An apparatus and method for determining the position of a vehicle relative to the center of the Earth uses navigation signals from a satellite based navigation system which includes a plurality of satellites orbiting the Earth. In one embodiment, a plurality of antennas are mounted on the vehicle. The distance between the antennas is precisely known. This distance is used to constrain the solution of a vehicle position estimate to improve the accuracy of the position estimate. In another embodiment, a plurality of receiver systems are used in place of the plurality of antennas. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of base stations with known positions are used to constrain the solution of the vehicle position estimate.

Several national governments, including the United States (U.S.) of America, are presently developing a terrestrial position determination system, referred to generically as a global positioning system (GPS). A GPS is a satellite-based radio-navigation system which is intended to provide highly accurate three-dimensional position information to receivers at or near the surface of the Earth.
The U.S. government has designated its GPS the "NAVSTAR." The NAVSTAR GPS is expected to be declared fully operational by the U.S. government in 1993. The government of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) is engaged in the development of a GPS known as "GLONASS". Further, two European systems known as "NAVSAT" and "GRANAS" are also under development. For ease of discussion, the following disclosure focuses specifically on the NAVSTAR GPS. The invention, however, has equal applicability to other global positioning systems.
In the NAVSTAR GPS, it is envisioned that four orbiting GPS satellites will exist in each of six separate circular orbits to yield a total of twenty-four GPS satellites. Of these, twenty-one will be operational and three will serve as spares. The satellite orbits will be neither polar nor equatorial but will lie in mutually orthogonal inclined planes.
Each GPS satellite will orbit the Earth approximately once every 12 hours. This coupled with the fact that the Earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours causes each satellite to complete exactly two orbits while the Earth turns one revolution.
The position of each satellite at any given time will be precisely known and will be continuously transmitted to the Earth. This position information, which indicates the position of the satellite in space with respect to time (GPS time), is known as ephemeris data.
In addition to the ephemeris data, the navigation signal transmitted by each satellite includes a precise time at which the signal was transmitted. The distance or range from a receiver to each satellite may be determined using this time of transmission which is included in each navigation signal. By noting the time at which the signal was received at the receiver, a propagation time delay can be calculated. This time delay when multiplied by the speed of propagation of the signal will yield a "pseudorange" from the transmitting satellite to the receiver.
The range is called a "pseudorange" because the receiver clock may not be precisely synchronized to GPS time and because propagation through the atmosphere introduces delays into the navigation signal propagation times. These result, respectively, in a clock bias (error) and an atmospheric bias (error). Clock biases may be as large as several milliseconds.
Using these two pieces of information (the ephemeris data and the pseudorange) from at least three satellites, the position of a receiver with respect to the center of the Earth can be determined using passive triangulation techniques.
Triangulation involves three steps. First, the position of at least three satellites in "view" of the receiver must be determined. Second, the distance from the receiver to each satellite must be determined. Finally, the information from the first two steps is used to geometrically determine the position of the receiver with respect to the center of the Earth.
Triangulation, using at least three of the orbiting GPS satellites, allows the absolute terrestrial position (longitude, latitude, and altitude with respect to the Earth's center) of any Earth receiver to be computed via simple geometric theory. The accuracy of the position estimate depends in part on the number of orbiting GPS satellites that are sampled. Using more GPS satellites in the computation can increase the accuracy of the terrestrial position estimate.
Conventionally, four GPS satellites are sampled to determine each terrestrial position estimate. Three of the satellites are used for triangulation, and a fourth is added to correct for the clock bias described above. If the receiver's clock were precisely synchronized with that of the GPS satellites, then this fourth satellite would not be necessary. However, precise (e.g., atomic) clocks are expensive and are, therefore, not suitable for all applications.
For a more detailed discussion on the NAVSTAR GPS, see Parkinson, Bradford W. and Gilbert, Stephen W., "NAVSTAR: Global Positioning System--Ten Years Later," Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 71, No. 10, October 1983; and GPS: A Guide to the Next Utility, published by Trimble Navigation Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif., 1989, pp. 1-47, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. For a detailed discussion of a vehicle positioning/navigation system which uses the NAVSTAR GPS, see commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/628,560, entitled "Vehicle Position Determination System and Method," filed Dec. 3, 1990, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In the NAVSTAR GPS, the electromagnetic signals from each satellite are continuously transmitted using a single carrier frequency. Each satellite, however, uses a different modulation gold code to allow differentiation of the signals. The carrier frequency is modulated using a pseudorandom signal which is unique to each GPS satellite. Consequently, the orbiting GPS satellites can be identified when the navigation signals are demodulated.
Furthermore, the NAVSTAR GPS envisions two modes of modulation for the carrier wave using pseudorandom signals. In the first mode, the carrier is modulated by a "C/A signal" and is referred to as the "Coarse/Acquisition mode". The Coarse/Acquisition or C/A mode is also known as the "Standard Positioning Service". The C/A signal is a gold code sequence having a chip rate of 1.023 MHz. Gold code sequences are known in the art.
A chip is one individual pulse of the pseudorandom code. The chip rate of a pseudorandom code sequence is the rate at which the chips in the sequence are generated. Consequently, the chip rate is equal to the code repetition rate divided by the number of members in the code. With respect to the C/A mode of the NAVSTAR GPS, there exists 1,023 chips in each gold code sequence and the sequence is repeated once every millisecond. Use of the 1.023 MHz gold code sequence from four orbiting GPS satellites enables the terrestrial position of an Earth receiver to be determined to an approximate accuracy of within 60 to 100 meters (with 95% confidence).
The second mode of modulation in the NAVSTAR GPS is commonly referred to as the "precise" or "protected" (P) mode. In the P-mode, the pseudorandom code has a chip rate of 10.23 MHz. Moreover, the P-mode sequences are extremely long, so that the sequences repeat no more than once every 267 days. As a result, the terrestrial position of any Earth receiver can be determined to within an approximate accuracy of 16 meters (spherical error probable). The P-mode is also known as the "Precise Positioning Service".
The P-mode sequences are held in secrecy by the United States government and are not made publicly available. The P-mode is intended for use only by Earth receivers specifically authorized by the United States government. Thus, the P-mode modulated data is generally not available so that many GPS users must rely solely on the GPS data provided via the C/A mode of modulation. This relegates most users to a less accurate positioning system.
The clock and atmospheric errors discussed above add to the inaccuracy of the positioning system. Other errors which affect GPS position computations include receiver noise, signal reflections, shading, and satellite path shifting (e.g., satellite wobble). These errors result in computation of incorrect pseudoranges and incorrect satellite positions. Incorrect pseudoranges and incorrect satellite positions, in turn, lead to a reduction in the precision of the position estimates computed by a vehicle positioning system. A differential system will compensate for many of these errors. However, a residual inaccuracy will still be present.
It is desirable to compute a vehicle position to within one meter of accuracy. However, this accuracy has not been possible with conventional differential systems using C/A code and with single- or open-ended (i.e., non-differential) GPS systems. The present invention seeks to overcome this limitation and to provide a navigation system with greater positioning accuracy.

Method and apparatus for determining vehicle position using a satellite based navigation system


Data processing is disclosed including acquiring a first target image to be embedded with information and to-be-embedded information, acquiring, using the first target image, a second target image corresponding to the first target image, the second target image corresponding to an image including low-luminance pixels in the first target image, the low-luminance pixels being pixels having a luminance no higher than a luminance threshold value in the first target image, selecting candidate image areas from the second target image, determining a target embedding position for the to-be-embedded information in the first target image based on the candidate image areas, and embedding the to-be-embedded information in the target embedding position in the first target image.

As digital media technology and Internet technology develop, importance of digital copyright protection of image, video, and other resources has been increasing.
Digital watermarking technology is typically used to protect digital copyrights. "Digital watermarking technology" typically refers to the use of concealed, embedded watermark information in image, video, and other resources used to provide copyright protection. As an aspect, when watermark information is embedded in an image, a video, or other resource, one technique for selecting the embedding position for the watermark information includes using a manually preset fixed strategy to select the embedding position. One technique specifies that a global pixel domain or frequency domain is selected or that a fixed local area is selected through a preset corresponding strategy or that the selection is made based on an area in an image, video, or other resource which underwent a certain pattern change. Another technique is to select the embedding position based on a manually preset local embedding strategy, e.g., fixedly select, based on an image or a video frame position, a certain position or a periodically changing embedding position.
Although the two above techniques can embed watermark information at a certain position in an image, the former of the above techniques typically requires adjustment calculations targeting the image or video frame of the to-be-embedded watermark information. These calculations are lengthy and relatively complex. The calculations take time to be performed and do not lend themselves to batch processing. Although the computations entailed in the second of the above two techniques can be decreased to a certain degree, the use of a manually preset embedding strategy to select the embedding position typically neglects the content characteristics of the image or video frames in which the watermark information is to be embedded. Therefore, the corresponding embedding strategy can easily be determined through analysis, and the embedded watermark information can then be removed from the image, the video, or the resource.


Methods and systems for analyzing data are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a first data signal, decoding the first data signal, determining a second data signal based on the decoded first data signal, and determining a modulation error ratio based on a difference between the first data signal and the second data signal.

Data signals provided over a physical network are subject to a variety of transmission problems. These transmission problems can distort the original data signal when the data signal is received at a receiving device. These distortions result in the loss of data. Thus, there is a need for more sophisticated methods and systems for interpreting data signals on a network link to minimize data loss.

Data interpretation with modulation error ratio analysis


A semiconductor system includes a semiconductor chip comprising a RF circuit, a buffer layer over the RF circuit and a plurality of bumps over the buffer layer, wherein the plurality of bumps comprising at least one functional bump electrically connected to the RF circuit, and at least one dummy bump which is maintained at a distance from the RF circuit and prevented from being electrically connected to the RF circuit by the buffer layer, a conductive layer disposed over the semiconductor chip and coupled to the plurality of bumps through a plurality of vias, a feedline structure disposed over the conductive layer, wherein the feedline structure is electrically coupled to the RF circuit, and a plurality of antennas disposed over the feedline structure, wherein at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas is coupled to the RF circuit through the feedline structure.

Since the invention of the integrated circuit, the semiconductor industry has experienced rapid growth due to continuous improvements in the integration density of various electronic components. The improvement in integration density has come from continuous reductions in minimum feature size. The reduced feature size allows more components to be integrated into a given semiconductor area. As the demand for further reducing the size of the electronic device has grown recently, there has grown a need for more creative packaging techniques of semiconductor dies.
As semiconductor technologies evolve, fan-out wafer-level packaging has emerged as an effective alternative to further reduce the physical size of a semiconductor chip. In a semiconductor device having a fan-out signal routing layout, the input and output pads of a semiconductor die can be redistributed to an area outside the area under the semiconductor die. As such, the input and output pads can spread signals to a larger area than the area under the semiconductor die and provide additional space for interconnects. As a result of having the fan-out signal routing layout, the number of input and output pads of the semiconductor device can be increased.
In a fan-out wafer-level package, the semiconductor die may comprise radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). An example of such a semiconductor device is an antenna-in-package (AiP) device. The AiP device includes an RFIC and an antenna. The RFIC and the antenna are included in a same package. The AiP device allows integration of RF components (e.g., an antenna) with active circuits (e.g., RFIC) into a same module. The AiP device is able to reduce the footprint of a radio frequency semiconductor device.
In some high frequency applications such as RFICs operating at millimeter wave frequencies, a variety of challenges exist. For example, RF shielding has become more challenging for millimeter wave applications. It is desirable to have enhanced RF shielding to further improve the performance of the RFICs.

Antenna package and method of formation thereof


A method, apparatus and computer program product for high performance advertisement serving by exploiting processor thread assignments in a processor having multiple threads. The method commences by receiving digital advertisements, an instance of the digital advertisement being associated with a plurality of decision trees (to relate a user to an advertisement), where the evaluation of a decision tree results in a tree score. After determining a number of cores within the processor, the decisions trees are assigned to processor cores or processor threads by iteratively assigning to a next one of the number of cores, a next decision tree, and iteratively accumulating a plurality of the tree scores to form a tree score subtotal. The tree score subtotals can be compared quantitatively to rank a first digital advertisement against a second digital advertisement, and a ranked advertisement displayed to a user. Some decision trees comprise demographic, behavioral and context quantifiers.

Serving a personally relevant digital advertisement to a specific user having specific demographics can be a compute-intensive process, yet users are unforgiving when it comes to latency expectations. Worse, there may be tens or hundreds (or thousands) of ads that are personally relevant to a particular user, and determining which one is most relevant can involve literally millions of evaluations and decisions. For example, perhaps hundreds (or thousands, or more) advertisers seek to display their digital advertisements over the Internet to reach individuals within a target set having very specific demographics (e.g. male, age 40-48, graduate of Stanford, living in California or New York, etc). Each time a web page is requested by a user via the Internet represents an impression opportunity to display an advertisement in some portion of the web page to the individual Internet user, and each impression opportunity can be satisfied by displaying a selected digital advertisement to the individual. The time duration between the individual's landing on a web page and the satisfaction of an impression opportunity is typically much less than one second. Yet, as digital media gains in popularity, the targeting of ever more specific demographics increases, as does the computing requirements to perform the ever more specific targeting so as to select and display a personally relevant digital advertisement to the user.
Certain legacy relevance models have been used, but such legacy models begin to fail when (1) the targeting requirements become more and more specific, and (2) tight real-time latency requirements are present. Some work has been done to exploit the availability of multiple computing platforms (e.g. multiple advertisement servers), however such work has been largely limited to exploiting parallelization at the server level, and has not exploited finer-grained parallelization opportunities presented by multiple core processors.
Thus, for these and other reasons, there exists a need for high performance personalized advertisement serving by exploiting thread assignments in multiple core computing environments.

High performance personalized advertisement serving by exploiting thread assignments in a multiple core computing environment


An electrophoretic display device includes first and second substrates arranged in opposed relation to each other with a space, an insulating liquid arranged in the space and a plurality of colored and charged electrophoretic particles dispersed in the insulating liquid. On the basis of arrangement of a stage along the second substrate in the space between the substrates, a first surface opposing a thicker portion of the insulating liquid, a second surface opposing a thinner portion of the insulating liquid and a side wall of the stage, which connects the first surface to the second surface, are formed on the second substrate. A first electrode is arranged along the first surface, and a second electrode is arranged along the second surface. The display device has a third electrode arranged along at least a part of the side wall of the stage and forming an electrode face continuous with the first electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophoretic display device in which charged electrophoretic particles in an insulating liquid are caused to migrate to make a display.
2. Related Background Art
Various types of electrophoretic display devices in which charged electrophoretic particles in an insulating liquid are caused to migrate to make a display have been proposed. Such an electrophoretic display device will hereinafter be described.
With the development of information instruments, the need of display devices of low consumption power and the thin type is increasing, and research and development of display devices are more and more made according to the need. Among others, liquid crystal display devices are actively developed as display devices that can meet such need and commercially provided. However, the current liquid crystal display devices involve problems that characters on a screen become hard to see by an angle at which the screen is seen or reflected light, and that a burden on sight caused by glaringness, low luminance of a light source, or the like is heavy. These problems are not yet sufficiently solved. For this reason, it is expected to develop reflection type display devices from the viewpoints of low consumption of power, lightening of the burden on sight, etc. These problems are not yet sufficiently solved. For this reason, it is expected to develop reflection type display devices from the viewpoints of low consumption of power, lightening of the burden on sight, etc.
An electrophoretic display device has been proposed by Paul F. Evans et al. as one of them (U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,758).
FIG. 9A illustrates an example of the construction of the electrophoretic display device. This kind of electrophoretic display device comprises a pair of substrates 1a, 1b arranged in a state spaced at a prescribed interval, an insulating liquid 2 filled between these substrates 1a and 1b, a great number of colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 dispersed in the insulating liquid 2 and display electrodes 15a, 15b arranged at every pixel along the respective substrates 1a, 1b. Incidentally, reference numeral 7 indicates a partition wall provided between pixels to prevent colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 from transferring to another pixel so as to maintain uniform display. In this device, colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are charged positively or negatively, and so they are adsorbed on any display electrode 15a or 15b according to the polarities of voltage applied to display electrodes 15a, 15b. Since insulating liquid 2 and colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are colored in different colors from each other, the color of the particles 3 is visually observed when colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are adsorbed on display electrode 15a on the side of an observer (see FIG. 9B). When colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are adsorbed on display electrode 15b on the other side, the color of insulating liquid 2 is visually observed (see FIG. 9A). Accordingly, the polarity of voltage applied controls every pixel, whereby various images can be displayed. The device of this type will hereinafter be referred to as xe2x80x9cvertical migration type electrophoretic display devicexe2x80x9d.
In the electrophoretic display device of such a vertical migration type, however, a coloring material such as a dye or ion must be mixed into insulating liquid 2, and the presence of such a coloring material is easy to act as an unstable factor in an electrophoretic operation because transfer of a new electric charge is brought about, and so performance, life and/or stability as a display device may have been lowered in some cases.
As those for solving such a problem, electrophoretic display devices of the type shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9chorizontal migration type electrophoretic display devicexe2x80x9d) are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 49-5598, 49-024695 and 11-202804. Such a horizontal migration type electrophoretic display device comprises a pair of substrates 1a, 1b arranged in a state spaced at a prescribed interval, an insulating liquid 2 filled between these substrates 1a and 1b, a great number of colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 dispersed in the insulating liquid 2 and a pair of display electrodes 25a, 25b arranged at every pixel. The pair of display electrodes 25a, 25b are arranged side by side along one substrate 1b, and arranged so as not to hold insulating liquid 2 between them unlike the above-described type. In the case of such a horizontal migration type electrophoretic display device, the problem described above can be avoided because it is only necessary for the insulating liquid 2 to be transparent and there is no need to mix any coloring material. In this device, one display electrode 25a is coated with a color layer of the same color (for example, black) as that of the charged electrophoretic particles 3, and the other display electrode 25b is coated with a color layer of any other color (for example, white). The colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 migrate horizontally (in a direction along the substrates) according to the polarities of voltage applied to display electrodes 25a, 25b and are adsorbed on display electrode 25a or 25b. When colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are adsorbed on display electrode 25a, the color of display electrode 25b is easier to be visually observed (see FIG. 10B). When colored and charged electrophoretic particles 3 are adsorbed on display electrode 25b, the whole pixel is visually observed with the same color as that of the charged electrophoretic particles 3 (sec FIG. 10A). Accordingly, the polarity of voltage applied controls every pixel, whereby various images can be displayed.
When it is intended to achieve higher display contrast in such an electrophoretic display device as described above, it is required to narrow the area of electrode 25a and moreover cause all the charged electrophoretic particles 3 to be adsorbed on electrode 25a. However, there has been a limitation.
In addition, the system that display is conducted by voltage, such as electrophoretic display or liquid crystal display, has involved a problem that a leakage electric field occurs between various wirings and display electrodes to cause white skip or black skip in the vicinity of the wiring of a display pixel, thereby deteriorating display quality.
The present invention has been made with the foregoing circumstances in view and thus has as its object the provision of an electrophoretic display device which can achieve higher display contrast and prevent the deterioration of display quality.
The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrophoretic display device comprising first and second substrates arranged in opposed relation to each other with a space, an insulating liquid arranged into the space and a plurality of colored and charged electrophoretic particles dispersed in the insulating liquid, in which on the basis of arrangement of a stage along the second substrate in the space between the substrates, a first surface facing a thicker portion of the insulating liquid, a second surface facing a thinner portion of the insulating liquid and side wall of the stage, which connect the first surface to the second surface, are formed on the second substrate, a first electrode is arranged along the first surface, and a second electrode is arranged along the second surface, wherein the display device has a third electrode arranged along at least a part of the side wall of the stage and comprising an electrode face continuous with the first electrode.


Real-time service composition is provided by a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) transport binding for Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) messages. A SOAPAction header and SOAP envelope can be included in a SIP message to identify a requested service. The SIP message recipient can parse out the SOAP envelope and forward same to a corresponding Web Service. An intermediary node, including a SIP Proxy, can evaluate incoming SIP/SOAP messages and provide requested services to which they have access. Service discovery and subscription are facilitated by adding Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) services requests and responses.

Communication systems continue to grow and evolve. Convergence between different types of communication systems, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP), connection-based voice communications, and the like, is advancing rapidly. Recently the phrase "Next Generation Network" (NGN) has been used to describe various activities associated with this evolution. As defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an NGN is a packet-based network able to provide services (including telecommunication services) and able to make use of multiple broadband, QoS-enabled transport technologies and in which service-related functions are independent from underlying transport-related technologies. NGNs will also likely offer unrestricted access by users to different service providers and will support generalized mobility, which in turn will provide for consistent service provision to end users.
So called "Web Services" are another feature which may become commonplace in NGNs. Web Services provide, for example, a mechanism for interoperability between software entities which reside on different infrastructures and which may be operated by different companies. Web Services are typically defined as providing distributed services using, e.g., the standards suite Web Services Description Language (WSDL), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI). For the interested reader, a description of WDSL can be found online as "Web Services Description Language (WSDL) Version 2.0 Part 1: Core Language, W3C Working Draft 3, Aug. 2004" at http://www.w4.org/TR/2004/WD-wsdl120-20040803/, the disclosure of which is incorporated here by reference. Similarly, a description of SOAP can be found online as "SOAP Version 1.2 Part 0: Primer (Second Edition), W3C Recommendation 27 Apr. 2007" at http://www.w3.org/TR/soap12-part0/, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Additionally, for UDDI, a standards document entitled "UDDI Version 3.0.2 UDDI Spec Technical Committee Draft, Dated Oct. 19, 2004"can be found at http://uddi.org/pubs/uddi_v3.htm, the disclosure of which is incorporated here by reference.
Web Services can be characterized as a technology for exposing application functionality as services to software clients or to server applications. Among other things, Web Services allow for rapid creation of new services by combining existing functionality in new ways. This process is often referred to as composition or orchestration. Typically, Web Services are accessed with XML-encoded SOAP messages using hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP) as a bearer. However, HTTP is designed for transaction based client/server request patterns where real time properties are not required. Consider in this regard the variable, and sometimes extensive, delays which can occur when a user retrieves a web page by clicking on an HTTP hyperlink. With the increasing demand for service interaction and rapid composition from the users of peer to peer, real-time communication services, there is a need to also apply the Web Services paradigm to this real-time domain.
Moreover, such efforts also do not take explicit intermediary addressing into consideration. On the contrary, existing work either considers SIP service addressing to be applicable for application launch only, e.g., by letting the application use a second protocol (e.g., HTTP) to perform actual method invocation, or is basing service addressing on SIP routing only, which provides a crude way of involving intermediary services into the session initiation sequence. This makes existing SIP service addressing based on capabilities ill-equipped to implement real-time service composition. Additionally, once available, it would be desirable to provide techniques and mechanisms for allowing users to discover and/or subscribe to such real-time services.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to address this need by providing service subscription techniques associated with real-time composition of services in communications systems.

Service subscription associated with real time composition of services


An optical reading device, a control method for an optical reading device, and a program for directing execution of the method each enables efficient and quick transmission of digital image data obtained from reading a document to a host computer or other control device. A dot impact printer having an optical reading device that optically reads documents and stores the resulting digitized image data, sets target reading areas, and transmits digital image data stored in a scan buffer rendered in a RAM to the host computer. When multiple target areas are set, the transmission order of the target areas is determined according to specific conditions, and the target areas are transmitted according to this transmission sequence.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an optical reading device that conveys and optically reads media to be scanned, to a method of controlling such an optical reading device, and to a tangible medium that stores a program for directing the execution of such a method.
2. Related Art
Optical reading devices such as scanners that are connected to a host computer store images read from a document (media to be scanned) in buffer memory, and send the scanned data stored in buffer memory to the host computer after scanning the document is completed. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2009-284191.
Buffer memory capacity is normally limited, and it is therefore preferable to quickly send images stored in buffer memory to the control device while scanning and to delete the transmitted images from the buffer so that the next document can be scanned. A method of efficiently sending images captured by the optical scanner to the control device is therefore needed.

Optical reading device, control method for an optical reading device, and storage medium


A tripod with modular arm segments capable of coupling with each other. The three arm segments may simultaneously attach with a mount to form a tripod. Ends of the arm segments are coupling elements. Two of the arm segments may detach from the plate and couple with the arm segment remaining coupled to form an articulating extension arm for the mount.

Portable tripods have been used to stably mount cameras, surveying instruments, and other devices for many years. A mount typically serves as the co-terminus of three tripod legs. The mount can couple a camera or other device. The three legs may be adjustable by hinging, telescoping, or by other method. In photography, tripods are used for long exposure, panoramic, portrait, and other shots where the camera must be stably positioned.
Extension arms, including selfie-sticks, allow a user to mount and extend the camera to vantage points a photographer could not otherwise achieve by handheld photography. A handle and device mounting means comprise the respective ends of the extension arm. The use of such extension arm permits a user to securely grip the camera and film themselves while active. Extension arms with multiple arm segments may permit telescoping or articulation of the mount relative to the handle.
Photographers may want to capture both images requiring the stability of a tripod and the mobility of an extension arm. Devices exist which attempt to provide both tripod and extension arm functionality. Such devices may provide a tripod stand within the extension arm, allowing the arm to serve as the storage container for the tripod legs. These devices require a duplication of parts to function as both a tripod and extension arm. Such devices also limit the size and structure of the tripod legs, as all three legs must fit within one arm segment. This forces tripod legs to be shorter and narrower than is required to provide a stable base in many environments. Some tripods may provide articulating leg segments. But the leg segments are not modular with the ability to couple with the other leg segments to form an extension arm.
The current invention provides three arm segments capable of functioning as both tripod legs and an adjustable extension arm. The arm segments may be detached from the mount. The arm segments can couple to form articulating joints. The room necessary to store and transport a device with tripod and extension arm functionality is dramatically decreased over separate devices providing the two functionalities. Conversion from a tripod configuration to an extension arm configuration only requires removal of two arm segments and the coupling of those arm segments together.


An ankle support, particularly for in-line skates, which includes a base support that wraps about the users heel and a spaced upper support which wraps about the user""s leg. The upper and base supports are fixedly joined by a plurality of struts. At least one stop secured to either the upper support or the struts abuts a stop on the base support to provide a hard stop for maximum braking.

The present invention relates to an ankle support particularly suited for in-line skates and the like which provides forward flexion, a rear hard stop, and lateral support.
In-line skates typically include an upper and a rigid frame which encases the foot in an effort to provide a balance of comfort and stability. The frame is secured to an underlying roller chassis, which also may include a rear brake element.
Typically, frames have been formed of pivotally connected rigid parts which permit rotation of the leg about a transverse axis. These constructions, however, are constrained by the pivot pin and do not conform to the user""s natural skating motion. Rotation of the parts about the pin also entails the generation of friction in the journal which results in inefficient movement. While monolithic frames are known, they tend to construct a user""s movement, lack sufficient ventilation, or add undue weight. Further, hinged and monolithic frames fail to provide the necessary resistance for maximizing braking pressure.
It is an object of the invention to provide a stiff frame formed into a single integral piece, with no pivoting mechanism, which provides enhanced flexing, support, and ventilation.
It is another object of the invention to provide an ankle support which provides a natural longitudinal motion for the user""s leg, while providing a hard rearward stop for maximum braking.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an in-line skate with a soft, shoe-like upper and a stiff frame in the heel and ankle area to provide support and comfort during skating.
It is a further object of the invention to make the soft upper, like a traditional running shoe, which provides a secure fit and comfort to the skater. The upper is provided with laces, straps, or other closure devices to secure the upper to the forefoot and instep area of the skater""s foot.
The ankle support of the present invention includes a base support which wraps about the user""s heel and a spaced upper support which wraps about the user""s leg. The upper and base supports are fixedly joined by a plurality of struts. The struts permit a natural longitudinal flexing during use, while still providing lateral support. At least one stop secured to either the support or the struts abuts a stop on the base support to provide a hard stop for maximum braking.


A medical instrument includes a handle, on which at least one electric switch is arranged. The switch has an annular mechanical actuation unit whose outer side forms a grip surface running peripherally of the handle.

A multitude of instruments are used in the field of medicine, which include a proximal handle with one or more electrical switches arranged on the handle. Amongst these are video endoscopes, for example, with which several electric switches are arranged on a housing which connects proximally to a shank and which also serves as a handle. For example, picture representation parameters can be changed with these switches. With the application of video-endoscopes, it is often necessary to rotate the endoscope about the longitudinal axis of its shank. The position of the switches arranged on the housing of the endoscope relative to the endoscope user compellingly changes by way of such a rotation of the video endoscope. Under certain circumstances, this can result in the user of the video endoscope having to change his grip position on the housing, or having to use both hands, in order to actuate the switches. This renders the operation of video endoscopes quite awkward.
Against the above background, it is an objective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a medical instrument with which electrical switches arranged on a proximal handle can be easily actuated independently of a rotational position of the instrument or of the handle.


Methods for quantitative determination of the presence of isothiazolone compounds in a solution include controlling pH of the solution in a range from about 3 to about 10, combining a known quantity of the pH-adjusted solution with a known quantity of an aromatic thiolate anion, quantitatively determining color intensity of the resultant combined solution; and correlating the color intensity with amount of isothiazolone compounds. The methods may be used in automated systems, including systems utilizing optical sensor devices.

Isothiazolone (ITA) compounds are commonly used as biocides and preservatives in a variety of aqueous and non-aqueous systems, including cooling tower waters, metalworking fluids, deionized water, and personal care products. Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are used to lubricate and cool a workpiece that is being machined. The fluids include water-free oils, and fluids intended to be diluted with water, including soluble oils; semi-synthetic fluids; and synthetic fluids. Aqueous MWFs can support growth of microbes, introducing contaminants such as cells and cell components, along with related byproducts such as endotoxins, exotoxins, and mycotoxins. The ITA-based biocides added to reduce microbial growth have their own hazardous properties, especially dermatitis (skin rash).
There is a need to determine the concentration of the biocide on demand to enable operators of cooling towers, metal working fluids and other aqueous systems to make economical decisions in the field concerning the timing and need for the addition of biocide to their systems The concentration determination needs to be performed rapidly and accurately both in the field and in the lab, without the need for complicated equipment such as HPLC and with minimal sample preparation. In addition, it would be advantageous to have a concentration determination that can be automated to minimize analyst training and enable automated feedback loops (i.e., automated measure and dose).
Attempts have been made to develop a rapid, reliable and sensitive method for determining the concentration of isothiazolones in aqueous systems for use in field applications. These techniques have been less than satisfactory because of the length of time required to complete the analysis, and susceptibility of the techniques to positive and negative interferences caused by additives and ionic impurities commonly found in aqueous systems, and because of the difficulty in obtaining a high degree of sensitivity for measuring low concentrations of isothiazolones. Various additives are typically added to recirculating cooling tower water to prevent or inhibit the precipitation of hardness ions, to disperse scale, and to combat corrosion. For example, polyacrylates, phosphates, phosphonates, iron, zinc, tin and other metals are commonly found in cooling tower water as well as suspended particulate materials such as clay and silt.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,957 describes a colorimetric assay for determination of isothiazolone concentration. However, the assay requires hours for color development, and do not reach a minimum value within that time period. Therefore, there remains a need for a method to determine ITA concentration that can be performed in less than 20 minutes, with minimal sample preparation, and is amenable to automation.

Methods and devices for detecting isothiazolones


A positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery includes a positive active material, a binder, a conductive agent, and a surfactant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery and a lithium-sulfur battery, and more particularly, to a positive electrode for a lithium-sulfur battery which can provide a lithium-sulfur battery exhibiting effective energy density and long cycle life characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of portable electronic devices has led to a corresponding increase in the demand for secondary batteries having both a lighter weight and a higher capacity. To satisfy these demands, the most promising approach is a lithium-sulfur battery with a positive electrode made of sulfur-based compounds.
With respect to specific density, the lithium-sulfur battery is the most attractive among the currently developing batteries since lithium has a specific capacity of 3,830 mAh/g, and sulfur has a specific capacity of 1,675 mAh/g. Further, the sulfur-based compounds are less costly than other materials and are environmentally friendly.
Lithium-sulfur batteries use sulfur-based compounds with sulfur-sulfur bonds as a positive active material, and a lithium metal or a carbon-based compound as a negative active material. The carbon-based compound is one which can reversibly intercalate or deintercalate metal ions, such as lithium ions. Upon discharging (i.e., electrochemical reduction), the sulfur-sulfur bonds are cleaved, resulting in a decrease in the oxidation number of sulfur (S). Upon recharging (i.e., electrochemical oxidation), the sulfur-sulfur bonds are reformed, resulting in an increase in the oxidation number of the S. The electrical energy is stored in the battery as chemical energy during charging, and it is converted back to electrical energy during discharging.
Sulfur reacts with lithium metal to convert lithium sulfide or lithium polysulfide in the lithium-sulfur battery. The theoretical final oxidation state of sulfur is S8 and the final reduction state is Li2S. When S8 is completely reduced to Li2S (100% utilization), the lithium-sulfur battery exhibits the nominal capacity pf 1675 mAh/g, which is the highest energy density of all batteries.
A positive active material composition is produced by mixing a positive active material, a binder and a conductive agent in a solvent to prepare a positive active material composition, and coating the composition on a current collector. However, it is easy for the positive active material, the conductive agent, and the binder to coagulate in the solvent, thus causing a phase separation. Such a phenomenon causes an uneven surface to form on the positive electrode, thus decreasing the reactive surface area, which deteriorates energy density and cycle life characteristics.

Positive electrode for lithium-sulfur battery and lithium-sulfur battery fabricated using same


A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.

The present invention relates in general to fluorescence detection systems and in particular to a fluorescence detection system having a movable excitation/detection module for use with a thermal cycler.
Thermal cyclers are known in the art. Such devices are used in a variety of processes for creation and detection of various molecules of interest, e.g., nucleic acid sequences, in research, medical, and industrial fields. Processes that can be performed with conventional thermal cyclers include but are not limited to amplification of nucleic acids using procedures such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Such amplification processes are used to increase the amount of a target sequence present in a nucleic acid sample.
Numerous techniques for detecting the presence and/or concentration of a target molecule in a sample processed by a thermal cycler are also known. For instance, fluorescent labeling may be used. A fluorescent label (or fluorescent probe) is generally a substance which, when stimulated by an appropriate electromagnetic signal or radiation, absorbs the radiation and emits a signal (usually radiation that is distinguishable, e.g., by wavelength, from the stimulating radiation) that persists while the stimulating radiation is continued, i.e. it fluoresces. Some types of fluorescent probes are generally designed to be active only in the presence of a target molecule (e.g., a specific nucleic acid sequence), so that a fluorescent response from a sample signifies the presence of the target molecule. Other types of fluorescent probes increase their fluorescence in proportion to the quantity of double-stranded DNA present in the reaction. These types of probes are typically used where the amplification reaction is designed to operate only on the target molecule.
Fluorometry involves exposing a sample containing the fluorescent label or probe to stimulating (also called excitation) radiation, such as a light source of appropriate wavelength, thereby exciting the probe and causing fluorescence. The emitted radiation is detected using an appropriate detector, such as a photodiode, photomultiplier, charge-coupled device (CCD), or the like.
Fluorometers for use with fluorescent-labeled samples are known in the art. One type of fluorometer is an optical reader, such as described by Andrews et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,880. A sample plate containing an array of samples is inserted in the optical reader, which exposes the samples to excitation light and detects the emitted radiation. The usefulness of optical readers is limited by the need to remove the sample plate from the thermal cycler, making it difficult to monitor the progress of amplification.
One improvement integrates the optical reader with a thermal cycler, so that the sample plate may be analyzed without removing it from the thermal cycler or interrupting the PCR process. Examples of such combination devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,928,907, 6,015,674, 6,043,880, 6,144,448, 6,337,435, and 6,369,863. Such combination devices are useful in various applications, as described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,210,015, 5,994,056, 6,140,054, and 6,174,670.
Existing fluorometers suffer from various drawbacks. For instance, in some existing designs, different light sources and detectors are provided for different sample wells in the array. Variations among the light sources and/or detectors lead to variations in the detected fluorescent response from one well to the next. Alternatively, the light source and/or detector may be arranged in optical communication with more than one of the wells, with different optical paths to and/or from each well. Due to the different optical paths, the detected fluorescent response varies from one sample well to the next. To compensate for such variations, the response for each sample well must be individually calibrated. As the number of sample wells in an array increases, this becomes an increasingly time-consuming task, and errors in calibration may introduce significant errors in subsequent measurements.
In addition, existing fluorometers generally are designed such that the light sources and detectors are fixed parts of the instrument. This limits an experimenter's ability to adapt a fluorometer to a different application. For instance, detecting a different fluorescent label generally requires using a different light source and/or detector. Many existing fluorometers make it difficult for an experimenter to reconfigure light sources or detectors, thus limiting the variety of fluorescent labels that may be used.
It is also difficult to perform concurrent measurements of a number of different fluorescent labels that may be present in a sample (or in different samples). As described above, to maximize the data obtained in an assay, experimenters often include multiple fluorescent labeling agents that have different excitation and/or emission wavelengths. Each labeling agent is adapted to bind to a different target sequence, in principle allowing multiple target sequences to be detected in the same sample. Existing fluorometers, however, do not facilitate such multiple-label experiments. Many fluorometers are designed for a single combination of excitation and emission wavelengths. Others provide multiple light sources and detectors to allow detection of multiple labels; however, these configurations often allow only one label to be probed at a time because the excitation wavelength of one label may overlap the emission wavelength of another label; excitation light entering the detector would lead to incorrect results. Probing multiple labels generally cannot be done in parallel, slowing the data collection process.
Therefore, an improved fluorometer for a thermal cycler that overcomes these disadvantages would be desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for fluorescence detection with a movable detection module


Olefin polymerization catalyst systems including a high molecular weight catalyst compound and a low molecular weight catalyst compound, and methods of making same are provided. High molecular weight catalysts include metallocene catalysts and low molecular weight catalysts include non-metallocene compounds including biphenyl phenol compounds. Generally catalyst systems may include less than about 5.0 mol % of the high molecular weight catalyst compound relative to said low molecular weight catalyst. Methods for olefin polymerization including the aforementioned catalyst systems, and polyolefins and products made therefrom.

The use of metallocene compounds in polymerization catalysts, and the use of metallocene catalysts for polymerization are known. However, there remains an ongoing effort to develop metallocene catalysts, polymerization processes using such catalysts, and polyolefin resins and products made therewith, each having advantageous properties and performance.
There are numerous references discussing metallocene catalyst systems comprising at least two catalyst components, wherein at least one component is a metallocene catalyst. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,914 discusses a catalyst system for producing polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution using two different metallocene-type catalyst compounds having different propagation and termination rate constants for ethylene polymerization. U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,299 is directed to a homogeneous catalyst system of at least two metallocene-type catalyst compounds each having different reactivity ratios for use in a single reactor to produce a polymer blend. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,811 discusses producing polymers having improved product properties using an isomeric mixture of two or more substituted metallocene-type catalyst compounds. EP-A2-0 743 327 discuss the use of meso and racemic bridged mixed metallocene-type catalysts compounds to produce ethylene polymers having improved processability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,848 relates to a process for producing polypropylene using a bridged mono-cyclopentadienyl heteroatom containing compound and an unbridged, bis-cyclopentadienyl containing compound. EP-B1-0 310 734 discusses the use of a mixed bridged hafnium and zirconium metallocene-type catalyst compounds to produce a polymer having broad molecular weight distribution. U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,045 describes using at least two different bridged zirconium metallocene-type catalyst compounds to produce propylene polymers having a broad molecular weight distribution where one of the stereorigid zirconocenes has an indenyl ligand having a substituent on the six-member ring. EP-B1-516 018 describes using two different bridged zirconium metallocene-type catalyst compounds to produce a broad molecular weight distribution polypropylene polymer where one of the bridged metallocenes has indenyl ligands that are substituted in at least the two position. U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,472 discusses a catalyst system comprising at least two different metallocene compounds, the system comprising a bridged metallocene catalyst compound and a bridged, asymmetrically substituted, metallocene catalyst compound useful for producing polymers generally having a narrow molecular weight distribution. U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,632 discusses a mixed metallocene catalyst system including a poor comonomer incorporating metallocene catalyst compound and a good comonomer incorporating metallocene catalyst compound useful in producing a more broadly separated bimodal polymer composition. U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,906 discusses a catalyst composition comprising the contact product of at least one metallocene compound and at least one organochromium compound. U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,987 discusses a bimetallic catalyst system comprising a modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst component and a metallocene catalyst component useful for producing bimodal polymers, specifically polyethylene, having a polydispersity of from 12 to 50.
Additionally, there are also references directed to polymerization processes in which two or more polymerization reactors are joined in series, where one catalyst is used in a first reactor to produce a first polymer that is then fed into a second reactor with the same or different catalyst, typically under different reactor conditions. In this way, the resulting polymer from a series polymerization process is a combination or blend of two different polymers. These polymer blends, typically, contain a high molecular weight and a low molecular weight component. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,818 discusses using two fluidized gas phase reactors in series using a transition metal based catalyst to form an in situ polymer blend having improved extrudability. EP-B1-0 527 221 discusses a series reactor process using metallocene-type catalyst systems for producing bimodal molecular weight distribution polymer products. However, series or multistage reactor processes are expensive and more difficult to operate.
However, there remains a need for catalyst systems with good reactor operability. There is also a need for catalyst systems for producing bimodal polyolefin compositions. There is even another need in the art for methods of polymerizing bimodal polyolefin, preferably, in a single reactor, having good processability. There is yet another need for olefin polymers and polyolefin products having enhanced properties. These and other limitations may be overcome with the catalysts, methods, polymers, and products of the present disclosure.

Polymerization catalysts, methods of making, methods of using, and polyolefin products made therefrom


Methods and apparatuses for removing contaminants from materials, particularly vaporizable contaminants from flowable material such as liquids, sludges or soil: and in one aspect, reusing heat produced in the operation to vaporize contaminants from the material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to decontaminating materials, including but not limited to liquids, sludges and soil. In one aspect this invention is directed to removing vaporizable organic contaminants from material. In another aspect this invention is directed to such processes and apparatuses for providing a relatively hot environment for such removal, and such processes in which heat is used efficiently and effectively.
2. Description of Related Art
Materials such as sludges and natural soil have been contaminated with toxic and dangerous materials such as gasoline, chemicals, diesel oil, cleaning solvents and the like. The presence of these contaminants results in environmental and health hazards. Many organic liquids that contaminate soils are toxic and carcinogenic and find their way into drinking water formations from contaminated soils. Organic contaminants from contaminated soil enter waterways and pollute and contaminate them, endangering human beings and killing fish and wildlife.
In my previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,771 entitled "Method And Apparatus To Decontaminate Soil," incorporated fully herein by reference, I disclosed a method and apparatus for decontaminating soil. This invention did not provide for the removal of water from sludges, nor did it provide heat sufficient to remove liquids and certain contaminants from sludges. This invention did not provide for vaporized contaminant gases to be "swept" from a heating chamber. This invention could not be used at desired higher temperatures since it provided heat transfer fluids that could only be heated to about seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit and it did not use waste heat effectively. The invention included a method and apparatus for decontaminating soil that has been contaminated with vaporizable contaminants in which contaminated soil is conveyed through a treatment vessel by means of an auger with internal passages with a hot heat transfer fluid flowing through them. As the contaminated soil passes through the treatment vessel, it is heated to a point where the contaminants are vaporized and are withdrawn from the treatment vessel. Air is added to the interior of the treatment vessel from the atmosphere to lower the temperature of vaporized gases, but not to lower the temperature to such a point that the gases condense. Such condensation adversely affects downstream filtration efforts, e.g. resulting in undesirable coating of filter bags. Control means control the amount of air added to the treatment vessel to ensure that the oxygen level in the mixture of vaporized contaminates and air does not fall within a flammable or explosive range. Following the vaporization of the contaminates from the soil, the treated soil is removed from the treatment vessel.
Other prior art attempts to decontaminate soil that is contaminated with vaporizable contaminants include various types of solvent extraction of washing procedures utilized in an attempt to wash the contaminants from the soil. These attempts are costly, and have not been overly successful in removing such contaminants from soil. Other methods have involved heating soil in an attempt to vaporize the contaminants and drive the contaminants from the soil. Heating processes that employ heated kilns have not been too successful because of poor heat transfer, the tendency of moist soils to "ball up", dust formation and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,206 discloses a method and apparatus for utilizing a heating vessel with a heated screw conveyor to heat soil as it is moved through the vessel to "vapor strip" contaminants from the soil. This method and apparatus have several problems. The method and apparatus provide for the exclusion of oxygen or air inside the heated stripping chamber which poses severe operating problems and requires that air locks or seals in other apparatus be utilized to rigorously exclude the entry of air into the heated chamber.
There has long been a need for efficient and effective methods and apparatuses for decontaminating material. There has long been a need for such methods and apparatuses which can employ relatively high temperatures. There has long been a need for such methods and apparatuses which can be used to decontaminate sludges as well as soils. There has long been a need for such methods and apparatuses which do not waste heat produced during operation.

Material decontamination apparatus and method


A piezoelectric valve in a gas delivery system includes a piezoceramic element bonded to a valve seal and disposed over a valve seat, and retained in position by an O-ring and a retainer; an insulating ball normally biased by a preload spring against the piezoceramic element; an inlet gas port positioned such that upon admission of inlet gas into the valve, the piezoceramic element is positively seated. The inlet gas port is located only on the side of the piezoceramic element opposite the seal.

This invention has utilization in all applications with piezoelectric valves utilizing piezoceramic elements or diaphragms.
A new gas delivery system is being designed to inject either tritium, hydrogen, or deuterium gas with uniform throughput for up to 6 seconds into the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) Neutral Beam Long Pulse Ion Sources, at Princeton University.
Several experiments have been conducted to verify design concepts and qualify components. Piezoelectric valves were characterized for hydrogen and deuterium gas and the data used to predict operation with tritium. The uniformity of the gas throughput was studied as a function of test fluid, flow rate and initial supply pressure. The uniformity of the throughput with an active pressure feedback controller was tested under various operational scenarios. The functionality of a prototypical NB D-T Gas Delivery System has been tested and the results analyzed.
FIG. 2 illustrates, a typical, or prior-art, piezoelectric valve 20 that can be used for delivering tritium or deuterium gas in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor at Princeton University. The valve 20 is a commercially available piezoelectric valve manufactured by Maxtek Inc., which has been modified to handle hazardous and radioactive gases. The valve 20 includes a piezoceramic element 22 that is bonded to a seal 24 that together are disposed over an adjustable seat 26. The valve also includes a sapphire insulating ball 28 held in place by a preload spring 29. Gas flows into the valve 20 through gas inlet port 30. As can be seen the inlet port 30 flows into a volume bounded by the underside 32 of piezoceramic element 22, i.e. on the same side with the seal 24. Additional by-pass port 34, for gas flow around the piezoceramic element 22, was expected to help equalize pressure on the piezoceramic element.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a piezoelectric valve suitable for use in a neutral beam deuterium-tritium gas delivery system.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric valve that helps to equalize pressure on the piezoceramic element such that it positively seats.

Means for positively seating a piezoceramic element in a piezoelectric valve during inlet gas injection

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A particulate metal oxide having the mean length of the primary particles in the range from 50 to 90 nm, the mean width of the primary particles in the range from 5 to 20 nm, and the median volume particle diameter of the secondary particles is less than 45 nm. The metal oxide can be used in a sunscreen product that exhibits both effective UV protection and improved transparency.

Metal oxides such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and iron oxides have been employed as attenuators of ultraviolet light in applications such as sunscreens, plastics films and resins. Due to the increased awareness of the link between ultraviolet light and skin cancer, there has been an increasing requirement for ultraviolet light protection in everyday skincare and cosmetics products. Unfortunately, existing commercially available metal oxide products, such as titanium dioxide, are not sufficiently transparent and can have an unacceptable whitening effect when used on the skin. There is a need for a metal oxide which exhibits improved transparency, reduced whitening, and provides broad spectrum ultraviolet light protection ,


An abrasive system and a processing procedure is provided which permits the direct installation of a thick abrasive blade tip cap onto a cast turbine rotor blade during a heating schedule which requires two furnace operations. The composition of the abrasive blade tip cap advantageously utilizes the high temperature performance capabilities of equiaxed or single crystal rotor blade alloys without significantly affecting their mechanical properties as a consequence of the processing necessary to permanently bond the abrasive blade tip cap to the rotor blade. A semi-rigid mat consisting of the preferred abrasive composition is first consolidated in a first vacuum furnace operation. Blade tip cap preforms are then cut from the mat and positioned on the tip of the rotor blade. The preform and rotor blade are then heated in a vacuum furnace according to a temperature schedule entailing heating rates, holding temperatures and durations which are sufficient to bond the preform to the rotor blade. The rotor blade is then rapidly cooled in the vacuum furnace to retain the microstructure and mechanical properties of the rotor blade.

In the turbine section of a turbine engine, the turbine rotor is circumscribed by a shroud such that the shroud is adjacent to the tips of the rotor blades extending from the hub of the rotor. The shroud serves to channel the combustion gases through the turbine section of the turbine engine and prevents the bulk of the turbine engine's combustion gases from bypassing the turbine rotor blades. However, a portion of the gases are able to bypass the rotor blades through a gap present between the rotor blade tips and the shroud. Because the energy of the gases directed through the rotor blades is used to rotate the turbine rotor assembly and any compressor upstream of the turbine section, turbine engine efficiency can be increased by limiting the gases which are able to bypass the rotor blades through this gap.
Manufacturing tolerances, differing rates of thermal expansion and dynamic effects limit the extent to which this gap can be reduced. Any rubbing contact between the rotor blade tips and the shroud will spall the tips of the rotors. Spalling will tend to further increase the gap described above, thereby reducing engine efficiency. In addition, spalling tends to promote structural fatigue in the rotor blades, causing the useful life of the rotor to be shortened.
As an alternative, it is well known in the art to form a dynamic seal between the rotor blades and the shroud by forming an abrasive tip cap on the end of one or more rotor blades, and more preferably, on each rotor blade. During operation of the turbine, the abrasive tip caps abrade a groove in the shroud as a result of numerous "rub encounters" between the abrasive tip caps and the shroud. The groove, in cooperation with the rotor blade tips as they partially extend into the groove, forms a virtual seal between the rotor blade tips and the shroud. The seal reduces the amount of gases which can bypass the rotor blades, and thereby improves the efficiency of the turbine engine.
Various materials and processes have been suggested to provide a suitable abrasive tip cap on turbine rotor blades. Typical abrasive materials used include silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, tantalum carbide and cubic boron nitride. Aluminum oxide, or alumina, is generally preferred because of its high temperature capabilities and oxidation resistance. In that such abrasive particles do not provide a structurally sound material, they are incorporated with a metal matrix, including for example, nickel or cobalt-base alloys, to provide a sufficiently strong structure which can be bonded to the blade tip. However, the thickness of such a metal matrix is often limited because of the structural weakness of the abrasive composition.
In some applications, it is conventional to apply the abrasive composition to the rotor blade tip using a thermal spray technique, such as plasma spraying or detonation gun spraying. While suitable for many purposes, thermal spray techniques are inefficient in that only part of the abrasive composition contacts and adheres to the rotor blade tip, while much of the thermal spray completely misses the target. More importantly, thermal spraying damages or destroys the morphology of the abrasive particles, making them unsuitable for the intended purpose. In addition, subsequent processes are typically necessary to provide the adhesion and structural integrity necessary for the abrasive composition to survive the hostile environment of a turbine engine. Such steps often include adhering the abrasive composition to the blade tip during a first heating and cooling cycle, and later depositing an additional quantity of the metal matrix over the abrasive composition through a second heating and cooling cycle, such as during hot isostatic pressing. As an alternative, it has also been suggested to melt the tip of the blade, such as with lasers, introduce the abrasive to the blade tip, and then resolidify the blade tip.
While the above processes may be suitable for some turbine blade structures, turbine blades used in modern gas turbine engines are often fabricated from cast high temperature nickel-base superalloys having a single crystal microstructure. Single crystal blades are characterized by extremely high oxidation resistance and mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, which are necessary for the performance requirements of modern turbine engines. However, the single crystal microstructure must not be affected by the process by which the rotor blade abrasive tip caps are secured to the rotor blades. In particular, the process must not recrystallize the microstructure such that the high temperature properties of the rotor blade are lost or diminished. As a result, processes which entail melting the rotor blade tip are entirely unacceptable, and repeated thermal cycling of the rotor blades runs the risk of degrading the single crystal microstructure.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/941,618, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,011, to Brown et al. and assigned to the assignee of this patent application, teaches a method by which a rotor blade abrasive tip cap can be bonded to a single crystal rotor blade in which degradation of the microstructure of a single crystal turbine rotor blade is minimized. The method entails the use of an abrasive preform whose composition includes a metal powder matrix containing a cobalt-base braze alloy and a cobalt alloy containing boron.
The abrasive preform is semi-rigid and thick, permitting it to be physically placed directly on the rotor blade tip. Therefore, the need for thermal spray operations to deposit the abrasive composition onto the rotor blade tip is eliminated. Another advantage of the thick configuration of the preform is that the resulting abrasive blade tip cap has sufficient thickness so as to provide stock for machining to tolerance while also retaining adequate thickness to perform repeated rub encounters with a turbine engine shroud over the life of the turbine engine.
The abrasive composition is formulated to take advantage of the high temperature capabilities of a single crystal rotor blade such that a single heating cycle can be used to both consolidate the abrasive composition and bond the abrasive preform to the tip of the rotor blade. As a result, the abrasive composition and method taught provide an efficient and economical process for forming abrasive tip caps on single crystal rotor blades.
Though the above process and abrasive composition have proven to be quite satisfactory for many applications, it has been discovered that some degradation of long-term mechanical properties occurs in the single crystal turbine rotor blades. Moreover, multiple processing cycles further degrade the mechanical properties of the blades, practically eliminating the ability to both rework and retip the single crystal rotor blades processed in this manner. Further, the above process may degrade the microstructure and properties of an equiaxed grain turbine blade so severely as to render the blade unusable.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an abrasive composition which can be readily formed into a rigid abrasive blade tip cap preform, to permit the preform to be physically placed on a rotor blade tip prior to bonding, and provide a bonding cycle which prevents degradation of the microstructure of a cast turbine rotor blade, whether it is equiaxed grain or single crystal.

Method for bonding abrasive blade tips to the tip of a gas turbine blade


A method and System on Chip (SoC) for adapting a runtime reconfigurable hardware to decode a video stream, wherein the video stream is of one of a plurality of video types is disclosed. The method includes determining a video type of the video stream and identifying at least one functional block of a set of functional blocks in the runtime reconfigurable hardware in response to determining the video type. A functional block of the set of functional blocks corresponds to a decoding sub function of the video type. Thereafter, the method configures the one or more functional block based on a plurality of configuration parameters of the video type. Further, the method decodes the video stream using the one or more functional blocks in response of configuring the one or more functional block.

Embedded systems support a plethora of applications in various domains including, but not limited to, communications, multimedia, and image processing. Such a vast range of applications require flexible computing platforms for different needs of each application and derivatives of each application. General purpose processors are good candidates to support the vast range of applications due to the flexibility they offer. However, general purpose processors are unable to meet the stringent performance, throughput and power requirements of the applications hosted on embedded systems.
A commonly employed solution to meet the stringent performance, throughput and power requirements is the use of Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) solutions. ASICs enable hardware acceleration of an application by hard coding the functions onto hardware to satisfy the performance and throughput requirements of the application. However, the gain in increased performance and throughput through the use of ASICs is at the loss of flexibility.
Therefore, the hard coded design model of ASICs does not meet changing market demands and multiple emerging variants of applications catering to different customer needs. Spinning an ASIC for every application is prohibitively expensive. The design cycle of an ASIC from concept to production typically takes about 15 months at a cost of $10-15 million. However, the time and cost may escalate further as the ASIC is redesigned and respun to conform to changes in standards, to incorporate additional features, or to match customer requirements. The increased cost may be justified if the market volume for the specific application corresponding to an ASIC is large. However, rapid evolution of technology and changing requirements of applications prohibit any one application optimized on an ASIC from having a significant market demand to justify the large costs involved in producing the ASIC.
Applications in the domain of video decoding fall under the realm of rapidly changing requirements and standards. Video decoding is used in a wide range of applications from mobile devices to high definition television (HDTV) and digital cinema. Each application caters to a different set of data sources, end terminals and processing capabilities. For example, a home-theater system may have to decode the baseline profile stream of the H.264 standard received over internet and also a high-profile stream of the H.264 standard received from a DVD. Further it is desirable to support interoperability between these applications at run time
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for a hardware solution that provides application scalability and interoperability between various domain specific applications at run time.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.

Method and system on chip (SoC) for adapting a runtime reconfigurable hardware to decode a video stream


Process for producing catalysts for use within hydrogenation, oxidation, dehydration or dehydrogenation processes comprising oxides, in pure or mixed form, or being applied as mixed crystal systems, made of nickel, cobalt and molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, titanium and chromium, starting with their corresponding aqueous solutions of their respective chlorides, fluorides or nitrates, which afterwards are processed within a pyrohydrolysis plant to gain the oxide powders, of typical specific surfaces areas of 1 to 100 m.sup.2 /g, agglomerate sizes of 1 to 500 microns and mean particle sizes of 20 to 30 microns. The corresponding anions of these salt solutions are transformed during pyrohydrolysis into their respective acids, which can be regained by absorptive means and which thereafter can be returned to a chemical dissolving process to make the salts and solutions for the pyrohydrolysis, which means an economic advantage. A further process comprises the prereduction of these spray roasted oxide powders at high temperatures, up to a maximum of 800.degree. C. The catalytically active constituents also can be made by this process by an in-situ precipitation on an inactive carrier, such as alumina, titaniumdioxide, phosphorpentoxide or also silicates. A further ceramic processing of such spray roasted powders into ceramic parts (pellets, balls, etc.) is possible.

The present invention relates to a process for producing catalysts for their use within heterogeneously catalyzed reactions.
Those catalysts which are referred to hereafter are applied within a great number of chemical and petrochemical processes, such as oxidation, hydrogenation or dehydrogenation, but also air or off-gas purification, to mention but a few.
Nickel catalysts for example are used in many processes for catalytic hydrogenation, i.e. hydrogen transfer reactions such as:
syn-gas processing of naphtha or gaseous hydrocarbons, PA0 oxo-gas reforming (steam reforming), PA0 methanation, PA0 hydrotreating, hydrorefining, PA0 hydrodesulfurization (HDS), PA0 selective hydrogenation.
Usually nickel catalysts are used in their metallic form, fixed on a suitable carrier material, such as .alpha.(alfa), .gamma.(gamma), .theta.(theta)-alumina, SiO.sub.2.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and also other ceramic carriers (tablets, pellets, Raschig-rings) or also on zeolites. Usually hydrogenation catalyst contain 10 to 50 wt % NiO, which normally is deposited through impregnation techniques, which are soaking processes.
Water soluble inorganic or organic salts are normally used for impregnation of a carrier, e.g. nickel nitrate, --chloride, formiate or oxalate. In addition to these impregnation techniques also coprecipitation of mixed salt solutions is used, such as nickel together with aluminum salts, like AlCl.sub.3 or Al(OH)Cl.sub.2, described in patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,846,284 (J. Jaffe) and 3,846,285 (H. Beuther et al.)

Process of making catalysts and catalysts made by the process


Disclosed is a hydraulically and chemically bonding refractory cement, which includes a caustic magnesia component having a BET specific surface area of at least 0.5 m2/g, and a carboxylic acid component, wherein the carboxylic acid component consists of at least one carboxylic acid that is only slightly water soluble and/or has a low dissolution rate in aqueous solutions, and which carboxylic acid component is capable of generating at least one soluble magnesium salt upon contact of the cement with water. Also disclosed is a corresponding refractory material containing the magnesia cement and to uses thereof for the manufacture of products useful in various industries.

The hydraulic-chemical bonding and refractory features of the magnesia cement according to the present invention are best understood when compared with state of the art cements. Known cements such as Portland cements or calcium aluminate cements and their numerous modifications are typical hydraulic bonding agents, or hydraulic binders. They set and cure as a result of chemical reactions of cement clinker with water and the formation of main bonding phases like calcium silicate hydrates, ettringite, brownmillerite and calcium aluminate hydrates, respectively. The calcium aluminate cements are mainly used for refractories and ceramics. However, the lime content of calcium aluminate cements lowers the refractoriness of alumina or basic refractory products. Limefree hydraulic cements, so called hydratable alumina, were developed and are used for corundum, alumina spinel, aluminum silicates and less often for basic refractories.
In contrast to hydraulic cements used for low temperature applications, there are several requirements regarding effective refractory and ceramic cements. The most important features are:                bonding not only at ambient temperature but also in the temperature range close to the temperature where the formation of ceramic bonds occurs;        high purity or contamination with only such constituents which do not decrease the refractoriness or high temperature strength;        low and non-toxic emissions during heat-up;        a phase composition assuring volume stability during cyclic heating and cooling.
Other known bonding agents used among others for refractories are primarily composed of soluble silicates, silica fume, phosphates and organic polymers or resins. Such bonding agents may comprise magnesia as an accelerator or even as the main component of the matrix and/or of the aggregates.
Alkali silicates, i.e. water glass, are another group of chemical binders for ceramics and refractories. Unfortunately, alkali silicate bonded products have only a minor refractoriness and resistance to chemical wear by e.g. slags, and are therefore mainly used for gunning or repair mixes but not for high temperature permanent or wear lining.
Phosphates are widely used as chemical bonding agents for basic and alumina refractories and ceramics. Hardening at ambient temperature is, however, often to slow, thus application of enhanced temperature or admixture of additives, e.g. one or more hydraulic bonding agents, is usually necessary. Also, the refractoriness of phosphate bonded products is not always satisfactory. Additionally, the phosphate content of the refractory lining of metallurgical furnaces can negatively influence the purity of products such as, for example, steel.
The hydraulic properties of lime and magnesia at low temperature, particularly of low particle size and/or calcined lime or magnesia, are generally known from textbooks and encyclopedia editions. Neither of the two compounds may be used alone as hydraulic cement because of the following reasons:                Calcium hydroxide, the product of lime hydration, shows certain solubility and would dissolve in an excess of water leading to a decrease of strength.        Very finely grinded magnesia or magnesia calcined at low temperature, usually obtained by calcination of magnesium hydroxide or magnesium carbonate, would hydrate very rapidly forming almost insoluble magnesium hydroxide, so called brucite. An uncontrolled setting would further result in deterioration of the mechanical properties of the end-product. Hydration of magnesia is significantly increased by the free lime content of MgO. One of the substantial issues of magnesia bonding according to the reaction MgO+H2O=Mg(OH)2 is a significant increase in volume, typically of about 45-55%, frequently of about 50 to 51%, resulting in a tendency for cracking and other defects during setting and drying. This property can especially be detrimental for magnesia cement-bonded basic refractories because magnesium hydroxide formed during cement hydration can act as brucite nuclei accelerating hydration of the magnesia matrix and aggregates. The decomposition of brucite during heat-up, accompanied by a usually 45-55%, typically 50 to 51% decrease in volume, would be a substantial drawback of pure magnesia cement-bonded refractories and ceramics.
The most commonly used magnesia cements are so-called Sorel cements which are based on reactive magnesia and magnesium salts such as sulphates and/or chlorides and which form the bonding matrix via magnesium oxychlorides and/or oxysulphates. Patent application US2005103235 describes properties and drawbacks of Sorel cements. Sorel cements are, however, less suitable for refractory and high temperature applications, due to a loss of strength and harmful emissions during heat-up.
The cements disclosed in US2005103235 have not been proved to be suitable for refractory applications, the nature of bonding is exclusively hydraulic and the main bonding species is brucite. Moreover, fluxes and mineralizing agents known for decreasing refractoriness are used for calcination, and grained reactive magnesia is the basic component of the cements. For that reason setting accelerators are necessary to achieve an acceptable setting time.
DE1471297 discloses and claims a refractory material which contains a cementitious mixture of non-plastic, fine magnesia and 0.1 to 15% of an aliphatic hydroxy tricarboxylic acid, preferably citric acid, or a salt thereof. However, it is known in the art that using magnesia of high specific surface area together with a well soluble, strongly complexing organic acid such as citric, would—after mixing with water—cause substantial difficulties in setting time adjustment and would deteriorate the rheological and the final mechanical properties of the end-product.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,534 discloses a cold-settingrefractory composition comprising magnesia of low reactivity with a surface are of less than 2 m2/g and the anions of a carboxylic acid such as citric acid being a constituent of a water-soluble aluminium phosphate complex binding agent. However, as mentioned hereinbefore, the use of a well water-soluble organic acid such as citric acid would entail various undesired side-effects. Some disadvantages of phosphate binding agents for refractories have already been outlined before.
EP1953487 discloses a fire-resistant material consisting of known refractory raw materials, among others dead-burned and fused magnesia, bounded with a heatactivated binder being a carboxylic acid, especially hydroxy-carboxylic acid, or a mixture of different carboxylic acids. The disclosed fire-resistant material used for lining metallurgical vessels is, however, not a hydraulic binder which can set and harden after mixing with water at ambient temperature.
Another cementitious refractory composition comprising fine magnesia and 0.25 to 5% of a boron compound and a soluble chromium compound in a ratio of from 3:1 to 1:1.5, calculated as CrO3 and B2O3, respectively, is known from GB723924. However, the use of chromic acid and soluble chromates for refractories is presently forbidden, because of alleged carcinogenic properties of Cr(VI) compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,571 describes a refractory lining for coreless induction furnaces formed from castable refractory cement. The term cement as used therein relates to a cement composition consisting of refractory aggregates and bonding components comprising reactive magnesia and a small amount of an organic acid, i.e. oxalic acid. The oxalic acid used in example I is, however, readily soluble and forms sparingly soluble magnesium salts. From the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,571 it can be inferred that only a weak bonding of the cement was desired and in a certain temperature range, i.e. in the soft friable zone, this bonding completely disappeared.
JPS55150972 provides a cement for grinding stones for dental applications. Powders of magnesium oxide and an aqueous solution of a polyacrylic acid in the ratio of 3:1 are the main constituents of the cement. The polyacrylic acid forms chelate bonds with the molecules bridged by magnesium and the cement sets providing a high mechanical strength. This cement is not suitable, however, for high temperature applications because of the decomposition of polyacrylic acid at such temperatures.


An adjusting ophthalmic docking system is described that includes a curved contact element, disposed on a procedure eye, a conformation platform at a distal tip of an optical system to support an adjustment of the curved contact element, and a connector to accommodate the adjustment of the contact element. The curved contact element can be a meniscus-shaped contact lens, with a proximal surface radius larger than a distal surface radius. The contact lens can be made of an approximately refractive index-matching material, such as a fluoro-polymer.

Many ophthalmic surgical laser systems use a patient interface to immobilize the eye the surgery is performed on. A patient interface typically includes a contact lens, directly disposable on the cornea to guide the laser beam into the eye. The contact lens can be affixed to the eye with a vacuum suction ring or skirt that suppresses the motion of the eye relative to the contact lens. Once the contact lens is in place, the laser system scans a surgical laser beam along a selected or predetermined surgical pattern to create cuts in the ophthalmic target tissue.
Some systems employ a one-piece patient interface ("PI") which is rigidly fixed to an objective of the laser system. In others, a two-piece or multi-piece PI is employed, where a top portion of the PI is fixed to the laser system, while a bottom portion is affixed to the eye in preparation for the surgical procedures. Subsequently, the top and bottom portions can be coupled to conveniently align the eye with the objective. Finally, there are laser systems where the structure allows some degree of transverse or lateral movement of the PI relative to the laser system to assist the alignment of the eye.
The surgical patterns are sometimes referenced to the contact lens, sometimes to the objective of the laser system, and in yet other systems, to an internal reference of the laser system. For example, the center of the surgical pattern maybe aligned with the center of the contact lens. Therefore, the precise placement and targeting of the surgical pattern into the eye is critically dependent on the precise docking of the contact lens. As part of the docking, in one piece PIs the contact lens is to be aligned with the optical axis of the eye and with the center of the cornea. In two piece PIs, in addition, once the contact lens is docked in an aligned position to the eye, the top and bottom portion of the PI need to be aligned as well. Finally, in transversely movable PIs, the PI is to assume an essentially central position at the end of docking.
Some laser systems used for corneal procedures, such as LASIK procedures, employ essentially flat or planar, contact lenses. These lenses flatten the cornea when affixed to it with pressure and vacuum suction. Therefore, if the contact lens is docked with a transverse or lateral misplacement to the cornea, the surgical pattern will be placed into the eye with a lateral shift from the center. However, since the cornea itself is flattened, this lateral shift reduces the precision only to a limited degree.
In contrast, in advanced ophthalmic surgical systems the misaligned docking of the contact lens can cause more serious challenges in several aspects.