A method for determining the effect of an adjustment of actuators used in the manufacture of web of material which are arranged spatially over the width of the web and influence the properties of the web of material, the method being characterized by the fact that, upon the adjustment of one actuator, a prediction as to the effect of the adjustment of the actuator which is derived from detection values on the behavior of the cross section of the property of the web upon the change of actuators is made; that at least one cross section of a property of the web is measured before and after the adjustment of the actuators; that the prediction as to the effect of the actuator adjustments is compared with the measured effect; and that the existing detection values are modified until better agreement is obtained between predicted effect and measured effect.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining the effect of the adjustment of actuators used in the manufacture of a web of material, and to a method of producing a web of material.
In the production of webs of material, particularly webs of paper or board, the cross section of the properties of the web of material and the sidewise offset of the web of material must be determined in order to be able, for the establishing of a desired cross section, to adjust certain actuators which are used in the manufacture of the web of material and which, are distributed over the width of the web, and affect the properties of the web of material.
It is known to remove portions of the web of material from the papermaking machine and examine them in the laboratory in order to determine the cross section of given properties of the web. This method is very expensive and has the disadvantage that undesired properties can be noted only very late. These properties can be avoided only much later, so that frequently large parts of webs of material are of defective quality or must be reprocessed as rejects.
In order to determine a transverse-shrinkage profile of a paper web it is furthermore known to apply markings to the web by suitable devices and to detect these markings by suitable devices, for example sensors (DE 40 08 282 A1). The paper machine must therefore be so designed that both the marking device and the suitable detection devices can be introduced into it. Frequently, the construction space necessary for this is not present or cannot be made available for reasons of space. Furthermore, the cost of such a paper machine is increased. The method for the determination of the transverse shrinkage is furthermore very expensive since additional marking means must be employed. Furthermore, marking is undesired since it reduces the quality of the paper.
Finally, in order to determine the local association of actuator positions with measurement positions, it is known to carry out so-called "bump tests" on the web of paper. These are test adjustments of individual actuators which are arranged sufficiently far apart, for the purpose of determining the places and geometrical shape of the effect of these actuators on the properties of the paper as a result of cross section measurements. Such test adjustments are then automatically carried out for example periodically or when desired by the user in order to recognize a change in the behavior of the process. The test adjustments must be so large that the result of the adjustment can be clearly noted in the paper and, after suitable filtration of the measured value, stands out from the process noise and measurement noise. The tests therefore interfere with the production process. During the bump tests and their evaluation it is not possible, of course, to act on the process at the same time by means of said actuators, so as, for instance, to compensate for existing disturbances in the process. Automatic control of the cross section of the properties of the web, if used, must be disconnected during the test. The accuracy with which the places of the effect of the adjusted actuators are determined is determined by the number of cross-section measurement values available, or by the distance between individual data values. This distance is ordinarily 1 cm to 10 cm. In any event, the accuracy obtained is insufficient to determine a precise transverse-shrinkage cross section from the places determined, as shown by the following illustrative calculation:
The places of the setting elements over the width of the production machine are precisely known. Two actuators which are as far apart as possible are adjusted. The distance x.sub.s between these actuators is known. The distance between the changes in section x.sub.p can be measured.
The percentage transverse shrinkage is then:
Shrinkage=((x.sub.s -x.sub.p)/x.sub.s).multidot.100%.
With a width of the paper web of, for instance, 5000 mm, a typical shrinkage of 5%, or 250 mm, and with a distance between measurement data of 25 mm, a determination of the total shrinkage which is sufficiently accurate is thus possible.
The object of the measurement is, however, to answer, for instance, the question as to at what place on the paper web the shrinkage is minimal, whether it is symmetrical, how the edges of the paper web behave as compared with the middle, etc. The shrinkage must therefore be measured as accurately as possible for the smallest possible regions on the paper web in order to obtain a meaningful transverse-shrinkage cross section.
In order, for instance, to be able to determine the shrinkage in a 500 mm wide region with an absolute precision of 0.5%, an accuracy of measurement in the paper of 500.times.0.005 mm=2.5 mm is necessary. With a distance between measurement data of 25 mm, this is not possible by far with simple bump tests.
The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and a device for determining the effect of an adjustment of actuators as well as a method of manufacturing a web of material which does not have the said disadvantages.
This object is achieved by means of a method which can be referred to, from a control standpoint, broadly, as a "process monitor". The place where the adjustment of an actuator used in the manufacture of the web of material has its effect can be easily determined at any time without requiring the use of special marking devices or additional sensors which detect such markings. The production is not disturbed by test adjustments or by the disconnecting of an automatic cross-section control which may be present. By the iterative procedure and by the simultaneous consideration of many actuator adjustments and corresponding section measurements, a substantially more accurate association of the actuator positions with positions on the web of material is possible so that a meaningful shrinkage curve can be determined.
The mathematical determination of the effect is effected with the use of known values as to the behavior of the properties of the web of material. The mathematical determination of the effect is compared with measured values of a web-property cross section which have been actually obtained--before and after a actuator adjustment--in order to adapt the detection values in such a manner that the results of the calculation agree as closely as possible with the measured results as to the effect.
There is particularly preferred an embodiment of the method in which a prediction as to the place of the effect of the adjustment of the actuator is made. This method is characterized by the fact that it is relatively easy to carry out and can be optimized.
There is furthermore preferred a method which is characterized by the fact that a prediction is made as to the form of the effect, for instance as to the width of the effect at the place of the effect or the amplitude of the change in the properties of the web of material at the place of the effect. This method also is relatively simple to carry out and has the result that the prediction as to the place of the effect can be excellently optimized.
There is particularly preferred a method in which there are taken into account actuators which are in any event used for the manufacture of the web of material and are required in order to adjust the cross section of the properties of the web of material. Such a method is characterized by the fact that no additional devices or actuators are required which enlarge the construction space of the device for the manufacture of the web of material, increase the cost of construction and production, and possibly also require additional maintenance. Furthermore, the current manufacture of the web of material is not disturbed by an adjustment of the actuator which serves exclusively for purposes of measurement. The current production, therefore, remains unaffected.
There is particularly preferred a method in which the actuators are adjusted only to such an extent as is necessary during production in order to correct process disturbances by an automatic cross-section control. Larger adjustments would disturb the production and reduce the quality of the paper.
There is preferred a method in which the predictions are modified stepwise in the manner that first of all a general statement which is as general as possible with regard to the behavior of the properties of the web of material is made which is characterized in particular by the fact that it can still be made rapidly and with good precision even in the case of poor "signal-to-noise ratio".
One simple statement could, for instance, be the following: The edges of the web of material are displaced by a certain amount as compared with the position which they should have at the measurement point in the machine if there were no shrinkage and no sidewise offset. The two amounts of the adjustment are to be determined.
A first refinement of this statement would, for instance, be as follows: The transverse shrinkage is greater at the edges than in the middle and the transverse-shrinkage cross section resulting therefrom has a key-shaped contour the amplitude of which is to be determined.
It is therefore seen that by this method auxiliary devices for measuring the position of the edge-section devices and of the paper edges can be dispensed with.
Furthermore, a method is preferred in which the prediction as to the properties of the web of material comprises as accurate as possible a determination of the transverse-shrinkage behavior.
Finally, there is particularly preferred a method in which an averaging of the results in connection with the determination of the transverse-shrinkage cross section is carried out for a number of predictions and also for a number of actuator adjustments. Such an averaging has the result that the error upon the mathematical determination of the effect is reduced to a minimum.
The object indicated above is achieved by a device which has the at least one measuring device for detecting the cross section of a property of the web and an arithmetic unit. Due to the fact that the arithmetic unit processes predictions or detection values as to the behavior of the properties of the web of material upon the adjustment of an actuator and on basis of these detection values arithmetically determines the effect by means of a rule of association, it is possible, at any time, to predict on-line the place which is to be associated with the change of an actuator and to determine an exact cross section of a property of a web of material and/or determine a sidewise offset of the web.
The said object is finally achieved by a method of manufacturing a web of material from a water-pulp slurry in which at least one cross section property of the web is measured; and a plurality of actuators arranged spatially over the width of the web and influencing at least one of the properties of the web are adjusted in accordance with the measured values in such a manner that a desired cross section of a property of the web is established.

Process and device for determining the effect of adjustment of final control elements


An electrostatic screen printer includes: an electrically conductive screen arranged in non-contact with a printing medium; sponges for rubbing a powder into the screen; and a direct current power source for applying a voltage to the printing medium and the powder, wherein the powder rubbed into the screen is adhered to the printing medium by electrostatic induction. The electrostatic screen printer includes a rotation mechanism for rotating the sponges, a parent revolution mechanism for parent revolution of the sponges, and a child revolution mechanism for child revolution of the sponges. The revolution speed ratio of the child revolution to the parent revolution may preferably be 4.0 or greater, a scraper is provided on the parent revolution mechanism so as to be interlocked with the revolution of the sponges, and the scraper is arranged so as to scrape the powder on the screen toward an axis of the parent revolution because of the interlocking.

Electrostatic screen printing is widely used for fragile printing media (such as food) because in electrostatic screen printing, a printing medium on which to adhere or deposit printing powder is not pressed. In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for all-solid secondary batteries with the development of electronic instruments, and it has been proposed to use electrostatic screen printing to form a powder layer in all-solid secondary batteries (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).
All-solid secondary batteries need to have a powder layer having a strictly even thickness. However, in the method of Patent Literature 1, the thickness of the powder layer (such as an electrode layer or an electrolyte layer) is not more even than in conventional electrostatic screen printing.
By contrast, there has been provided an electrostatic screen printer that can uniform the thickness of the powder adhered and deposited on a printing medium (e.g., Patent Literature 2). In the electrostatic screen printer described in Patent Literature 2, a powder is rubbed into a screen with a roller, thereby adhering the powder to the printing medium somewhat evenly.


A method is provided in one example and includes capturing panoramic image data through a first camera in a camera cluster, and capturing close-up image data through a second camera included as part of a spaced array of cameras. The presence of a user in a field of view of the second camera can be detected. The close-up image data and the panoramic image data can be combined to form a combined image. In more specific embodiments, the detecting includes evaluating a distance between the user and the second camera. The combined image can reflect a removal of a portion of panoramic image data associated with the user in a video conferencing environment.

Video services have become increasingly important in today's society. In certain architectures, service providers may seek to offer sophisticated video conferencing services for their end users. The video conferencing architecture can offer an "in-person" meeting experience over a network. Video conferencing architectures can deliver real-time, face-to-face interactions between people using advanced visual, audio, and collaboration technologies. Some issues have arisen in video conferencing scenarios where a group, rather than just an individual, needs to be clearly presented. Also, if participants are not tied to a desk or a conferencing table, but rather are free to stand and walk around, problems surface in choosing a suitable camera perspective. Deficient camera arrangements can lead to distorted or incomplete video images being sent to participants in a video conference. Hence, the ability to optimize cameras and video images provides a significant challenge to system designers, device manufacturers, and participants of video conferences.

System and method for providing depth adaptive video conferencing

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


A light emitting device includes a light source including an inorganic material substrate, a light emitting element mounted on a mounting surface of the inorganic material substrate, and a metalized pattern formed on a non-mounting surface of the inorganic material substrate on which the light emitting element is not mounted, a mounting substrate including an mounting surface on which the light source is mounted, and a conductor pattern formed on the mounting surface and bonded to the metalized pattern, and an optical member disposed on the mounting surface of the mounting substrate so as to guide a light emitted from the light source in a predetermined direction. The optical member includes a heat absorbing surface at least a part of which faces the conductor pattern of the mounting substrate, and a heat radiating surface that radiates heat of the light source conducted from the conductor pattern via the heat absorbing surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a light emitting device that guides and radiates an emission light of a light emitting element in a predetermined direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, a light emitting device is known, that has a plurality of light emitting diodes. In recent years, the application of the light emitting diode is enlarged, this the light emitting diode is widely used for indoor lighting, radiation of object in a scanner and the like. The above-mentioned light emitting device that needs a large amount of light includes a light emitting device to which heat radiation measures are applied for preventing thermal destruction of the light emitting diode itself due to heat generated in the light emitting diode (for example, refer to JP-2011-9789 A1).
A solid element device described in JP-2011-9789 A1 has a configuration that a heat radiation pattern is formed in a rear side of an inorganic material substrate in which a light emitting diode element is mounted in a front side, so that heat generated in the light emitting diode element is thermally-conducted from the heat radiation pattern to a heatsink or the like.
However, depending on the configuration of the light emitting device, it may be difficult to bring the heatsink into contact with the heat radiation pattern directly. In addition, in case that the inorganic material substrate is mounted on the mounting substrate in which the circuit pattern for providing electric power to the light emitting diode element is formed, it is needed to form though holes in the mounting substrate for the purpose of bringing the heat radiation pattern into contact with the heatsink, and to bring the heat radiation pattern into contact with the heatsink via the though holes. Consequently, there is a problem that the structure becomes complex and assembly man-hour is increased.


The present invention provides peptoid polymers capable of reducing or inhibiting the formation of ice crystals at sub 0° C. temperatures. Also provided are peptoid-peptide hybrids comprising the peptoid polymers provided herein. The peptoid polymers and peptoid-peptide hybrids provided herein are useful for making cryoprotectant solutions. The peptoid polymers, peptoid-peptide hybrids, and cryoprotectant solutions provided herein are useful for making antifreeze solutions, frozen food products, and cosmetic care products. Also provided herein are methods for preserving a tissue, an organ, a cell, or a biological macromolecule using the compositions described herein.

Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are compounds that when present in solution can reduce or inhibit ice crystal formation in solutions exposed to sub 0° C. temperatures. Current CPAs include small molecules (often referred to as penetrating CPAs), synthetic polymers, and antifreeze proteins.
Organ transplantation is currently the best treatment for end-stage organ failure in terms of survival, quality of life, and cost effectiveness. Unfortunately, a steep gap exists between supply and demand of organ transplants, and is one of the major medical obstacles that forces patients of debilitating disease to suffer low quality of life over a long period wait time. The apparent lack of organs is due to considerable waste from the absence of a reliable preservation method. In fact, over 50% of lungs, pancreas, and hearts remain unharvested from deceased donors.
In order to properly preserve organs, they have to be flushed with a preservation solution to remove blood and stabilize the organs. Even once stabilized in the preservation solution, there is only a limited time available for organ allocation, transportation, and transplantation after removal from the donor (˜6-12 hours). This small timeframe results in most organs going to local patients because remote patient matches often cannot be confirmed in the limited time. As a result of this shortage and in spite of laws which exist in almost all countries prohibiting the sale of one's organs, illicit organ trade and human trafficking has risen to supply demand.
Current penetrating CPAs used in organ preservation include ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, dimethyl sulfoxide, formamide, glycerol, sucrose, lactose, and D-mannitol, generally among others. In order to reduce or inhibit ice crystal growth at organ preservation temperatures, the effective concentration of the penetrating CPAs must be very high (≥60% is often required). At such high concentrations these compounds can be toxic to the tissues they are attempting to preserve, and the massive removal of CPAs upon warming before transplantation can lead to irreversible cell death.
Other CPAs used to reduce or inhibit ice crystal formation include synthetic polymers and antifreeze proteins. Similar to the penetrating CPAs, each of these have their drawbacks. Synthetic polymers, for example, are not capable of permeating the cellular membrane. As such, synthetic polymer CPAs can only control extracellular ice formation. In order to effectively preserve the biological sample, ice crystal formation must be controlled both inside and outside the cell. Naturally-occurring antifreeze proteins, such as those isolated from fish, plants, or insects, are highly effective at preventing ice formation, but current antifreeze proteins that are available are of low purity and are extremely expensive. Additionally, the use of antifreeze proteins to preserve a biological sample introduces a potential source of immunogenicity.
As such, there is a need in the art for novel non-toxic compounds to effectively reduce or inhibit ice crystal formation at sub 0° C. and cryogenic temperatures. The present disclosure satisfies this need and provides other advantages as well.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions and methods for reducing ice crystal formation


An emergency shut-off for a flush tank having a liquid replenishment valve is connected to the liquid replenishment valve for moving the valve to a closed position if liquid level in the tank has not reached a predetermined height within a predetermined time after the tank has been flushed. Broadly speaking, the emergency shut-off comprises a container, a buoy, and a valve connection mechanism. The container extends downward in the tank from at least the predetermined height and includes a valve for allowing liquid in the tank to enter the container and for allowing liquid within the container to egress into the tank at a predetermined rate. The buoy in the container raises and lowers with the liquid level in the container and contacts the valve connection mechanism when the liquid in the container is at a predetermined shut-off height. The valve connection mechanism is connected to the valve for closing the valve in response to contact by the buoy.

Many times and for many reasons, the automatic closure mechanism, generally a flush valve, in the floor of a toilet fails to close or fails to close completely. The automatic closure mechanism fails for reasons such as worn out or deteriorated closure mechanism (flush valve or flapper); stuck flush handle; tangled chain or linkage; or faulty hinge on flush valve.
Quite often the user has left the vicinity and is unaware of flush mechanism failure.
This results in a continuous flow of water through the replenishment valve from the main supply to the flush tank and out the drain. The water is wasted until the flush valve is manually closed or the main water supply is manually cut off.
Due to the above circumstances a phenomenally large amount of water is wasted daily.
Therefore, there has been a need for an automatic shut-off mechanism for the replenishment valve of flush tanks upon flush valve failure.
It is desirable that such an automatic shut-off mechanism adapt easily to toilet environment and construction.
It is further desirable that such a mechanism be capable of retrofit on existing toilet refill mechanisms.

Emergency shut-off mechanism for flush tank


A Fischer-Tropsch process for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas which originates e.g. from biomass gasification, using membrane separators. In the process, an input stream which comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide as well as further gases and/or vapours is initially fed to a first membrane stage which comprises a steam-selective and carbon dioxide-selective membrane and through which at least some of the steam present in the input stream and some of the carbon dioxide present in the input stream are separated from the input stream to form a permeate stream of the first membrane stage comprising steam and carbon dioxide and a retentate stream of the first membrane stage containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

The gasification of biomass for the production of a gaseous input stream for subsequent chemical syntheses is becoming ever more important. One of these syntheses is the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is used to produce higher hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene, liquid fuels or waxes from an input gas (synthesis gas) containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
The achievable yield of higher hydrocarbons such as C5-20 hydrocarbons and lighter hydrocarbons such as C2-4 hydrocarbons as input materials for the chemical industry is substantially determined by the necessary discharge of CO2 to increase the H2/CO ratio in the synthesis gas, the energy requirement and the achieved conversion rates and selectivities in the individual process stages. These separation tasks are as a rule expensive in terms of energy and equipment, and have a negative effect on the commercial implementation of biomass gasification on a larger scale.
In addition to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a synthesis gas produced by biomass gasification also contains at least methane, carbon dioxide and water. The adjustment of the ratio of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the input stream takes place according to the state of the art via methane reforming, water-gas shift reactions and carbon dioxide separation. Furthermore, a water separation is necessary (M. J. A. Tijmensen et al., Biomass and Bioenergy 23 (2002) 129-152). The reaction processes are expensive in terms of equipment. The same is true for gas drying and carbon dioxide separation processes. These are realized by physical or chemical absorption processes. Furthermore, a disadvantage in these processes is the use of a separation aid which has to be treated in an energy-intensive way by an additional process step.
Unreacted hydrogen is advantageously fed back into the reactor. For this, the hydrogen can be separated off by means of pressure swing adsorption processes. A disadvantage in both processes is the necessity to cool the gas before entry into the separation unit.
The products can be separated off e.g. by low-temperature rectification at increased pressures. Again, the adjustment of these operating conditions is expensive in terms of equipment and energy, above all if light gases such as hydrogen, methane or carbon monoxide are still located in the product gas to be separated off.
Any carbon dioxide present must be removed before entry into the low-temperature rectification. Absorption processes using detergents with chemical or physical action are state of the art for this.
CN 101 186 550 A describes a process in which two Fischer-Tropsch reactors are operated in series. The product streams are separated in gas-liquid or gas-liquid-liquid separators. The product streams of these separators that contain the light gases are admixed with the input streams of the Fischer-Tropsch reactors. No adjustment of the synthesis gas ratio is described.
CN 101 307 245 A discloses a fixed-bed reactor for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The recirculation of unreacted input gases is also discussed. The process used for this is not disclosed.
CN 101 434 507A discloses a cascade consisting of condensers and subsequent separating tanks in which the Fischer-Tropsch products are separated. For this, the product gas is cooled, with the result that a liquid phase forms, which is separated off. The gas remaining after the cooling is cooled further, with the result that a liquid phase to be drawn off forms again. This procedure is repeated until only hydrogen and carbon monoxide remain contained in the gas, which is then recirculated. The liquid phases that form are mixed and fed to a demethanizer column. The process relates to the utilization of vapour-liquid phase equilibria.
CN 101 559 320 A discloses a process in which the gases produced in the reactor are cooled and fed to a demethanizer column. The hydrocarbon mixture discharged in the bottom of the column is fed to a further treatment. The top product is fed to an absorption stage in which the higher hydrocarbons still contained are separated with the help of an absorption liquid consisting of higher hydrocarbons and fed back to the inlet of the demethanizer column. The gases exiting the absorption column at the top are discharged. Membrane processes are not used.
CN 101 979 468 A discloses the recirculation of the unreacted gas from a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the mixing with carbon dioxide and the subsequent catalytic reforming. This gas is fed, together with the synthesis gas, to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The adjustment of the synthesis gas ratio is achieved by the mentioned reforming.
DE 10 2010 011 076 A1 discloses a process in which a medium-boiling product fraction is to be obtained from a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. For this, the high-boiling hydrocarbons are first removed into two gas-liquid separators connected one behind the other and fed back to the reactor via a heated line. In the second separator, the liquid phase is discharged from the process as product and water is removed from it in a liquid-liquid separator. The gaseous product stream is again fed to the reactor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,741 discloses a process in which the octane number of the Fischer-Tropsch products is increased by further reaction steps. Gas streams are separated and fed back into the reaction part.
WO 03/072530 A1 proposes an improved treatment and partial recirculation of Fischer-Tropsch products. The recirculated streams partially undergo a chemical conversion.
WO 01/42175 A1 discloses a process in which a synthesis gas is produced from carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide and fed to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The product gas from the reactor is divided into a higher hydrocarbon fraction for further treatment, an aqueous phase and an exhaust-gas stream to be recirculated to the reactor inlet. The exhaust-gas stream is fed to a steam reforming again before being admixed with the reactor input stream. Pressure swing adsorption is mentioned as a method for separating off hydrogen. The reverse water-gas shift reaction is mentioned for the adjustment of the carbon dioxide content.
WO 2004/092306 A1 discloses a process in which unreacted input gases are also recirculated. The separation of the gases takes place by pressure swing adsorption.
The recirculation of unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide by means of pressure swing adsorption is also proposed in FR 2 807 027 and FR 2 891 277.
WO 2005/005576 A1 discloses removing carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas forming during the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and feeding said exhaust gas to an energy recovery.
There is a need to further improve the production of higher hydrocarbons by means of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis from synthesis gas which can be obtained for example from biomass gasification or from biogas, in particular from an energy and equipment point of view.

Fischer-Tropsch process for producing hydrocarbons from biogas

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material-und Küstenforschung GmbH


A multi-functional subminiature speaker, namely a bone conduction speaker, which can generate vibration for a bone conduction function, bodily sensation of vibration, speaker attachment, and the vibration modes over the housing unit, without any projections, and which has an acoustic portion unit detachably mounted. The bone conduction is performed without the projections because the vibration can be generated over the whole surface of the multi-functional subminiature speaker, such that loss of the magnetic force transmitted to the vibration coil is minimized by disposing the magnets on both inner and outer sides with respect to the vibration coil.

In Korean utility model registration No. 221534, there were disclosed a bone conduction telephone for those who have impaired of hearing and a hearing aid vibrator by using a piezoelectric device as described above.
Referring now to FIG. 1, which shows the bone conduction telephone and the hearing aid vibrator using the conventional piezoelectric device, there were disclosed a bone conduction telephone and a hearing aid vibrator using the piezoelectric device, comprising a piezoelectric device 100 for generating physical vibration according to the application of electrical voice signal, vibrating plates 101 disposed at both end sides of the piezoelectric device 100, which apply the electrical signal to the piezoelectric device 100 through a conducting wire 103, a front contact portion 104 mounted closely and connected to an electrode plate 102 for transmitting the vibration to the outside, and a cover 105 for protecting and supporting the piezoelectric device, whereby the piezoelectric device 100 generates vibration conforming to the voice frequency by means of the piezoelectric effect, according to the voice signal applied through both the vibration plate 101 and the electrode plate 102 to thereby transmit the generated vibration signal to the outside.
However, since the bone conduction telephone and the hearing aid vibrator using the subminiature vibrator and the piezoelectric device should employ high impedance and high input voltage, the output acoustic pressure was low and it was difficult to make them compact, so a lot of problems were produced in implementing it actually.
Furthermore, a subminiature acoustic vibrator was disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-0106898.
Reviewing the subminiature acoustic vibrator with regard to FIG. 2, when the electric current is applied to a terminal portion (not shown) from the outer electric power supply source to thereby supply it to a voice coil 110, the voice coil 110 induces the change of magnetic field from the electrical energy of voice signal. In other words, when the electric current is applied to the voice coil 110, magnetic field is produced between the voice coil 110 positioned in the clearance of the magnetic circuit comprising a yoke 112, a magnet 111, and an upper plate 113, the magnetic circuit comprising the yoke 112 is made to vibrate in the upward and downward directions by means of the Fleming's left hand law, through the interaction between the magnetic field in the magnetic circuit, the vibration contact portion 114 connected to the yoke 112 is made to vibrate concurrently, and the vibration of the vibration contact portion 114 is transmitted to a head portion of a human being, so that those who impaired of hearing can hear the bone conduction sound.
However, according to the bone conduction speaker, the yoke 112, the magnet 111, and the upper plate 113 are operated as parts for forming the magnetic field and vibrated in the upward and downward directions, so that high driving voltage is required to vibrate the yoke 112, the magnet 111, and the upper plate 113. Accordingly, there is caused a problem of requiring a large amount of electric power consumption.
In this regard, a subminiature bone conduction speaker using a vibrating plate, and a mobile phone with the same have been disclosed in Korean patent registration No. 0378156.
Reviewing the subminiature bone conduction speaker using a vibrating plate, which is a conventional bone conduction speaker, and a mobile phone with the same with reference to FIG. 3, a projection 120, an auxiliary vibrating plate 122, and a voice coil 123 are mounted to a vibrating plate 121, so that the mastoid 120, an auxiliary vibrating plate 122, and the voice coil 123 are constructed to vibrate by using the elasticity of the vibrating plate 121 resulting in performing of the bone conduction, after the magnetic force applied to the voice coil 123 is affected by a ring type magnet 124.


A battery operated electronic device includes electronic circuits (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), and a battery holder (218, 222, 226) electrically coupled to the electronic circuits (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for holding a first replaceable battery (216) and for electrically coupling the first replaceable battery (216) and the electronic circuits (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20), and for delivering power thereto. The battery holder (218, 222, 226) allows replacement of the first replaceable battery (216) in the battery holder (218, 222, 226) with a second replaceable battery (238). The second replaceable battery (238) can be utilized to displace the first replaceable battery (216) from the battery holder (218, 222, 226) in the battery replacement operation. Further, a method is provided for the battery replacement operation.

Many electronic devices, including portable electronic devices such as selective call receivers, utilize a replaceable battery for a power source. Typically, the replaceable battery is held in a battery compartment in the electronic device during use. A replacement operation normally involves opening a door or cover to the battery compartment and removing a depleted battery. Then, a fresh battery is inserted into the battery compartment and the door or cover is closed to complete the replacement operation. During the battery replacement operation, power is removed from the electronic device.
Additionally, sometimes a tool is necessary to help open and/or close the door or cover to the battery compartment. For example, sometimes the edge of a coin serves as a screw driver to open and close the cover to the battery compartment.
Regrettably, this conventional battery replacement procedure tends to be cumbersome, can require an additional tool which may not always be readily available, and removes power from the electronic device to effect the battery replacement. Moreover, in many communication applications, the loss of power and the ability to communicate, even for a brief time interval, is unacceptable. For example, in a governmental or emergency communication system, losing messages can have serious consequences.
Thus, what is needed is a simpler more reliable method and apparatus for battery replacement, preferably allowing battery replacement to be performed while maintaining continuous uninterrupted power to the electronic device.

Method and apparatus for improved battery replacement


Channel doping is implemented such that dopants remain localized under the gate without migrating under the source/drain juctions during processing, thereby avoiding performance degradation of the finished device. Embodiments include implanting impurities at an acute angle to form a lateral channel implant localized below the gate after activation of source/drain regions, and activating the lateral channel implant by a low-temperature RTA during subsequent metal silicide formation. The use of a low-temperature RTA for electrical activation of the lateral channel implant avoids impurity migration under the source/drain junctions, thereby lowering parasitic junction capacitance and enabling the manufacture of semiconductor devices exhibiting higher circuit speeds with improved threshold voltage control.

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices typically comprise a pair of ion implanted source/drain regions in a semiconductor substrate an ion implanted channel region separating( the source/drain regions, and a thin gate oxide and a conductive gate formed above the channel region. A traditional approach to forming MOS devices comprises initially blanket doping the substrate with the intended channel implant before gate oxidation, forming the gate oxide and the gate, then counter-doping the source/drain regions and annealing to electrically activate the implants. However, this technique is problematic given the current demands for miniaturization and increased circuit density, which have led to a dramatic reduction in feature sizes. When feature sizes are scaled to below 1 .mu.m, the traditional approach results in devices exhibiting undesirable short-channel effects, increased junction capacitance and mobility degradation (i.e. increased resistance) in the source/drain regions due to the presence of the unneeded heavy channel implant in the source/drain regions. Furthermore, during the annealing step, transient enhanced diffusion occurs, causing accelerated diffusion of source/drain dopants into the channel and out-diffusion of channel dopants to the source/drain regions, thereby decreasing the channel doping. To compensate, a higher initial channel doping concentration is necessary. However, raising the initial channel doping level further increases junction capacitance and degrades mobility in the source/drain regions.
As a result, the traditional approach is being largely replaced with newer methodologies. In one such technique, as illustrated in FIG. 1A a thin gate oxide 20 is first formed on a substrate 10 and a conductive gate 30. typically of polysilicon, is formed over gate oxide 20. Intended source/drain regions are then masked by masks 40, and the channel region 50 is ion implanted through gate 30 with impurities 60, as shown in FIG. 1B. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1C, a heavy source/drain implant is performed to implant impurities 70. The implants 60, 70 are then electrically activated by heating, as by rapid thermal annealing (RTA).
Disadvantageously, bombardment of the silicon of substrate 10 with a high flux of ions during the heavy source/drain implant causes crystallographic defects 80 in silicon 10 (i.e., holes in the crystal structure). Such defects. in turn, cause unwanted diffusion of implants 60, 70, especially during the RTA process. During such diffusion, channel dopants 60 migrate under the source/drain junctions J, and defects 80 attract dopants 70 to fill holes in the silicon crystal structure, as shown in FIG. 1D. The rise in doping level under the junctions J due the diffusion undesirably increases parasitic junction capacitance, thereby degrading device performance as by decreasing circuit speed. In addition, dopant migration from the channel region creates problems in controlling the threshold voltage of the finished device thereby lowering manufacturing yield.
There exists a need for methodology enabling the manufacture of semiconductor devices with channel doping localized under the gate, thereby reducing parasitic junction capacitance, improving device performance and increasing yield.

Metal oxide semiconductor device with localized laterally doped channel


The techniques describe herein involve receiving, from a user device, captured network data associated with an altitude and analyzing the network data at a network node. The network node can determine a coverage index associated with the altitude and compare the coverage index with an aggregated coverage index to determine a network response. The network response can include deploying and/or modifying a network component associated with the altitude. Additionally, the network node can update a multidimensional coverage map based on the coverage index and/or the network response.

Modern telecommunication systems include heterogeneous mixtures of second, third, fourth generation, and fifth generation (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) cellular-wireless access technologies, which may be cross-compatible and may operate collectively to provide communication services. Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) is an example of 2G telecommunications technologies; Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is an example of 3G telecommunications technologies; Long Term Evolution (LTE), including LTE Advanced, and Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) are examples of 4G telecommunications technologies; and 5G New Radio (NR) is an example of 5G telecommunications technologies.
Network coverage for modem telecommunications systems is often allocated, in part, using prediction analysis of infrastructure that considers a variety of factors, such as known cell tower location, power associated with the cell tower, and other factors. In addition, some coverage analysis may include considering network data associated with user devices. However, coverage analysis often cannot distinguish network data received from at differing altitudes.

Multidimensional analysis and network response


An extensible conveyor apparatus and method for a continuous haulage system include a continuous conveyor belt for carrying coal or ore discharged from a continuous miner, a top slider for supporting the coal-carrying or ore-carrying continuous conveyor belt, a bottom belt return, and a slider holding frame for holding the top slider, wherein the slider holding frame is provided by a plurality of floor-supported frame members held in position by belt tension, the slider holding frame being capable of rapid and nimble extendable, retractable construction in the mine. Rails connect and hold adjacent frame members in position by press-fit attachment of the rails to the frame members. The rails preferably are quickly rotatable to change the top wearing surface. A top slider for supporting the mined-material-carrying belt is composed of a material which is lightweight, flame-resistant, and quickly replaceable in an underground mine.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to conveyor apparatus and method for use in mining operations. In one aspect, this invention relates to mining apparatus and method for performing continuous haulage in a mine.
2. Background
Mining operations today use conveyor apparatus extensively to remove material, e.g., such as coal or ore, from the mine. The conveyor apparatus improves productivity over those methods which do not have "continuous" means for removing the mined material from the mine face.
Continuous miner machines work at removing the mined material, e.g., ore or coal, from the mine face and thereby extend into the mine and away from the conveyor or other means for removing the material produced by the continuous miner. After the continuous miner extends so far, the miner must be retracted away from the mine face to install or construct roof supports. Accordingly, the mined material removal means, e.g., the conveyor apparatus, must be capable of extension and retraction in conjunction with movement of the continuous miner.
Conveyor apparatus available commercially today can be viewed as severely limited with respect to its flexibility and ease of operation in providing the extension and retractability for following the continuous miner. A new apparatus and method are needed to provide mined material removal for continuous haulage.


A method of reconstructing a road is provided. This method includes taking representative cores of the road, analyzing the cores, selecting a substantially solvent-free emulsion based on climate history, mixing the emulsion and reclaimed asphalt pavement particles to form an asphalt emulsion mix, testing the asphalt emulsion mix for performance using a raveling test, a thermal cracking prediction test by an indirect tensile testing, a moisture susceptibility test utilizing vacuum saturation, and a dry Marshall stability test. It also includes designing a CIR layer based on this test data. It further includes grinding off a layer of the existing asphalt road leaving at least about an inch, adding an emulsion to the reclaimed asphalt pavement particles, applying the designed cold in-place recycling layer to the road, and compacting it.

The present invention relates to reconstructing and paving roads. More specifically, the present invention is a cold in-place recycling (CIR) method for designing an asphalt emulsion mix and building a road.
Traditionally, when roads are rehabilitated, material is milled and removed. Then, hot mix is brought to the construction site and placed on the milled area. One disadvantage with such a process is that it is time consuming because it requires two operations. In one operation, the road is milled up, and the material is removed. Then, in the second operation, the hot mix asphalt is transported to the site and placed on the milled pavement. Another disadvantage with such a process is that the milled material is often not reused.
More recently, roads that are in fair or poor condition have been replaced or rehabilitated using cold in-place recycling (CIR) of the bituminous material that makes up the road. However, these CIR processes lack thorough designs and thus have consistency problems, such as inconsistency in emulsion content. Many times they do not provide the desired performance. Still further, roads made with conventional CIR processes are unreliable, and many times this leads to raveling, pot holes, rutting, disintegration problems, and cracks.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, a process that provides better road performance while using recycled materials is needed.

Cold in-place recycling of bituminous material


Compositions, methods and devices for the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and the diagnosis of disease, for example, syphilis, are described. In particular, a method for immobilizing a lipoidal antigen, comprising cardiolipin, lecithin, and cholesterol, on a solid support (such as a nitrocellulose membrane) is described. The ability to immobilize a lipoidal antigen on a membrane satisfies a long-felt need for a membrane-based assay for the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies. Also described are immunoassay devices for concurrently performing treponemal and non-treponemal tests for syphilis.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Over 100,000 cases of adult syphilis are reported worldwide each year. In addition, the disease is transmitted congenitally and affects 3,000 or more infants annually. The course of syphilis infection spans many years and may lead to a variety of clinical presentations, which are characterized by four stages.
The primary stage of syphilis infection occurs 10-100 days after bacterial infection, and is characterized by the appearance of one or more chancres (red, bloodless, painless ulcers typically less than 1 cm in diameter). The chancres may appear on the genitalia or elsewhere on the body. A chancre lasts 3-6 weeks and heals without treatment, leaving a small scar. Infected persons are contagious during this stage.
The secondary stage of syphilis infection is characterized by rash-like skin lesions that can cover part or all of the body. The skin lesions are generally painless and appear 1-6 months after the onset of the initial chancre(s). The skin lesions can resemble warts, pustules, or ulcers. Left untreated, they heal in 2-12 weeks without scarring. Fever, sore throat, weakness, weight loss, swelling of the lymph nodes, and loss of the eyelashes and/or part of the eyebrows can also occur during this stage of infection. In addition, the symptoms may progress to meningovascular syphilis, which is characterized by inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord and/or changes in the vasculature of the brain. Infected persons are also contagious in the secondary phase.
The next stage of this disease is latent syphilis or the hidden stage. During this stage, the infected person appears to have recovered and is asymptomatic. This stage lasts for life in approximately two-thirds of persons who are not treated for syphilis. During the first year of latency, relapses of secondary stage symptoms may occur. Except during a relapse, infected persons are not contagious during this latent stage; however, children born to latently infected mothers within four years of the appearance of the primary chancre may contract congenital syphilis.
Tertiary or late syphilis is the final stage of untreated infection. This stage may occur as early as one year after infection or anytime thereafter with 10 to 20 years being most common. Benign syphilis, characterized by lesions called gummas, can occur in the bone, skin, and internal organs. Death is rare, but severe disfigurement and pain can occur. Cardiovascular syphilis is characterized by aortic aneurysms as well as other cardiovascular problems and frequently results in death. Neurologic involvement may occur in the early stages of syphilis as well as manifest as late stage symptoms. In the late stage disease, neurosyphilis may be asymptomatic or the patient may have severe neurologic problems such as possible dementia, insanity, impairment of mobility, blindness, deafness, or even death.
The immune response in syphilis involves production of (i) treponemal antibodies, which are specific for T. pallidum antigens, and (ii) anti-lipoidal antibodies, which recognize lipoidal material released from damaged host cells, lipoprotein-like material and possibly cardiolipin released from the treponemes. The mainstay of syphilis screening and diagnosis is serological testing for either or both of these two types of antibodies.
Tests for anti-lipoidal antibodies (often called "non-treponemal tests") are typically based on an antigen composed of naturally occurring cardiolipin, cholesterol and lethicin. The widely used non-treponemal tests (e.g., Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test) monitor, either microscopically (e.g., VDRL test) or macroscopically (e.g., RPR test), the formation of a flocculent comprised of antigen-antibody complexes. Non-treponemal tests have the advantage of being widely available, inexpensive and convenient to perform on large numbers of specimens. Moreover, because anti-lipoidal antibody titers decrease with successful treatment for syphilis, eventually disappearing in most patients, while treponemal antibodies titers remain high for years or even a lifetime, non-treponemal tests are considered the better choice for monitoring treatment or testing for reinfection.
Treponemal tests are based on antigens derived from T. pallidum and include the T. pallidum particle agglutination (TP-PA), the fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorbed test (FTA-ABS) and enzyme immunoassays. Treponemal tests are used primarily to verify reactivity in non-treponemal tests. The treponemal test may also be used to confirm a clinical impression of syphilis in which the non-treponemal test is nonreactive. Treponemal tests are technically more difficult, time consuming, and expensive to perform and cannot be used to monitor treatment because the test will remain reactive for years or a lifetime in approximately 85% of persons successfully treated for syphilis.
Each of the above-described antibody tests is performed using a serum sample that is obtained in a clinical setting and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Therefore, test results are typically not available for several days after the sample is collected. Because of the frequent difficulty of tracing patients with STDs, the development of a rapid, point-of-care test is needed to aid the clinician in making a judgment, preferably on the day of testing.
Immunoassay devices (such as test strips, flow-through devices, or lateral flow devices), which offer rapid, on-site results, are available to qualitatively test serum levels of treponemal antibodies (e.g., DiaSys Corporation; ACON Laboratories, Inc.; Biokit, S. A.; Genix Technology; Standard Diagnostics; Cortez Diagnostics, Inc.; and Phoenix Bio-Tech Corp). However, analogous tests for anti-lipoidal antibodies have been more difficult to develop at least in part because the hydrophobic antigens of the anti-lipoidal antibodies (e.g., VDRL, USR or RPR antigens, or cardiolipin) resist attachment to solid supports, which is one element of an immunoassay device.
According to some experts, syphilis detection would be further aided by a combination of a non-treponemal test and a treponemal test for screening and diagnostic purposes. This is an approach advocated by the World Health Organization, Treponemal Infections, Technical Report Series 674, Geneva: WHO, 1982. An easy-to-use, rapid, point-of-care test capable of concurrently detecting both non-treponemal and treponemal antibodies would help address this long-felt need.

Methods, immunoassays and devices for detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


A variable delay circuit for delaying an input signal and being capable of changing length of this delay is provided and various modulation effects are imparted by this delay. When change in the delay length has been designated, a decay envelope is imparted to a delay output tone signal corresponding to the delay length before the change and then a rise envelope is imparted to a delay output signal corresponding to the delay length after the change. Generation of a click noise during the change in the delay length thereby is prevented. Alternatively, when the delay length is to be changed, a decay envelope is imparted to a delay output signal corresponding to the delay length before the change and, simultaneously, a rise envelope is imparted to a delay output tone signal corresponding to the delay length after the delay and the two signals are combined. Alternatively further, when the delay length is to be changed, the delay length is sequentially changed in plural steps from the delay length before the change to the delay length after the change.

The invention relates to an effect imparting device used in an electronic musical instrumental or the like apparatus and, more particularly, to an effect imparting device of a type imparting a desired effect by delaying a tone signal capable of eliminating or preventing a click noise produced in changing length of delay.
In effect imparting devices used in electronic musical instruments or the like apparatus, there are devices imparting modulation effects such as "delay", "reverberation", "phase shifting", "vibrato" and "termolo" by employing a digital delay device (e.g., Japanese Preliminary Patent Publication Nos. 58-14191 corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 07/161,344 and 58-14898 corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 07/022,582, U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,993 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,268).
Delay length in a digital delay device sometimes is automatically changed during processing of a tone signal by operation by a player or in accordance with a processing program. In that case, there arises the inconvenience that the phase of a delay output signal after the change becomes discontinuous to that before the change resulting in generation of a click noise in a signal portion at the change. Particularly, in an effect, e.g., an reverberation effect, in which a delay output signal is fed back to the input side of the delay device, the click noise thus generated also is fed back, and this poses a serious problem.

Effect imparting device for an electronic musical instrument or the like apparatus


A vehicle control system includes at least one control inceptor to provide pilot control of an associated vehicle and a communications interface to process external entity SA data associated with an external entity that is received at a communications system associated with the associated vehicle. An SA video screen displays video data to a pilot of the associated vehicle. The video data includes pilot-perspective visual data corresponding to a real-time dynamic virtual representation of surroundings of the associated vehicle that simulates a real-world visual perspective of the pilot to the surroundings of the associated vehicle and is responsive to the pilot control. A visual indicator of the external entity is superimposed onto the pilot-perspective visual data at an approximate location corresponding to an actual location of the external entity relative to the associated vehicle and beyond a visual range of the pilot based on the external entity SA data.

Vehicles are typically operated based on use of eyesight to provide adequate stimulus to the pilot to provide sufficient decision-making and proper reactionary control. Therefore, hand-eye coordination has long been a requirement of successfully navigating a vehicle, particularly when quick reaction speed is required for piloting the vehicle (e.g., in a combat situation). As a result, many techniques have been developed and continue to be developed to counteract the vision of a pilot as a primary means of navigating a vehicle. For example, since the dawn of aviation, pilots have used the glare of sunlight or cloud cover as a way of concealing themselves from enemy aircraft. Furthermore, as technology increases in complexity and ability, long-range stand-off distances become increasingly important as the stealth technology improves and the range of ordnance increases. Such factors have diminished the effectiveness of a pilot's natural eyesight to compete in modern warfare tactics.


An articulated jib for moving a load is supported on a base and comprises a first jib arm pivotably connected to a base. The first jib arm functions as a bascule and is pivotable about a first axis. There is a first counterweight disposed on the first jib arm. A second jib arm is pivotably connected to the first jib arm and is pivotable about a second axis. A linking rod connects the second jib arm to a lever arm which is also pivotably connected to the base. There is a second counterweight disposed on the lever arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jibs and, in particular, to a simplified, articulated camera jib with improved balance and stability.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide articulated camera jibs that allow movement about three distinct horizontal axes. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,705 issued on Jul. 23, 1991 to Reagan and U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,963 issued on Mar. 9, 1993 to Hill. These jibs allow a camera to be moved without requiring movement of a base which supports the jib. However, these jibs typically use timing belts or chain drives to ensure synchronization of all the various elements in order to provide balance and stability. The timing belts or chain drives add undesired structure and weight to the jib.
To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of timing belts and chain drives, some articulated camera jibs use linking rods to ensure synchronization of all the various elements. An example of such a jib is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,412 issued on Jul. 2, 1996 to Ho. However, the jib disclosed by Ho has a complex structure including four interdependent "four-linking mechanisms". Each of the "four-linking mechanisms" comprises two pairs of parallel linking bars. There is accordingly a need for a simplified, articulate jib with improved balance and stability.

Articulated jib for moving a camera during the production of a motion picture


An umbrella stand having a tube with an axial lumen, a top, a bottom, and the top capable of receiving a pole into the axial lumen; a removable lever; the top being able to receive and release the removable lever; and the bottom capable of securing the tube into the ground. Or, the above device wherein a first hole and a second hole are oppositely positioned on the side of the tube; and the removable lever comprises a cylindrical rod capable of fitting through the first and second hole. Or, the above device wherein the a grip screw is coupled to the side of the tube and capable of securing the pole in the tube; an annular shim is placed in the stand; the bottom of the stand is a grooved spiral; and latches are coupled to the stand and capable of holding the removable lever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of pole stands. More specifically, the present invention relates to umbrella stands that allow umbrellas and even flags, signs, and any other standard poles that need to be anchored into the ground, sand, or any other penetrable surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Beach Umbrellas are becoming necessary accessories at beaches, parks, and other places where the effects of the sun can severely burn both young and old. However, Umbrellas and the like are often difficult to make stand in soft ground or sand, or against winds that easily pull them down once they are set up. Furthermore, finding ways to anchor these stands onto the ground easy for both strong and weak has been difficult since ensuring they are properly grounded requires some strength.
Umbrella stands come in several types with those most relevant for this application being surface or sub-surface stands that either weight or anchor the pole on or in the ground.
Surface pole stands usually comprise a weighted apparatus with a means for holding a standard pole. (See U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,455 to Robert J. Oliver; U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,406 to Janice Stine and Karen Solari; or U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,930 to Jun Li) After ballast is provided in the weighted apparatus, it then rests on the ground or sand into which the pole is securely positioned.
In addition to surface there are also sub-surface stands in the class of the present invention. These types of stands use an existing landscape to leverage the stand and umbrella in the ground instead of a separate weighted ballast apparatus. The advantage of this type of stand is obvious in that one does not have to carry a large—even if empty—apparatus used for ballasting the umbrella in its stand to the beach.
The other option are sub-surface stands, which are common for use in many different types of activities such as fishing, (See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,446 to James Williams or U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,465 to Freddie Stoner) multi-purpose activities, (See, U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,985 to Douglas Cantrell) flags, (See, pending U.S. application 2004/0169121 A1 to Anthony Winn) and, of course, umbrellas. (See. U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,172 and Application 2001/0048060 to Donald Brumfeld, U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,978 to Arturo Rodriguez, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,304 to Alexander Margolis).
How sub-surface stands are anchored into the ground. Most either requires a downward force directed onto the umbrella stand or require a person to step onto a plane attached to the stand forcing the stand into the ground. One invention, similar to the present invention, has a folding clamp permanently coupled to the pole stand that clamps around the pole in its clamped position and when unfolded, creates a horizontal lever allowing someone to turn the lever and screw the pole into the ground. (U.S. application 2004/0169121 A1 to Anthony Winn) However, there are a few problems with the Winn stand. The first is that if the stand needs to be placed on an inclined angle, the extended clamp is fixed and it can be difficult and most times impossible to screw the stand into the ground because the handle portion of the clamp will be wedged against the side of the incline. Second, because poles come in various shapes and sizes, the Winn stand clamps only around poles of a definite diameter. If a pole is too large, as many wooden poles are, the clamp will not fit around it.
Lastly, umbrella stands are impulse items that normally cost under $20. They should be inexpensive to manufacture; effective in their purpose; light and easy to use; durable; avoid the use of complicated mechanisms easily ruined by sand and other natural elements; and portable. In devices such as this, the fewer components the better so that the overall item costs less and because the nature of these devices are such that they are in and around sand, water, and other natural elements that easily corrode and destroy. The Winn stand does not avoid these problems.
None of the above-mentioned references—save the present invention—achieves all of the preceding criteria.


An end connector for connecting an end of an expansible watch band to a conventional spring bar or the like carried on a watch case. The end connector includes a planar base member having one end inserted into the end of the band in mechanical engagement with staples interconnecting the top and bottom links, and having its opposite end protruding beyond the end of the band and coupled to the spring bar. A cover overlies the protruding portion of the base member and the spring bar and is secured to the base member at a position interposed between the endmost top link and the watch case.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to expansible watch bands, and is concerned in particular with an improved end connector for connecting the ends of such bands to conventional spring bars or the like carried on watch cases.
2. Description of the Invention
The conventional expansible watch band typically includes a row of box like top links overlying a row of box like bottom links, with the links of one row being staggered in relation to those of the other row. The top and bottom links are interconnected by pairs of U-shaped staples, with the staples of each pair being located along opposite edges respectively of the band in a mutually confronting relationship. The staples have legs which protrude inwardly into the ends of the links to cooperate with internal springs in providing a means of accommodating longitudinal expansion and contraction of the band. Typically, the top links are covered with ornamental top shells.
My U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,901 discloses an end connector for such bands having a generally planar base member inserted between the endmost bottom and top links in an interlocked relationship with the interconnecting staples. A protruding outer end of the base member is coupled to a spring bar on the watch case. A cover overlies the spring bar, the protruding outer end of the base member coupled thereto, and the endmost top link, the latter being without a decorative top shell.
With this arrangement, the inner end of the cover overlying the endmost top link must be decoratively configured to duplicate the design of the band's decorative top shells. However, the outer end of the cover must be functionally configured to coactively engage with that portion of the base member coupled to the spring bar. These diverse decorative and functional requirements impose serious limitations on the extent to which the cover can be configured to accommodate and blend together with the design of the watch case. Thus, except for situations where the band and watch case are originally manufactured with matching designs, it becomes difficult if not impossible to achieve an integrated "custom" look when combining an existing band design with an existing watch case design.
My copending application Ser. No. 07/306,068 discloses another expansible watch band end connector employing an inserted interlocked generally planar base member coupled to a spring bar, but without an accompanying cover. Here again, unless the band and watch case are originally manufactured with the same ornamental design, an integrated custom look is most difficult to achieve.
A general objective of the present invention is to provide an improved end connector which obviates or at least significantly minimizes the above-described disadvantages associated with prior designs.
A more specific objective of the present invention is to provide an end connector which securely couples an end of an expansible watch band to a watch case, while also making it possible to accommodate the ornamental design of both the band's top shells and the watch case to thereby impart an integrated custom look to the resulting combination.
A companion objective of the present invention is to provide an end connector which may be mass produced and automatically assembled to the ends of expansible watch bands, thereby making it possible to realize significant savings in manufacturing costs.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein:


A gas-liquid mixing vessel utilizes an axial flow, down-pumping impeller in a draft tube to create vortex development so as to draw gas from the overhead in a body of recirculating liquid. A surge tank is used to accommodate volume changes in the vessel, and a liquid level control feature, in which the gas phase pressures in the mixing vessel and the surge tank are adjusted, is used to maintain the liquid level in the mixing vessel at a desired level for proper vortex development.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gas-liquid mixing operations. More particularly, it relates to batch gas-liquid mixing wherein a substantial variation in liquid volume occurs over the course of the mixing operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An advantageous gas-liquid mixing process and apparatus suitable for batch processing operations is disclosed in the Litz patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,077, and the related reissue patent, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,562. This gas-liquid mixing technology has been referred to in the art as the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) system. As commonly and advantageously employed for a variety of practical commercial applications, the AGR system incorporates an open-ended hollow draft tube in a gas-liquid mixing vessel adapted to contain a body of said liquid. A down-pumping impeller positioned within the hollow draft tube is employed to pump liquid in said body of liquid into the top of said hollow draft tube for discharge at the bottom thereof and overall movement in a recirculating flow path in the mixing vessel. Because of such recirculation of the liquid downward in the hollow draft tube and upward in the vessel outside said tube, and aided by the positioning of baffles at the top of said draft tube, vortices are formed in the inlet area of the draft tube, such as to draw feed gas from the overhead space above the liquid level in the vessel into the recirculating liquid passing downward into the draft tube. It is this gas ingestion mechanism that provides a major benefit of the AGR system.
Satisfactory vortex development for such gas-liquid mixing purposes depends, among various practical operating factors, on the maintaining of a proper liquid level above the top of the draft tube. At any particular liquid flow rate down the draft tube, the maximum gas ingestion will occur at a particular operating liquid level in the vessel above the draft tube. The liquid flow rate, in turn, is a function of the impeller-draft tube design and the rotational speed of the impeller. Thus, for a 9" double helical impeller, with a single 9" pitch length, running at 400 RPM, in water, within a baffled 10" inside diameter draft tube, the optimum liquid level is about 4" above the top of the draft tube. If the liquid level were about 8" above the top of the draft tube, however, the vortices would typically no longer form, and the gas ingestion rate would drop essentially to zero. Thus, operating at liquid levels above the optimum level can substantially reduce the gas ingestion capabilities of the AGR system.
In gas-liquid mixing operations subject to such non-optimum liquid levels, therefore, the effectiveness of the AGR system in achieving enhanced gas-liquid mixing may be seriously impaired. Typical gas-liquid mixing applications in which an increasing liquid level may cause such non-optimum operation of an AGR system involves the production of aluminum alkyls or the hydrogenation of nitro compounds. When nitrobenzene is hydrogenated to form aniline, for example, water is formed as a by-product. If the AGR reactor (mixing) vessel were initially filled to the optimum level of liquid nitrobenzene to obtain good gas ingestion, via the vortex mechanism referred to above, the level of liquid would rise as the reaction proceeded. Thus, the by-product water produced would increase the liquid volume and cause the liquid level to rise in the vessel. A point would be reached when the liquid level became so high that the vortices would no longer form. At this stage of the operation, the reaction would stop because of the lack of hydrogen gas bubbles in the liquid phase. It will also be appreciated that, prior to reaching such stage, the rise in liquid level can be such that vortex formation and gas ingestion are less favorable than occurs when the liquid level is at the optimum level for the particular system.
In large commercial units for the carrying out of such reactions, the liquid level might desirably be, for example, about 18 inches, plus or minus 2 inches, above the draft tube. In such AGR applications, a volume change from the beginning of a batch to the end thereof may be on the order of 20 to 150% of the starting volume in the mixing vessel. In typical AGR reactors employed for such process reactions, this volume change will result in a liquid level change ranging from about 12 to 60 inches. As indicated above, such liquid level variations can cause a significant decrease in the effectiveness of the AGR system, even to the point where the desirable AGR system cannot be employed for gas-liquid mixing operations of practical commercial significance.
Because of the highly desirable gas-liquid mixing action achievable by the use of the AGR system, there is a desire in the art for further developments enabling the AGR system to be operated, and its benefits achieved, over a broader range of liquid levels. Such developments, enabling the AGR system to accommodate applications subject to a non-optimum liquid level, as for example, a rising level of liquid within the mixing vessel, would enable the use of the AGR system to be desirably extended to a wider variety of practical gas-liquid mixing operations for which enhanced mixing, and enhanced gas utilization, are desired in commercial operations.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved AGR system and process for gas-liquid mixing.
It is another object of the invention to provide an AGR system and process capable of effective operation over a substantial range of liquid levels in the course of a given gas-liquid mixing operation.
With these and other objects in mind, the invention is hereinafter described in detail, the novel features thereof being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Liquid level control in gas-liquid mixing operations

Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation


Disclosed is a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a microbial infection, employing compounds of formula (I), in which X and Y are either the same of different and selected from a hereroatiom; is a double or single bond depending on the heteroatoms X and Y; R1 to R5 are either the same or different and selected from hydrogen or a non-deleterious substituent; and R6 to R7 are either the same or different and selected from hydrogen and a non-deleterious substituent or one of R6 to R7 are absent when there is a double bond present. Also disclosed are methods for protecting a subject from radiation damage, methods of cancer radiotherapy, and use of the disclosed compounds as an antimicrobial or radioprotective agent.

All references, including any patents or patent applications, cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.
Bacterial, fungal and protozoal pathogens are responsible for a very wide variety of infections, ranging from minor respiratory ailments to fulminant systemic infections and chronic illnesses. Food poisoning caused by organisms such as Salmonella or Campylobacter is common, and is often associated with endemic infection in livestock or poultry raised using intensive animal husbandry techniques.
Despite the wide availability of antibiotics, control of infection is difficult, and many organisms have the ability to develop resistance. Many microorganisms cause problems which have hitherto proved to be quite intractable, such as multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in hospitals, drug-resistant Enterococcus infections, bacterial, fungal and protozoal infection in HIV patients, tuberculosis, and malaria and other endemic infections in underdeveloped countries.
Currently there are only very few agents which have a wide spectrum of activity against pathogens of bacterial, fungal and protozoal origin. Antibiotics are the most widely used agents in the fight against pathogenic microorganisms. However, most antibiotics have narrow specificity. Even broad spectrum antibacterial antibiotics are not very effective against fungi and protozoa. Most antibiotics belong to a restricted range of classes of compounds; although improved semi-synthetic derivatives of these have developed, only a few new antibiotic compound classes have become available in the last twenty years.
The choice of agents for protection of living organisms against radioactive radiation is also quite limited. Among the radiation protectors the most effective are sulphur-containing compounds (Kuna, 1989). For example, cystamine is approved for use as a radiation-protective agent (Vladimirov et al, 1989). The index of protection of this preparation does not exceed 1.45, and has the disadvantage that it causes diarrhoea. Another known radiation-protective preparation is mercamine (β-mercaptoethylamine) (Mashkovskiy, 1986).
This has a low therapeutic index, short period of action (0.5-1 h), and short duration of radiation protecting activity (15-30 min).
It is known that β-nitrostyrene and some of its derivatives demonstrate biological, and partly fungicidal activity (Foyer, 1973). Russian Patent No. 2145215 showed that certain derivatives of arylnitroalkenes have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiprotozoal activity, and are able to provide protection from radiation damage. These compounds have the following formula
                in which R1′ is H or CH3; and        R2′ and R3′ are the same or different and are selected from H, OCH3, OH, NO2 and (CH3)2N.
The activities of these compounds are satisfactory, but there is a need for low cost, low-toxicity agents with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities.
We have now found that certain substituted nitrostyrene compounds have excellent activity against very wide spectrum of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa and also have the ability to provide protection from radiation damage.

Antimicrobial and radioprotective compounds


An image forming apparatus including: a photosensitive member driving unit configured to rotate the photosensitive member; a charge unit having an opening portion and configured to charge the surface of the photosensitive member; a shield member movable between a closed position for closing the opening portion and an open position for opening the opening portion; a shield member driving unit configured to move the shield member between the closed position and the open position; and a control unit configured to control the photosensitive member driving unit to rotate the photosensitive member in a state in which the shield member is situated at the open position, and to prevent the photosensitive member from rotating in a state in which the shield member is situated at the closed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a charge device configured to charge a surface of a photosensitive member by discharging static electricity.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is designed to form an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a color laser beam printer and a color LED printer), a multifunction printer (MFP), a facsimile machine, and a word processor. The image forming apparatus represents a color image forming apparatus as well as an image forming apparatus for forming a monochrome image.
The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member. Examples of the photosensitive member include a drum-shaped or belt-shaped photosensitive member having a photoconductor as a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer is made of such a material as amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, cadmium sulfide, amorphous silicon, or an organic photoconductive material.
In an electrophotographic process of the image forming apparatus, first, the charge device charges the surface of the photosensitive member uniformly. Then, an exposure device emits light onto the uniformly-charged surface of the photosensitive member according to image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member. A developing device causes developer (toner) to adhere to the electrostatic latent image to obtain a toner image. A transfer device transfers the toner image from the photosensitive member to the recording medium. A fixing device fixes the toner image onto the recording medium. The recording medium having the image formed thereon is delivered to a delivery tray.
As one of the charge devices for the image forming apparatus, there is a corona charging device. The corona charging device charges the surface of the photosensitive member by corona discharge. The charge device includes a shield casing having an opening portion opposed to the surface of the photosensitive member, a discharge wire arranged inside the shield casing, and a high-voltage power supply for applying a high voltage to the discharge wire. The discharge wire is a metal wire having a diameter of about 50 to 100 microns (μm). The high-voltage power supply applies to the discharge wire a high voltage of about 5 to 10 kilovolts (kV) to cause corona discharge around the discharge wire. Through the corona discharge, air around the discharge wire is ionized to generate ions. The ions are supplied to the surface of the photosensitive member so that the surface of the photosensitive member is charged.
To the discharge wire, foreign substances such as silicon compounds may adhere, resulting in uneven charge. Therefore, the discharge wire needs to be cleaned or replaced on a periodic basis.
Further, the photosensitive member deteriorates due to ozone generated by corona discharge. The photosensitive member has, a characteristic that the surface thereof is likely to absorb moisture increasingly along with the deterioration process of the photosensitive member due to corona discharge. Ozone reacts with moisture in the air to generate an ozone product, which adheres to the surface of the photosensitive member that is likely to absorb moisture, The ozone product causes a drop in surface resistance of the photosensitive member to hinder the sufficient charge of the photosensitive member when the electrostatic latent image is formed, with the result that image deletion occurs. There is a technology for preventing the image deletion by constantly heating the photosensitive member by a heater to remove moisture from the surface of the photosensitive member (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H01-34205). However, the ozone product is generated to a great extent during, tor example, nighttime in which the image forming apparatus is not in use, Therefore, the photosensitive member needs to be heated constantly by a heater, resulting in higher power consumption.
In view of the above, there is a technology for keeping an ozone product generated hear the discharge wire away from the photosensitive member by arranging a shield member between the photosensitive member and the charge device (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072212). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072212 discloses that the heater for warming the photosensitive member is turned of in a power saving mode and, at the same time, the shield member is moved so that the shield member photosensitive member forms the charge device. Because the heater can be turned off, the power consumption an be reduced.
In the corona charging device, the clearance between the charge device and the photosensitive member is set as small as about several hundred μm to 2 millimeters (mm). In this structure, the shield member having a thickness of about several dozen μm may be moved through such a small clearance. If the photosensitive member is rotated when the shield member is situated at a closed position at which the charge device is isolated by the shield member, however, the shield member may interfere with the photosensitive member due to wind pressure and vibration caused by the rotation of the photosensitive member, and the shield member may consequently damage the photosensitive member. The damage to the photosensitive member may cause an image defect. Further, the damage to the photosensitive member may cause leakage of the high voltage discharged from the charge device. The leakage of the high voltage may result in malfunction of the image forming apparatus.


A method of increasing corrosion resistance without leveraging toxic hexavalent chromium uses partially oxidized graphene particles mixed into primer applied on metallic alloy surfaces. Graphene is effective as an anti-corrosion primer additive because it acts as a physical barrier and has electrochemical properties that change potentials needed to induce corrosion.

This application is related generally to anti-corrosion coatings, and specifically to non-chromium anti-corrosion primers.
Chromium based anti-corrosion coatings are used to protect metals such as aluminum, copper, cadmium, zinc, magnesium, tin, silver, iron, and their alloys to reduce and slow corrosion of the metal. Anti-corrosion coatings can be applied to everyday items such as tools or hardware to prevent corrosion, and to aerospace and commercial equipment with high requirements for corrosion durability. Traditionally, chromic acid was used to create these coatings. However, chromic acid contains high levels of hexavalent chromium.
Hexavalent chromium is now known to be a dangerous toxin and a known carcinogen. Chronic inhalation of hexavalent chromium increases risk of lung cancer among other health complications. The presence of hexavalent chromium in drinking water has created substantial health risk as well. For this reason, hexavalent chromium is heavily regulated in both the U.S. and abroad. The EU has banned hexavalent chromium for many applications unless an authorization for a specific application or use has been granted. Thus, industry has been actively trying to find a substitute for hexavalent chromium based conversion coatings and anodizing processes, whereby an active chromated-based epoxy primer is then applied to provide additional protection from corrosion.
Non-chromium based anti-corrosion coatings and primers lack the strength of chromium-based alternatives and allow for quicker corrosion of an underlying metallic substrate. It is well known that chromates possess the unique property of solubilizing and providing active corrosion inhibition at areas that have been depleted (such as scratches or abrasions on coatings). In particular, non-chromium epoxy-based primers found in the art do not provide sufficient protection of damaged coating areas in the absence of a chromated pre-treatment for metallic substrates.

Increasing anti-corrosion through nanocomposite materials


A cross country skiing exercise machine has an upright member and an extension member which are structured to move between a first upright configuration and a second configuration in which they are collapsed. The main member is positioned substantially between the parallel tracks of the cross country ski exercise machine. The feet underneath the exercise machine constitute posts about which a reciprocating strap is trained. A rotatably pair of posts are positioned about the strap to tension the strap to cause increased friction and in turn increased resistance to movement of a first trolley and a second trolley which are positioned on the tracks for operation by the user in the performance of cross country type exercises.

1. Field
This application relates to exercise machines and more particularly to the type of exercise machines which are used to perform cross country skiing type exercises.
2. State of the Art
Cross country skiing exercise machines typically involve two spaced-apart tracks with two ski pedals positioned thereon. The pedals are typically, but not necessarily secured to each other to reciprocate relative to each other. That is, as one pedal moves forward on its track, the pedal on the adjacent track moves rearwardly. Some cross country ski exercise machines also include levers which are operable by the user in a to-and-fro or forward and rearward direction to simulate the use of ski poles in association with actual cross country skiing. The levers are typically positioned for operation by each hand of the user standing on the ski pedals. In some configurations, cross country skiing machines include cables interconnected between the ski pedal and the corresponding lever to provide for coordinated movement between the pedal and the lever.
Cross country ski exercise machines are also known to have an upright member extending from the forward end of the machine rearwardly to a height proximate an adult user's abdomen with an extension member extending away therefrom about which interconnecting cables between the respective pedals and lever arms are trained. Such machines are difficult to store because the upright main member and the extension member of existing or known machines interferes with easy storage or compact storage absent substantial disassembly. Further, such machines may require substantial assembly when purchased.
In addition, some cross country ski exercise machines have structure to resist movement of the ski pedals in a back and forth motion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,667 (Watterson) illustrates a machine with cross country capability in which variable resistance may be imposed to resist the movement of the respective pedals operated by the upright user. A simplified and effective resistance system is desirable for a cross country ski machine which is substantially preassembled and easily placed in a storage condition which is compact and easily restored to an operating configuration from the storage condition.


A printed information device includes a region of interest in an image, and at least two channels assigned to the region of interest by different means of logical partitioning. The region of interest represents a physical area of the image. Each of the channels has a different error tolerance. Continuous and/or cyclic information is independently encoded in each of the at least two channels. The deterrent is configured to be read substantially simultaneously by at least two distinct reading strategies.

The present disclosure relates generally to printed information devices.
Product labeling and security packaging are important components of brand protection, product tracking and authenticating, as well as of anti-counterfeiting initiatives. Product labeling and security packaging involve providing each package with a unique ID, in the form of, for example, a deterrent or mark. Such deterrents/marks may be overt and/or covert, and contain authenticable data. Authentication is the process of determining whether a product associated with a deterrent actually originates from a putative party, such as the company that manufactures or sells the product. Authentication enables one to verify, throughout the distribution or supply chain, that the product actually originates from the company that made or sold such product. Authentication is also designed to deter counterfeiters from making and/or selling counterfeit products.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A vehicle includes a navigation system and a processing device. The navigation system determines a route from a current location to a selected destination. The processing device applies a template to the route. The template represents driving trends associated with a geographic region. The processing device adjusts the route based on the template prior to the vehicle embarking on the route.

Drivers who frequent certain areas learn the best routes to take, including which areas to avoid and which intersections are busiest during rush hour. Learning these routes takes time and intuition, however. Drivers who are inexperienced with a geographic area, such as new drivers or drivers that recently moved into the geographic area, need time to learn how to best navigate the area. One way to expedite such learning is to ask someone with more experience driving in that area. Different drivers have different priorities, however. For example, one driver may wish to drive on freeways as much as possible, even if that means sitting through traffic. Another driver may wish to reach his or her destination as soon as possible despite travelling a longer distance or reducing fuel economy. Therefore, the question of how to best navigate a geographic area is somewhat subjective relative to the driver's priorities.