraining mechanism. When the differential pressure across the valve, produced by the reduced pressure and atmospheric pressure on the opposite sides of the valve, becomes sufficiently great, the restraining force provided by the detent is overcome. The valve slides to the open position. In one embodiment the restraining mechanism comprises a mechanical detent; in another, by a permanent magnet. It has been found that this valve can not guarantee a release at a constant vacuum with either a mechanical or magnet restraining mechanism. Both restraining mechanisms are dependent upon environmental effects, machine tolerances, wear and tear and other factors for determining their release points. Consequently the vacuum at which air is admitted can vary from apparatus to apparatus and, within a given apparatus, over time. Moreover, the device shown can be applied only with a bell jar. However, it is often desirable to evacuate containers that are larger than the bell jar. The Ady patent does not disclose any method for evacuating such lidded containers. What is needed is a low-cost reliable vacuum sealing appliance for lidded containers that is easy to use and adapted for home use.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide an improved appliance for evacuating lidded containers.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved appliance for evacuating lidded containers in a non-commercial or home environment.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved appliance for evacuating lidded containers that is simple to operate.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved appliance for evacuating lidded containers that can be manufactured at reasonable costs.
Yet still another object of this invention is to provide an improved appliance for evacuating lidded containers both in a bell jar on the appliance and containers that are remote from the appliance.
In accordance with one objective of this invention, a vacuum sealer for sealing the contents of a lidded container includes a vacuum pump and a vacuum chamber that receives the container with a loosely positioned lid. A controller contains a valve operable between sealed and unsealed positions and a vacuum switch. Operation begins by moving the valve to its sealed position thereby activating the vacuum pump to evacuate air from the container and the vacuum chamber. When the vacuum switch indicates a predetermined vacuum, the valve is permitted to return to its unsealed position allowing air at atmospheric pressure to rush into the vacuum chamber and seal the lid against the container and turning off the vacuum pump.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a system for vacuum sealing a container includes a housing with first and second internal cavities separated by a wall. First and second ports extend through the wall. A vacuum pump and control system are located in the first cavity. A vacuum chamber base also attaches to the housing. A first vacuum hose extends between the first port and the vacuum pump and a second vacuum hose extends between the second port and the vacuum chamber base. A third vacuum hose in the second cavity connects to the first port and releasably connects to the second port. The third vacuum hose and second port have complementary fittings to form a releasable interconnection. For remote operations a lid is placed on an open container separated from the vacuum chamber base. The third vacuum hose then attaches to a vacuum fitting corresponding to the second port fitting. Thereafter, energizing the vacuum pump evacuates the container under the lid.

Appliance for storing articles in an evacuated container


A vertical channel transistor array has an active region formed by a plurality of semiconductor pillars. A plurality of embedded bit lines are arranged in parallel in a semiconductor substrate and extended along a column direction. A plurality of bit line contacts are respectively disposed on a side of one of the embedded bit lines. A plurality of embedded word lines are arranged in parallel above the embedded bit lines and extended along a row direction. Besides, the embedded word lines connect the semiconductor pillars in the same row with a gate dielectric layer sandwiched between the embedded word lines and the semiconductor pillars. The current leakage isolation structure is disposed at terminals of the embedded bit lines to prevent current leakage between the adjacent bit line contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a vertical channel transistor array and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With development of powerful microprocessors, software is more capable of programming and calculating an increasing amount of data. Therefore, the fabrication of memories is essential to the semiconductor industry. A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a volatile memory formed by a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is mainly included of a transistor and a capacitor, and all of the memory cells are electrically connected to one another through a word line (WL) and a bit line (BL).
As science and technology advance, a length of a channel region in the transistors of the DRAM is decreased together with the requirement for device size reduction, and thereby operation speed of the device can be increased. Nonetheless, in such case, a short channel effect is likely to occur in the transistors, and an On current may be decreased.
Hence, according to the related art, a horizontal transistor is changed to a vertical transistor. As proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,230, the vertical transistors are formed in trenches in the DRAM, and embedded bit lines and embedded word lines are formed as well.
Yet, with miniaturization of the device, the distance between the adjacent embedded bit lines is decreased. As such, during operation of the DRAM, current leakage is prone to occur at bottoms and terminals of the embedded bit lines, which further deteriorates device performance.

Vertical channel transistor array and manufacturing method thereof


An environmental sensor may include a heat source that heats a metal oxide sensing material. Electrodes may be formed in the metal oxide sensing material that measure the resistance of the metal oxide sensing material to determine the concentration of various gases. The environmental sensor may include an infrared light source that emits infrared light at a given wavelength. An infrared detector and band-pass filter may be used to detect the concentration of a particular gas such as carbon dioxide. In order to reduce power consumption, a heater may act as both the heat source for the metal oxide sensing material and the infrared light source for the infrared detector. The metal oxide sensing material, heater, and infrared detector may be formed in the same enclosure. The enclosure may have an opening that is aligned with an opening in an electronic device housing.

This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to electronic devices with environmental sensors.
Electronic devices such as cellular telephones, portable computers, and tablet computers are sometimes equipped with environmental sensors. In some situations, it may be desirable to include multiple environmental sensors in an electronic device to detect multiple environmental contaminants. However, environmental sensors may consume high amounts power and may take up valuable space within electronic devices.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved environmental sensors for electronic devices.

Electronic devices with environmental sensors


A vibrator-coupled ground filter improves seismic data recorded during a seismic operation. This filter is based on a ground model that takes into consideration the vibrator system, the coupling system between the baseplate and captured ground, and the coupled ground system. Using acceleration data from the baseplate and the reaction mass, the ground model can be used to derive particular variables for the ground model to help characterize the system. Using the derived variables in a ground filter, the recorded seismic data can be corrected to remove errors in the trace data produced by typical assumptions.

The oil and gas exploration industry employ geophysical tools and techniques to identify a subterranean structure having potential hydrocarbon deposits. Commonly referred to as seismic exploration, these techniques and tools generate an image of subsurface structures by recording energy in the form of vibrations reflected or refracted from geologic formations. In seismic exploration, for example, seismic waves generated by a source and imparted into the ground reflect off rocks in the subsurface. Boundaries between different rocks often reflect seismic waves, and information relating to these waves is collected and processed to generate a representation or images of the subsurface.
When seismic waves generated by the source reach a bedding plane separating rocks of different acoustic density, then a portion of the waves reflects back to the surface, causing the ground surface to rise or fall depending on whether the expansion or compression phase of the wave is being recorded. The remaining portion of the waves is refracted and diffracted. A two-dimensional image, which is called a seismic line, is essentially a cross-sectional view of the earth oriented parallel to the line of geophones. The information may also be collected as an intersecting grid of seismic lines referred to as a 3-D seismic volume.
Any number of exploration systems can gather the desired information for processing. Dynamite explosions, vibrator trucks, air guns or the like can create the seismic waves. Sensors such as velocity geophones, accelerometers, and/or hydrophones can be laid out in lines, or towed in the case of hydrophones, to measure how long it takes the waves to leave the seismic source, reflect off a rock boundary, and return to the sensors used.
An example seismic system 10 in FIG. 1 can generate geophysical information to image earth subsurface structures. The system 10 has a central controller/recorder 90 in communication with a seismic acquisition array 12 known as a spread. The array 12 has spaced sensor stations 20, which can each have one or more sensors 22. The sensors 22 measure geophysical information and can include 3-component sensors for obtaining 3-dimensional energy known as 3D seismic. The sensors 22 can include accelerometers, velocity geophones, microphones, or the like, and the array 12 can be deployed on land or a seabed location.
A seismic source 30 imparts acoustic energy into the ground, and the sensors 22 receive energy after reflection and refraction at boundaries in subsurface structures. The array 12 then communicates sensor data with the central controller or recorder 90 using wireless technology or other communication technique.
To impart the acoustic energy, the seismic source 30 can be a vibrator, such as shown in FIG. 2, although other types of sources can be used. The vibrator 30 transmits force to the ground using a baseplate 70 and a reaction mass 50. As is typical for land seismic, the vibrator 30 is mounted on a carrier vehicle (not shown) that uses bars 32/34 to lower the vibrator 30 to the ground. With the vibrator 30 lowered, the weight of the vehicle holds the baseplate 70 engaged with the ground so seismic source signals can be transmitted into the earth.
The reaction mass 50 positions directly above baseplate 70 and stilts 52 extend from the baseplate 70 and through the mass 50 to stabilize it. Internally, the reaction mass 50 has a cylinder 56 formed therein. A vertically extending piston 60 extends through this cylinder 56, and a head 62 on the piston 60 divides the cylinder 56 into chambers. The ends of the piston 60 connect to cross-pieces 54U-L that connect to the stilts 52.
Feet 36 with isolators 40 isolate the baseplate 70 from the bars 34, and tension members 42 interconnect between the feet 36 and the baseplate 70. The tension members 42 hold the baseplate 70 when the vibrator 30 is raised and lowered to the ground. Finally, shock absorbers 44 are also mounted between the bottom of the feet 36 and the baseplate 70 to isolate vibrations therebetween.
During operation, a controller 80 receives signals from a first sensor 85 that measures acceleration of the baseplate 70 and receives signals from a second sensor 87 that measure acceleration of the reaction mass 50. Based on feedback from these sensors 85/87 and a desired sweep signal for operating the vibrator 30, the controller 80 generates a pilot signal to control a servo valve assembly 82. Driven by the drive signal, the servo valve assembly 82 alternatingly routes hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic fluid supply 84 and the piston 60. The reaction mass 50 reciprocally vibrates on the piston 60. In turn, the force generated by the vibrating mass 50 transfers to the baseplate 70 via the stilts 52 and the piston 60 so that the baseplate 70 vibrates at a desired amplitude and frequency or sweep to generate a seismic source signal into the ground.
As the moving reaction mass 50 acts upon the baseplate 70 to impart a seismic source signal into the earth, the signal travels through the ground, reflects at discontinuities and formations, and then travels toward the earth's surface. At the surface, the array 12 of FIG. 1 having the geophone receivers or other sensors 22 coupled to the ground detect the reflected signals, and the recorder 90 of FIG. 1 records the seismic data 92 received from the geophone receivers 22.
At some point, a data processing system 98 receives the seismic data 92 from the seismic recorder 90. (The seismic data 92 can also include recorded data from the seismic vibrator 30 if information such as pilot signal, acceleration data, and weighted sum ground force are stored separately.) The data processing system 98 can use a correlation processor to correlate the computed ground force supplied by the vibrator 30 to the seismic data 92 received by the geophone receivers 22. Ultimately, the correlated information can be used to create an image or representation of the earth's subsurface structures.
When operating such a prior art vibrator 30, operators experience problems in accurately determining the ground force that the vibrator 30 is applying to the ground and in accurately correlating the vibrator's operation with the generated source signal. Ideally, operators would like to know the actual ground force applied by the baseplate 70 to the ground when imparting the seismic energy. As shown in FIG. 2, a local sensor 85 (e.g., accelerometer or geophone) is typically positioned on the upper cross piece 54U of the vibrator 50, which positions above the reaction mass 50.
In operation, the controller 80 shown in FIG. 2 measures the signal imparted into the ground using the local sensor 85 located on the upper cross-piece 54U and using the sensor 87 located on the reaction mass 50. When the data processing system 98 of FIG. 1 receives the seismic data 92 making up the seismic spread, it also receives the acceleration signals from these sensors 85/87 on the source 30. The system 98's correlation processor then uses various algorithms to distinguish wave signal data from distortions and other spurious signals.
A problem with this method is that original source signal distortion may vary and make correlation difficult. When calculated ground force signals at the vibrator 30 are cross-correlated with far-field signals measured in the field, the results may be corrupted by unrealistic assumptions used in modeling the system 10. In particular, the vibrator 30 works on the surface of the ground, which can vary dramatically from location to location due to the presence of sand, rock, vegetation, etc. Thus, the baseplate 70 is often not evenly supported when deployed against the ground at a given location. In addition, the baseplate 70 will flex and directly affect the control system during operation. As a result, the radiated energy produced can vary from location to location depending on where the vibrator 30 is deployed. Therefore, the vibrator's source signature is not the same (or nearly the same) from location to location and is not characteristically repeatable, which is desirable when performing seismic analysis. Thus, a more accurate knowledge of the source signal imparted into the ground by the source 30 can make the correlation easier at the data processing stage.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Seismic data filtering based on vibrator-coupled ground model


Methods and apparatus relating to optimization of vehicular systems for occupant presence and condition are described. In one embodiment, logic circuitry detects presence and/or condition of one or more occupants of a vehicle based on sensor data. Memory (e.g., non-volatile memory) stores information corresponding to one or more functions of the vehicle. The logic circuitry transmits a request to the vehicle to cause an adjustment to the one or more functions of the vehicle. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Issues with third-party car seats (including front-facing car seats (like a booster seat) or rear-facing car seats) have included poor temperature control at the car seat, particularly with smaller or older car models. And, in more rare but extreme cases, issues such as child fatalities have occurred, for example, due to parents forgetting to check the car seat before exiting a car and leaving a child in the car for long periods of time. Accordingly, it is imperative that such situations be avoided.

Techniques to optimize vehicular systems for occupant presence and condition