A developing device includes: a first developing body that develops a developing agent image on a development surface using a developing agent; a second developing body that develops a developing agent image on the development surface using the developing agent; and a sealing member that is disposed between a region where a first delivery pole and a second delivery pole are opposed to each other and the development surface, and adjacently to the first developing body and the second developing body at distances so small that developing agents formed as magnetic brushes on a first conveyance pole and a second conveyance pole respectively can touch the sealing member to secure sealing to prevent the developing agent from leaking to the outside of a device body.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a developing device and an image forming apparatus using the same.
2. Related Art
Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses often use a dual-component developing agent in which toner and magnetic carrier are mixed, or a magnetic monocomponent developing agent having magnetic toner as its primary component. The developing agent is conveyed from a developing agent reservoir portion of a developing device to a developing roll by a conveyance member. The developing agent magnetically adsorbed on the circumferential surface of the developing roll is conveyed to a position (a developing nip portion where a developing pole of the developing roll is located) opposed to a photoconductor drum, and transferred to the photoconductor drum. Thus, an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum is developed.
Here, of developing devices, there is a two-stage type developing device in which developing rolls are provided above and below in two stages so as to ensure development in order to cope with the increasing speed of an image forming apparatus.

Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same


The effective volume of a patient's stomach cavity can be reduced by implanting at least two magnetic devices in the stomach at different locations on the stomach wall. The magnets cooperate with one another magnetically to change the effective volume of the stomach. For example, the magnets may magnetically attract one another to pull in portions of opposite side walls of the stomach. The magnetic devices may be implanted non-surgically (e.g., via one or more catheters introduced into the stomach cavity via the patient's mouth and esophagus). The magnets may be removable to reverse the treatment. Removal may be non-surgical.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for changing the geometry of a patient's stomach, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing the size or volume of a patient's stomach, e.g., as a treatment for obesity.
The prevalence of obesity in modern human populations is a major problem. Obesity is a serious health risk, affecting an estimated 50 million people in the United States alone. In addition to becoming increasingly common, the age at which people are becoming obese is getting younger. Obesity can adversely affect an individual, both physically and mentally. Physically, obesity can cause heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Managing health problems related to obesity is estimated to cost the health care system in the United States $40,000,000,000 per year.
Weight reduction can be achieved either by an increase in caloric expenditure (e.g., by exercising) or by reducing caloric intake. Surgical methods have been developed for reducing stomach capacity and thus reducing food intake. Although these techniques can be effective, such relatively major surgery is not without risk.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to develop less invasive stomach reduction procedures.


Embodiments are disclosed that relate to authenticating a user of a display device. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes displaying one or more virtual images on the display device, wherein the one or more virtual images include a set of augmented reality features. The method further includes identifying one or more movements of the user via data received from a sensor of the display device, and comparing the identified movements of the user to a predefined set of authentication information for the user that links user authentication to a predefined order of the augmented reality features. If the identified movements indicate that the user selected the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is authenticated, and if the identified movements indicate that the user did not select the augmented reality features in the predefined order, then the user is not authenticated.

In order to access a restricted feature, such as a device, specific program, application, data, web site, etc., a computing device user may be prompted to enter a password in order to authenticate that the user has permission to access the restricted feature. Such passwords frequently include a series of letters and/or numbers that the user may enter on a keypad. Further, authentication may be performed via biometric data, such as fingerprint scans, retinal scans, etc.

User authentication on augmented reality display device


In and for software projects, arrangements for permitting a user to understand how the spatial locality of a function call may have changed with respect to any changes in a function definition. This permits an analysis of different workflows which use the same function, wherein the definition of the function may have changed. To the extent that there might be corresponding changes in the workflows which use such a function, the user will readily develop an idea of why some workflows changed and some did not. The invention method and apparatus determine and display deltas (changes) between different versions of a file where the function call occurs.

In software projects, function definitions may change, but typically a user does not readily understand how the spatial locality of a function call may have changed with respect to any changes in a function definition, especially in response to reported errors or bugs. Accordingly, developers are typically not able to determine why some workflows using a given function may have changed while others did not.
Put another way, it is rarely the case that implementers of classes ask or require anyone to check for preliminary (or initial) conditions before an operation takes place, or for post-conditions after an operation takes place. Thus, with any changes in the spatial locality of a call, a software developer will not be able to get a good idea of what can be done to resolve any errors that may crop up.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Determining deltas in a spatial locality of a function call graph in a source controlled system

International Business Machines Corporation


A revolving door construction includes an elongated pivot column and a plurality of spaced barrier members arranged in at least one row wherein a first end of each of the barrier members is secured to the pivot column. A support bar is spaced from the pivot column. The support bar has a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse apertures extending therethrough such that a respective one of the barrier members extends through a respective one of the support bar apertures. Fasteners are utilized to secure the support bar to the plurality of barrier members.

This invention pertains to the art of personnel access control systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rotary gate device which facilitates the controlled passage of people between two separated areas.
The invention is particularly applicable to a turnstile for use in controlling and/or monitoring the passage of personnel between two distinct areas such as at entrances and exits into and out of various buildings or facilities. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can readily be adapted for use in other rotary gate environments as well.
Conventionally known turnstiles have generally comprised cage-like structures having enclosure walls and rotor constructions including a vertically disposed pivot column having vertically aligned rows of barrier arms extending radially outwardly from the column. The spacing of adjacent rows of arms was sufficient for a person to pass through the turnstile as the rotor was rotated. Such turnstiles often also included a barrier column having a plurality of barrier arms.
All the barrier arms on revolving spindles or pivot columns need to be secured in place either by fasteners or by welding or the like. One problem with such arms is that vandals may successfully bend or break and detach such arms from the pivot columns. This could occur if a vandal climbs onto the arms and uses them e.g. like a ladder. While this may appear to be a minor problem with conventional barrier arms which are approximately 24 to 26 inches in length, it would be a major problem with turnstiles adapted for use by handicapped individuals such as those in wheelchairs. For those types of environments, the arms may extend up to 48 inches in length. At such a length, a lot of pressure could be brought to bear on the proximal ends of the arms at the means for fastening the arms into place on the pivot column, thereby subjecting the arms to being torn away from the columns at the fastener or weld which secures them in place.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved access control system which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others and provides a new rotary gate construction which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, light in weight and of considerable strength. The apparatus is reliable for a range of operational modes and readily adapted to a variety of applications.


A method of manufacturing an insulated-gate type field effect transistor includes the steps of forming an insulating film, on a semiconductor substrate, forming a polycrystalline silicon layer on the insulating film, forming a masking layer on the polycrystalline silicon layer, patterning the polycrystalline silicon and masking layers to form a gate electrode and a masking layer, doping an impurity of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate using the gate electrode and the masking layer as masks, thereby forming a source region and a drain region, removing the masking layer, and ion-implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type in a region of the semiconductor substrate under the gate electrode through the gate electrode, thereby forming a channel-doped region. In this method, after the source and drain regions are formed, the impurity of the second conductivity type is ion-implanted in the substrate through the thin gate electrode to form the channel-doped region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an insulated-gate type field effect transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
An insulated-gate type field effect transistor (to be referred to as a MIS transistor hereinafter) in a conventional integrated circuit is manufactured as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D.
As shown in FIG. 1A, insulating film 2 is formed on a surface of p-type Si substrate 1, and substrate 1 is subjected to ion implantation to form a channel-doped region 3 for controlling a threshold value. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, using film 2 or after removing it, a gate insulating film is formed, and then polycrystalline silicon film 4 is deposited on an entire surface. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1C, film 4 is patterned to form gate electrode 5. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1D, an impurity is ion-implanted using electrode 5 as a mask, thereby forming source region 6 and drain region 7.
The above conventional MIS transistor manufacturing method has the following problems.
A first problem is associated with the thickness of electrode 5. That is, in order to form source and drain regions 6 and 7 by ion-implanting the impurity using electrode 5 as a mask, the gate electrode must have a sufficient thickness. If the thickness of the gate electrode is not sufficient, the impurity is doped through the gate electrode and adversely affects an impurity concentration of a channel region. When polycrystalline silicon, which is a typical gate electrode material, is used as the gate electrode, the thickness of the gate electrode must be about 4,000 .ANG.. That is, a thin gate electrode cannot be formed. Therefore, short-circuiting occurs due to discontinuity of an insulating film formed on a stepped portion of this thick gate electrode, and discontinuity of an interconnection layer formed thereon is generated.
In addition, since a selective etching ratio of the gate electrode to the gate insulating layer is small, if a thin gate electrode cannot be formed, a thin insulating film cannot be formed. For this reason, it is difficult to form a fine MIS transistor. Normally, when the gate electrode consists of polycrystalline silicon having a thickness of 4,000 .ANG., the thickness of the gate insulating film must be 200 .ANG.or more.
Another problem is associated with utilizing a thick gate electrode. It is difficult to perform ion-implantation through the thick gate electrode. For this reason, ion implantation to the channel region for controlling a threshold voltage must be performed before the gate electrode is formed. In this case, since the impurity in the channel region is rediffused in a thermal treatment step for activating the impurity in the source and drain regions, it is difficult to obtain sharp distribution of the impurity in the channel region. In general, the impurity concentration distribution of the channel region largely affects electrical characteristics of the MIS transistor. Especially, the impurity concentration near the surface of the channel region largely affects a threshold value, and the concentration inside the substrate largely affects punch-through characteristics or a substrate bias effect. Therefore, if the impurity concentration distribution of the channel region is not sharp, it is difficult to optimally control the threshold value, the punch-through characteristics, and the substrate bias effect.
As described above, according to the conventional MIS transistor manufacturing method, since the gate electrode must be sufficiently thick, large steps are formed on its surface, thereby degrading reliability of the device. Moreover, since ion implantation in the channel region is performed before formation of the gate electrode, it is difficult to optimally design the device characteristics.

Method of manufacturing insulated-gate type field effect transistor


A biologically active polysaccharide RON substance which is excellent in such biological activities as antitumor activities, is produced by using a microorganism belonging to the genus Leuconostoc, which has an activity of producing the RON substance.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a biologically active polysaccharide RON substance (hereinafter referred to as "RON substance" according to circumstance) having an excellent antitumor activity, an immunomodulating activity and a host defense activity against infectious diseases, which comprises using a microorganism having an activity of producing this biologically active polysaccharide RON substance or a processed culture broth of this microorganism, and also to a novel microorganism having an activity of producing an excellent biologically active polysaccharide RON substance.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The RON substance intended in the present invention and a process for extracting this RON substance from rice bran having already been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-7173 (which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,825).
According to this conventional process, the RON substance is extracted from rice bran and the extract is purified. Therefore, the quality of the starting material is unstable, and there are considerable dispersions of the physical properties and biological activities of the obtained substance. Moreover, the yield is low and many steps are required, and the conventional process involves the problem of long operation time and is economically disadvantageous.

Method for producing biologically active polysaccharide RON substance


The invention relates to a roll manufactured with a light waveguide conductor (LWG-conductor), in particular for the transmission of optical signals from and to, respectively, a moving body. A perfect winding construction from which the conductor can be unreeled without interference is obtained in that the LWG-conductor (1) is wound to form a self-supporting cross-roll without a winding core.

The invention relates to a roll manufactured with a light waveguide conductor (LWG-conductor), in particular for the transmission of optical signals from and to, respectively, a moving body.
In an arrangement known form DE-OS 20 12 293 a coil wound with an LWG-conductor is accommodated in a rocket-driven missile. On such coils, a large supply length of the LWG-conductor must be wound with a minimum volume, and it must be possible to unreel said conductor at high speed without loops or knots being formed.
The coil must be wound with extreme care so that an interference-free rapid unreeling process is possible. Neither in the wound condition, nor during unreeling may the optical properties of the LWG-conductor be adversely influenced. For conventionally used LWG's the radius of curvature may not be smaller than approximately 15 mm.

Roll manufactured with a light waveguide conductor


A sorter conveyor system includes a conveyor forming an upwardly facing support surface for conveying objects. The support surface includes slots oriented transversely to the conveying direction and a plurality of shoe assemblies mounted for sliding movement along respective slots for transversely discharging objects from the conveying surface. Each shoe assembly includes a carrier disposed below the conveying surface, and a shoe disposed above the support surface. The shoe and the carrier together form a releasable connection therebetween. The releasable connection is configured to enable the shoe, in response to an undesirable force applied thereto, to detach completely from the carrier without breakage or failure of any part of the shoe assembly, and to be manually reattached without the use of tools or special skills. Various related methods are additionally disclosed.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
A shoe sorter is a type of sorter conveying system composed of a conveyor which moves in a conveying direction along a conveying route. Mounted on the conveyor are pusher shoes which are movable relative to the conveyor in a direction transversely relative to the conveying direction. Each shoe is coupled to a guide pin or wheel which can engage a guide track mounted beneath the conveying surface for determining the lateral position of the shoe relative to the conveyor surface. The rail arrangement includes diverters which can divert the travel direction of the guide pin or wheel from the conveying direction to a direction oriented transversely relative to the conveying direction. In that fashion, the shoes can push items transversely from the conveyor and onto a chute at appropriate destination sites along the conveying route. Examples of such sorters include U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,347 issued to Brouwer et al on Apr. 19, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,715 issued to Sapp on Aug. 2, 1994, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,591 issued to Heit et al. on Mar. 25, 1997.
It can occur, however, that backups of objects on the chutes can occur. When that happens, it is possible that the shoes will push subsequent objects toward a blocked chute that does not admit entry of those objects. Accordingly, the shoes may be subjected to considerable undesirable (e.g., above a predetermined acceptable level) external forces that can damage the shoes, the conveyor, and/or the objects being conveyed. Each shoe can be attached by a connector element which fails or breaks in response to the application of the external forces to allow the shoe to detach from its drive pin (e.g., see the connector elements 28, 228, and 260 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,265 issued to Verploegen et al. on Dec. 8, 2009; and the connector element 14 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,145 issued to Brown et al. on Apr. 3, 2007). When that occurs, reattaching the shoe requires that the failed or broken part be replaced and/or the use of tools. Reattachment can also require special knowledge and skills to perform the operation correctly. Such replacement processes can be complicated by the need to obtain replacement parts, tools, etc., which can be time consuming; possibly resulting in appreciable down-time of the sorting conveyor.

Releasable shoe and method for shoe sorter


A tamper-indicating band arrester including a closure having a tamper-indicating band depending therefrom. The tamper-indicating band has a plurality of folding fingers of alternating first and second lengths extending inwardly. The fingers of a longer length have an offset surface disposed at a distal end, which engage a container neck finish bead preventing tiring of the tamper-indicating band.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a tamper-indicating band. More particularly the design relates to a tamper-indicating band promoting full fracture of the frangible webs of the tamper-indicating band and inhibiting only partial rupture and xe2x80x9ctiringxe2x80x9d of the tamper-indicating band over a container finish bead.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tamper-indicating bands are known in the art as having frangible webs or bridges. The tamper-indicating bands are typically formed in a releasably depending manner from a lower edge of a closure such that threaded removal of the closure from a container neck results in a discernable alteration of the closure and tamper indicating band. In other words, the frangible webs of the tamper-indicating band break such that the tamper-indicating band remains on the container neck and a consumer knows the container has been previously opened. Ideally, when initially unscrewed, all of the frangible bridges or webs should break resulting in detachment of the tamper-indicating band from the closure. However, in many cases the tamper-indicating band does not completely break from the closure resulting in a detached portion and an attached portion of the tamper-indicating band.
When incomplete separation of the tamper-indicating band occurs, the detached portion of the tamper-indicating band typically falls below a finish bead located along the container neck and shifts inwardly toward the container neck as the closure is unscrewed. The attached portion of the tamper-indicating band therefore necessarily moves outward away from the tamper-indicating or finish bead of the container neck finish. As the closure is unscrewed, the attached portion tires over the finish bead followed by the detached portion tiring over the finish bead. As a result, the tamper-indicating band may be removed from the neck finish which is undesirable, particularly when it is desired to leave the fractured tamper-indicating band on the neck finish as tactile evidence of prior opening.
In view of the deficiencies in known tamper-indicating bands, it is preferable to have a tamper-indicating band which inhibits the xe2x80x9ctiringxe2x80x9d of the tamper-indicating band over the finish bead as a closure is initially removed from the container. It is also desirable that the design promote more efficient breaking of the frangible webs.
It is object of the present invention to Provide a tamper-indicting band frangibly attached to a closure.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a design promoting full fracture of a plurality of frangible webs releasably connecting the closure and tamper-indicating band.
It is a further object of the present invention to inhibit xe2x80x9ctiringxe2x80x9d of a tamper-indicating band over a container neck or finish bead.
It is even further object of the present invention to provide a tamper-indicating band with a plurality of inwardly projecting fingers.
It is still an even further object of the present invention to provide a tamper-indicating band having folding fingers of alternating first and second lengths.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a protrusion on the fingers of the second length inhibiting downward axial movement of the tamper-indicating band.
In accordance with the present invention, a tamper-indicating band arrester formed of, for instance, polypropylene or polyethylene by, for example, injection molding or compression molding techniques is provided for a closure having a top wall and an annular skirt depending from a peripheral edge of the top wall such that the closure is generally cup-shaped. The skirt has a thread helically extending along an inner surface thereof and a tamper-indicating band releasably or frangibly connected to the skirt proximal a lower edge of the skirt, which defines an opening in the closure. Extending inwardly from an inner surface of the tamper-indicating band are a plurality of folding-fingers having alternating first and second lengths. The folding fingers of the first length may be shorter than the folding fingers of the second length however, in the alternative the folding fingers of the second length may be shorter than the folding fingers of the first length if the first length folding fingers extend above the neck bead.
The closure may be threadably disposed on a container neck finish having at least one thread helically extending thereabout. The neck finish may also include a finish or neck bead extending about the circumference of the neck beneath the at least one external thread. When the closure is disposed in a fully closed position, a distance xe2x80x9cWxe2x80x9d is defined between an outer surface of the finish bead and an inner surface of the closure skirt or tamper-indicating band. The alternating folding fingers of longer length extend above the finish bead such that a protrusion, extending from for example a distal end of the longer length fingers, is positioned above the finish bead. The protrusion preferably has a radial dimension that is sized greater than the distance xe2x80x9cWxe2x80x9d. Additionally, the radially innermost surface of the protrusions define a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the neck finish bead. Thus, the size of the protrusion prevents it from falling beneath the neck finish bead since the protrusion is in interference engagement with the neck finish bead. With the protrusion inhibited from falling beneath the neck bead on one side of the finish bead, the tamper-indicating band cannot xe2x80x9ctirexe2x80x9d over the neck finish bead as in the prior art.
In use the closure with tamper-indicating band may be molded having folding fingers extending downwardly therefrom. The closure is applied to a neck finish of a container which is filled with product. As the closure is applied the folding fingers of alternating first and second lengths are directed upwardly and inwardly until the closure is fully seated on the container neck, preferably sealingly engaging the container neck. The first fingers of a shorter length are directed upwardly toward a lower surface of the finish bead. The second fingers of longer length are directed upwardly above the finish bead so that the protrusion is positioned above and engaging an upper surface of the finish bead.
As the closure is initially removed, the shorter length fingers engage the lower surface of finish bead and inhibit vertical movement of the tamper-indicating band relative to the closure and neck finish. Since the closure continues upward axial movement, the frangible webs begin rupturing. As the frangible webs rupture, the protrusions inhibit downward movement of the detached portion of the tamper-indicating band which typically leads to xe2x80x9ctiringxe2x80x9d and incomplete detachment of the tamper-indicating band from the closure. Thus, the frangible webs and tamper-indicating band completely break free of the closure so that the tamper-indicating band remains on the container neck visually signaling that the container has been initially opened.

Folding finger tamper-indicating band arrester


A process for separating a product from a multicomponent feedstream to an adsorption apparatus or system is described. The apparatus or system may comprise a moving-bed or a simulated moving-bed adsorption means. The product comprises at least one organic compound, such as an aryl compound with alkyl substitutes. In embodiments the conduits used to supply the feedstream to the apparatus or system are flushed with media of multiple grades. The improvement is more efficient use of the desorbent. In embodiments the process achieves improvements in one or more of efficiency of adsorption separation, capacity of adsorption apparatus systems, and purity of product attainable by adsorption process.

Various means are currently available to separate the components of a multicomponent fluid mixture. If the densities of the components differ sufficiently, the effects of gravity over time may be adequate to separate the components. Depending on the quantities of the components involved, a centrifuge may be used to more rapidly separate components with different densities. Alternatively, distillation may be used to separate components with different boiling points.
Some fluid mixtures comprise components which have similar boiling points, and in such cases, separation by distillation may be a difficult and an inefficient means to separate these components. Too many contaminants, e.g., unwanted components, also may evaporate along with (or fail to evaporate from) the desired component(s), or the separation may require high energy expenditures due to the recycling through the distillation process that may be necessary to attain a desired degree of separation or purity.
In view of these and other deficiencies of these aforementioned processes, adsorption often has been preferred as a process for separating the components from a multicomponent fluid mixture to obtain relatively pure products.
The efficiency of an adsorption process may be partially dependent upon the amount of the surface area of the adsorbent solids which is available for contact with a fluid mixture. The surface area available may be more than just the superficial, external surface of the solids. Suitable solids also may have internal spaces. Such internal spaces may comprise pores, channels, or holes in the surface of the solids and may run throughout the solids, much as in sponges. Thus, the fluid contacts not only the superficial surface, but penetrates into the solids. Sieve chambers increase the contact surface between the fluid and the solids in an adsorption process by concentrating them in a confined space. Such structures often are described as molecular sieves, and the volumetric amount of components that may be adsorbed by a molecular sieve is termed the molecular sieve capacity.
In an adsorption process, separation of the fluid components may be accomplished because the absorbent solid material may have a physical attraction for one or more of the components of the mixture in preference to other components of the mixture. Although all of the components of a mixture may be attracted in varying degrees to the material, there is a preference engineered into the process, such that predominantly the desired component(s) may be attracted and remain with the material in preference over all others. Therefore, even if less preferred components of a mixture initially come into contact with a portion of the material, because of the stronger attraction of the material for the desired component(s) of the mixture, the less preferred component(s) may be displaced from the material by the desired, and more strongly preferred, component(s). Although the fluid mixture entering a sieve chamber might be composed of multiple components, the fluid mixture initially leaving the vessel would be composed largely of the components which had been less preferentially adsorbed into the material.
In adsorption processes using adsorbent solids, separation occurs for a period of time, but eventually all the available surface sites on and in the solids are taken up by the desired component(s) or are blocked by concentrations of unwanted components. At that point, little significant additional adsorption of component(s) from the mixture is likely to occur, and the fluid mixture which might be withdrawn from the chamber may be insignificantly changed by further exposure to the solids. The adsorption step of the process is thus ended, and the component(s) which have been adsorbed by the solids can then be removed from the solids, so as to effect separation and permit reuse of the solids.
A suitable adsorption apparatus or system might first permit adsorption of a product comprising the desired component(s) by the solids and later treat the solids to cause them to release the product and permit recovery of this product. Such an adsorption apparatus or system might comprise a "moving-bed" which permits movement of a tray or bed of the solids through a chamber, such that at different locations, the solid is subjected to different steps of an adsorption process, e.g., adsorption, purification, and desorption. These steps will be understood more clearly by the description below. Nevertheless, moving the solids through an adsorption apparatus may be difficult and involve complex machinery to move trays or beds. It also may result in loss of the solids by attrition. To avoid these problems, some adsorption apparatus and systems have been designed to "simulate" moving the tray(s) or bed(s) to the locations, e.g., zones, of different steps of an adsorption process. Simulation of the movement of the tray(s) or bed(s) may be accomplished by use of a system of conduits which permits directing and redirecting the streams of fluids into the chamber at different zones at different times. As these stream changes occur, the solids are employed in different steps in an adsorption process as though the solids were moving through the chamber.
The different zones within an adsorption apparatus or system are defined by the particular step of the adsorption process performed within each zone, e.g., (1) an adsorption step in the adsorption zone; (2) a purification step in the purification zone; (3) a desorption step in the desorption zone. A more detailed explanation of the zones of the adsorption process follows.
Adsorption Zone: when a multicomponent fluid feedstream, such as a feedstream comprising the C8 aromatics orthoxylene (OX), metaxylene (MX), paraxylene (PX), and ethylbenzene (EB), is fed into the adsorption apparatus or system, the portion of the apparatus or system into which the feedstream is being fed is termed an "adsorption zone." In the adsorption zone, the fluid comes into contact with the adsorbent material, and the desired component(s) are adsorbed by the adsorbent material. As noted above, other components may also be adsorbed, but preferably to a lesser extent. This preferential adsorption may be achieved by the selection of an adsorbent material, e.g., adsorbent solids, which have a preference for adsorbing the desired component(s) from the multicomponent feedstream. Although only the desired component(s) may have been adsorbed by the solids, other less preferentially adsorbed components of the fluid mixture may still remain in void spaces between the solids and possibly, in the pores, channels, or holes within the solids. These unwanted components preferably are removed from the solids before the desired component(s) are recovered from the solids, so that they are not recovered along with the product.
Purification Zone: after adsorption, the next step is to purify the fluid and adsorbent material in the chamber. In this step, the tray(s) or bed(s) may be moved or flow within the conduits may be changed, so that the multicomponent feedstream may no longer be fed into the adsorption zone. Although the tray(s) or bed(s) have not physically moved, the material may now be described as being in a "purification zone" because a fluid stream, e.g., a purification stream, is fed into the adsorbent material to flush the unwanted components from the adsorbent material, e.g., from within and from the interstitial areas between the solids. Thus, a fluid comprising unwanted components, e.g., raffinate, is flushed from the purification zone by substituting a fluid comprising the desired component(s) or other component(s) deemed to be more acceptable for the unwanted components. The unwanted components may be withdrawn in a raffinate stream. Because an objective of the adsorption process may be to separate the product comprising the desired component(s) from other components which may have nearly the same boiling point or density as the desired component(s), purification may displace unwanted components and substitute another fluid which can be more readily separated by other means, e.g., distilled.
Desorption Zone: after the solids have been subjected to the purification stream, the stream in the conduit(s) may again be changed to introduce a desorbent stream into the chamber to release the product. The desorbent stream contains desorbent which is more preferentially adsorbed by the solids than the product comprising the desired component(s). The desorbent chosen will depend in part upon the desired component(s), the adsorbent materials, and the ease with which the desorbent can be separated from the product. Once the desorbent stream has been introduced to the chamber, the product may be withdrawn from the chamber.
Each and every step and zone might be present somewhere in an adsorption apparatus or system if simultaneous operations are conducted. Nevertheless, the steps may be performed successively or staggered over time. Further, in some adsorption processes, the unwanted components may be adsorbed, and the product comprising the desired component(s) allowed to pass through the adsorption apparatus or system. Therefore, the terms raffinate and extract are relative and may depend upon the particular nature of the components being separated, the preference of the solids, and the nature of the apparatus or system. Although in embodiments the present invention will be discussed primarily in terms of apparatus and systems in which the product is adsorbed by the solids, the invention is not limited to such configurations.
An apparatus suitable for accomplishing the adsorption process of this invention is a simulated moving-bed adsorption apparatus. A commercial embodiment of a simulated moving-bed adsorption apparatus is used in the well-known Parex™ Process, which is used to separate C8 aromatic isomers and provide a more highly pure paraxylene (PX) from a less highly pure mixture. See by way of example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,201,491; 3,761,533; and 4,029,717.
Typically, such an adsorption apparatus is contained in a vertical chamber packed with adsorbent solids, possibly in trays or beds stacked within the chamber. More than one type of solid also might be used. The chamber also may have the capability to perform each of the above-described steps simultaneously within different locations, e.g., zones, in the chamber. Thus, the composition of the fluid in the chamber may vary between zones although there may be no structures completely separating these zones. This may be achieved by the use of a serially and circularly interconnected matrix of fluid communication conduits including associated valves, pumps, and so forth, which permit streams to be directed and redirected into different zones of the chamber and to change the direction of these streams through the solids within the different zones of the chamber. The different zones within the chamber may have constantly shifting boundaries as the process is performed.
The cyclic advancement of the streams through the solids in a simulated moving-bed adsorption apparatus may be accomplished by utilizing a manifold arrangement to cause the fluid to flow in a counter current manner with respect to the solids. The valves in the manifold may be operated in a sequential manner to effect the shifting of the streams in the same direction as overall fluid flow throughout the adsorbent solids. In this regard see U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,812. Another means for producing a countercurrent flow in the solid adsorbent is a rotating disc valve by which the streams, e.g., feed, extract, desorbent, raffinate, and line flush, are advanced cyclically in the same direction through the adsorbent solids. Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,040,777 and 3,422,848 disclose suitable rotary valves. Both suitable manifold arrangements and disc valves are known in the art. More recently, a system has been described using dual rotary valves. See U.S. application Ser. No. 12/604,836.
Normally there are at least four streams (feed, desorbent, extract, and raffinate) employed in the procedure. The location at which the feed and desorbent streams enter the chamber and the extract and raffinate streams leave the chamber are simultaneously shifted in the same direction at set intervals. Each shift in location of these transfer points delivers or removes liquid from a different bed within the chamber. In many instances, one zone may contain a larger quantity of adsorbent material than other zones. Moreover, zones other than those discussed above may also be present. For example, in some configurations, a buffer zone between the adsorption zone and the desorption zone may be present and contain a small amount of adsorbent material relative to the zones surrounding it. Further, if a desorbent is used that can easily desorb extract from the adsorbent material, only a small amount of the material need be present in the desorption zone in comparison to the other zones. In addition, the adsorbent need not be located in a single chamber, but may be located in multiple chambers or a series of chambers.
Introducing and withdrawing fluids to the beds may comprise a plurality of fluid communication conduits, and the same fluid communication conduit may be used in a first instance to input a feedstream into the apparatus or system and later to withdraw an extract stream. This can result in reduced product purity due to contamination of the withdrawn product. Fluid communication conduits may contain unwanted components, such as residue remaining in the conduit from earlier additions or withdrawals of streams. This problem may be overcome by employing separate conduits for each stream or by removing such residue from the conduits by flushing them with a medium which would not effect product purity as adversely as would an unwanted component remaining in the fluid communication conduit. A preferred flushing medium has been the product or the desorbent, which might be more readily separated downstream of the chamber than would the residue. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,156. Nevertheless, flushing conduits with the product reduces the output of the adsorption process.
A standard Parex™ unit for separating paraxylene (PX) from the other C8 aromatic isomers, metaxylene (MX), orthoxylene (OX), and ethylbenzene (EB), has a single feed to a single rotary valve or parallel rotary valves. The rotary valve directs the feed to a bed line, which (viewed schematically, such as in the attendant drawings described herein) is somewhere between the extract (which may comprise, by way of example, 99.7% PX and desorbent) and the raffinate (PX-depleted xylenes and desorbent) withdrawal points. Since the process is a simulated moving bed process, the bed lines are shared with all of the feed and product streams, and therefore the bed lines must be flushed between the feed injection point and the extract withdrawal point in order to prevent contamination of the product. A standard unit has a primary flush which removes the majority of contaminants and a secondary flush which removes trace impurities just before the extract point.
The standard commercial simulated moving bed has only a single feed inlet, various streams of different compositions are typically blended together and fed to a single point in the Parex process. However, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,820 (see also U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,973), it is better to segregate feeds which are of substantially different composition, such as concentrated paraxylene from a selective toluene disproportionation unit (generally 85-90% paraxylene) and equilibrium xylenes (generally about 23% paraxylene) from a powerformer, isomerization unit or transalkylation unit. This can be done by using the primary line flush as a second feed point for the paraxylene concentrate and using the secondary flush as the sole flushing stream. Having only a single flush does result in a slight compromise in the separation process, but the compromise typically is far outweighed by the benefit of optimizing the feed location of the paraxylene concentrate as far as net purity in the final product.
There is a problem with the above configuration in that the standard Parex unit has the secondary flush located close to the extract withdrawal point in order to minimize contaminants that are withdrawn with the extract. However, when the secondary flush is very close to the extract withdrawal point and concentrated paraxylene (having associated impurities) is being flushed from the bed line, the configuration will be too close to the extract withdrawal point and the highest separation of the feed will not be realized.
This problem was recently recognized and solved by some of the present inventors. The solution is that the feed locations of both the concentrated paraxylene in the primary flush and also the location of the secondary flush be modified to realize the full benefit of the feed configuration in U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,820. By moving the secondary flush further away from the extract, the material flushed from the bed line will be injected at a more efficient location. See U.S. application Ser. No. 12/774,319. The problem and solution are noted in the description of FIG. 1, herein below.
All of these processes are still very energy-intensive due, at least in part, to the intensive use of materials such as the desorbent, which is typically reused after purification downstream of the bed systems described above. It would be very beneficial if all of the systems described could be modified simply so that energy requirements could be reduced. The present inventors have realized that yet further improvements can be achieved by directly using the first flush output as the secondary flush input. This provides, in embodiments, the ability to completely eliminate purification requirements of the prior art, with its attendant distillation apparatus and pumping equipment, simplifying the system, decreasing costs, and improving the results.


A coating including a bond layer deposited on a substrate. The bond layer includes a rare earth silicate and a second phase, the second phase including at least one of silicon, silicides, alkali metal oxides, alkali earth metal oxides, glass ceramics, Al2O3, TiO2, Ta2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, HfSiO4, ZrSiO4, HfTiO4, ZrTiO4, or mullite. The coating may provide thermal and/or environmental protection for the substrate, especially when the substrate is a component of a high-temperature mechanical system.

The components of high-temperature mechanical systems, such as, for example, gas-turbine engines, must operate in severe environments. For example, hot section components of gas turbine engines, e.g., turbine blades and/or vanes, exposed to hot gases in commercial aeronautical engines may experience surface temperatures of greater than 1,000° C. Furthermore, economic and environmental concerns, i.e., the desire for improved efficiency and reduced emissions, continue to drive the development of advanced gas turbine engines with higher gas inlet temperatures. As the turbine inlet temperature continues to increase, there is a demand for components capable of operating at such high temperatures.
Components of high-temperature mechanical systems may include ceramic and/or superalloy substrates. Coatings for such substrates continue to be developed to increase the operating capabilities of such components and may include thermal barrier coatings (TBC) and environmental barrier coatings (EBC). In some examples, thermal barrier coatings (TBC) may be applied to substrates to increase the temperature capability of a component, e.g., by insulating a substrate from a hot external environment. Further, environmental barrier coatings (EBC) may be applied to ceramic substrates, e.g., silicon-based ceramics, to provide environmental protection to the substrate. For example, an EBC may be applied to a silicon-based ceramic substrate to protect against the recession of the ceramic substrate resulting from operation in the presence of water vapor in a high temperature combustion environment. In some cases, an EBC may also function as a TBC, although a TBC may also be added to a substrate in addition to an EBC to further increase the temperature capability of a component.

Coating including a rare earth silicate-based layer including a second phase


A transmission-side information terminal displays a marker whose wavelength changes with time on the basis of a tag ID acquired from a management server. A receiving-side information terminal takes an image to acquire the tag ID, and transmits storage instruction information to a distribution server, the storage instruction information including the tag ID, an area number indicating a position of the receiving-side information terminal and image data acquired by taking an image. The image distribution server stores the tag ID, the area number and the image data in the storage instruction information in association with one another. The transmission-side information terminal transmits query information including the tag ID acquired from the management server and the area number indicating its own position to the image distribution server, thereby acquiring image data associated with the tag ID and the area number from the image distribution server.

Conventionally, easier and more reliable distribution methods have been devised for distributing a group photograph to persons included in the group photograph.
For example, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. 2011-009898, an imaging device uses a proximity wireless communication infrastructure to transmit unique identification information to around the imaging device. Communication terminals around the imaging device, including communication terminals of persons to be included in a group photograph receives the identification information from the imaging device. After that, the imaging device takes a group photograph, and transmits the taken group photograph with the unique identification information to a server.
Meanwhile, a person that is around this imaging device and included in the taken group photograph uses his/her communication terminal to transmit the unique ID received from the imaging device to the server.
To the server is previously registered facial information of owners of communication terminals. The server identifies facial information included in the group photograph transmitted from the imaging device, and transmits the taken group photograph to a communication terminal that is associated with the identified facial information and has transmitted the unique ID.
However, in the above conventional art, at least a clear facial image must be taken. In the case of a group photograph in which faces are unclear, it is difficult to reliably distribute the group photograph to each member.
The present invention was made in view of such a problem, and has an objective to enable an image to be distributed more easily and reliably.

Communication system, information terminal, communication method and recording medium


A self-centering bearing assembly is provided. The bearing assembly includes a magnetic bearing device configured to support a rotating shaft and a magnetic bearing support housing. The magnetic bearing housing has a disc-like shape and multiple tabs extending from an outer diameter portion in an axial direction. The bearing assembly further includes an auxiliary bearing device configured to support the rotating shaft during an auxiliary bearing condition, and an auxiliary bearing support housing. The auxiliary bearing support housing has a disc-like shape with a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The first diameter portion has a larger diameter than the second diameter portion. The tabs are configured to couple to the second diameter portion such that the auxiliary bearing support housing is concentric to the magnetic bearing support housing.

The present invention relates generally to a self-centering bearing assembly that can be used to support a rotating shaft, for example, a motor shaft of a high speed induction motor that the drives the centrifugal compressor of a chiller assembly. Use of magnetic bearings in a high speed induction motor minimizes friction in order to improve motor performance and prevent excessive wear. An auxiliary backup bearing can be concentrically mounted with each magnetic bearing in order to support the rotating shaft when the motor is stationary, or when an overload condition or system fault occurs. Locating an auxiliary bearing device relative to a magnetic bearing can include the use of individual shim parts and/or manual adjustment, which may be a difficult and time-consuming process.

Self-centering auxiliary bearings in a magnetic bearing cartridge


A vehicle includes a first control configured to operate the vehicle from a first operator position facing a front of the vehicle and a second control configured to operate the vehicle from a second operator position facing a rear of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a processor configured to monitor for an operator presence in the first operator position or the second operator position and receive a vehicle operating request, wherein the operator presence is monitored independent of receiving the vehicle operating request. The processor is further configured to enable either the first control or the second control and select a vehicle operating parameter associated with the vehicle operating request, wherein the vehicle operating parameter varies according to which control is enabled.

Industrialized vehicles, such as fork lift trucks operated by a standing operator, often include a multi-function control device that enables operation of a vehicle traction control, auxiliary functions, horn and other vehicle operations. Many fork lift trucks are operated by an operator facing the front of the vehicle or turned 180 degrees to face the rear of the vehicle. In such vehicles, the multi-function control device is typically provided at the front of the vehicle so that an operator may grasp the control device while facing in a forward direction. Ease of operation in a forward stance is provided with a single grip handle assembly.
While traveling in a reverse direction, the operator may be inclined to be repositioned in a rearward operator stance opposite the forward direction. However, the control devices are optimized for operation in only one of the operator orientations, not both, and more specifically are ergonomically designed to be operated exclusively by a right or left hand. Furthermore, it is difficult to locate a control device that can be comfortably operated from both the forward and rearward operator stances.
A steering control device may also be provided on the vehicle. The same steering control device is used to steer the vehicle regardless of the orientation of the operator. The steering control device does not provide the same intuitive steering for an operator oriented in a rearward stance with the vehicle traveling in reverse, as compared to operation of the vehicle from the forward stance in the forward direction of travel.
Vehicle operating systems including control devices at both the front and rear of the vehicle provide an ease of operation, however the separate control assemblies add possibility of conflicting control device commands.
The present invention addresses these and other problems.


A computer implemented method analyzing a first code in a first managed computer language and generating intermediate code in a completed language. The intermediate code into linking code that allows the second code in a second managed runtime language to interact with the first code.

JAVA and .Net are both popular managed runtime languages. Both languages provide powerful libraries that provide useful functionality.
It is often desired to have access to the functionality of a .Net library from a JAVA program or to the functionality of a JAVA library from a .Net program. One way to do this is to access the library using a web service. This may be too bulky or slow in some situations.


There is provided a flexible manufacturing system that can reliably place a workpiece that isn't defective piece in a state where the workpiece will be machined again. After a pallet is conveyed to a standby position and before machining of the workpiece attached to the pallet is started, controllers determines whether machining of the workpiece with a corresponding machining device is possible. When it is determined that machining is possible, the controller starts machining with the machining device. When it is determined that machining is impossible, the controller make a conveyor convey the pallet from the standby position to a pallet storage room, and stores the machining status information on the conveyed pallet as the machining-waiting state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flexible manufacturing system. The flexible manufacturing system includes: a machining device that machines a workpiece; a pallet changer that exchanges pallets between a standby position and a machining position in the machining device; a pallet storage room that stores pallets to which workpieces have been attached; and a conveyor that conveys the pallets between the pallet storage room and the pallet changer.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-134900 (JP 2010-134900 A) describes an example of a conventional flexible manufacturing system (hereinafter, referred to as "FMS" in abbreviated form) that allows manufacturing of wide variety of products in small quantities. JP 2010-134900 A describes a technique of conveying pallets disposed in a pallet storage room to a standby position of a pallet changer in a prescribed order. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-108411 (JP 63-108411 A) and Japanese Patent No. 2735561 describe that whether machining is possible is determined based on tool information on a machining device.
In the FMS described in JP 2010-134900 A, when a machining device is machining a workpiece at a machining position, a tool in use may be broken. In this case, the workpiece that is being machined is treated as a defective piece. Further, under abnormal tool conditions, a workpiece that has already been conveyed to the standby position of the pallet changer is also treated as a defective piece. However, the workpiece at the standby position has not been machined and thus is not a defective piece.


A method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a carbon nanostructure, the method including a preparation step of preparing a substrate containing a carburizable metal as a main component, and a carbon nanostructure growth step of supplying a carbon-containing gas while heating the substrate, in which the carbon nanostructure growth step includes gradually cleaving a heated portion of the substrate. The cleaving in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by subjecting the substrate to shearing. The heating in the carbon nanostructure growth step is preferably performed by irradiating a cleaving portion of the substrate with a laser. The preparation step preferably includes forming, in the substrate, a notch for inducing cleavage. Preferably, the substrate in the carbon nanostructure growth step is not oxidized.

Carbon nanostructures such as linear carbon nanotubes and sheet-like graphene are known to date in which carbon atoms are arranged in parallel at intervals on the order of nanometers. Such carbon nanostructures are obtained by, for example, a method including supplying a source gas containing carbon while heating a fine catalyst such as iron to thereby grow carbon nanostructures from the catalyst (refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-330175).
In the above existing manufacturing method, during the growth of carbon nanofilaments constituting the carbon nanostructures, it is difficult to control a growth direction from the catalyst, and kinks of the grown carbon nanofilaments easily occur. The occurrence of such kinks generates structural defects such as a five-membered ring and a seven-membered ring in the carbon nanofilaments, resulting in a local increase in the resistance or the like. In addition, it becomes difficult to bundle a plurality of carbon nanofilaments at a high density.
In view of the above, a method has been proposed in which a catalyst is oxidized, and the oxidized catalyst is divided while being subjected to carburizing heat treatment to thereby grow carbon nanofilaments between the resulting divided surfaces (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-237572).

Method for manufacturing carbon nanostructure, and device for manufacturing carbon nanostructure


A multirotor aircraft that includes a chassis, at least three engines that are equipped with propellers, and one or more axial free wings that are connected to the chassis by axial connections. The leading edges of the one or more axial free wings are designed to face constantly same direction when the multirotor flying, and the attack angles of the one or more axial free wings are designed to be changed relatively to the chassis due to flow of air over the one or more axial free wings.

In recent years, a broad-based industry has emerged that engages in the development, manufacture, and use of aircraft able to take off vertically and then fly horizontally. These aircraft may be either manned or unmanned and have a variety of names, such as VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, multi-rotor aircraft, tilt aircraft, and more. Such aircraft are characterized by having several engines (propeller or jet) that enable vertical takeoff and landing of the aircraft. Once the aircraft is airborne, the orientation of the engines may be adjusted in order to propel the aircraft forward in horizontal flight. For the sake of the clarity, we shall, in this request, refer to said aircraft as "multirotor aircraft". Multirotor aircraft can take off, hover, and fly horizontally using either propeller engines or jet engines. The aircraft is controlled and stabilized using sensors and a flight control computer that control and transmit commands to the aircraft's engines and propellers. One advantage of multirotor aircraft is their ability to take off and land vertically, hover in the air, and even fly in the horizontal direction.
One of the disadvantages of multirotor aircraft lies in the relatively short time they can remain airborne. This limitation stems from the fact that when the aircraft is in horizontal flight, some of the energy from the engines is utilized for its horizontal, forward movement. Therefore, certain models of multirotor aircraft include wings, to enhance energy efficiency in horizontal flight. In certain models of multirotor aircraft equipped with wings, the engines are attached to the wings by a fixed connection, so that the angle between them is fixed, and rotary movement of the engines occurs simultaneously with wing rotation. In other models, the wing and engines are fixed in relation to the chassis. The disadvantage of the aforementioned aircraft in which engines and wing are interconnected by a fixed connection, comes into play both during takeoff and landing and when hovering. When the wings are vertical relative to the earth (with engines facing upwards, functioning as in a helicopter) and conditions are windy, drag and instability ensue. Similarly, in the case of aircraft in which both engines and the wing are connected to the chassis by a fixed connection, a negative lift and/or drag is created on the wing during takeoff, hovering, or landing with either a rear wind or a side wind. This causes loss of energy (requiring increased engine operation) or worse, causes the aircraft to deviate from its vertical landing line or hovering point. This problem becomes especially severe when such aircraft is to be landed on the roof of a building, in which case a side wind at the precise moment of landing may divert the aircraft from its landing point.
Using actuators and various mechanical mechanisms to stabilize the aircraft reduce the reliability, due to the addition of components as said, and when the components are critical for flight, this becomes a real hazard. Furthermore, said mechanisms are heavy and thus reduce the maximum flight time or freight-carrying capacity of the aircraft. Accordingly, in this invention free wings that can move freely on their longitudinal shaft are attached to the multirotor. The free wings may be either controlled by an actuator or they may be uncontrolled, in which case the angle and lift they produce are a result of the flow of air in relation to them. The term "flow of air" means the flow of air over the wing a result of the movement of the wing in the air or a wind and the like and not a flow of air from the engines or the propellers.
We shall now summarize the problem that exists with the various models of winged multirotor aircraft: (a) in aircraft equipped with a wing that is fixed relative to the chassis: during horizontal flight, the wing functions as in a conventional aircraft. When hovering (during which the aircraft remains in place above a fixed point on the earth) or when landing (when the aircraft is positioned vertically above a fixed point on the earth) and when conditions are not windy, no problem arises. However, if a side wind, gusts of wind, or a rear wind occurs, the aircraft is shifted from the fixed point, and this poses a problem as previously mentioned. (b) in aircraft equipped with a wing that is fixed to the engines, in which the engines rotate together with the wing relative to the aircraft chassis: during horizontal flight, the aircraft functions as a conventional airplane. However, when hovering or landing, the engines face upward while the wings are directed vertically towards the ground; thus, any wind from any direction causes the aircraft to shift from said fixed point. In addition, there it is impossible to control the disturbance, since moving the wing itself has an effect, creating a clash between the correcting of the engines and of the wings.
CN102285450 patent application describes a three-axis aircraft that includes a fuselage, three tail pipes and three rotors which are positioned at the end of each of those tail pipes. It is known in the art that when multirotor aircraft equipped with four or any even number of rotors then half of them should be rotates to one direction and the other half to the other direction, any by that preventing yawing of the aircraft about its vertical axis. The three axis aircraft of CN102285450 patent application includes three motors and therefore the rotation direction of the third rotor may causes yawing, assuming that the first two rotors are nullify each other. For preventing this result, the inventor of CN102285450 patent application adds a guide vane which is positioned on the tail pipe of this third rotor for creating a horizontal force that nullify the horizontal moment of this third rotor and by that the prevent the potential yawing of the three-axis aircraft. This guide vane is controlled by a steering gear which is designed to control its tilt angle for achieving the correct horizontal force that should be equal to the horizontal moment force of this third rotor. It is clear that the guide vane of CN102285450 is not a free wing and it is fixed to the tail pipe by means such as steering gear for controlling its angle. In addition, the guide vane serves for nullifying the yawing potential of the three-axis aircraft and not for providing upward lift forces during flying and also not for energy saving.
JP2012/228944 patent application describes a multi-rotor helicopter four passive blade plates positioned in each side of the multi-rotor helicopter. In general, the rotors of a multi-rotor helicopter in hovering position should be absolutely vertical and in case of a cross-wind the helicopter must have inclination angle to remain in a hovering position over the same point. For dealing with such situation the multi-rotor helicopter is equipped with sensors that control the angle of the multi-rotor helicopter according the speed and the direction of the cross-wind. The inventor of the invention subject matter of JP2012/228944 patent application adds these four passive blade plates in each side of the multi-rotor helicopter so that the cross-wind exerts power on the specific passive blade plate that faces the cross-wind and by that causes the multi-rotor helicopter to incline. These four passive blade plates are designed to provide the solution of those expensive sensors. These passive blade plates are not designed or shaped as a wing at all, they do not provide a lifting force, and they are serve for inclining the multi-rotor helicopter and not for providing upward lift forces during flying and also not for energy saving.
Publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,468 (Publication 468) discloses a lighter than air aircraft (TLA) capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), running vertical take-off and landing (R-VTOL) and short take-off and landing (S-STOL). The aircraft of Publication 468 includes wings that each of them has propelling means, and the pivotal movement of the wings and of the propelling means is controllable by a computer. The wings are pivotal about their natural axis so that minimal force is required to make significant changes in the attitude of an individual wing. The wings in Publication 468 are not free wings as of the present patent application. The controlled wings in Publication 468 are not guided or controlled by the atmospheric wind as the free wings of the present patent application.
The free wings of the aircraft of the present patent application are free to rotate on their horizontal axis according the power of the wind and the gravitation whereas the wings of Publication 468 are controlled by the user that controls and determines their angle. This characteristic can be seen in Publication 468 in several aspects of those wings, for example: (a) the angle of the wings in Publication 468 are up to 130 degrees in certain hover flight control conditions; (b) the differential angle degrees between rotor axis positioning and wing position are controlled and determined by the user makes it possible to determine and control those angles. These in a contrary to the free wings of the present patent application that are in fact free wings.
Publication US2012/0119016 (Publication 016) discloses a modular vehicle that able to drive on land, cruise on water and fly while having vertical and landing capabilities. The vehicle plurality of propellers is connected to the vehicle by support arms. It is understood that when the propellers are in operation the air flows vertically downward and when air flows over a rod (even rounded) a strong downward drag is created that drags it downwardly. To overcome this problem, the inventor of Publication 016 wraps this support arm with an airfoil, so that when the vehicle takes-off then the air that flows vertically downwardly on this supports arms that are warped by the airfoil is decreases. In a contrary to that, the free wings of the present invention are designed in a different manner and serves for different purposes and the structure of the aircraft subject matter of the present invention and of the vehicle of Publication 016 are different.
The position and location of the free wing of the present invention is designed to avoid a clash between the vertical downwardly propellers thrust and the airflow over the free wing as much as possible so that the free wing will be free to rotate by the wind air flow, a wind or as a result of movement forward of the aircraft, and to provide lift when flying forward, otherwise the propeller vertical thrust on the free wing will create a clash between two strong forces—the airflow and the thrust, which eventually will damage the control of the aircraft and its function. On the other hand, the airfoils of Publication 016 are designed specifically to be positioned under the operation propellers area for reducing the vertical drag over the rod but creating alternative reduced drag over the airfoil itself and during flying forward the drag of the airfoils even increased.
Publication U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,843 (Publication 843) refers to a Bi-copter as a contrary to the multirotor aircraft subject matter of the present invention which includes at least three engines. The structure and the control of these aircraft are different one form the other. The wings in Publication 843 or substantial part of them are under the propeller operation area, which is the imaginary circle that the tips of the blades mark in the air while the blades rotate. As a result, the air that flows vertically downward with high speed from the propellers creates strong flow on these wings and dictates the wing angle position, while in the present invention the airflow created by the movement forward and the atmospheric wind dictate the wing angle position. So, for example, when flying horizontally the vertical airflow damages the lift of the wings. Also, while hovering with front or back wind, the combination of the vertical airflow and the front wind dictate the angle of the wing and this angel is not ideal for the front wind and therefore this front wind pushes back the aircraft. As a contrary to that, the free wings of the multirotor aircraft of the present invention response to the atmospheric airflow without interference of a vertical airflow from the engines, due to their relative location.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,086 (Dixon) discloses a rotational B-copter (310) that comprises a chassis (316), two rotors and a pair of wings (312 and 314) that are pivotally affixed to the chassis. The rotational B-copter of Dixon and its pair of wings rotate around fixed self-axis, and can fly vertically and horizontally while rotating constantly. When the user activates the rotors then the rotational B-copter rotates horizontally around a vertical self-axis point that is located at the mid-distance between the rotors, and the pair of wings too horizontally rotates around this self-axis point. It means that the pair of wings of the rotational B-copter of Dixon constantly rotates around that vertical axis.
The pair of wings of the rotational B-copter of Dixon provides vertical lifts during all the time that the rotational B-copter flies or hovers. On the other hand, the free wing of the Multirotor Aircraft of the present invention provides lifts: (a) when flying horizontally, and (b) when confronting a front nose wind.
When the Multirotor Aircraft of the present invention is vertically take-off then the free wing tilts vertically and provide no lift. As a contrary to that, when the rotational B-copter of Dixon is vertically take-off then its pair of wings constantly rotates and provide lift power.
The rotational B-copter of Dixon and the Multirotor Aircraft of the present invention and their wings have different structure; they serve for different purposes and are designed to achieve different goals.
Dixon cannot be used as a prior art against the present invention. The fact that there is a free wing is not the novelty of the present invention. Rather, the use of a free wing in a multirotor, in a way that gives the new multirotor a new structure and new nonobvious functions are a core of the present invention. A professional in the field would not have taken it for granted to incorporate the free wing as it is taught and understood from the rotational B-copter of Dixon in a standard multirotor, as the goals that the free wing achieves in Dixon are different from the goals achieved in the multirotor aircraft of the present invention. It is not obvious to combine the pair of wings of the rotational B-copter of Dixon with a standard multirotor for achieving the goals as achieved in the Multirotor Aircraft of the present invention.
A combination of two components that appear in two separate prior art publications is obvious to a professional in the field only in the event that both said components function in the combined structure in same way as they are function in the prior art publications, since only then their combination is obvious. But if the function of one component in the prior art publication differs in the combined structure, then the combination is not such obvious.


A power FET includes a substrate of semi-insulating material having a top side and a ground side; an FET fabricated on the ground side of the substrate; and conductor means in the substrate extending from the drain electrode and the gate electrode on the ground side to the top side of the substrate. A ground plane on the ground side of the substrate contacts the source electrode of the FET and is spaced from the gate and drain electrodes to form a dome for minimizing ground inductance and maximizing heat transfer from the FET independent of the thickness of the substrate.

In present high-power monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC), the heat generated causes increased reliability problems and lower performance. One approach to these problems is to reduce the thickness of the substrate to improve heat conduction away from the MMIC. But typically the substrate is a large wafer, e.g. three inches in diameter, and with reduction in thickness quickly becomes marginally thin and fragile. In addition, the reduction in thickness reduces the impedance of the substrate relative to the RF transmission lines on the substrate and interferes with the microwave transmission line impedance matching design considerations.
A second problem relates to the ground inductance created when "vias" or other conductors are used to connect the source electrode on one side of the substrate to the ground plane on the other side. This causes series feedback, resulting in instability and degradation of RF performance. In addition, with the FET on the opposite side of the substrate from ground, there is a significant thermal resistance which can result in the FET operating at as much as 100.degree. C. above the temperature of the heat sink. One attempt to avoid these problems in discrete FETs used a "flip chip" approach in which the discrete FET was flipped upside down and the drain, source and gate were connected to terminals on the top of raised pedestals. This introduced another set of problems because the connection to the pedestals had to be done blindly, which resulted in misregistration and collection of unseen debris in the pedestal area, which deleteriously affected the performance of the FET. For these reasons this approach never won wide acceptance. Further, since it was not applicable to complex integrated circuits it could not be used to address the problem in the integrated circuit technology.


The portable concrete striking device comprises an elongated portable screed, a handle mounted to the screed for allowing a worker to manually pull the screed towards an upstream direction and an auger rotatably mounted to the screed and located upstream of the screed. A motor is linked to the auger for rotating the auger. The auger is capable of directing excess concrete upstream of the screed towards an excess concrete discharge location which is located at a determined position along the elongated screed.

Some known portable concrete striking devices are of the type comprising a screed for striking a soft concrete surface, which includes concurrently flattening the concrete and levelling it. The screed is pulled along the concrete surface by means of handles attached to the screed. A vibration inducing device is also attached to the screed for inducing vibrations in the screed. A worker will pull the portable screed along the uneven surface of the fresh, soft concrete which has just been poured. The vibrating screed helps level the concrete to obtain an even surface before the concrete sets.
One of the advantageous characteristics of the concrete is that it has a rather good resistance to wear. However, excessive vibrations induced in the concrete can cause cement particles to rise towards the concrete upper surface, thus effectively reducing its resistance to wear. This is of course a highly undesirable side effect when striking a concrete surface with a vibrating screed.
Another problem with portable screeds relates to upstream excess concrete shovelling. Indeed, as the screed is pulled along the soft concrete surface to level it, concrete will accumulate unevenly to form mounds at variable locations upstream of the screed, forcing the removal of this excess concrete to avoid impeding the advance of the screed. This is problematic since in the case of portable screeds the worker pulling on the screed becomes incapable of pulling on the screed if there is too much concrete upstream of the screed. To avoid this problem, at least one other worker will cooperate with the worker pulling the portable striking device, this other worker shovelling the excess concrete upstream of the screed and especially at the variable locations along and near the screed where the concrete accumulates in larger mounds. These mounds are often partly created by the screed itself as the excess concrete which is not being struck will be pushed by the screed to form these mounds. The shovelling worker will move from one side to the other of the screed to address concrete accumulation where it exists near and upstream of the screed, including moving around the screed-pulling worker. This results in the shovelling worker often hindering the screed-pulling worker and forcing the screed-pulling worker to temporarily stop his otherwise preferably steady advance with the screed. Furthermore, the advance of the screed also needs to be temporarily stopped if the excess concrete volume is too important to allow the upstream excess concrete to be addressed. This is impractical.

Portable concrete striking device with auger


A cable puller and a related method of use are provided. The cable puller includes a frame, a winch mounted to the frame, a frame mount and one or more redirection pulleys that guide a cable. The mount is mountable to an arm of a piece of equipment, e.g., excavator, backhoe, loader, etc., and configured to allow manipulation and tilting of the frame to align the redirection pulley at a level and orientation relative to an underground tubing that is to be decommissioned and/or replaced. A deflection plate can be joined with the frame forward of the pulley to protect the pulley if the cable draws a portion of the underground tubing toward it. A splitting wedge can be joined to the frame to fracture underground tubing drawn toward the plate or pulley. Related methods of use also are provided.

The present invention relates to construction equipment, and more particularly to a cable puller for replacing underground pipes, tubing and conduits.
For years, pipes, tubing and conduits have been buried in the ground to convey gases and liquids, or to protect electrical wires, fiber optics and other structures. Over time, the tubing deteriorates. Such deterioration can be accelerated by soil conditions, internal pressures, above ground loads and other factors. When the tubing deteriorates, it must be removed or replaced with new tubing if there is still a desire to use the structure in an intended manner.
A common way to replace underground tubing is to pull a cable through the tubing with equipment, such as an excavator. The cable has a wedge fixed to one end of the cable so that the wedge moves with the end. The other end is attached to an arm of an excavator. The excavator arm is placed adjacent an end of the underground tubing. The excavator arm moves back and forth toward the tubing. When it moves away from the tubing, it forcibly pulls the cable with the wedge attached to it through the tubing. As this occurs, the wedge moves through the tubing with the cable and ruptures the tubing in the ground. If the wedge is attached to new tubing, the new tubing is pulled along the path, underground where the old tubing previously was located, to replace the old tubing. The arm then moves back toward the tubing in the pit. While this movement occurs, the wedge remains stationary in the underground tubing, and that tubing is not split, so the movement of the arm is basically wasted. The arm is then moved away from the tubing again to repeat another cycle of drawing the wedge through the old tubing to split it.
While the above procedure works to decommission old tubing it suffers some shortcomings. First, about half of the movement of the excavator arm is wasted, due to the back and forth motion, which puts wear and tear on a machine without work being done. Second, when the arm moves, it can alter the direction of cable pull. For example, as the arm gets farther away from the tubing in the hole, or rotates in an arc in which the arm moves, possibly moving up or down, the angle of the cable relative to the old tubing in which it is disposed can change. This can cause the cable to rub on the tubing, causing extra wear on the cable. More significantly, this also can impair the wedge's effectiveness in splitting the old tubing or can cause the wedge to grab the old tubing and start to pull it out of the old tubing hole, and possibly injure a worker at one end of the tubing. Many times, this is not favorable as it produces extra material to dispose of from the old tubing and clutters the area for the worker. It also can pull un-fractured old tubing into the hole along the cable. That un-fractured tubing eventually has to be separated from the cable which requires extra labor and time at the site.
Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of cable pullers to remove and/or replace underground tubing.


A wireless transmission system includes several candidate devices, a wireless transmission interface and a wireless transmission device. The wireless transmission device includes a storage unit, a transmission direction information generating unit and a processing unit. The processing unit receives the device information of each of the candidate devices from each of the candidate devices respectively through the wireless transmission interface. The processing unit calculates transmission direction range according to the transmission direction information, which is generated through the transmission direction information generating unit. The processing unit selects at least one of the candidate devices, which matches the transmission direction range. Wherein, the selected at least one candidate device is taken as at least one transmission target device. The processing unit transmits the information to be transmitted, which is stored in the storage unit, to the transmission target device through the wireless transmission interface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a transmission system, device and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless transmission system, device and method.
2. Description of Related Art
As technology develops, there are more and more wireless transmission interface, such as Bluetooth, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), IEEE 802.11 series, Wi-Fi, Zigbee. Since wireless transmission interfaces are not restricted by length of physical transmission wires, more and more electrical devices, which support wireless transmission interfaces, are developed.
Wherein, wireless transmission interface are often utilized to transmit information between several devices. In the prior arts, users must know ID, IP address or other identification information of transmission target devices for transmitting information to transmission target devices, which may disturb users. Especially, if users are not familiar with electrical devices, it's hard for users to obtain identification information of electrical devices.
Above all, there is a need to develop an easier way to transmit data wirelessly.

Wireless transmission system, device and method


A memory link architecture (MLA) comprises a multi-port memory device, a memory controller, and a nonvolatile memory. The MLA can perform a sleep switching control operation or a memory management operation to reduce power consumption based on commands received from a host processor and/or automatic control methods.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate generally to electronic memory technologies. More particularly, embodiments of the inventive concept relate to technologies for reducing power consumption in a memory link architecture.
It is common for electronic devices to include multiple processors and/or memories. For example, a portable electronic device may include a communication processor for performing communication functions, a multimedia processor for processing multimedia data, and so on. In addition, such a device may include a nonvolatile memory for mass data storage, and a volatile memory to be used as a working memory for one or more processors.
Various technologies have been developed to facilitate the interoperation of these multiple processors and memories. One such technology is a memory link architecture (MLA), which can create a link between two different memories via a processor. A typical MLA comprises a volatile memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a nonvolatile memory device such as a flash memory, and a memory controller connected between the volatile memory device and the nonvolatile memory device. The volatile memory device is typically a multi-port memory device that can be accessed simultaneously through different ports by the memory controller and another device, such as a host central processing unit (CPU). This allows the CPU to access the nonvolatile memory to execute processes, while simultaneously allowing the memory controller to transfer data between the volatile memory device and the nonvolatile memory device.
One drawback of conventional MLAs is that they may consume power unnecessarily when the flash memory is in a standby mode or when the CPU is not actively using the volatile memory. Accordingly, new techniques are needed to improve the power management of MLAs.

Reducing power consumption in memory line architecture


A system and method for detecting and/or rendering easily visible changes in dental images over time so as to identify bone loss, tooth movement, and other forms of change that uses dental images with similar perspectives but taken at different points in time and adjusts one or both of the dental images so as to compensate for differences in perspective, size, and rotation to thereby register the digital images to each other.

Detecting and tracking change has several important applications in dentistry. These include monitoring for bone loss in the jaw, monitoring adolescents for the cessation of growth (a pre-requisite for some procedures), and patient education in several fields including orthodontics.
Loss of bone density in the upper and lower jaws is a common occurrence in a wide range of dental patients and can cause severe problems ranging from tooth loss to infection. Causes for bone loss include extracted teeth, poor or misaligned bridge work, trauma and naturally occurring misalignment as well as other factors that prevent the root structures connecting teeth to jaw from being properly stimulated.
Bone loss becomes more likely as a patient ages and is extremely common, especially in specific patient groups. It is also is an early indicator of osteoporosis, a condition which afflicts a large portion of the population, especially older women, and thus has relevance beyond the direct implications for dental health. Finally, the onset of bone loss can be quite sudden in some circumstances, progressing rapidly in a matter of months. The condition can be checked if identified, but cannot be reversed. Left unchecked, the consequences are extreme. These considerations, combined with the prevalence of the condition, make monitoring all adults for dental bone loss an important preventive measure. If identified early, a number of measures can be taken to slow or stop bone loss, as well as to repair damage and related conditions before they can spread or worsen.
In general, patients experiencing bone loss are not aware of the condition until they are informed of it by their dentist. Generally this happens only after the bone loss has progressed significantly. Bone loss can also begin and progress rapidly, making this general lack of awareness all the more problematic.
A number of technologies exist for monitoring patients for jaw bone loss. For example, MRI and CT scans are sometimes used to assess bone loss. However, these procedures rely on large, expensive and specialized devices and are not practical in most dental office settings. For these and other reasons, common practices generally rely on far simpler techniques, specifically periodontal probing or manual (unassisted) comparison of x-rays.
By way of summary, common methods for identifying bone loss in patients include:                1. Periodontal probing—measuring of the depth of pockets around the teeth with a small probe marked off like a ruler;        2. Examining dental x-rays, either singly or in side-by-side manual comparison with similar x-rays; and        3. Assorted approaches relying on specialized equipment or procedures, including:                    a. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging);            b. CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan; and            c. Biopsy (to assess bone density).
Each of these methods has a number of short-comings, however. For example, using probes requires careful and systematic checking across the mouth at regular intervals, and can be both time consuming and unreliable. It is also imprecise, and does not lend itself to documentation or tracking X-rays are often difficult to compare due to differences between images arising from parallax, image rotation, image framing or other factors. Tracking changes in jaw bone volume or density using x-ray comparison is time-consuming and error-prone, especially if differences arising from how the images are captured introduce subtle differences not attributable to bone loss. Finally, neither periodontal probing nor x-ray comparison is effective in patient education, as probes provide little in the way of visual aids, and x-rays can be difficult for lay people to understand and even more so to compare. Patient education is an important consideration, as the effects of bone loss are often not evident to the patient, and motivating patients to change behaviors immediately is important in heading off progression.
New techniques are desired that address the problems described above by allowing dentists to identify, assess and monitor bone loss and other forms of change over time using historical or new dental x-rays as a baseline in a cost-effective manner, or which allow dentists to educate patients by creating visual aids. The present invention addresses these needs in the art.

System and method for detecting and tracking change in dental X-rays and dental images